Mae West: Meant to be a vamp

Cast in the successful Broadway hit "Sometime" [October 1918 — June 1919] as Mayme Dean, a vamp whose suitors always seem to decamp, MAE WEST was in the unusual position of putting across a few comically wistful laments. Since the musical was written during the war years, when red-blooded men were scarce in New York City, presumably the duly deprived females in the audience could relate to Mayme Dean's howl of frustration.
• • Pleading for the attentions of "Any Kind of Man," Mae West sang these lyrics:
• • • I was born a scamp
• • • Meant to be a vamp
• • • If I'd had the chance I could have did
• • • Theda Bara tricks,
• • • Paralyzed the hicks
• • • Nothing could have stopped me but the lid
• • • But somehow my style has got a cramp
• • • Can't find a single soul to vamp
• • • All I want is just a little loving
• • • Just a little spooning and a squeeze . . .
• • • If the boob can walk, he don't have to talk!
• • • Send me any kind of man! ...
• • And here is the 26-year-old performer made up as a vamp, a la Theda Bara, after her appearance in Ned Wayburn's "Demitasse Revue" — — on the cover of a prestigious magazine, New York's Dramatic Mirror, 25 December 1919. Quite a front page.
• • Harrison Grey Fiske, born July 30th • •
• • Born in Westchester County (Harrison, New York) and educated at New York University, Harrison Grey Fiske [30 July 1861 — 2 September 1942] was an American theatrical manager and reporter. Fiske served as an editorial writer and dramatic critic for a number of publications such as the Jersey City-based Argus and The New York Star. In 1879 he became a contributor to the New York Dramatic Mirror, and by 1883 the proprietor.
• • The influence the Dramatic Mirror wielded was not inconsiderable. They praised Mae's performance as part of the Broadway line-up they reviewed — — and her vamp portrait even made the front cover on 25 December 1919, yes, thanks to some pressure exerted by Ned Wayburn who featured the 26-year-old brunette in his "Demitasse Revue" at the Capitol Theatre in New York City.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Goodness had nothing to do with it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • • • To Ms Mae West on Her 85th • • • •
• • • • What right have you?
• • • • Did you pat your platinum alps
• • • • When across the electric wire
• • • • The thrilling message came
• • • • That the pelvic muscles were tranquillized
• • • • The gluteal shivers forever fridged
• • • • That in fact (O lamentable extinction!)
• • • • Elvis had gone pop. ...
• • Source: Excerpt from a long birthday poem written to Mae West by John Jordan on 17 August 1977
• • 17 July 2004 — 17 July 2011 • •
• • In mid-July the Mae West Blog celebrates its seventh anniversary. Thank you to all those Mae-mavens who come up and see Mae every day.
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2007th 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: Max Factor Shedding

The Hollywood Entertainment Museum will shed bits and pieces of the Max Factor Collection at an upcoming online auction — — which presents collectors with an opportunity to acquire one more MAE WEST keepsake — — on 15 May 2010.
• • Intriguing collectibles from the Max Factor Collection (slated for the sale next week) include: autographed negatives and photographs from well known stars of Hollywood's Golden Age such as Mae West, Theda Bara, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Corinne Griffith, and others; still production photos, set negatives and test photos, wig making schedules and more from such films as 1939 Gone with the Wind; the Kissing Machine, Head Measuring Device and a variety of Original Make-Up created by Max Factor dating as far back as 1917.
• • "The history of Max Factor and how he changed the faces of Hollywood forever will never be forgotten," stated Melissa Storment, VP of Super Auctions. "The online bidding has now begun and we will continue to post new items online daily up to the auction date."
• • Check out the space-agey iconic Beauty Calibrator, the only one known to be in existence.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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