Friday, November 20, 2015

Mae West: Cease, Desist

Last year on Thursday, 20 November 2014, Out in New Jersey did a fabulous interview with Bette Midler on her chance to portray MAE WEST. Let's investigate.
• • "'Divine' intervention with Bette Midler" • •   
• • Interviewer Chris Azzopardi asked: You mentioned Mae West, and it was announced in late 2013 that you were cast as Mae in an upcoming HBO biopic. How's that project coming along?
• • Bette Midler replied:  I'll tell you something: The script just came in, but I haven't seen it. I'm waiting for the director, Billy Friedkin (director of "The Exorcist"), to make his notes, and then he's gonna hand it off to me and we'll see what happens. 
• • a letter telling me to cease and desist • •
• • Bette Midler explained:  I'm really looking forward to it because I've been reading and doing my due diligence. She's such a fabulous — — she's so fucking nuts! I mean, she was so insane. And you know, when I started my career all those many moons ago, I used to do an impersonation of Mae West, and I did it on "The Johnny Carson Show" — — my very first time with Johnny Carson — — and she sent me a letter telling me to cease and desist, which I swear to god I still have.
• • Bette Midler continued:  I didn't understand it at the time. I thought, "What's wrong with her?" Now that I've done all the reading and am of a certain age, I totally get it. She was protecting what she had made. She was protecting her creation. That was practically a trademark and she didn't want anyone to mishandle her creation. Ultimately, she was right. So I bowed to her wishes; I ceased and desisted. And I think it's so amusing. (Laughs) After all that, if the script actually comes to the point of doing it, it certainly would be  revenge. Take that, Mae!  
• • Interviewer Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate.
• • Source: Interview with Bette Midler written by Chris Azzopardi for http://outinjersey.net ; published on Thursday, 20 November 2014.
• • On Monday, 20 November 1911 • •
• • Mae West was cast in "Vera Violetta," which opened on Monday, 20 November 1911 at the Winter Garden Theatre.  Thanks to her ill-conceived attempts at upstaging the French star of the show, Mae West was seen only in the previews. Oh! That was foolish, Mae!
• • On Sunday, 20 November 1988 • •
• • Mae West once confided to a friend: "I felt Bill Fields had no class."
• • This exchange was printed in The Orlando Sentinel on Sunday, 20 November 1988.
• • On Monday, 20 November 2006 • •
• • Radio station WFMU's "Playlist for 20 November 2006" included Mae West's version of "I'm in the Mood for Love" from the album "The Fabulous Mae West." If you're in the mood, go to their web site and have a listen. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • After the war, reunion dinners began to be held.  One year the Goldfish Club received a message from Mae West herself, expressing pride that her name was associated with sea rescue.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I think dumb girls have had their day. They're out. If you're clever, you win. Of course, you don't let men know you're clever, understand; you might as well be dumb if you do."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Columbia Daily Spectator mentioned Mae West.
• • Zoopraxinographoscope apologizes for the cancellation of last week's movie, but absolutely promises to show 1.) Beaudine's "In the Money" (Starring the Bowery Boys) and 2.) Sherman's "She Done Him Wrong" (Starring Mae West and Cary Grant).
• • "Lowell Sherman deserves a niche of his own for the behaviorial glories of. . . Mae West in 'She Done Him Wrong'." — Andrew Sarris
• • Each double-feature will begin at 7:15 and 9:15 tonite, Lehman Auditorium $1 . . .
• • Source: Item in Columbia Daily Spectator; published on Monday, 20 November 1972 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 11th 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 3,200 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3315th 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 1932

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