Mae West: Tips to Wives

"MAE WEST's Tips to Wives" was an interesting feature published in newspapers during February 1945. "Get into shape — — good shape," Mae urged the ladies. "Build up surplus vitality, you'll need it. Be as attractive as possible, be cheerful, happy, and inviting. Above all, don't nag him," Mae advised. "You have everything Continental that other women have — — only show him you have more of it."
• • Actresses Jane Wyatt, Cornelia Otis Skinner, and Tallulah Bankhead were interviewed, too, but Mae had much more to say to married women. ["Mae West's Tips to Wives" was published in Australia's Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW) on page 7 on Saturday, 10 February 1945 as well as in other newspapers.]
• • Kathleen Clifford [16 February 1887 — 28 December 1962] • •
• • Born in Charlottesville, Virginia in the month of February — — on 16 February 1887 — — Kathleen Clifford was an American vaudeville and Broadway stage and film actress of the early twentieth century.
• • As with "Baby Mae," Kathleen Clifford's career acting was initially built on the vaudeville stages as a comedienne. Renowned for her impersonations of men, Kathleen Clifford was often humorously billed as "The Smartest Chap in Town."
• • In 1912, a large cast was hired for the Florenz Ziegfeld musical production "A Winsome Widow" [staged on Broadway from April — September 1912]. Kathleen Clifford was hired to play a male role: Willie Grow. Mae West won acclaim as La Petite Daffy in the same production.
• • Miss Clifford died on 28 December 1962. She was 75.
• • Broadcast on Thursday, 16 February 1950 • •
• • From "Mae West On The Air" [Sandy Hook LP and CD SH 2098]
• • "Little Red Riding Hood" performed by Mae West (from "The Chesterfield Supper Club" program aired on 16 February 1950).
• • "The Chesterfield Supper Club" was broadcast by NBC and sponsored by Chesterfield. The segment was pre-recorded in January (on 23 January 1950) for broadcast on February 16th, 1950 so that NBC could screen the content in advance. Mae sings a duet with Perry and tells her version of "Little Red Riding Hood." It's a very good show. Perry Como, Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra, The Fontane Sisters, Martin Block (announcer), Mae West: airtime: 28 minutes.
• • On Thursday, 16 February 1950 in Rochester • •
• • Rarely did Mae West miss a performance. When she did, however, it made the news.
• • On Thursday, 16 February 1950, Mae was starring in her popular Bowery drama "Diamond Lil" at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY — — when she collapsed onstage. At first it was thought that she was suffering from food poisoning.
• • A news reporter wrote: Mae West collapsed on the stage at Rochester last night, but the show went on. She was unable to continue with the third act of the play, 'Diamond Lil.' It was presented without her. It was thought at first that she had food poisoning, but her doctor, who was in the wings during the show, said that she was suffering mainly from "sheer exhaustion." Mae West hopes to appear in "Diamond Lil" again tonight.
• • The Auditorium Center was originally constructed for the Freemasons in 1928.
• • Happily, the Rochester Auditorium Theatre is still open for business and in the same location as back in 1950: 875 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14605.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "In my pictures I never took a man from another woman or pursued another woman's husband. That was all part of my plan to keep women audiences happy. Women don't like to be reminded of the fact that their man might stray after some thing like — — well, you know what I mean."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Asians mentioned Mae West.
• • Journalist Barrymore Laurence Scherer wrote: "I'm an occidental woman in an Oriental mood for love," sings the curvaceous Queen of Innuendo, Mae West, sporting a bespangled pseudo-Chinese headdress in the 1936 film "Klondike Annie." The scene is classic West and pure Hollywood kitsch. But the 1978 publication of Edward Said's book "Orientalism" effectively ended the long tradition of such risible, somewhat racist perceptions, at least in terms of nomenclature. ...
• • Source: Article: "Go East, Monsieur" written by Barrymore Laurence Scherer for the WSJ; posted on 7 February 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2211th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in "Diamond Lil" 1950 • •
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Mae West: Tribute in Illinois

