Mae West: Ring of Truth

At last, MAE WEST gets an outstanding, intimate biography by a family member, her step-son, whose education she financed. This is Part 5 of 7.
• • “Mae West and the Count — — Love and Loss on the Vaudeville Stage” by Guido Roberto Deiro
• • Reviewed exclusively for The Mae West Blog by R. Mark Desjardins
• • Book possesses “the ring of truth” • •
• • “Mae West and the Count” is written as a novel based on actual happenings and the author describes in the book’s Preface the treasure trove of materials left him by his father, and the extent to which his father, Mae West, and family members here and abroad, furnished their recollections for him to collate into the narrative. 

• • Reading this 331-page memoir based on Mr. Deiro’s personal knowledge, this reviewer cannot help but think that the events described have the absolute ring of truth to them.
• • Two minor missteps on the part of the author will be apparent to Mae West fans. A photograph purporting to depict a twelve-year-old Mae, is in actuality an image of young Clara Bow.
• • "Smooch Around" created that Clara Bow confusion • • . . .
• • Mr. Desjardins’ book review will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: “Mae West and the Count” — — a biography by Guido Roberto Deiro. [Outskirts Press; published on 20 March 2019; 331 pages.]
• • On Saturday, 12 August 1944 • •
• • According to an article in Billboard Magazine [The Billboard, Saturday, 12 August 1944], Mike Todd and Mae West shared the financial burden of mounting this costume drama — — $150,000, not an inconsiderable sum during the World War II era. And though she often hired inexperienced actors and actresses for the minor roles, Mae West sought out the best costume people and set designers.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In “South Sea Sinner” actress Shelley Winters plays a Mae West character that the police are always deporting till she’s down to her last island.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “It’s better to be looked over than overlooked.”
• • Mae West said: "I became a star in the third person, even to myself. It didn't frighten me. I got fun out of being a legend and an institution."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Radio Stars Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • "Woman Hater?" • •
• • D.C. O'Flaherty wrote: The rest of his story is Broadway history: how Mae West engaged him to play the piano in her 1922 vaudeville act, how the Dolly Sisters lured hint away with an offer of a higher salary after they heard him play; how Georgie White turned him down for the "Scandals" cold, and then changed his mind after hearing Harry Richman sing in his night club. …
• • Source: Radio Stars; published in the issue dated for October 1932
• • 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 15th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4276th 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 1912 • •
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