Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Mae West: Just Howjado

In a revealing 1933 interview with Gladys Hall, MAE WEST talks about being madly in love (only once), the first man who gave her a diamond, and how love affairs (for her) were transactional. Was Mae being truthful? Did Mae believe in her own hard-hearted advice? This is Part 13 of 17 segments.
• • Mae West's Advice to Young Girls in Love by Gladys Hall • •
• • Mae West: Just Howjado • •
• • Gladys Hall wrote: Mae West said, "One time I wanted a certain producer in New York to put on an act for me, when I was doing vaudeville. He was a very important man and everyone was after him. I went to his office one day with another girl, who wanted him to put an act on for her. While she was talking her head off to him, I sat down in a chair, turned it around so my back was to him and went to sleep. I hadn't said a word to him — — just 'howjado’ when I first came in. When the other girl was ready to go, she had to wake me up and I just strolled out slow, like this, and drawled. 'Er, goo-by.' I'd just got back to my hotel when he telephoned me and asked me out to dinner.”

• • Gladys Hall wrote: Mae West said, "The end of that story is that he put an act on for me and he didn't put the act on for the other girl.”
• • Mae: "He was nuts about me" • • ...
• • To be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Movie Classic; issue dated for August 1933.
• • On Saturday, 25 May 1912 • •
• • "Mae West — Songs" • •
• • When Mae West made her solo debut at Hammerstein's, the act was eleven minutes of dances and songs that were delivered in a Bert Williams like manner — — talking her way through. Mae selected "Parisienne," "Dancing-Prancing," and "Rap, Rap, Rap."  Her closing number was a sultry cooch.
• • Reviewing this variety artist in their issue dated Saturday, 25 May 1912, The New York Clipper felt that a number of well-placed comrades in the audience were there, helping her along.
• • In their edition dated for Saturday, 25 May 1912, Variety's critic called her a "freak." In their opinion, Mae's presentation lacked "that touch of class that is becoming requisite nowadays for first-class houses."
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Decades ago, a saucy wiggle from Mae West or an off-color mumble from W.C. Fields could trigger the wrath of movie censors.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Nudity in a motion picture detracts from your face and personality. That’s why I never show my ankles.” [sic]
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in Australia mentioned Mae West.
• • "Inflation Hit Mae West" • •
• • Minneapolis, Tuesday — Vaudeville performer, Evelyn West, claims that "inflationary pressure has forced her to increase the insurance on her bosom to 100,000 dollars — £44,643."
• • Miss Mae West, publicised as the "girl with the 50,000 dollars treasure chest," now holds a policy for that amount from Lloyds of London.
• • Source: The Canberra Times; published on Wednesday, 21 May 1952

• • 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 4,700 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,741st 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 • • a risque ad in 1933
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