Mae West: Corrupting Morals

The trials and tribulations of MAE WEST played out in the headlines of New York City newspapers. In 1927, The New York Daily News sent their reporter Burns Mantle to the courthouse. This is what he wrote.
• • “Sex” Conviction Purifies Rialto If Not Players • •
• • Will New York have its "Sex" appeal? • •
• • Drama Critic Burns Mantle wrote: Mae West, star of the play whose entire cast and producing staff were convicted of corrupting public morals, announced she will appeal the conviction which carries a sentence of from ten days in the Women’s Workhouse.
• • Burns Mantle wrote: However, the lawyers and the twenty-one other defendants were not especially loquacious on the question.
• • Burns Mantle wrote: Resentment at the jury's action in stamping the play sponsored by the Moral Productions company as an immoral production was expressed by members of the cast as they visited the court to leave their fingerprints.
• • Burns Mantle wrote: All of the 22 artists and producers convicted will appear for sentence, by Judge George E. Donnellan in General Sessions on April 19. Indications last night were that jail sentences will be imposed on several, including Mae West. Others, it is believed, will escape with fines.

• • Burns Mantle wrote:  Whether or not an appeal is taken, one thing is certain. The purification of Broadway will have been completed by the time next season's shows open. French farces, clever pieces from Hungary and Vienna, and the products of some of our own realistic writers, will be toned down.
• • Source: Burns Mantle’s column from The N.Y. Daily News; published on Thursday, 7 April 1927.
• • On Thursday, 12 July 1934 • •
• • The Hollywood Reporter printed an article about Mae West's upcoming project. "New Orleans Kicks on Mae West's 'Belle'!" was printed on the front page in the issue dated for Thursday, 12 July 1934.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Genial Jim Timony, Mae's manager, has not escaped the "husband" touch. They labeled him such just last year.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Every time the postman rings twice, I get a dozen proposals from guys who must have gone to school at a mail order college. Not bad, either."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A gossip column by Louella Parsons mentioned Mae West.
• • Louella Parsons wrote: How Hollywood did buzz today when it was whispered that Mae West was booked for a concert tour and would sing and do an act similar to the Harry Lauder sketches. ...
• • Source: "Mae West Booked for Concert Tour" written by Louella Parsons for The San Antonio Light; published on Monday, 12 July 1937
• • The evolution of 2 Mae West plays that keep her memory alive • • 
• • A discussion with Mae West playwright LindaAnn LoSchiavo — — 
• • http://lideamagazine.com/renaissance-woman-new-york-city-interview-lindaann-loschiavo/

• • 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 4,000 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4000th 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 court in 1927 • •
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