Friday, March 20, 2020

Mae West: No Vacations

Reporters who met MAE WEST during the 1920s and early 1930s — — before stardom cloaked her utterly — — have a refreshingly different take than those who met her as a bonafide movie queen.
• • New York Herald Tribune reporter Stanley Walker came up to see Mae West often in New York.
• • A section in Stanley Walker’s 1935 memoir discussed Mae West. This is Part 7 of 19 segments.
• • “Sex Comes to America” • •
• • Mae West did not take vacations • •
• • Stanley Walker wrote: Miss West is known as an exceptionally shrewd business woman. Her contract calls for two pictures a year, and contains a provision that she must approve all her scenarios. Thus she approves the scenarios written by herself, which she sells for high prices.
• • Stanley Walker wrote: She never takes a vacation; as soon as one picture is finished, she starts on another.
• • Stanley Walker wrote: Like the character in "Diamond Lil," Miss West is fond of jewelry. For years she delighted in displaying her glittering collection.
• • Stanley Walker wrote: Her pet piece was a large pendant in the form of a champagne bottle covered with blue-white diamonds. One night in September 1934, three men with guns stopped her automobile and robbed her of her diamonds, worth $17,000, including the champagne bottle, and $4,400 in cash.
• • a vigil light in Mae’s apartment is never extinguished • • . . . 
• • This long chapter by Stanley Walker will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Chapter “Sex Comes to America” from "Mrs. Astor's Horse" written by Stanley Walker [NY: Frederick A. Stokes, 28 October 1935, 320 pages].
• • On Wednesday, 20 March 1940 in the Independent • •
• • "Harrison in Hollywood" • •
• • British newsman Paul Harrison noted that Mae West was considerably shorter than the height given on her press materials. He said she is barely taller than five feet. Her fans were given a glimpse of how she exercises and a hint that she loves sweets and hates to diet. But if she has to lose weight in a hurry, she goes on a steak diet. Details about her writing habits followed along with the news that she had completed a new script about Catherine the Great and hoped a producer would come up and see her.
• • Paul Harrison concluded his piece by speculating about the film star's age in light of what he gleaned about her early Broadway credits.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's plans for a vacation trip have been blasted by a Paramount Pictures notice that she must be ready to start on her next picture about the middle of July. Meanwhile, she must help get the screenplay in shape.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Love the men, ladies — — but not too much."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The N.Y. Times mentioned Mae West.
• • "One Juror Lacking in Mae West Trial” read one headline.  ...
• • Source: New York Times; published on Wednesday, 19 March 1930
• • 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 4,435th 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 • • wearing her prized diamond necklace in 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

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