Mae West: A Musical Revue

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 62 of 68.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •

• • Mae West: Not good but not bad either • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: In other words, Mae West’s final film of the Golden Age was not a Mae West film at all.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “The Heat’s On” is not a good film but neither is it the abomination that most online reviews make it out to be.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: These reviews largely come from disappointed West fans who were hoping for something more akin to what they’d come to expect from her work, or at the very least something she’s actually in!
• • Andy Goulding wrote: What “The Heat’s On” is instead is a musical revue.
• • Mae West: The film strings together showpieces • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Sunday, 22 December 1935 in The L.A. Times • •
• • Photographs of Mae's Los Angeles apartment were featured in the Sunday edition of The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, 22 December 1935.
• • On Sunday, 22 December 1963 • •
• • "Mae West Will Guest" • •
• • Hollywood — — Mae West will make one of her rare television appearances when she is the guest star in an episode of “Mister Ed,” stated The Fresno Bee on Sunday, 22 December 1963.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Producers issued a new "verboten" order prohibiting visitors in studios and on sets. But if you happen to be a president's son, then the new ukase means nothing.  
• • Elliott Roosevelt saw Mae West making "It Ain't No Sin."  
• • Elliott Roosevelt [23 September 1910 ― 27 October 1990] is aviation editor for Universal News Service.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I hate to spoil a good story but I don't believe in secret marriages. Whenever I take a husband I'll be the first one to know it. And I'll tell the world."

• • Mae West said: "Santa Baby, come and trim my Christmas tree."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Herald mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West Double Tours City for "Belle" Date • •
• • For his street ballyhoo on "Belle of the 90's" Taylor Myers, Loew's Broad, Columbus, Ohio, used a Mae West double in flashily decorated open car driven by officer in uniform.
• • "Mae" stopped at various prominent corners, visited office buildings and department stores distributing smaller teaser cards reading "It Ain't No Sin to see Mae West," et cetera. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Herald; published on Saturday, 6 October 1934
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • •
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — —
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,142nd 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1943 and ornament • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Top Billing

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 61 of 68.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Her next film was in 1943 • •
• • “THE HEAT’S ON” (79 mins., 1943) • •

• • Mae West’s role: Fay Lawrence • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “The Heat’s On” was Mae West’s first film in three years but something was very different.
• • Mae Got Top Billing • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: While she still received top billing over the title, she had to share it with two men.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Her name was nowhere to be found amongst the writing and story credits.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Worst of all, her screen-time was negligible and her performance disengaged and without the wit or flair audiences had come to associate with her.
• • Mae West: Not good but not bad either • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Sunday, 21 December 1969 • •
• • "Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Wonderful" ran the headline of a lengthy piece on Mae West in the L.A. Times's Sunday magazine section called West.  It was published on 21 December 1969 and quoted her tips on staying youthful and living a happy life.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •

• • Aileen St. John Brenon wrote: Mae West is tight-lipped, that's what she is, about her personal affairs.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "There he was with a show house that wasn't doing so good, and there I was with a play that I was certain would make him money. He wouldn't take it. He wouldn't even read it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A review of "Belle of the Nineties" mentioned Mae West and the music.
• • Abel wrote: "Troubled Waters" introduces a little of the Elder Michaux revival meeting. That's in the offing, but within seeming earshot, and thus Mae West does a semi-spiritual against the heated colored revival meeting background which productionally is rather well worked in. ...
• • Source: Variety; published on Tuesday, 25 September 1934
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • •
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — —
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,141st 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • lobby card in 1943 and in 1956 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Pitched to Fans

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 60 of 68.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: A film aimed at existing fans of both icons • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: “My Little Chickadee” was very much a film aimed at existing fans of both these comic icons and the thrill of the film is in seeing them in the same picture.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Whether they enhance or detract from each other’s impact is a matter of taste.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: As a recent Mae West convert and a complete W.C. Fields novice, perhaps this is a 1940 motion picture I should revisit after I’ve seen more of the latter’s work.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: For now, “My Little Chickadee” is a not-quite-successful curio.

