Mae West: Harden Muscles

His name was James Davies and he was the trainer and masseur of MAE WEST. This is Part 3.
• • Mae West’s measurements — — according to James Davies • •
• • "Her measurements, in fact, are identical with those of the Venus de Milo, which always has been the classic example of a perfect womanly figure.
• • Her Exercises • •
• • For Miss West I suggested various conditioning exercises. We did various bending exercises, designed to harden her muscles. I found immediately that Miss West could do these exercises, some of them very strenuous, better and longer than the average man. She is a very strong woman — in fact, with one arm she can lift me from the floor, and I weigh 13 stone 3 pounds!
• • "One exercise in particular seemed to interest her,” said James Davies.
• • Mae’s favorite exercise — — according to James Davies • •    . . .

• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Article in The Australian Women's Weekly; published on Saturday, 3 March 1934.
• • On Tuesday, 5 July 1932 • •
• • Casting problems caused delays for Paramount in the summer of 1932. As Mae waited to film her scenes with George Raft, as his former flame Maudie, offers came in for her to create material for others.  In their issue dated for Tuesday, 5 July 1932, Variety printed this headline: "Mae Mulls Sock Yarns for Marlene and Jean."
• • Mae demurred.  Years later, explaining the situation to a British reporter, she admitted to being reluctant. "If I thought of something funny," said Mae, "I wasn't about to give it to them."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Regarded merely as a gorgeous burlesque of herself, Mae West's performance in Paramount's "Go West Young Man" is precisely what would be expected of her, a caricature of a voluptuous Hollywood star with a reputation and a "public" to be considered.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can't figure out what from."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Los Angeles Daily Mirror mentioned Mae West.
• • James Davies [1897 — 1957] • •
• • Always pictured in a white sleeveless undershirt, white pants, and a dark belt, the dark-haired and clean-cut Mr. Davies is neither overly muscular nor does he have a small, trim waistline. Mae West, Ann Sheridan, Gertrude Michael, and others were shown in pictorials demonstrating his exercises or advice. Paramount Pictures also patched him into numerous uncredited screen roles.
• • James Davies died on 27 January 1957.  The “physical culturist to the stars” was buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood. He was only 59 years old.
• • Source: Items in The Los Angeles Daily Mirror and Screenland; published in 1934 — 1957
• • 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 3,900 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3995th 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 1935 • •
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