It will be MAE WEST day next week in Illinois but now it is still under curtains and not yet posted on a public calendar in Lincolnshire.
• • Spies have let the word out that on 22 August 20011 there'll be "A Tribute to Mae West" at 2:00 pm. The audience will sing classic songs like “Mae walks the walk and talks the talk"; this novelty is spiced with double entendres and witticims. "A Tribute to Mae West" will feature stories, nine tunes, and Hollywood tales. Registration is required.
• • WHERE: Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire, IL 60069; Tel. 847-634-3650.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Such a big issue over a little tissue.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Songwriting legend Jack Lawrence [who was age 92 back in 2004 during this interview], knew Mae West. Smiling Jack also wrote many hits such as "Linda," "If I Didn't Care," "Tenderly," etc. Jack Lawrence's autobiography is called "They All Sang My Songs."
• • Beth Greenfield writes: The Brooklyn-raised son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Jack Lawrence knew he was gay by adolescence but lived a secret life until he was in his thirties. All the while he was developing his talent as a writer of love songs. In his book, Lawrence tells the stories behind the songs and dishes on the many stars he's worked with. There are tales about Rudy Vallee's self-indulgent soirees, Danny Kaye's unhappy marriage and rumors that he was gay (or, as Lawrence puts it, "had a touch of the brush"), Mae West's manipulative charms, and Lawrence's wild romps with Tallulah Bankhead and Noel Coward. But the tone is never bitchy. "I felt that if I wasn't saying anything too dreadful, or I wasn't letting any secrets out, then it was okay," Lawrence explains. "I may have been a bit harsh on Buddy Hackett, though — — and I didn't have any great love for Lena Horne, or Cher." He describes Buddy Hackett as a homo-phobic egomaniac, Lena Horne as an ungrateful snob, and Cher as a power-tripping diva who single-handedly closed a show he produced, Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, by not showing up for performances. ...
• • Source: Article: "You know his songs — — and now a new autobiography reveals Jack Lawrence the man" written by Beth Greenfield for Time Out NY Magazine; printed on 11 November 2004
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2024th blog post. Unlike many blogs, which draw upon reprinted content from a newspaper or a magazine and/ or summaries, links, or photos, the mainstay of this blog is its fresh material focused on the life and career of Mae West, herself an American original.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1932 • •
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Mae West: One-Eyed Director

MAE WEST signaled her desire for Raoul Walsh, an intrepid Irishman, to direct her forthcoming motion picture "Klondike Lou" — — via the syndicated gossip column of Louella Parsons during the summer of 1935.
• • In her well-researched and thoroughly engaging biography on the Hollywood headliner, Jill Watts writes: Mae West liked Walsh's willingness to coach rather than direct her. Sidney Skolskv reported that "no matter who is on a Mae West set and who is directing the flicker, you can tell that what Mae West says, goes."
• • Born in the month of March, native New Yorker Raoul Walsh [11 March 1887 — 31 December 1980] was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. Born Albert Edward Walsh, he began as a stage actor in New York City in 1909, quickly progressing into film acting. In 1914, he became an assistant to D.W. Griffith and made his first full-length feature film "The Life of General Villa," followed by the critically-acclaimed "Regeneration" [1915], possibly the earliest gangster film.
• • While on location for the film "In Old Arizona," the five-foot-eleven actor suffered a car accident in which he lost his right eye. He never acted again and wore an eye patch for the rest of his life.
• • Raoul Walsh also directed "The Bowery" [1933], featuring Wallace Beery, George Raft, Fay Wray, and Pert Kelton; the movie recounts the story of Steve Brodie, the first man to (supposedly) jump off the Brooklyn Bridge and live to brag about it.
• • The "rowdy touch" was Mae's aim in her upcoming project and she had seen a quality she liked in Walsh's "The Cock-Eyed World" and "What Price Glory?" — — the vehicle that made Victor McLaglen a bold-faced name, a rough hewn beaut Mae was eyeing up for the role of her leading man as she pursued her Klondike quest.
• • When Drinking Gin Was a Sin • •
• • According to Bambi Weavil, Mae West "loved" gin cocktails. How she comes by this fanciful information is not explained, however, Bambi's email is below — — if you would like to start a discussion with her about Mae West's barroom preferences or how Bambi does her research.
• • Bambi Weavil writes: “Hello, Suckers! Come on in and leave your wallet on the bar!” This is how blonde bombshell Texas Guinan greeted guests at the speakeasies she manned in New York during Prohibition. Famous for wisecracking, running the hottest clubs in town, being hauled off to the pokey on a regular basis and having her joints shut down by Feds, Texas hails from a long tradition of strong women who drink strong spirits. Re-opening after raids, she would sometimes sport a necklace of gold padlocks to show the cops there were no hard feelings.
• • Bambi Weavil adds: While women and men weren’t permitted to mingle without prejudice in the bar until Tex’s time, women like Texas Guinan have owned and operated taverns and been a part of cocktail culture for generations. Ada Coleman, for example, was the first head bartender at the esteemed Savoy Hotel in London. Mae West, Dorothy Parker, and Tallulah Bankhead all had one thing in common besides fame and beauty — — they loved their gin cocktails. ... [Source: "Celebrating Creative Women Who Drink Strong Cocktails Without Pretension" written by Bambi Weavil, Out Impact, Inc.'s CEO/ Founder-President since June 2007; posted on OutImpact.com on 10 March 2011; Email: bambi.weavil [at] gmail [dot] com]. Few have called Dorothy Parker "a beauty," and even fewer have described Mae West as a gin-lover, so this view is quite novel.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Similarly, Mae West consciously created her own undulating and moaning "Diamond Lil" persona in part to keep fresh the memory of her beloved Gay '90s mother and found it such a useful armor to slip into for real life that many felt they were one and the same. It was no coincidence that some observers called West, the first actress to subvert misogyny by being sexually assertive, a modern Aphrodite, the Goddess who wore a magic gold girdle and took many lovers. ... [Source: "Good Time Charlie: The Sheen of Hollywood's Restored Rogue Archetype" written by Carl Sferrazza Anthony; posted on the Huff-Post on 10 March 2011].
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1935 • •
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Mae West: Charles Pierce

