Mae West: She's Alone

When Helen Lawrenson came up to see MAE WEST, Esquire's first female journalist was closing in on her sixtieth birthday and the Brooklyn bombshell was 73. A color photo by Diane Arbus flashed across the double-page-spread, hunched under half the title as if warding off a punch in the nose.
• • In honor of  Helen Lawrenson's October birthday, enjoy her seldom seen interview. This is Part 5 of 46 parts.
• • "Mirror, Mirror, on the Ceiling: How'm I Doin’?" • •
• • Not bad, Mae, for a woman of seventy-three • •
• • Mae West: Dot of 2 • •
• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: On the dot of two, the receptionist called to announce me and I heard her say, “Yes, Miss West, she’s alone. Yes, Miss West, I’m sure.”  
• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: (In agreeing to the interview, Mae had specified that I was to come without a photographer.) When I rang the bell of her suite, Mae opened the door, peering past me to make sure no photographer lurked in my wake.  

• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: Then she ushered me into the living room and I was back in the lush Hollywood-style Marie-Antoinette-boudoir decor of the Thirties.
• • Mae West: Off-white, pale beige, touches of gold • • . . .
• • Helen Lawrenson's interview will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Esquire; published on Saturday, 1 July 1967.
• • On Monday, 16 October 1933 in Time • •
• • Time Magazine's review of "I'm No Angel" ran in the issue dated for Monday, 16 October 1933.
• • On Monday, 16 October 1939 • •
• • When they were collaborating on a screenplay, both Mae West and W. C. Fields signed a Universal Films contract. The document is dated Monday, 16 October 1939.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's next film for Paramount will be called "I'm a Lady."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I'll continue playing good bad ladies until the public wants something else. Thus far they seem satisfied."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • In the autumn of 1935, Mae West began to receive frightening extortion letters. Shortly after Labor Day, a stranger mailed her a demand for $1,000; he threatened to throw acid in her face if she did not comply.
• • Naturally, Mae West sent these letters [5 letters in all] to her local police precinct, and an investigation began.  Detective work helped finger the culprit: a Greek immigrant George Janios, who had been employed as a busboy in the studio cafeteria.
• • One portion of an anonymous threat from George Janios read (verbatim): "On the set, or flights, or home, 570 Rossmore, or riding or parties or studio. We see you every day.  Acid burns." ...
• • Source:  Cornell Daily Sun (cover price 3 cents); published on Wednesday, 9 October 1935
• • 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 4,584th 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 • • The Ravenswood on Rossmore in 1933 • •
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