Mae West: Notes & Quotes

Concluding our eye-witness coverage of the MAE WEST panel at UCLA on Monday evening, 23 February 2009, here are some fascinating close-ups collected by our West Coast correspondents and also our indefatigable Hollywood-based Mae mavens, who sat up front and took it all in.
• • The brother of the producer of "My Little Chickadee" was in the audience. He was 92.
• • It was made known that a certain fellow — — a devastatingly delicious Angeleno who sports a number of well-placed Mae West tattoos — — was widely photographed at the February 23rd maypole frolics at UCLA. [We wish we had a few those mouth-watering negatives to share.]
• • Our invaluable Hollywood spies have relayed a juicy slice of riveting refreshment.
• • February 23rd panelist Kevin Thomas remarked that Mae West wrote down quips as they came to her on anything nearby and them put them in her purse. He says Paul Novak left him an entire boxful of unused lines. That is fantastic. Kevin Thomas talked at length about Mae fan, collector, and friend, Dolly Dempsey. This was one of the few women Mae West admitted into her inner circle — — a woman for whom she had genuine affection. Kevin Thomas said she was holding Mae's hand when she passed away in 1980. In the 1970s, Dolly Dempsey said to Kevin Thomas: "She loves Paul Novak — — she just doesn't know it."
• • Our West Coast onlooker writes: On February 23rd, panelist Tim Malachosky's recollections were very mundane and trivial. Kevin Thomas said (incorrectly) that Tim was the closest person to Mae West who is still alive. However, I can think of at least three right off the top of my head who were much closer to her. It is fair to say that Tim Malachosky was Paul Novak's helper and little more than that. It would appear that Charlotte Chandler and Tim Malachosky had a kinship of some sort — — something very 'proper old lady-like' that seemed extremely out of place in what was supposed to be a Mae West environment.
• • Our West Coast onlooker adds: One unsettling moment was when Kevin Thomas recalled that whenever he saw Tim Malachosky at Mae West's place, he always offered him a ride back to Santa Monica — — and Tim always refused. Kevin Thomas said someone finally told him: "You don't know why he refuses? It's because Timmy wants to the last person Mae sees." When Thomas called Mae "pleasingly plump," Malachosky looked as though he had been mortally wounded.
• • February 23rd panelist Jonathan Kuntz gave a great slideshow with commentary and high quality images (although several were under incorrect titles and years). He spoke at length about censorship.
• • February 23rd panelist Dan Price was the one fellow who seemed to have known the real Mae West very well — — and so he must have been good looking back then. Dan Price told some very funny stories (that were met with bemused expressions from Thomas and Malachosky). For instance, Dan Price said that Mae West and Paul reminded him of the movie "Sunset Boulevard," in that often Novak would get into full chauffeur gear to drive her somewhere. Price also said he mentioned Mickey Hargitay to her (in the 1970s). According to Dan Price, Mae West said: "Something was wrong with that guy. Why would he want THAT, when he coulda had THIS!" — — and lifted her right breast out with great pride. The audience roared!
• • February 23rd panelist Marvin Paige rehashed all of the usual "Sextette" on-set stories, which are a very, VERY stark contrast to the Mae West who is speaking in Charlotte Chandler's book. I was going to ask about this — — in that they were on the same panel — — but I refrained from causing a very, very awkward moment.
• • All of the February 23rd panelists agreed that Mae West had extremely beautiful skin, the loveliest complexion, amazing hands, and a 'special aura' unlike any other they had ever known. I have heard this before. Even a very, very critical friend of mine (who met Mae West on several occasions) once told me, "She lit up a room. She had a special aura about her."
• • A February 23rd panelist stated that Mae was a night owl, and woke up at noon usually. Considering she was an older lady, I find that really, really cool.
• • Mae West's racier motion picture clips were shown (pre-censorship) and ONCE AGAIN, this audience seemed clueless. They even missed the obviously funny lines. Only when they saw a scene from "Every Day's a Holiday" — — when Mae West's cape turns into her backdrop/ curtain — — did they all bust out laughing. Hmmm. I never even knew that was supposed to BE amusing! Only later, when a not-so-funny Mae quip was repeated [that is, "a long gown covers a multitude of SHINS"] and this audience roared with laughter, did I finally realize these adults must have been regular attendees to any and all free UCLA events.
• • Our West Coast onlooker reveals: NO ONE appeared to have bought or read this book, which I thought was very interesting to note. I was the only one there who had Charlotte Chandler's book with me.
• • I was startled to notice that over one-third of the audience was asleep and happily snoring away. Only when Kevin Thomas or Dan Price said anything amusing, did it seem to revive the place somewhat. Even Charlotte Chandler appeared to be dozing off on occasion!
• • Unfortunately, there were not too many voyagers into Mae West's storied past on February 23rd. UCLA's promotion coordinators put forth a rather low-energy outreach and the auditorium (which can accommodate 278 listeners) was barely half-full for this free event.
• • The Mae West blog is grateful to these stalwart screen-lovers for their patience and their comments. This concludes our front-row coverage of UCLA's somewhat lukewarm toast to the icon of the 20th century — — the Brooklyn bombshell herself.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
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Mae West.

