Mae West: Dirty or Decent?

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 18 of 19 segments.
• • “Sex Comes to America” • •
• • Mae West has been the despair of the censors • •
• • Stanley Walker wrote: In Hollywood Miss West, following the same old formula, has been the despair of the censors. It is probable that her picture, "She Done Him Wrong," was directly responsible for the organization of the powerful Legion of Decency, which worried the motion picture bosses.
• • Stanley Walker wrote: In "I’m No Angel" one of the songs carried the line "Nobody Can Do It Like That Dallas Man," which was changed to "No One Can Love Like That Dallas Man.”
• • Stanley Walker wrote: Another Mae West picture had the original title, "It Ain't No Sin” which was changed by the censors to "Belle of the Nineties."
• • Stanley Walker wrote: A picture called "Goin’ to Town” was harmless enough to pacify the censors. It was elegant stuff but not dirty.
• • When making a movie, Mae West thinks of what kids will like • • . . .
• • This long chapter by Stanley Walker will be concluded on the next post with Part 19.
• • 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, 6 April 1927 • •

• • On Tuesday, 5 April 1927 at Jefferson Market Court [on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village], the jury returned with a guilty verdict. As she left the courtroom, followed by reporters, photographers, and a mob of well-wishers, Mae told them, "You've got to fight in this world!" She added, "You've got to fight to get there — — and fight to stay there."
• • On Wednesday, 6 April 1927, articles about Mae were published in Variety, The New York Times, The N.Y. Herald Tribune, and elsewhere.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West and Leslie Howard were also prominently featured in the Spanish magazine "Cine Mundial" along with Anna May Wong and Leslie Howard's "Of Human Bondage" co-star Bette Davis.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I don't like myself, I'm crazy about myself."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Boise Weekly mentioned Mae West.
• • “From the Dregs to ‘The Drag’ by Mae West” • •
• • Minerva Jayne wrote: Sometimes, we find a role model that seems sent by the universe to teach us how to survive. Mae West, along with a few other stars, was that beacon for me.
• • Minerva Jayne wrote: Her rapier wit, quick comebacks, unashamed love of herself, and her mature approach to sexuality reframed the way I thought. Mae West promised a sparkling life outside of the rigidly unenlightened mores of Gem County.
• • Minerva Jayne wrote: Mae West taught me to be daring, showing me that strength can be feminine. She embodied self-esteem, making use of one’s assets and to never let anyone oppress you. She also taught me that if one is strong enough, things like reputations and others’ opinions don’t much matter. This invaluable wisdom came just as some of the darkest, hardest years were fixing to set in.  …
• • Source: Boise Weekly; published on Wednesday, 26 February 2020
• • 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 4,446th 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 • • Jefferson Market Judicial Complex • •
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