Mae West: Pushed Boundaries

The films of MAE WEST are being shown on college campuses. A showing at Indiana University inspired this fascinating article by Katherine Johnson, a PhD Candidate in Communication and Culture. This is Part 1 of 6 segments.
• • Mae West: More Than Meets the Eye • •
• • Katherine Johnson wrote: Mae West is often remembered as someone who pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in early Hollywood and American society at large. Not only was she an actress and singer, but she was also a comedian, playwright, and screenwriter. She began her entertainment career as a child and in vaudeville, but her first brush with notoriety, if not fame, came from her first major role on Broadway in 1926.

• • Katherine Johnson continued on: It was in a piece titled “Sex.” As the name suggests, it was a risqué stage play written, directed, and produced by Mae West herself. The play did not garner her much critical attention, but the spectacle that it created did.
• • Mae West was thought to be morally corrupting influence • • … 
• • Source: Article by Katherine Johnson for Indiana University Cinema… A Place for Film™; posted on Wednesday, 26 September 2018.
• • On Wednesday, 4 March 1936 • •
• • The flapdoodle over "Klondike Annie" was discussed in Variety's issue dated for 4 March 1936. Coverage appeared in Hollywood Citizen News on Wednesday, 4 March 1936 also.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • For a small country inn — — dating back to 1135 — — The Olde Bell in Berkshire, England has been a magnet for Hollywood’s brightest stars and curviest belles.
• • Thanks to its proximity to Pinewood Studios, movie stars’ names appear on the roster: Mae West,  Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn along with Liz Taylor and Richard Burton.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Beards can do one of two things for men. One type becomes very distinguished looking, and the other achieves a primitive, sexy look. Some women say they couldn't bear to kiss a man with whiskers. All I've got to say is, whiskers or not, he's a man, isn't he?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Elinor Glyn said a woman had to have "IT." Mae West begged to differ.
• • "Brains, Not 'IT,' Says Mae West of the Curves" • •
• • In another interview our Hollywood correspondent had a word with James Davies, Mae West's masseur. He was asked to tell how the star keeps those famous curves.
• • "James Davies Reveals His Masseur's Secret" • •
• • "When she first came to me," said Davies, "Miss West wanted to reduce. I told her she would be making a grave mistake, because she was perfect for the camera. Now that Miss West has revolutionised the styles from straight lines to wholesome, feminine curves, women can eat sensibly again. They need not diet to appear fashionable. I think, speaking from the standpoint of a physical culturist who has conditioned many of Hollywood's best-known actresses, that Miss West has done much good for the women of the world. She has, by her influence, done more for their good health than any other person." Davies added,  "Her measurements, in fact, are identical with those of the Venus de Milo," ...
• • Source: Australian Women's Weekly; published on Saturday, 3 March 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 4,423rd 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 • • "Sex" • •
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