Mae West: Curvilinear Ideals

In September 1933, MAE WEST sat down for a series of interviews with syndicated columnist Willis Thornton.
• • "Go West Young Woman, Go West" • •
• • Editor's Note: This is the first of three installments on Mae West, the  buxom actress who is restoring curves to to feminine favor.
• • Written by Willis Thornton, NEA Services Writer • •
• • Away with depression, repression, suppression, at a single sweep.  Long live expression, confession and exposition!
• • All this is very much of a personal triumph for Mae West. Like every zealot who triumphs in a long and holy crusade, Mae West has suffered for her cause.
• • When Irene Castle was converting a nation to bobbed hair and the slender silhouette, where was Mae West? Doing a weight-lifting act in vaudeville, that's where she was, and being Just as buxom about it as though Irene Castle had never existed.

• • When the short skirt, and Marlene Dietrich were focusing attention on legs, where was Mae West? She was being Cleopatra in a Shubert Revue number called "Shakespeare's Garden of Love" — — and a very swell Cleopatra she must have been, too. For it's highly unlikely that the Serpent of the Nile was addicted to 10-day diets.
• • Triumph Comes at Last • •
• • Mae West has worked long and hard in comparative obscurity for this moment of triumph, been true to her curvilinear ideals when famished flappers scoffed. She has even been cast into a dungeon (oh, well, served a term on New York's Welfare island) for her devotion to the idea that a woman "should have something and show it." Who could begrudge her vindication at the hands of the highest fashion authorities of Paris and America?  . . .
• • This has been the second installment of Mae West's life story written by Willis Thornton. See Part C tomorrow.
• • "Go West Young Woman, Go West," a syndicated feature, appeared in various newspapers starting around  Sunday, 10 September 1933.  
• • On Friday, 21 September 1934 • •
• • Around 21 September 1934, Mae West was busy promoting her latest release: "Belle of the Nineties."
• • On Friday, 21 September 1934 • •
• • On Friday, 21 September 1934, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published this tidbit under "Hollywood Gossip": Mae West is planning to back a stock company on the coast.  Her sister, Beverly, and her manager, James Timony, will head the enterprise. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae enjoyed eating the eggplant parmigiana at Casa D'Oro in Westwood.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Knowing what you want is the first step toward getting it. There's nothing better in life than diamonds."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A reporter from Reuters mentioned Mae West.
• • Actress Mae West, 72, Has Nervous Collapse • •
• • Hollywood — Mae West, 72, was reported in "satisfactory" condition today in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital where she was admitted last Thursday for treatment of a "nervous collapse."
• • Attendants indicated Saturday that she would be released within a few days.
• • Source: News by Reuters rpt by Huntingdon Daily News; published on Monday, 21 September 1964
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started twelve years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3535th 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 1921 • •
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