The photo shows Charles Pierce costumed for his stage work as MAE WEST. He often drew attention to Mae's false teeth in his act and frequently he would don a foolish hat with a silly feather dangling from it, which he'd blow out of his way as if to say, "See what I have to put up with when they dress me as Mae!"
• • Born in Watertown, New York, Charles Pierce [14 July 1926 — 31 May 1999] was a leading female impersonator, particularly noted for his eerily convincing imitations of popular motion pictures actresses. Eschewing the term drag queen, which he found incorrect and demeaning, he billed himself as a male actress.
• • Breaking in by doing small gay clubs in New York City, Pierce watched his fame spread. When he relocated to San Francisco, California, his act became well-known to Hollywood stars. His imitations were even mimicked by other female impersonators. Along with his Mae West impression, his roles included Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Carol Channing, Katharine Hepburn, and Joan Crawford — — which became the drag queen canon.
• • At the age of 72, Charles Pierce died in North Hollywood, California on the last day in May eleven years ago.
• • "You've Got to See Your Mama Every Night [or You Can't See Your Mama at All]" • •
• • Catch his take on Mae West on YouTube, and notice how often Pierce will punctuate his Westian oooohs and mmmmmms and eye-rolling with a refrain from "You've Got to See Your Mama Every Night [or You Can't See Your Mama at All]."
• • This 1923 hit was a collaboration between two nice Jewish guys from Mae's hometown, New York City: Con Conrad (music) and Billy Rose (lyrics).
• • It is quite curious that Charles Pierce braided this sassy song into his Mae West impersonation when this number has long been linked to Sophie Tucker — — not Mae. The amusing lyrics focus on a suspicious gal who insists her boyfriend include her in his plans or "you can't see your mama at all." One familiar section is: "Monday night you took your bath, Tuesday night you dodged my path. Wednesday night you had a date, and by the looks of everything I guess that I don't rate . . . ." And clearly the sentiment is all wrong for Mae, who would never intimate that she doesn't rate.
• • Con Conrad [birthname: Conrad K. Dober, 1891 — 1938 ] formed a partnership with music publisher Henry Waterson and had his first big chart-topper by 1920.
• • Billy Rose [birthname: William Samuel Rosenberg, 1899 — 1966] was an American impresario, theatrical showman, and lyricist.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West impersonator • • Charles Pierce • •
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Mae West: Drag Queen's Missus

MAE WEST's former fan club president, female impersonator Craig Russell was married for eight years to Lori [1982-1990], a warm-hearted brunette.
• • Canadian blogger Nancy Paiva writes that Lori's first love was Craig Russell — — and a fabulously juicy memoir is in the works.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: Though he never made a secret of his homosexuality, they were married in 1982. Craig was a female impersonator during the 1970s and 1980s, and Lori was his biggest fan. Craig became famous after his starring role in the Canadian feature film Outrageous! (1977). He portrayed a gay hairdresser who wanted to be drag queen — — and it was one of the first North American films with a gay theme to receive widespread distribution.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: His impersonations included Mae West, Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Peggy Lee, and Judy Garland. Unlike most drag queens today, he spoke and sang with his own voice and was able to sing abroad range of octaves. As a teenager, Russell became president of MaeWest's fan club, and briefly worked and lived in Los Angeles as West'ssecretary. He eventually returned to Toronto and worked as ahairdresser while pursuing his career as a stage performer. By 1971, he was a regular performer in Toronto gay clubs and had a widespread international following.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: Lori shared Craig's life for eight years — — as his wife. She also shared his battle with AIDS. Craig died of an AIDS-related stoke on October 30, 1990. She kept diaries of their time together and has started writing a book.
• • Lori, 49, has her own battle to overcome. ...
— — excerpt — —
• • Source: Faces of Toronto: Lori — — http://blogto.com/
• • Byline: Nancy Paiva
• • Posted: 1 September 2007
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West: Nun in California

