Mae West: Dual Personality

Paramount’s publicity flacks often planted promotional stories on MAE WEST paired with remarks by her various leading men. Unfortunately, most articles were downright dumb.
• • For example, take this misfire: "Making Love to Mae West Is Like a Football Game," a boring “interview” with Johnny Mack Brown [Motion Picture's issue for September 1934]. It started with “Johnny Mack Brown is glad Mae West didn't keep him warming a bench…” and never got better.
• • But William Grigs Atkinson [8 December 1888 ― 15 March 1964], known professionally as Paul Cavanagh, was an English film actor and West End stage star who had graduated from Cambridge University and practiced law before pursuing the dramatic arts. This erudite and perceptive leading man was able to provide fascinating insights on Mae West during his sit-down with Modern Screen for their article published in 1936. Instead of the usual, lamentable publicist’s piffle, Paul Cavanagh’s statements offer that rare ring of authenticity.
• • Since this Tinseltown interview has long been overlooked, we dusted off the cobwebs. Let’s roll the tape together, shall we? This is Part 1 of 13 segments.
• • Has Mae West a Dual Personality? • •

• • Mae West advises you to go after your man boldly, but Hollywood's smoothest gents claim she doesn't practice what she preaches. • •
• • Hilary Lynn wrote: The purpose of this article is to report two conversations. Just that. You can draw your own conclusions from Mae West’s remarks and then Paul Cavanagh’s comments on getting to know Mae West. These first-hand comments are bound to be interesting!
• • Hilary Lynn’s interview with Mae West: "The reason people go for my motion pictures in a big way is that I don't make 'em afraid of sex. Know what I mean?"
• • Hilary Lynn wrote: I didn't . . . quite. So Mae West went on to elaborate.
• • Mae West: Take sex with a laugh • • …
• • Modern Screen’s lengthy article will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Modern Screen; issue dated for April 1936.
• • On Saturday, 30 September 1944 • •
• • On Saturday, 30 September 1944 Mae West, who was playing the Empress of Russia, moved her show "Catherine Was Great" from the Shubert Theatre to the Royale, the playhouse that had originally welcomed Diamond Lil and her boisterous Bowery hijinx in 1928.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Last month we detailed a Pinkerton man, three movie detectives, and S. S. Van Dine, in a heavy black beard, to discover the brand of perfume used by Mae West. Innocent bystanders had told us Mae's particular preference bore a heavy bouquet which drove men mad and drugged Miss West's immediate vicinity with the very richness of its presence.
• • Four of our operatives, alas, never returned, but the fifth, a man with a wife and family, finally staggered in with a faint cry which must have been "Eureka." In other words, we have it on unimpeachable authority that Mae's perfume choice is Sinless Passion.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I think a woman may owe a man a lovin'.  But not a livin'!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • United Press discussed Mae West and her lawsuit • •
• • "Ex-Husband Loses Mae West Suit — Monthly Maintenance Denied Wallace" • •
• • San Bernadino, Calif., Sept. 23  [U.P.] — — Frank Wallace lost his $1,000 a month temporary separate maintenance suit against Mae West today in a ruling that questioned his good faith in bringing the action against his actress-wife.
• • There is nothing in this case that would convince the court that the plaintiff is not motivated by sheer profit in filing this action, said Superior Judge Charles L. Allison.  …  
• • Source: United Press; published on Tuesday,  23 September 1941
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,833rd 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 • • with Paul Cavanagh in 1935 • •
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