Mae West: A Fan's Story

Continuing our eye-witness coverage of the MAE WEST panel at UCLA on Monday evening, 23 February 2009, here is a fascinating first-person recollection that was duly noted by our indefatigable Hollywood correspondent, who knew we would find it quite charming.
• • This intensely devastating Angeleno, who appreciates male pulchritude, recounts this narrative: "The only truly memorable story on Monday night was when an audience member told a story of his encounter with Mae West in 1977."
• • The man said he was having dinner at Imperial Gardens in Los Angeles when he heard Mae West was in the house. He saw Paul Novak near the restroom and asked if he could meet Mae West. Paul said, "Sure, come on over to the table."
• • Since this gentleman was very good looking in February 2009, I can only imagine what he must have looked like then. Mae West asked him to sit with them — — she was sitting with a table of male friends. This guy was stunned but pleased and forgot all about his companions at his own table! Then, to his surprise, Mae West asked three of her friends to move, so HE could sit next to her! After dinner, she said, "Ya want an autographed picture?" He said he would be thrilled. She TOOK HIS HAND and they walked through the restaurant to the car with Mae's buddies in tow. The guy's tablemates saw this and almost fainted! Outside, Mae West went through her stack of photos (presumably from the trunk) and discovered she had PRE-SIGNED all of them already TO people (men's names, of course). She said, "Well, it looks like they're already signed, see. So how about this one — — 'to John?'" He said his name wasn't John. Mae West said, "Mmmm. Well, this one's to 'Robert' — — how 'bout that?" He said he couldn't. Then Mae West says, "Well, I'm havin' a party Sunday afternoon. I'll sign one then."
• • He did go to her party. He said she was lovely and gracious, with very soft hands and a smooth face. She signed a photo for him.
• • This story seemed to have woken up much of the audience — — and then the night was over.
• • Unfortunately, there were not too many voyagers into Mae West's storied past on February 23rd. UCLA's promotion coordinators put forth a rather low-energy outreach and the auditorium (which can accommodate 278 listeners) was barely half-full for this free event.
• • The Mae West blog is grateful to these stalwart screen-lovers for their patience and their comments. More front-row details will appear tomorrow.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West.

Mae West: Front Row News

Continuing our eye-witness coverage of the MAE WEST panel at UCLA on 23 February 2009, here are more first-person accounts sent in by our intrepid Hollywood correspondents following Monday's clam-bake.
• • One strikingly handsome Angeleno shares this observation: Brought in from the lobby to the James Bridges Theatre were a few Mae West costumes. And THANK GOD, as they would prove to be the only interesting element of the evening. On display was a well-preserved blue dress worn by Mae's character Peaches O'Day in "Every Day's a Holiday" [released in the USA as holiday fare on 18 December 1937]. This beautifully embellished costume was designed 72 years ago by Elsa Schiaparelli. Also on view were Mae's small white satin shoes used during her speakeasy scenes as Maudie Triplett in "Night After Night" and the black sequined and white fur ensemble whipped up for the 1958 Academy Awards grand opening number with Rock Hudson — — and later re-used in "Sextette."
• • According to our trusty Angeleno eagle-eye: The Mae West panel was made up of Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Chandler, Tim Malachosky, Marvin Paige (a notorious "casting" director), Jonathan Kuntz (an historian of the old Hollywood studio system), and Dan Price (a film archivist who actually knew Miss West very well). Biographer Charlotte Chandler — — her notorious giant curls at half mast on this night — — looked remarkably like my deceased friend Quentin Crisp. She appeared fatigued, but spoke very well. It would seem this is an ANNUAL ROUTINE FOR HER. A book per year, and then this kind of christening ritual in the same theater. Charlotte Chandler said Mae West gave her a bottle of baby oil and said it should be applied warm, by a man, all over. She also gave her some cosmetics. She CLAIMED to have heard a "fluttering" not unlike bird wings, only to discover it was Mae's heavy false eyelashes brushing her cheek as she was blinking.
• • Unfortunately, there were not too many voyagers into Mae West's storied past on February 23rd. UCLA's promotion coordinators put forth a rather low-energy outreach and the auditorium (which can accommodate 278 listeners) was barely half-full for this free event.
• • The Mae West blog is grateful to these stalwart screen-lovers for their patience and their comments. More front-row details will appear tomorrow.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West.