• • Note: Did you spot this goof? When the 'train' stops to pick up the W.C. Fields character, it consists of the locomotive only. The carriages then reappear in the next scene.
• • Note: The title text, 'The End,’ was superimposed over Mae West's gluteus maximus as she walked away from the camera.
• • Mae West: Her next film was in 1943 • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Monday, 20 December 1926 • •
• • It was on Monday, 20 December 1926 that the controversial tabloid Evening Graphic printed a publicity picture of Mae West onstage, costumed as Margy LaMont, actor Barry O'Neill sprawled out in a chair, under her. In her 1926 Broadway play, Mae wanted to depict a woman who has power over her men, a novel idea at the time for theatrical dramas.
• • On Monday, 20 December 1937 • •
• • On Monday, 20 December 1937, The Hollywood Reporter heaped praise on Mae West and "Every Day's a Holiday," writing that the motion picture was "sumptuous in atmosphere and setting."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Modern Screen wrote: If you can measure prosperity by the length of a person's automobile, then Mae West is the wealthiest gal in the world. Mae must have been saving the money she usually invests in diamonds, for she has just stepped out with a swank Dusenberg that's almost as long as a feature picture.
• • Modern Screen wrote: Mae's pretentious buggy sort of puts Bob Montgomery's imported Bentley Racer in the anti-climax department, but it hasn't taken away any of Mr. M's enthusiasm for his car.
• • Source: Modern Screen; issue dated Vol. 12, No. 1, December 1935.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "My mother always understood me. I found out all there was to know about me. Then when I grew up, I changed the things I didn't like and spotlighted the things I admired."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Herald mentioned Mae West.
• • "Klondike Annie" ― ― Mae  West, Victor McLaglen • •
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: A report in the paper says that the county attorney of Lancaster  county, Nebraska, has applied for a court order restraining the theatres of Lincoln from showing  Mae West in "Klondike Annie."  
• • Motion Picture Herald wrote: Lincoln, Nebraska always was kinda funny that way. If they will team Mae up in a vaudeville act with Aimee “Scrapie” McPherson, we'll betcha it will draw the spotlight position on every vaudeville show in the land. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Herald; published on Saturday, 4 April 1936
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • •
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — —
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,140th 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: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1940 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Closing Gag

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 59 of 68.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Enjoyable to wait for Mae’s next scene • •

• • Andy Goulding wrote: It made me curious to watch more of W.C. Fields’ work to see if his peculiar style is a taste I can acquire or not.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: But I did spend most of his solo scenes here mostly looking forward to Mae West reappearing.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The closing gag, in which (mild spoiler here) the two stars speak each other’s catchphrases, is the key to “My Little Chickadee.”
• • Note: There’s a story that goes like this: W.C. Fields walked off the set over what director Edward F. Cline felt was a minor disagreement. When it was clear after two weeks that he was not coming back to finish the film, nearly one-third was shot using a double. The double used is unknown. It could have been John Sinclair, who had doubled for him in “Poppy” (1936), or David Sharpe, who was his stunt double in later films. The double wore a plastic mask and most of the shots were long shots.
• • Mae West: A film aimed at existing fans of both icons • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Sunday, 19 December 1948 • •

• • The date was Sunday, 19 December 1948.
• • Mae West sat in the VIP section of the audience during the famed TV variety favorite hosted by Ed Sullivan. The actress was in rehearsal in New York City at that time, auditioning for a new cast and preparing for a revival of "Diamond Lil," a production that would open on Broadway on 5 February 1949.
• • During the program's place in its own line-up [for Season 2, Episode # 15], it was still being called "Toast of the Town."
• • Note: Wearing a mink coat, Mae West shows off a fancy dress underneath. Atypically, though, Mae has taken off her hat.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Libby Taylor has been assigned to a comedy role in a RKO featurette, "Headline Comedy," in which the dramatic actress Ruth Etting brings her public career to a close. Meanwhile, Libby Taylor goes right ahead with her film career while also "maiding" for Mae West.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "The thing that worries me most ... is the reformers likin' me. When they do, I'll know I'm slippin'!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper in Perth, Australia mentioned Mae West.
• • In the Sunday Times, a gossip columnist noted that, to celebrate the completion of her last picture, Mae West has given director Edward Sutherland a gold watch case inscribed "Come up and see me sometime — — and I'll give you the works." …
• • Source: Times [Perth, Australia]; published on Sunday, 19 December 1937
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • •
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — —
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,139th 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: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1948 and a poster seen by Musso and Frank's • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest