Monday, May 25, 2020

Mae West: Prison Diary #1

There are many myths about MAE WEST as a prisoner — — silliness such as she drove there “in a limousine” or she arrived “carrying roses” and “accompanied by her maid.” What better way to banish the total B.S. than invite the Brooklyn bombshell to describe this experience in her own words. This is Part 1 of 7 segments.
• • Mae West, Sunbeam, Trips from Prison • •     
• • Island's Lady Bountiful Plans a Prison Library • •  
• • Reporter Elenore Kellogg wrote: Mae West, the sunbeam of the workhouse, left that institution yesterday after ten [sic] days of study and cotton stockings. Her sentence for being star and co-author of "Sex," convicted of immorality, ended at 4 p. m.
• • Elenore Kellogg wrote: Before she left, Warden Henry O. Schleth described her as "a woman of wonderful character." He said the $1,000 she receives from Liberty magazine for a story of her experiences will go to found the "Mae West library" for unfortunates in the workhouse.
• • Elenore Kellogg wrote: "I'm not going to keep a nickel of it," chimed in the actress, her usual self again in black satin, blonde curls, and just a ladylike touch of mascara.
• • Mae West had a run in her silk stockings • •  . . . 
• • Note: Stage play “Courting Mae West” covers her two Prohibition Era trials in NYC. Producers can request a copy.
• • (N.Y. Daily News photo) Starry-eyed Mae West on the ferry leaving Welfare island.
• • Source: N.Y. Daily News (New York, NY); published on Thursday, 28 April 1927.
• • On Monday, 25 May 1936 • •
• • Sydney, Sunday — — Australians will not be permitted to view Mae West's latest picture, 'Klondyke Annie,' as the Federal film censorship has placed a ban on it, explained Brisbane's Courier-Mail in an article printed on Monday, 25 May 1936.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Jewelry historian Janet Zapata wrote: The actress who epitomized, or possibly caricatured, extravagance was Mae West.  Her line "Without diamonds, honey, I'd feel undressed" encapsulates the importance of jewelry to her and to the film business of the period.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: My play “Sex” was a work of art.
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fellow inmate mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae on Welfare Island • •
• • Manhattan: About your write-ups of Mae West "doing her bit" on Welfare island, I am contradicting them. She is not doing any mopping. She is playing a piano and taking sun baths. Also, she wears silk stockings and high heeled shoes. She is working hard at writing a new play.
• • Meanwhile, I "wrote my plays" with a Workhouse mop. Too bad I was not an actress. — — EX-INMATE.
• • Source: N.Y. Daily News (New York, NY); published on Wednesday, 27 April 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 4,481st 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • on a ferry leaving Women's Workhouse, 1927 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

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