Mae West: Front Row Views

They came up to see MAE WEST — — about 100 devotees and curiosity seekers, lining up before 7:30 PM on Monday February 23rd outside of UCLA's Melnitz Hall (i.e., the James Bridges Theater, which can seat 248 adults).
• • The Mae West Blog heard from a number of West Coast eye-witnesses and attendees, all of whom are well-versed in MAE-ology. In other words, they've seen all the movies, they know the Westian one-liners by heart, they've read the books, they've collected their share of a-MAE-zing memorabilia, and they were expecting a little class from an event staged at UCLA, where Mae West accepted an award as "Woman of the Century" in 1971 when she was 78 years old.
• • Moderated by Robert Rosen, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, "the event will be filled with surprises and goodies to make it a night to remember," promised the UCLA press release. However, the evening seems to have been organized by one of the campus leaf-blowers instead.
• • An informed source describes the peculiar "welcome" token on February 23rd: "On our way in, we were all handed a low quality laser copy of Mae West's 1947 passport, which had nothing to do with anything, nor was anyone at all interested, except the die-hards (and there were none here, except me, who has a much higher quality version at home). Why this exceedingly odd item was chosen as a hand-out, no one knew. And no info of any kind was written on it."
• • Our informed source adds: "Inside we saw a gigantic screen with very common, PIXILATED images of Mae West — — every single one obtained by a quick and effortless Google image search."
• • Whose hands were clapping? Another Angeleno insider dishes: "The audience was not comprised of young college students interested in all that Mae West has done for cinema, women, or gay people. The crowd was mostly in the age range of 50 to 70 and two-thirds were male. A sprinkling of women in their 20s — 50s dotted a few rows in this amphitheatre."
• • Unfortunately, there were not too many voyagers into Mae West's storied past on February 23rd. UCLA's promotion coordinators put forth a low-energy outreach and the auditorium was barely half-full.
• • The panelists, charged with discussing their personal and intimate recollections of one of the most fascinating and versatile American icons of the 20th century, were not the most riveting raconteurs, it would appear, alas and alack. A disappointed attendee writes: "I was startled to notice that over one-third of the audience had fallen asleep. Only when Kevin Thomas or Dan Price said something amusing did the listeners seem to be revived for a bit. And even Charlotte Chandler herself appeared to be dozing off on occasion!"
• • One sharp-eyed seat-holder remarked: "At the very beginning, the host said that topics such as what Mae West did for the women's movement, gay people, and the cinema would be discussed, as well as her being a sexual icon. Turns out that no such profound subjects were ever discussed on February 23rd, even in passing."
• • The Mae West blog is grateful to these observers for their comments. More front-row details will appear tomorrow.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West.

Mae West: Westwood Ho!

Enjoy an exciting evening dedicated to MAE WEST on Monday 23 February 2009 at the James Bridges Theater [on the campus of UCLA].
• • There will be guest speakers, film clips, and actual dresses worn by Miss West and designed by Edith Head and Elsa Schiaparelli.
• • Moderated by Robert Rosen, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, the event will be filled with surprises and goodies to make it a night to remember.
• • The event begins at 7:30PM — — and it is FREE and open to the public.
• • Where: The James Bridges Theater: 302 East Melnitz, Melnitz Hall, Westwood, California 90024; tel 310-206-8013
• • Cross Street — — corner of Sunset Boulevard and Hilgard Avenue
• • Tell 'em you heard about this event on the Mae West blog.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • In 1971 Mae West went to UCLA to accept their "Woman of the Century" award.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
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Mae West.