Mae West: Wildly Successful

MAE WEST had her share of coverage from Variety, whose publisher Sime Silverman was invariably scornful, condescending, and critical. In 2021, Variety’s editorial viewpoint turned tail, deciding they’d come this time “not to bury Caesar but to praise him.” The task fell to Tim Gray, who had this to say. This is Part 5 of 10 segments.
• • Mae West: The Sex-Positive Old Hollywood Icon Who Was Far Ahead of Her Time • •
• • Mae West: Continuing to break rules • •  
• • Tim Gray wrote: Continuing to break rules, she made her film debut at age 40 in the 1932 “Night After Night,” in a supporting role for which she wrote her own dialog.

• • Tim Gray wrote: When a hat check girl exclaims “Goodness, what beautiful diamonds,” Mae West dryly responds, “Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.”
• • Note: Mae had borrowed a well-worn line from her witty friend Texas Guinan.
• • Tim Gray wrote: She became a lead in 1933 with “She Done Him Wrong,” co-starring the new actor Cary Grant; it received a best-picture Oscar nomination.
• • Tim Gray wrote: Her films were wildly successful, saving Paramount from bankruptcy and she became one of the highest paid individuals in the U.S., male or female.
• • Mae West: Hollywood's crack-down on morals • • …  
• • Tim Gray’s article will continue on the next post.
• • Source: Variety; published on Tuesday, 17 August 2021.
• • On Wednesday, 17 September 1947 • •
• • Mae West attended a Press Reception at The Savoy Hotel in London on Wednesday, 17 September 1947.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "It Ain't No Sin," the new Mae West picture which was to go into the Capitol as the first Paramount picture under the “pooling deal” arrangement, will not be ready for release as originally scheduled owing to the necessity of retakes.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I had to come in like a streak of lightning."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An American newsman interviewed Mae West.
• • Willis Thornton wrote: One thing, in justice, ought to be made clear at the outset. Mae West is none of your "big-horse women of the spear-carrying era. Though Mae is no frail flower, she's really rather small. Buxom, yes, but well under the average height.
• • Willis Thornton wrote: Mae says 119 lbs. is her best fighting weight.
• • Willis Thornton wrote: Mae has a most amazing pair of true violet eyes, slightly slanted. Her skin is soft and fair, nostrils wide and eager, and her mouth is just a little voluptuous, and very insolent.  …
• • Source: "Go West Young Woman, Go West," a syndicated feature, appeared in various newspapers starting around Sunday, 10 September 1933
• • 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 4,824th 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 • • onscreen in 1932 • •
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