Mae West: Johnny Mercer

MAE WEST did not discuss her husbands in her memoir "Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" — — even though she was legally married twice.  However, she did portray the oft-married blushing bride Marlo Manners, who enters a posh London hotel lobby on the arm of her sixth husband in "Sextette" [1978].
• • There is an impressive rendition of "Hooray for Hollywood" by a large cast of performers. The iconic song was written by Johnny Mercer, who died in the month of June — — on Friday, 25 June 1976 — — from a brain tumor at age 66.
• • Unlike Mae West, the singer—songwriter has been honored by the United States Postal Service with his portrait placed on a stamp in 1996. Amazing who gets on an American postage stamp and who does not, eh?
• • Born in Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer [18 November 1909 — 25 June 1976] was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer. Though he is best known as a lyricist, he composed music, too. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others. From the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s, many of the songs Mercer wrote and performed were among the most popular hits of the time. The prolific musician wrote the lyrics to more than fifteen hundred songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Academy Award nominations, and won four. Mercer was also a co-founder of Capitol Records.
• • "Hooray for Hollywood" • •
• • "Hooray for Hollywood" is a film song first featured in the motion picture "Hollywood Hotel" [1937], a number that has since become the staple soundtrack element of any Academy Awards ceremony. Curiously enough, "Hooray for Hollywood" is even frequently played during non-American movie ceremonies, e.g. the French César Awards. The popularity of the song is notably due to the lyrics by Johnny Mercer, which reference the American movie industry and satirize the illusory desire of many people to become famous as actors. 
• • Richard A. Whiting [1891 — 1938] composed the music, then had a heart attack at the height of his fame. Very sad.
• • On Friday, 25 June 1926 • •
• • It was on Friday, 25 June 1926 that Mae West appeared with Al Jolson — — as well as Houdini and other entertainers (such as George M. Cohan, Fanny Brice, the Marx Brothers, Ann Pennington, Hazel Dawn, Eddie Foy, etc.) — — at the Polo Grounds on West 155th Street in Manhattan's Washington Heights area. The fundraiser was for the benefit of the United Jewish Campaign.

• • On Monday, 25 June 1956 at Idlewild Airport • •
• • When Mae West took a TWA flight from Los Angeles to New York City, her plane landed at Idlewild Airport on Monday, 25 June 1956.  She waved to fans, who were thrilled to greet her as she disembarked with Charles Krauser.  The fight in her dressing room in Washington, DC had suddenly brought "Mr. California" into focus.
• • On Thursday, 25 June 1970 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • "Myra Breckinridge" opened in wide release on June 24th.
• •  An article written by Howard Thompson was printed in The N.Y. Times on page 54 on Thursday, 25 June 1970:  "Mae West, 76, Still Finding New Generations of Fans." A wonderful piece by Mr. Thompson.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • By this time we needn't worry about Mae West's progress. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have had to do my share of outsmarting men through necessity."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Asprey mentioned Mae West.
• • According to Jenny Johnston for the Daily Mail: A bona fide British institution, Asprey can trace its history back to 1781 and has been a presence on upmarket New Bond Street since 1847. It's held a Royal Warrant from every British monarch since Queen Victoria awarded it one in 1862, and everyone from Mae West to the Beckham family has been a customer.  . . .
 • • Source: Article written by Jenny Johnston for the Daily Mail (England); published on Friday, 27 June 2014
• • 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 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3208th 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 1956 • •
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Mae West: Mayan Mae

