Mae West: Carole Lombard

MAE WEST was signed by Paramount Pictures in 1932.
• • Carole Lombard, who was under contract to the same studio, came into this world on this date: October 6th. Born as Jane Alice Peters, the slim blonde was particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. After a successful appearance in “The Arizona Kid” (1930), Paramount Pictures brought her into the fold and cast her as a leading lady.
• • Carole Lombard [6 October 1908 — 16 January 1942] • •
• • Carole Lombard's figure was attended to by James Davies, “the sturdy Welshman who ministers to Paramount's figure needs.” Davies was also assigned to Mae West. Let's enjoy this article from 1939.
• • Sure, Movie Legs Are Beautiful; See the Work That Goes Into Them • •

• • Associated Press Writer Robbin Coons wrote: HOLLYWOOD. Most of the lovely legs that trip across the movie screens didn't just happen. Sculptors-in-flesh made them that way. It's the job of masseurs real-life Pygmalions to shape the feminine body more nearly to the camera's desire.
• • A.P. Writer Robbin Coons wrote: Because "When the figure's gone, so is the star" as Louis Hippe, the Warner masseur who has been shaping movie figures for 27 years, puts it stars and starlets need little persuasion to hew to their prescribed regimens. . . .
• • MONTHS FOR ANKLES • •
• • A.P. Writer Robbin Coons wrote: James Davies, the sturdy Welshman who ministers to Paramount's figure needs, says the only "perfect as-was" figure in his experience belonged to Betty Grable.
• • A.P. Writer Robbin Coons wrote: Other facts on famous figures: Irene Dunne reports to Jim Davies two weeks before starting a picture, and is relieved of 2 — 5 pounds. Carole Lombard has kept that figure consistently for years, a James Davies patient.
• • NEVER NEEDED HELP • •
• • A.P. Writer Robbin Coons wrote: Mae West, because of the gay-nineties roles she played, was no client for hip-reducing. Davies "pulled" her waist down, "pushed" her bust up, left her hips as they were.
• • Note: This is a fascinating 2-page feature to read in full. We’ve only used a brief excerpt.
• • Source: Article by Robbin Coons, Associated Press, rpt by San Bernadino Daily Sun; published on   Sunday, 23 July 1939.
• • On Sunday, 6 October 1918 • •
• • On Sunday, 6 October 1918 the New York Herald Tribune wrote about Mae's superb performance as Mayme Dean in "Sometime," noting "Mae West gave a capital characterization of a chorus girl in search of temptation, but never finding it, ..."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •

• • "My studio," Roger Pryor continued, "has played me in some straight leads, as well as  characterizations, but I was much pleased to do a 'tough guy' with Mae West in 'The Belle of the Nineties' and soon after to do a cultured gentleman with Carole Lombard in 'Lady by Choice.' It helped at least to keep me from being typed as either one or the other."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Of course, I had to have experiences to understand life.  I had to know all about life to give people what they wanted on the stage."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Hollywood site mentioned Mae West and Carole Lombard.
• • Wesley Ruggles was an American film director.
• • He was born in Los Angeles, a younger brother of actor Charles Ruggles. He began his career in 1915 as an actor, appearing in a dozen or so silent films, on occasion with Charles Chaplin.  ...
• • Although Wesley Ruggles followed this success with the light comedy "No Man of Her Own"with Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, the comedy "I'm No Angel" with Mae West and Cary Grant, "College Humor"with Bing Crosby, and "Bolero" with George Raft and Carole Lombard, few of his later films were in any way memorable.  ...
• • Source: Hollywood Walk of Fame; published on (undated)
• • 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 4,576th 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 • • Mae West and Carole Lombard • •
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