Monday, January 23, 2017

Mae West: Single Standard

A very long article about MAE WEST and her career in Tinseltown appeared five years ago.  It was written by Paul Phaneuf. Let's enjoy it together. This is Part 15.
• • Mae West: "I'm here to make talkies" or Censor Will vs. Diamond Lil • •
• • The Single Standard • •
• • "The story of Diamond Lil makes one think of a modern idea of the Single Standard. I believe in the Single Standard for men and women. I will tour with "Diamond Lil" for another season ... people will be given something to think about that they never thought of before."
— — Mae West in Parade Magazine, 1929.

• • Paul Phaneuf wrote:  "Diamond Lil" was only one of many plays that the Hays office had ruled off limits for Hollywood. But because Hays had little real enforcement power yet, he could only scold and warn. The studios, for the most part, would give lip service and often merely change the title of the offending story and make cosmetic changes. Which is just what Paramount did.
• • "Diamond Lil" eventually became "She Done Him Wrong," and Mae's character's name was changed to "Lady Lou" but the story stayed basically the same.
• • The white slavery aspect would be downplayed • •  ...
• • This was Part 15. Part  16 will appear will appear tomorrow.
• • Source:  Article by Paul Phaneuf in Films of the Golden Age Magazine;  issue dated 5 November 2011. Used with permission.
• • On Sunday, 23 January 1927 in the New York Herald Tribune • •
• • The New York Herald Tribune sent a journalist to cover "Sex" and this newspaper printed perhaps the longest diatribe against Mae's play in their weekend edition on Sunday, 23 January 1927.
• • The Herald Tribune drama desk scribe ranted: "It may be said of [Mae West] and "Sex" that they do not make sin attractive. The hell they picture is uninviting, a horrible place whose principal lady-viper has a tough hiss, an awkward strut and an over-plump figure. ..."
• • On Wednesday, 23 January 1929 in Variety • •
• • "Diamond Lil" had its Chicago premiere on 20 January 1929 at the Apollo Theatre. But a few days later, Mae West was troubled by terrible stomach pains that forced showtime delays or unusually long intermissions. Variety reported on Mae's suffering and its effect on her engagement in The Windy City in their issue dated on Wednesday, 23 January 1929.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Police raided an allegedly indecent stage show early Tuesday and arrested James A. Timony, business manager of Mae West, and 13 members of the cast of "Ladies by Request."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Strong coffee is my weakness."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A London daily mentioned Mae West.
• • “I couldn’t believe it," said Mr. Chow. I thought Hollywood would be the most sophisticated thing in the world, but in reality it’s a one-street town. Very provincial.”
• • With a checkered floor copied from Rudolph Valentino’s villa and customers from Lana Turner to Groucho Marx (he didn’t eat Chinese and ordered a hamburger delivered), Mae West, who received a standing ovation, to Yuri Geller, who bent the cutlery, the restaurant Mr. Chow remains an institution.  . . .
• • Source:  Article in The Guardian; published on Saturday, 23 January 2016
• • Image: Mae West in 1932

• • 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 3623rd
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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