Can you picture MAE WEST as a nun?
• • Writers Bruce W. Gilray and Richard T. Witter could. Borrowing liberally from Agatha Christie's murder mystery "Ten Little Indians," they devised a campy take-off for movie buffs: " … And Then There Was Nun."
• • Their sacrilegious sisterhood includes Sisters Mae (West), Hattie (McDaniel), Vivien (Leigh), Joan (Crawford), Bette (Davis), Tallulah (Bankhead), Gloria (Swanson), Katharine (Hepburn), Marilyn (Monroe), and Judy (Garland with Toto).
• • Cory Watkins portrays the raunchy Sister Mae.
• • Californians take note: "... And Then There Was Nun" is onstage now at the Huntington Beach Playhouse [Library Theater, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach, California].
• • Hmmm, how about a blue nun?
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West: By the Sea

MAE WEST arrived and asked, "Who owns this dump?"
• • Alas, the building is dark and for sale but, oh, those glory days half-a-century ago. During the early 1950s, Rhode Island's Theatre-by-the-Sea was seeing stars for nearly a decade.
• • Run by two theatre-loving New York attorneys - - Harold Schiff and Donald Wolin - - these Santa-Claus-producers had bucks and their rustic playhouse in Matunuck was a hobby, which they indulged until 1957.
• • The summer of 1951, the first season for the NYC-based producers, the line-up included John Garfield, Rathbone, Constance Bennett, John Barrymore, Veronica Lake, and Eve Arden. Seating was increased from 300 to 500.
• • Shortly after, Mae West arrived in South County in three limos: one for her and two for her luggage. Mae West, reportedly, did such terrific business. Discovering that all her performances were sold out, she agreed to do two extra shows.
• • And also during the 1950s, when a young, but successful Marlon Brando appeared in Arms and the Man in 1953, he turned down the $5,000 a week that Tallulah Bankhead had been receiving and instead worked for the minimum union wage [then $65]. During that season, top ticket prices were about $3.50.
• • The 1950s at this Matunuck theater were the years of the Big Ones. The big names in their playbills included Judy Holliday, Groucho Marx, Basil Rathbone, Eva Gabor, Jayne Mansfield, Jackie Gleason, and others who performed on that stage as part of their straw-hat tours.
• • A former publicist said that many actors were miserable, surly, and demanded the star treatment. Mae West did not. He said she was "the nicest actress I ever met."
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
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Mae West: Tallulah-ed

MAE WEST posed with actress Tallulah Bankhead at an event during the 1950s.

• • Tallulah Bankhead [31 January 1902 – 12 December 1968] was an American actress, talk-show host and bonne vivante.
• • At 15, Bankhead won a movie-magazine beauty contest and moved to New York. She quickly won bit parts. During these early New York years, she became a peripheral member of the Algonquin Round Table, and was reputed to be a hard-partying girl-about-town.
• • In 1931 her name was tossed out as Paramount Pictures' "next Marlene Dietrich", but Hollywood success eluded her in her first four films of the 30s. Critics agreed that her acting was flat, that she was unable to dominate the camera, and that she was generally outclassed by Dietrich, Carole Lombard, and others.
• • In Hollywood, Tallulah rented a home [1712 Stanley Street], and began hosting frisky parties. On 9 September 1932, she was on the cover of Film Weekly.
• • She was outspoken and uninhibited.
• • In 1932 she briefly expressed interest in spirituality and met with an Indian mystic.
• • In 1933 Tallulah Bankhead nearly died following a 5-hour emergency hysterectomy for an advanced case of gonorrhea, contracted – – she said – – from either actor George Raft or Gary Cooper. Only 70 pounds when she was able to leave the hospital, she stoically said to her doctor, "Don't think this has taught me a lesson!"
• • In 1963 she gave her last theatrical performances in a Tennessee Williams play, The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Any More.
• • Tallulah Bankhead died in New York City in December of double pneumonia arising from influenza, complicated by emphysema, at the age of 66 [12 December 1968] and is buried in Saint Paul's Churchyard, Maryland.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: Mae West • • Tallulah Bankhead • •
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