Saturday, March 01, 2008

Mae West: Burlesque March 1923

Jon Tuska situates Mae West in a burlesque revue the week of 5 March 1923.
• • In the 1920s, New York had two major circuits for a certain type of variety artist: the MUTUAL (which booked acts at the Star Theatre in Brooklyn) and the COLUMBIA (which played the Columbia Theatre in midtown Manhattan). They staged elaborate burlesque shows
— — such as Lena Daley's sexy revues "Miss Tabasco."
• • Citing the BILLBOARD INDEX, Jon Tuska said Mae appeared in "Playmates" on the Mutual Circuit [week of 2 October 1922].
• • Tuska also noted Mae's appearance in burlesque shows such as "Girls from the Follies" [week of 5 March 1923]; "Round the Town" [December 1923]; "French Models" [February 1924]; "Miss Tabasco" [November 1924]; "Snap It Up" [March 1925]; etc.
• • Tuska, referring to Mae's novel THE CONSTANT SINNER, said the author was undeniably familiar with life in the dives, prostitutes, jooks [brothels for Blacks], and carnal pleasures.
• • Jon Tuska published his comments in 1973, when Mae was alive. The author seems to have had Mae's cooperation, and he dedicated his book to her
— — and the truthfulness of his statements was not challenged.
• • Indeed in early copies of Photoplay and similar movie magazines, Mae West bragged about her experiences on the burlesque circuit.
• • Aside from her turns in burlesque, Mae seems to have vanished until Edward Elsner began rehearsals at Day's 63rd Street Theatre for "SEX" in March 1926. The New York Herald Tribune described Mae's play as filled with "stark naked lust."
• • Maybe Mae was busy falling in love
— — or did she have a pregnancy scare? On 22 March 1924, R.A. Bud Burmeister, a 34-year-old resident of Harris County, Texas, took out a marriage license in Texas for a forthcoming marriage to the actress.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

• • Photo:
• • Mae West • • 1926 • •

Mae West.

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