Mae West: Johnnie Fern McDill

Like all the top-rated screen stars of her era, MAE WEST attended the ambitious fair known as the California Pacific International Exposition, which opened in San Diego in Spring 1935.
• • Mae West asked to see the midgets • •
• • Tom Kennedy reported:  After she made a personal appearance at the Motion Picture Hall of Fame, Mae asked to see the midgets, so she was driven over to the Midget Village and you would have died laughing if you had seen Mae clambering into a midget house.  The furniture being too small, she had to sit on the floor with dozens of midgets gathered about her.  The midget who impersonates Mae West in the show climbed up on her lap and I overheard this  priceless bit of conversation: "Miss West," lisped the little Mae West, "I hope they write a newspaper story about us and say that you're my mother."
• • "Oh, no, oh, no," remonstrated Mae, "not that."  . . .
• • The “Midget Mae West” is Johnnie Fern McDill.

• • Well, anyway, Mae West took all their names and addresses and sent all of the Midget Village folks a present the next day, and to the little "Mae West" midget she sent a diamond ring.   
• • Source: Item with photo of Mae and Johnnie Fern McDill; published on Thursday, 13 June 1935.
• • Source: Article for Screenland written by Tom Kennedy; published in the October 1935 issue.
• • On Friday, 13 June 2008 • •
• • In August 2005, media mainstay Joe Franklin enjoyed seeing scenes from the play "Courting Mae West" — — and in June 2008 he had a chance to get acquainted with an entirely different cast when he popped in on a dress rehearsal in Times Square on Friday the 13th [13 June 2008]. Joe Franklin took photos with the actresses and you can see the pictures on some earlier posts. When he hosted his TV show "Memory Lane," Joe invited Mae West to be his guest half-a-dozen times and recounted some of her naughty quips.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West, who terminated her engagement in Copa City “because of illness” never felt better in her life.  The announcement was a polite way of saving she'd had a spat with the management.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "There is something about big cats that appeals to me."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A film site mentioned Mae West.
• • Earl Wilson wrote: Mae West’s dressing room at the Latin Quarter is usually guarded by one of her muscle men. She has some cute business in her act. When one of the huskies, pretending to answer her phone, says, "Mae West's suite!" Mae calls out, “Don’t brag about me — — just answer the phone."
• • Source: Item from Earl Wilson syndicated column; published on Tuesday, 15 May 1956 
• • 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 3,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eleven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3462nd 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 June 1935 • •
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