Mae West: Pretty Busy

Jill Watts, biographer of MAE WEST, a distinguished professor at CSUSM, and a talented author of books on Father Divine [1879—1965] and Hattie McDaniel [1895—1952], which has inspired a new film about the Oscar winner, has kindly consented to an exclusive interview with The Mae West Blog. This is Part 10.
• • When Mae was a young actress • •
• • JILL WATTS: I did notice in looking at Neir’s site, it seems that Louis Neir added on a hotel, a bowling alley, and a “ballroom” after he purchased the tavern.  I just checked historical newspapers and found mention of the bowling alley but not the hotel nor a ballroom.  So I would venture to think it was probably a limited operation when Mae was a young performer. 
• • JW: Would it be possible that Mae entertained there as an adult? Again, I don’t know for sure — — but I think not. 
• • Well before the move to Woodhaven in 1915, Mae’s career was underway • •

• • JW: By the time they moved to Woodhaven in 1915, Mae West had her career well underway.  It isn’t clear to me what happened to Neir’s during prohibition. If they were operating as a speakeasy, then it may have been under Owney Madden’s control and that might have been a connection to Mae West.  But Mae is pretty busy by the 1920s performing in large venues — it would seem very unlikely — even if by then Neir’s admitted women, that she would have appeared there.
• • Julia Neir, heiress • • . . .
• • Note: NYC-based vaudeville performers hailed from the three boroughs that offered well established venues and stages where you could hone your act: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx. Talent agents were not booking variety artists in Staten Island nor Woodhaven, Queens — — why? — — because there were no theatres in those two places yet and mass transit options were still limited. 
• • This exciting interview with Prof. Jill Watts will be continued on the next post.
• • Recommended Reading: “Mae West: An Icon in Black and White” by Jill Watts [Oxford University Press; paperback edition, 2003]; 400 pages.
• • On Sunday, 13 August 1922 in The N.Y. Daily News • •
• • "The Ginger Box Revue" was written to showcase Mae West's talents.  But a feckless producer made off with the advances.
• • "Ginger Revue Now a Pepless Stew as Promoter Disappears" announced the New York Daily News [on Sunday, 13 August 1922]. Thirteen Equity actors sued producer Paul Dupont (a.k.a. Mr. Perkins) to recover their salaries — — but not Mae, who was to have received a percentage of the box office.
• • Nope! Mae West never performed at Neir’s • •
• • Mae West never performed at Neir's — — nor did she ever set foot in this all-male bastion of sweaty factory laborers.
• • For decades, laborers went to bars to drink, relax, spit, smoke cigars, curse, discuss politics, and (most importantly) to get away from wives and women.
• • Learn more about Woodhaven, a factory hub during the brief time the West family resided there.
• • LINK: The Truth about Mae West, Neir's, Woodhaven
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • According to Daily Variety, "Belle of the Nineties" was given the purity seal on 6 August 1934. Mae West starred as Ruby Carter.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.” 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Illinois newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • The Mae West type goes toddling on her spiked heels with a French poodle clipped in tufts and humps like a circus clown. And this, incidentally is the breed of dog that is nearest to the heart of Alexander Woolcott  . . .
• • Source: item in Urbana Daily Courier; published on Monday, 13 August 1934
• • 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 14th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fourteen 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 4022nd 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 • • as a young actress in 1908 • •
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