Friday, May 17, 2013

Mae West: Weldon Heyburn

In 1937, Paramount Pictures spent a record one million dollars on its MAE WEST vehicle "Every Day's a Holiday" [released as holiday fare in the USA on 18 December 1937]. Mae portrays Peaches O'Day, a turn-of-century New York City con artist who poses as a famous French chanteuse to avoid arrest. During a party scene, Weldon Heyburn played a guest.
• • Weldon Heyburn [19 September 1910 — 18 May 1951] • •
• • Born in Washington, D.C. on 19 September 1910, Weldon Heyburn decided to pursue the dramatic arts. At 17 years old, he was starring on the main stem at the Nora Bayes Theatre in "The Mystery Man," which had a respectable run in 1927. He would appear on The Great White Way thrice more between 1930 — 1936.
• • Tinseltown called. From 1930 — 1950, Weldon Heyburn was cast as an actor in 67 motion pictures. The burly six-footer was often used for authority roles such as a constable, henchman, or a military man in uniform. During his two decades in the screen trade, his chances to play supporting roles gradually shifted and downsized to mere bit parts.
• • When Weldon Heyburn worked with Mae in "Every Day's a Holiday," he was used in a crowd scene as another guest at a party.
• • He did interrupt his film career during World War II by serving in the United States Army Signal Corps.
• • Active until the end of his life, he appeared in the crime drama "The Great Jewel Robber" [1950]. So many of his cast mates on this Warner Bros. project had had the privilege of working with Mae West, for instance, Bess Flowers, Art Foster, Don C. Harvey, Edward Hearn, and Larry Steers.
• • Weldon Heyburn got pneumonia. He died in Los Angeles, California on Friday, 18 May 1951. He was only 40 years old.  This military veteran is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 7, Site 8094).
• • On Friday, 17 May 1935 • •
• • "Goin’ to Town" was released by Paramount Pictures on the weekend — — on Friday, 17 May 1935.
• • On Sunday, 17 May 1936 in Los Angeles • •
• • An article on "Klondike Annie" was in The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, 17 May 1936.
• • On Sunday, 17 May 1936 in Texas • •
• • "Klondike Annie" was onscreen at the Palace movie house starting on Sunday, May 17th and there was a write-up on Mae West's latest film in The Canadian Record (in Canadian, Texas) three days before.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I am not defending the tricky woman, but if she is forced to battle for the place due to her, she cannot be condemned for using any ruse she can." 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West's New Act" • •
• • Mae West is to make another try with a new act opening May 17th. The new turn is by Tommy Gray.
• • Source: Item in Variety; published on Wednesday, 28.April.1920
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2651st 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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• • Mae West 1937

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