Mae West: Carmine Imbriani

When MAE WEST was dating a Brooklynite, their romance got pretty hot and heavy. To keep him close, she gave him a small role in her Broadway show “Catherine Was Great.” This opened on 2 August 1944 and closed in NYC shortly after Christmas on 13 January 1945. Then the show transferred to Washington, DC’s National Theatre.
• • This six-foot-four Italian-American was a jealous lover and Mae kept his steamy love letters.
• • Carmine Imbriani [8 June 1919 — 8 December 2006] • •
• • Born in Brooklyn of Italian parents, this tall aspiring actor met Mae and the chemistry was right. When she cast him as Empress Catherine’s Russian guard — — under the stage name Jerry Lucas — — he was living at 1701 79th Street, a three-story walk-up building in Bensonhurst (then an Italian enclave).
• • In August 1944, Carmine was 25 years old and Mae was 51.

• • We have a copy of a letter he mailed to Mae on December 3, 1946 when she was on the road at the Cox Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Maybe we’ll share some of the text. Shall we?
• • If we hear from enough fans, we’ll reprint his love letter.
• • Beverly West [8 December 1898 — 12 March 1982] • •
• • Born in Brooklyn, NY on December 8th was an infant named Mildred Katherine West.
• • Mae's kid sister never liked her birthname and so, upon launching a professional career, she became "Beverly Osborne." A talented performer in her own right, she is commemorated with great affection on her birthday.
• • On Saturday, 8 December 1934 • •
• • Liberty Theatre Playhouse — Double feature on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday — Mae West in "Belle of the Nineties" and "The Defense Rests" with Jack Holt.
• • Source: Vassar Miscellany News; published on Saturday, 8 December 1934.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Jim Corbett was cited in more than one divorce suit and in later years he was reputedly the lover of Mae West, who had a penchant for boxers in her bedroom or dressing-room.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  “A woman in love can’t be reasonable – or she probably wouldn’t be in love.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Dorothy Kilgallen's Broadway column mentioned Mae West and Carmine Imbriani.
• • Mae West and Jerry Lucas [a.k.a. Carmine] are a heart toddy.  ...
• • Source: Item in Dorothy Kilgallen's syndicated column; published on Monday, 26 March 1945 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 13th anniversary • •  
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past thirteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,800 blog posts. Wow!   
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started thirteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3849th 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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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Carmine and Rae in 1945 • •
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