Mae West: Majestic in Texas

In 1914, when MAE WEST and Guido were doing the variety circuit, they were jointly booked at the Majestic in San Antonio, Texas in early September. Thanks to the San Antonio Light newspaper, which gave a detailed account of the performance, we have a good idea of the impression created by the accordion king and his sexy Brooklyn bride.  Let's spend some time with the star-crossed couple in honor of the Italian musician's birthday.
• • Guido Deiro [10 June 1886 — 26 July 1950] • •

• • Throughout 1914 and into the early part of the next year Mae West and Guido Deiro trouped together, performing from coast to coast on the same stages.  Quite often the Italian musician was singled out as the stand-out hit. In 1914, still developing her brand, Mae West was noticed as "the Eva Tanguay of vaudeville," "the original Brinkley girl," or a singing comedienne "with a style all her own."   
• • When the two entertainers performed at the Majestic, the Texas newspaper San Antonio Light wrote:  The brass predominates in a march-time introduced by the Majestic orchestra, then softens down to almost nothing, and into the spotlight bursts Deiro, king of the accordeonists with his magnificent piano-accordeon. Without a pause, his fingers start their nimble skipping up and down the dual keyboards, and out to the audience float the strains of ages old masterpieces and the most modern of rags and ballads. At will Deiro, expressing the mood of the moment, commands the best music of the world and plays it as a master for his auditors.  . . .   

• • Deiro is not alone in the honor column, however; six other acts share it with him including Mae West, the "Eva Tanguay" of Vaudeville.  . . .
• • Illustration: Mae West at the Majestic Theatre in 1914.
• • Source:  Review from San Antonio Light; published on Tuesday, 8 September 1914.
• • On Sunday, 11 June 1989 • •
• • The L.A. Times wrote:  "I'm No Angel" (Channel 5, Saturday at 3:15 a.m.): Mae West was never better as a carny dancer turned lion tamer who conquers high society and vamps Cary Grant as well; this is the one in which she ad-libbed (sic), "Beulah, peel me a grape."
• • On Friday, 11 June 2010 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • On Friday, 11 June 2010 in The N.Y. Times, reporter Sara Polsky described a 28-foot-wide Manhattan mansion recently listed for sale.
• • In the early 1930s, 266 West End Avenue belonged to actress Mae West.  Beverly stayed on for awhile in Mae's home before it was sold.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West received word yesterday that the inmates of the Iowa State Penitentiary have voted her their favorite, this despite her having been instrumental in sending a man to prison recently for robbing her.  Jail's news organ, the Presidio, has asked her for a photograph and an interview.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:   "Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Associated Press discussed Mae West.
• • New York, June 10  (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Salvatore A. Cotillo expressed unreserved admiration today for Frank Wallace, an actor, because he wanted to be declared Mae West's husband. I admire him, said the justice, but I'm afraid there is nothing for me to do but dismiss the case.
• • Mae West's counsel contended she had not been properly served in the suit.  . . .
• • Source: Item in the Daily Illini (Illinois); published on Thursday, 11 June 1936
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3198th 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 1914 • •
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Mae West: Petty Larceny Grafters

Vaudevillian MAE WEST may have broken the heart of Bud Burmester in 1924 but he rose to her defense when the Frank Wallace rumors were raging. Let's see how a true Romeo behaves.
• • "Burmester Denies He Wed Mae West; Terms Her Lady" • •
• • FORT WORTH, Texas, Apr. 23 [A.P.] — — If R. A. Burmester ever was married to Mae West, he won't be the one to break into print with it at this late date.

• • He denied here today a rumor he had married her in 1924, and paid high tribute to Miss West as a lady and an artist.
• • "Mae West is a lady and an artist in the truest sense," Burmester said. He criticized persons  who for the sake of publicity link their names with hers.
• • "She gained her present high eminence in the theater and on the silver sheet entirely by her own efforts.  She never got a break from anybody. She's entitled to the greatest admiration and respect."
• • "I consider it most unsportsmanlike for petty larceny grafters to attach themselves to her skirts and thus attempt to share in her reflected glory," he went on.  "This goes double for those who are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill by dragging out the rumor of an alleged license."
• • Source: Article from the wire services rpt in The Daily Illini; published on  Wednesday, 24 April 1935.
• • On Saturday, 23 April 1927 • •
• • In her hometown newspapers, Mae West's short prison sentence was being played for comedy not tragedy. The N.Y. Daily News reported on Saturday, 23 April 1927 that the inmate was writing a new play in jail and had job offers waiting. "A night club wants her to mop up the floor in prison costume for a few weeks at a fat salary," ran the article.
• • On Tuesday, 23 April 1935 in The Hollywood Reporter • •
• • A review of "Goin' to Town" appeared in The Hollywood Reporter in their issue dated for Tuesday, 23 April 1935.
• • On Sunday, 23 April 2006 • •
• • Voice of America featured "Mae West: The Wild Woman of Film and Stage" on Sunday, 23 April 2006.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Bill Hendricks, manager of the Warner theatre at Memphis, is back from the coast after an eight-day visit as the guest of Mae West at the Paramount studio.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Eight guys have called me up since January. I counted them. They tell me they're married to me, but it must be two other girls. I can't copyright my name, you know."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Urbana Daily Courier mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae Sticks To Her Story" • •
• • "Says No Guy Ever Led Me to Altar; Thinks Maybe Somebody Has Done Her Wrong" • •
• • Hollywood [U.P.] — Mae West slipped a diamond studded fist onto her hip today, dropped her stream-lined chassis into reverse, and backed out of her eighth reported marriage in three months.  Sure, this ain't the first time, said the buxom, blonde film siren, continuing to deny she was the same Mae West who got a license in Milwaukee in 1911 to marry one Frank Wallace.  I've been told I'm somebody's wife so often, I'm beginning to feel like a grandmother.  . . .
• • Source: United Press article rpt in Urbana Daily Courier  (Illinois); published on Tuesday, 23 April 1935
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3163rd 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1935 • •
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Mae West: Penguin Lover

