Mae West: Woopsie Dolls

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 7 of 46 parts.
• • "Mirror, Mirror, on the Ceiling: How'm I Doin’?" • •
• • Not bad, Mae, for a woman of seventy-three • •
• • Mae West: Her collection of “woopsie dolls” • •
• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: Scattered on the floor were a pink-plush toy dog and several of those limp, elongated rag dolls favored as bed ornaments by adolescent girls forty years ago (they called them “woopsie dolls”).  
• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: The whole effect was slightly staggering. “I did the decoratin’ myself,” said Mae, and I’m sure she did.

• • Helen Lawrenson wrote: Best of all, there was Mae, herself, as splendiferous as her setting, sashaying around with that famous undulating walk, entering a room with the old, bold, flamboyantly regal air.  
• • Mae West:  Revealing a lot of skin under beige lace • • . . .
• • Helen Lawrenson's interview will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Esquire; published on Saturday, 1 July 1967.
• • On Saturday, 20 October 1934 in Popular Song Hits • •
• • Popular Song Hits Magazine featured Mae West on the cover of issue number 6 dated for Saturday, 20 October 1934. What a spectacular gown on Mae adorning the black and white front page. Weekend whoopee.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Fellini was fascinated by Mae West. Visiting Hollywood for the Academy Awards, Federico Fellini tried to recruit some Hollywood legends for his film, including Mae West, whom he wanted to cast in the role of Bishma for "Juliet of the Spirits" [released in 1965].
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Marilyn Monroe was a synthetic star.  A copy of me. I never met her, but I OK'd her for my life story."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An item in Australia mentioned a movie fan who is missing Mae West.
• • A Merge member wrote: Mae West had screen presence like no one else. Always the aggressive sexual force in her films, rather than the man, she's the woman who first said, 'Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?'
• • I don't know where I'm going with this. It's just that every time I see an Oscar winning actress selling mascara or anti-wrinkle cream I miss Mae West a little bit more.  ...
• • Source: Opinion: Merge in Australia; posted on Tuesday, 13 October 2009
• • 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 4,585th 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 • • Effanbee dolls in 1980 • •
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