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In September 1934, MAE WEST sat down for a series of "Me and My Past" talks with the United Press syndicated reporter Leicester Wagner. We will post excerpts from Chapter #6 in several installments. This is Chapter 6, excerpt c-c.
• • "Me and My Past" by Mae West • •
• • As Told to Leicester Wagner, United Press Staff Correspondent • •
• • It's No Lark • •
• • Going to jail isn't a lark, yet I needed a vacation and got it. The warden's children wanted me to teach them to dance, and I did. They and the warden hated to see me leave.
• • Between instructing the children and other duties, I had time to think.
• • That sentence had not turned down my writing damper one bit. and I struck on the character which shot me to the top of filmdom — — "Diamond Lil."
• • Down on paper, finally on the stage, "Diamond Lil" became one of the theatrical hits of the country.
• • Park Avenue rubbed shoulders with the Bowery. For nearly two years, I kept "Diamond Lil" in New York [sic], then went on the road and for three years broke box office records with it all over the country.
• • During this time I had Hollywood offers, but could see no reason why I should quit the stage for the movies.
• • "Constant Sinner" • • . . .
• • NOTE: This is the 6th chapter of Mae West's life story as told to Leicester Wagner, United Press. This syndicated series was reprinted in American newspapers during September 1934.
• • This has been excerpt c-c. Tuesday's post will be d-d — — the continuation of Chapter #6.
• • On Monday, 28 November 1932 • •
• • At the MPPDA board meeting on Monday, 28 November 1932, Adolph Zukor made promises to Will Hays that only "suitable material" would find its way into the script and the "Diamond Lil" title was already gone.
• • On Saturday, 28 November 1936 • •
• • Did you spot Mae West in the animated cartoon "The Coo-Coo Nut Grove" [1936]?
• • Take an amusing visit to a Hollywood night club.
• • The illustrators created caricatures of Mae West as well as Walter Winchell, Hugh Herbert, W.C. Fields, Katharine Hepburn, Johnny Weissmuller, Harpo Marx, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Clark Gable, Groucho Marx, Edward G. Robinson, etc.
• • The 60-minute cartoon feature was first aired in November — — on Saturday, 28 November 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • It took Mae's "cumup'n see me s'm'time" to bring Prosperity around the corner into the theaters.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm sorry I can't see you in private." [The Hays Office deleted this "objectionable" screen line.]
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Illinois daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Chicago Tribune reporter Joanne Kaufman wrote: The first edition of "Who's Who in America" contained 8,602 listings, and Marquis was besieged by people who wanted to reserve space for themselves in subsequent editions. But Marquis had stern standards. The first book was dominated by profiles of obscure educators, clergymen, and welfare workers.
• • Some took the snub with aplomb. Mae West, when asked why she failed to make the cut, replied, "Well, the old boy who published it isn't in my little black book, either." ...
• • Source: Article: "The 'Big Red Book' And 75,000 Big Shots" written by Joanne Kaufman for the Chicago Tribune; published on Friday, 28 November 1986
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank
you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these
past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a
milestone recently when we completed 3,500 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3583rd 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1936 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
In September 1934, MAE WEST sat down for a series of "Me and My Past" talks with the United Press syndicated reporter Leicester Wagner. We will post excerpts from Chapter #6 in several installments. This is Chapter 6, excerpt b-b.
• • "Me and My Past" by Mae West • •
• • As Told to Leicester Wagner, United Press Staff Correspondent • •
• • Then the play opened • •
• • The play opened in Daly's Theater in New York City — — farther uptown than most of the houses — — but it was a smash hit from the opening night. It was the first taste America had of sex with a laugh. They came, they saw, went away and talked. But what was more, they paid their money to see it.
• • For two years "Sex" packed 'em in. Then Mayor James J. Walker took a vacation. Acting Mayor Joseph V. McKee ordered three shows raided — — "The Captive," "A Virgin Man" and "Sex." It was sort of a political gesture and someone had to be an example.
• • I was it. Sentenced to pay a $500 fine and to serve 10 days in the workhouse on Welfare Island — — since revealed as a racketeering center, run by inmates and a blight on New York's good name — — I went to the Island through a conviction based on evidence which today seems exceedingly slight.
• • It's No Lark • • . . .
• • NOTE: This is the 6th chapter of Mae West's life story as told to Leicester Wagner, United Press. This syndicated series was reprinted in American newspapers during September 1934.
• • This has been excerpt b-b. The next post will be c-c — — the continuation of Chapter #6.
• • On Saturday, 25 November 1911 in Variety • •
• • The opening night cast of "Vera Violetta" at the Winter Garden did not include the misbehaving and Gaby-upstaging Mae West. Her antics during the out-of-town try-outs brought about her dismissal.
• • On Thursday, 25 November 1943 in NYC • •
• • Bouquets of praise did not shower Mae West after her film "The Heat Is On" was released right before Christmas in December 1943. Trading on The Big Apple's fondness for the Brooklyn bombshell, this ill-fated project had a special New York City premiere on Thursday, 25 November 1943.
• • On Tuesday, 25 November 1980 • •
• • A private service for Mae West was held in the Old North Church replica, in Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, on Tuesday, 25 November 1980.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West once told a reporter that she almost married George Raft.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Of course, I had to have experiences to understand life. I had to know all about life to give people what they wanted on the stage."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Stanford Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "We were glad to see you, Mae" • •
• • Hollywood — Friends and admirers plan to bid a final farewell this week to sultry movie queen Mae West, whose sexy walk and sexy talk made her a Hollywood legend. West died Saturday at her home at age 87. She had spent the past three months in a hospital recuperating from a mild stroke. . . .
• • Source: Obit in The Stanford Daily; published on Monday, 24 November 1980
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank
you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these
past eleven years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a
milestone recently when we completed 3,500 blog posts. Wow!
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3582nd 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1943 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC Mae West
