Mae West: Nonphysical Sexpot

“I first went to interview MAE WEST after the collapse of ‘Myra Breckinridge’ [1970]. Like almost everyone else, I was in awe of the woman,” wrote Jacoba Atlas. Let’s read her fascinating first-hand account from 1974. This is Part 6 of 19 segments.
• • Image from a Cracked Mirror • •
• • With Mae West the legend overcrowds the person • •
• • Jacoba Atlas wrote: My question is, why in the world would she want to be that same woman?
• • Jacoba Atlas wrote: With Mae West, as with so many other stars of that era, the legend overcrowds the person, and the cult of the screen personality takes over. That’s fine for the audience, but one wonders what the consequences are for the person herself.
• • Jacoba Atlas wrote: Certainly, Mae West has avoided much of the traumas of other “sex symbols” like Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow, but then some people have severely questioned West’s claim to that dubious title. She always seemed to me to be the ultimate nonphysical sex-symbol — it was her manner, her humor and her words that were sexy, not necessarily that “Big Ben hour glass” figure, the marcelled blond hair or the lopping, hand-on-hip walk.
• • nothing traditionally feminine about Mae West • • …
• • This long profile by Jacoba Atlas will be continued on the next post.  
• • Source: Los Angeles Free Press, Volume 11, issue 517; published on Friday, 14 June 1974.
• • On Friday, 29 April 1938 in the Boston Herald • •
• • Beantown readers were treated to this titillation on 29 April 1938, announced with a boldface headline:  Clutching, Squealing Crowd Greets Mae West with Mob Scene Here.
• • The Boston Herald reporter wrote: Complete with the publicized curves and husky, slurring accents that have made her practically a symbol of what she is pleased to call “the sex personality,” Mae West crashed into Boston yesterday morning through a clutching, squealing crowd of 3000 eager admirers who turned the South station into a mob scene.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Richard Meryman's exotic cover feature, "Mae West: Going Strong at 75," was published in Life Magazine. 
• • In Her Own Words • •

Mae West and Barry O'Neill on trial in NYC

• • Mae West said: "I enjoyed the courtroom as any other stage."  
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article Mae West was asked to write appeared in 1927.
• • Mae West wrote: He then escorted me to the side of the courtroom, through a cage effect, and then out a door, where there were a few steps leading down to another door. That door was opened and two gentlemen who stood there said, "Right this way, Miss West."  …
• • Source: "How I Was Jailed for Sex" written by Mae West for Liberty Magazine; published on Saturday, 20 August 1927
• • 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 4,463rd 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 court, April1927 • •
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