Mae West: Beefcake Blues

Was the heavily air-brushed memoir that MAE WEST published in 1959 “scandalous”? Vanity Fair seems to think so. See if you agree. This is Part 11 of 14 segments.
• • “When I’m Bad, I’m Better” — — Mae West’s Sensational Life in Her Own Words • •
• • PBS’s Mae West: Dirty Blonde delves into the life of a savvy sexpot—but even it is not half as scandalous as West’s 1959 autobiography.
• • Mae West created The Mae West Revue with beefcake • •
• • Hadley Hall Meares wrote:  In the 1950s, she began mixing business with pleasure, creating a Vegas review of bulging muscle men. “All through the years, night clubs have aimed at something for the men— girl floor shows,” she writes in Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It. “The wives and sweethearts have had to sit bored, while their men applauded female semi-nudity. I was going to give the women something to look at.”
• • Hadley Hall Meares wrote:  According to West, this troupe of former Mr. Universes and bodybuilding champions began to battle for her affections [sic], much to her barely-contained delight [sic]. Two men got into a gun fight [sic] over her. [Editor: you'd think a Vanity Fair writer would do better than this mess, wouldn't you?]
• • Mae West:  Dressing Room Drama • • ...
• • This 14-part article will be continued tomorrow.
• • Source: Vanity Fair; published on Tuesday, 16 June 2020.
• • On Friday, 7 September 1934 • •
• • “Grand Theatre — Second Week for Mae West” • •
• • On Friday, 7 September 1934, the Film World columnist wrote: Only films that prove more than usually popular are permitted to occupy the screen for two weeks at the Grand Theatre and, naturally, the Mae West success, "I'm No Angel," falls into this class. It will enter on its second and final week today . . .
• • Film World's columnist added: There may be different opinions about Mae West, but there is no doubt of her popularity today.
• • Source: The West Australian; published on Friday, 7 September 1934.
• • On Wednesday, 7 September 1949 • •

• • The "Diamond Lil" revival enjoyed great success at the venerable Plymouth Theatre [236 West 45th Street]. It opened there on Wednesday, 7 September 1949 — — and had four months of performances (182 performances) on Broadway.
• • In his admiring review of her 1949 reinvigorated Bowery queen romp through her popular "naughty nineties" hit, The New York Times drama critic Brooks Atkinson admitted he was moved to acknowledge what he called — — in an atypically poetic effusion — — ''the sublime fatalism of the entire business,'' and he went on to ask: ''Is she kidding or is she serious?''
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • One of the last bits of Will Rogers' humor was found in his message to youth (quoted in 1935). It read: "Don't miss the next Mae West show."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "That picture was a mistake from the word 'Shoot!'''
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on diaries began with Mae West.
• • Jason Wordie wrote: The truth of American actress Mae West’s famous wisecrack that everyone should keep a diary, “because one day, honey, it’ll keep you …” ensures some diarists write with a mercenary posterity in clear view; British politician Alan Clark and heritage conservationist James Lees-Milne are classic examples.  …
• • Source: South China Post; published on Friday, 7 September 2018
• • 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 4,556th 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 • • revival in 1949-1950 • •
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