Mae West: Not Flippant

Despite all you think you know about MAE WEST, there’s always something new. Did you know why Mae felt it was pretty serious work discovering what’s funny, for instance? 
• • This intimate interview with Mae West was first seen in 2009. This is Part 16 of 29 parts.
• • From the Archive: A Candid (and Entertaining) Interview with Mae West • •
• • Mae West insisted  she's not a flippant person • •   
• • Mae West insisted: “I’m not a flippant person. There was a lot of serious reflection in what I said.” Mae added: “I hope you’re going to show me that way in what you write. You know, there was always something going on in my head. My head was always working.”

• • Charlotte Chandler wrote:  Mae West continued: “Did I have a serious side? Both sides of me are serious. It’s pretty serious finding what’s funny. I worked a lot during the Depression, and I understood it was important people laughed so they wouldn’t cry. There were people jumping out of windows. There were people selling apples on the corners who’d never before had anything to do with an apple, except eating it. Guys who had seats on the stock exchange had seats on buses, driving them – if they were lucky.”
• • Mae West, who once owned swan ashtrays, now said no one could smoke • •   . . .    
• • This long and fascinating interview will be continued tomorrow.
• • Source: AnOther Magazine; published  Autumn—Winter 2009 issue; rpt on Wednesday, 27 May 2020.     
• • On Thursday, 3 August 1944 • •
• • "Catherine Was Great" opened on Wednesday, 2 August 1944. Reviews appeared soon after.
• • The Herald Tribune reported on Thursday, 3 August 1944: "Mae West came to Broadway last night, decked out like a battleship in a swimming pool."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West discovered a little eating place near San Fernando Valley. She liked it and went there often. Recently, the woman who operates the place was told to vacate, because of a non-payment of a mortgage. Mae found out, paid off what was left, and handed the deeds to the woman.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "'Why shouldn't I have paid off her diner's mortgage? I wanted to keep on eating there, didn't I?"  
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Argus mentioned Mae West. 
• • "Marriage of Mae West — Court Order Sought" • •
• • Miss West admitted early this month that she had married Mr. Wallace in 1911, but denied that she had ever lived with him. Mae West alleged that he had married again without having obtained a divorce from her. Mr. Wallace brought an action to compel Miss West to admit their relationship and divide their community property, which, he said, exceeded £20,000.  ... 

• • Source: The Argus [Australia]; published on Friday, 30 July 1937
• • 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 16th 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 4,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,531st 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 • • her typewriter in 1959 • •
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