MAE WEST often made it into the Hollywood gossip columns.  Even if there wasn't much going on, reporters wanted to mention her name.
• • Hollywood scribe Mike Connolly ended a June column like this:  Mae West read in the papers: "Mayan calendars are more accurate." Asks Mae, "All I want to know is — — will it make me younger or older?”
• • Source: Item in Mike Connolly's syndicated gossip column for the Desert Sun; published on Tuesday, 21 June 1960.
• • On Sunday, 24 June 1928 • •
• • The Brooklyn Eagle, Mae's hometown paper, sent reporter George Halasz to interview the star about her new Broadway play "Diamond Lil." In the newspaper's weekend edition dated for Sunday, 24 June 1928, George Halasz wrote:  "When the play is put in rehearsal she has but a bare outline of the plot and dialogue.  As the rehearsals progress, she throws in a line here, a speech there. ..."
• • This is, of course, nonsense.  Mae's plays had a large cast and she was present at the auditions. For instance, "Diamond Lil" had almost three dozen in the cast. Mae knew how many actors she would need, and what roles they would play, well before hiring an adequate rehearsal space. A lot of dramatists refine and revise during rehearsal, sometimes to suit an actor, but a theatre professional like Mae West did not walk into a rehearsal with scraps of dialogue written on napkins.  No way.
• • On Thursday, 24 June 1937 • •
• • The Times (San Mateo, California) printed this syndicate article on Thursday, 24 June 1937.
• • "Mae West Must Answer Suit" • •
• • Los Angeles, June 24 —(UP) — Mae West, the film siren, must answer the suit of Frank Wallace, who contends he is her husband.  . . .
• • On Wednesday, 24 June 1970 • •
• • "Myra Breckinridge"  at the Criterion Theatre (1514 Broadway) on Tuesday, 23 June 1970. The general release was on June 24th.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Those who check their inhibitions at the door will have  themselves a night, an experience they won't soon forget  — — Mae West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "They (the police) said to me, 'These guys is fairies'."
• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • A book on Hollywood Bohemians mentioned Mae West.
• • Brett L. Abrams wrote: Actress Mae West twice tried to bring groups of “fairies” to the Broadway stage, drew condemnation and/or official repression. The theatre establishment refused to offer West's play, "The Drag," a stage in February 1927.  . . .
• • Source: Footnote (p. 202) in the book "Hollywood Bohemians: Transgressive Sexuality and the Selling of the Movieland Dream" by Brett L. Abrams; published in 2008 
• • Note: "Mae West: Sex, Censorship, Prison, and Politics" was the lead piece in the summer 2013 issue of The Dramatist. Editor-in-Chief Joey Stocks tapped DG member LindaAnn Loschiavo to write the cover story, emphasizing that he wanted the focus to be on the politics that created the legal tornado that sent the actress to prison, making headlines around the world.
• • If you really want to understand these controversial events surrounding "The Drag," this is the article that explains it all. Back issues are available: The Dramatist, 1501 Broadway, NYC 10036. 
• • 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 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3207th 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 1927 • •
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Mae West: Fistie Hero

MAE WEST returned to the 1890s era for "Belle of the Nineties," released in the USA on 21 September 1934 and then screened in foreign countries.
• • One of Mae's co-stars was actress Katherine DeMille, who was born on Thursday, 29 June 1911 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (with a birth name of Katherine Lester). Here is a vintage article that became available only recently —  — and mentioned this June baby.
• • "Naughty 'Nineties — — A Glamorous Picture" • •
• • Mae West at Her Best • •
• • Mae West, who admits that she is at her best when she is acting a woman at her worst, is at her very best in her newest, and gayest contribution to the screen, "Belle of the Nineties," screening on Saturday and Monday. 
• • As the queen of hearts and diamonds who takes Dixie by storm and charm, Miss West returns to the period of the Gay and Naughty Nineties in a lavishly dressed, handsomely mounted, and thoroughly engrossing entertainment.
• • Mae is surrounded by three new "tall, dark and handsomes," Roger Pryor, Johnny Mack Brown, and John Miljan — — with Duke Ellington and his orchestra — — and  Katherine DeMille, Libby Taylor, Stuart Holmes, and Warren Hymer in the supporting cast.  Miss West acts the part of a St. Louis burlesque to win the hearts of the Southern cavaliers.
• • In New Orleans she encounters Miljan who, as the proprietor of the South's most famous night-club, lays siege to her heart and her diamonds. John Mack Brown enters into the picture as the unsophisticated youth who pours adulation on Miss West, and gems at her feet.
• • Miss West falls in love with Roger Pryor, a current fistie hero • •
• • As the plot moves forward at a breathless pace, Miss West falls in love with Roger Pryor, a current fistie hero, and later, because she believes that he has double-crossed her, causes him to lose his most important fight.  But it all ends happily with Miljan, the true villain, getting his just desserts and Pryor and Miss West happily reunited.  Miss West sings several new songs.
• • Source:  Article on page 5 in Geraldton Guardian and Express (Western Australia); published on Thursday, 23 April 1936.
• • On Friday, 23 June 1922 in Variety • •

• • Mae West and Harry Richman performed together in Manhattan during June 1922, billing their act "Bits of Musical Comedy — — Mae West assisted by Harry Richman," and most of the material was written by The Firefly of Broadway herself.
• • In their edition dated for Friday, 23 June 1922, Variety's review appeared, praising the partnership because it offered ideal opposites. Referring to Mae, Variety (often reluctant to pay Mae a compliment) was enthusiastic for once: "She rises to heights undreamed of for her and reveals unsuspected depths as a delineator of character songs, a dramatic reader of ability, and a girl with a flair for farce that will some day land her on the legitimate Olympus."
• • On Tuesday, 23 June 1970 • •
• • "Myra Breckinridge" had its red-carpet, star-studded premiere in New York at the Criterion Theatre (1514 Broadway) on Tuesday, 23 June 1970. The movie went into general release in the USA one day later.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The 1978 film "Sextette," in which Ringo Starr appeared with Mae West, be re-released in New York.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "To err is human, but it feels divine."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Billboard Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Mike Todd has penciled In "Catherine Was Great," the Mae West opus for late June.
• • Source: Item in Billboard Magazine; published on Saturday, 3 June 1944 
• • 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 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3206th 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 1922 • •
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