Mae West: My Weakness

In September 1934, MAE WEST sat down for a series of "Me and My Past" talks with the United Press syndicated reporter Leicester Wagner.  We will post excerpts from Chapter #4 in several installments.  This is Chapter 4, excerpt a-a, the first paragraphs of this section.
• • "Me and My Past" by Mae West • •
• • As Told to Leicester Wagner United Press Staff Correspondent • •
• • The dumbest woman in the world can outsmart a man when she has to.
• • I know I'm laying myself open to plenty of argument there, but history has proven it.
• • In the first place, a woman has what it takes — — if she'll use It.
• • Call it sex appeal If you must, but it's what makes the world go 'round.
• • Since man started giving woman any sort of an even break, the female of our species has gotten ahead swiftly. More swiftly than has man, when you figure the comparative length of time woman has been free to think and act for herself.
• • Woman is capable of more trickery than man ever dreamed of. I'm not defending a tricky woman, but if she is forced to battle for the place due her, she can not be condemned for using any tool at hand.
• • Men Her Weakness • •  . . .
• • This has been excerpt a-a.  Tomorrow's post will be b-b — —  the continuation of Chapter #4.
• • NOTE: This is the 4th chapter of Mae West's life story as told to Leicester Wagner, United Press.  This syndicated series was reprinted in American newspapers during September 1934.
• • On Sunday, 15 November 1936 • •
• • On Sunday, 15 November 1936, the New York Times interviewed actor Randolph Scott about his new motion picture starring Mae West.  An editor paraphrased Scott's opinion and it went something like this: "Miss West is idolized by the technical crews in the studios, she is so thoughtful of them. ... her Negro maid wept bitterly during the production because she (the maid) was sick and unable to go to the studio."
• • On Sunday, 15 November 2009 • •
• • The N.Y. Times columnist Margo Jefferson delivered a speech in Chicago on Sunday, 15 November 2009 about Mae West and Hattie McDaniel.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's studio dressing-room, like her bedroom, is decorated in a feminine color scheme of white-gold-and-coral.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "There is only one way to get what you want — — that is, to work for it and take it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Stanford Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Hollywood Challenge Will Make Stage Plays Better" • •

• • Mae West told this to a Connecticut reporter in November of 1929, when she brought her famous Broadway play to the West Coast. "When I wrote 'Diamond Lil,' I determined to bring it to the Pacific Coast. This is the first time I have ever been here.  I like it very much.  From San Francisco we go to Los Angeles where the play will be filmed. I am not sure whether I will like the talkies for myself but I have always supported them."
• • Added Mae: "Hollywood has taught America how to dress. She will now teach them how to speak."  . . .
• • Source:  Article written by Bernard Pollard for The Stanford Daily; published on Friday, 15 November 1929
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th 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 3,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3574th 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/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1929 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West