Mae West: Belle of Nowhere

Did the movie queen MAE WEST possess the power to alter the reputation of New Orleans? Listen to their very concerned citizens and club-women discuss their personal feelings about the controversial Brooklyn bombshell and "Belle of New Orleans," Paramount’s potential movie title.
• • “New Orleans Is Agitated” • •
• • New Orleans, July 11 — This fair home of the Sazerac, suh, is worried about its reputation. More, it's agitated.

• • Motion Picture wrote: Somebody suggested that calling Mae West's new opus "Belle of New Orleans" would — er — ah — would convey the wrong impression. The suggestion swelled into a chorus, and now everybody except Huey Long is talking — or telegramming.
• • Motion Picture wrote: First it was the Association of Commerce, then it was the Kiwanis Club, now it's the Federation of Women's Clubs and the Better Films Council. Mayor T. Semmes Walmsley has joined those who are sending telegrams to Will H. Hays.
• • Motion Picture wrote: J. K. Byrne had the Kiwanis Club pass a resolution saying the title "Belle of New Orleans" would give a "false impression" of New Orleans.
• • Motion Picture wrote: Frank Martin of Kiwanis objected and said the title would be good advertising for the city and would bring tourists to a liberal city without blue laws, but he was greeted with raised eyebrows and just a trace of pained surprise.
• • Motion Picture wrote: Mrs. Isabel Giefers, president of the women's federation; Mrs. A. S. Tucker, president of the Better Films Council, and Mrs. Bettina Gunczy, secretary of the National Board of Review, were among those who wired Will Hays about Mae West.
• • Motion Picture wrote: It's the biggest disturbance since the last time the levee broke and flooded St. Louis and Basin Streets.
• • Source: Motion Picture Daily; published on Thursday, 12 July 1934.
• • On Tuesday, 7 February 1933 • •
• • It was on Tuesday, 7 February 1933, that Mae recorded "A Guy What Takes His Time" (one of her saucy hits from "She Done Him Wrong") for Brunswick Records.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Paramount is bringing you 6 new pictures, starting with the year's greatest money attraction, Mae West in "It Ain't No Sin” and a great musical, “Shoot the Works." 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I’m no model lady.  A model’s just an imitation of the real thing.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae West Film Not Banned • •
• • Columbus, July 4. — Published reports emanating from here that Mae West's new picture, formerly titled "It Ain't No Sin," had been banned by the Ohio censor board have been denied by Dr. B. O. Skinner, head of the board.
• • "The Mae West picture was never presented to the censor board of Ohio," Dr. Skinner wired John Hammel at the Paramount home office. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Daily; published on Thursday, 5 July 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 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 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,405th 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 1934 • •
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