MAE WEST never turned down an opportunity to visit a zoo. Oddly enough, on Easter Sunday in 1939, when the movie queen was in Texas admiring some tropical penguins, she heard a nasal voice call her name.
• • “Who’s that?" Mae exclaimed. "Who’s talking to me?”
• • The tallest, most muscular penguin nipped her gently on the wrist, where a bracelet, glittering with channel-set diamonds, peeped out from a white embroidered glove. "It's Maxsie, Mae. I hoped you'd come up to see me sometime. And you finally did."
• • Mae inspected the three-foot-eight creature with brownish grey markings. "Maxsie Palooka! Is it really you, covered in dirty grey feathers?"
• • Maxsie cleared his throat. "I used to be snow white, but I drifted south. I prefer the temperate zones. A little birdie said you were still on the West Coast, Mae. You're lookin' good."
• • "Sounds like you're still in the ring, wearing your mouth guard, Maxsie. It's a little difficult to follow this . . . uh, conversation."
• • "I hear ya!"
• • "Howja happen to wind up behind bars?" Mae wondered aloud.
• • "I was on a yacht, ya see, with my former trainer Big Mook. And a catamaran, carrying Christian missionaries, was in distress. We hauled them up, then these mugs start blessing anything in sight. One tall bible-beater tried to baptize Champy, my faithful water spaniel, and Miss Mischief, Big Mook's macaw. Then one of the elders said: This mistake causes a problem for the Almighty, who usually only allows humans to be baptized! Next thing, my spaniel Champy starts yapping in English, praising Jesus Christ, and saying his soul is saved. I try to reach for my doggie — — but I got fluffy wings where my fingers used to be. Amazing, eh?"

• • "Maxsie! I just can't help staring!"
• • "Visitors say that all the time. But it's cool. I'd rather be looked over than overlooked."
• • "So you've been reborn — — as a flightless bird, living in a tank. Astonishing!"
• • "I was always one for the chicks. Now I'm surrounded with 'em." Maxsie gave a soft grunt. "Least I didn't come back as an entrée on a menu."
• • "Gotta be going, honey!" said Mae. "Can I peel you a grape or. . .?"
• • "Feeding time's in an hour. Yesterday we got squid. I expect they'll toss me some krill today." He sighed. "Mae, I really miss the strawberry cheesecake at Junior's on Flatbush Avenue."
• • Jim Timony was returning from the men's room and Mae asked him to take some pictures. As they walked towards the exit, Mae thought she heard a lot of agitation in the tank, churning the water like an Evinrude.
• • Happy April Fool's Day!    
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Photo of Mae West and penguins — — courtesy of Damon Devine, Hollywood.
• • Do not copy this image without obtaining permission first. Be nice.
• • On Friday, 1 April 1921 • •
• • "The Ruby Ring" by Mae West was registered with the Library of Congress's Copyright Office early in the month of April — — on Friday, 1 April 1921.
• • It was during March 1921 when Mae West had mailed an envelope to the Library of Congress containing her first playscript, "The Ruby Ring." At 20 pages, this manuscript was more of an extended "sketch" than a play. Gloria, the female lead, is a mantrap who is able to pick the gents off with ease.
• • Her parents were living in Woodhaven in 1921 [705 Boyd Avenue] and Mae used this address when she registered the copyright.
• • Script Approval on Monday, 1 April 1935 • •
• • An enormous international cast was assembled to do justice to Mae West's ambitious screenplay "Now I'm a Lady" centered around the horsey set. Script approval was granted by the Hays Commission on Monday, 1 April 1935 and the motion picture was released by Paramount Pictures the following month as "Goin' to Town."
• • Starting on Wednesday, 1 April 1936 • •
• • On Sunday, 1 March 1936, The New York Times mentioned that Mae West confirmed she planned to go to Columbia Pictures with Emanuel Cohen, even though Paramount Pictures declared it had exercised its option and wanted their screen star to make two more pictures with the studio, the first one to start on Wednesday, 1 April 1936 — — and the second to start on 1 July 1936.
• • On Wednesday, 1 April 1942 • •
• • On 1 April 1942, Lou Walters opened The Latin Quarter in Manhattan. During the 1950s, Mae brought the "Mae West Revue" there twice.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West broke the record for a newcomer when her first Paramount picture was completed.  She distributed envelopes to every member of the working crew, enclosing bills ranging from $20 to $100.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "People just don't eat right. For breakfast, I have sliced apples and raisins. Or fruit with a syrup made of powdered almonds, milk, and honey. At night all I have is a salad. During the day I drink carrot juice." 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Hollywood fan magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Herb Howe wrote:  I tried to join the Navy and see Mae West, but didn't get by, because sailors are now required to have a high school education.
• • Source: Item written by Herb Howe for The New Movie Magazine; published in January 1934 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3147th 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 • • with the penguins in 1939 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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