Mae West: Elliot Roosevelt

MAE WEST received distinguished visitors often in Hollywood.
• • Elliot Roosevelt (1910 – 90) was Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s fourth child. He came out of the war a brigadier general for his work with a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the U.S. Army Air Force. He had a reputation for being the family maverick ― a trait he shares with the Brooklyn bombshell.

• • Fun Fact: Both are referenced in the novel “Gravity’s Rainbow” [1973] by Thomas Pynchon.
• • In 1934, following a spate of threatening letters and Mae’s infamous jewel robbery, Hollywood producers issued a new "verboten" order prohibiting visitors in certain studios and on movie sets. But if you're a president's son, the new ukase means nothing.  
• • Elliott Roosevelt was invited to be a spectator, watching Mae West making "It Ain't No Sin."  
• • At that time, Elliott Roosevelt [23 September 1910 ― 27 October 1990] was the aviation editor for Universal News Service.
• • “So He Goes Up to See Her” • •
• • On page 1, reporters for The World wrote: Elliot Roosevelt, son of President Franklin Roosevelt, took Mae West's word literally and went up to see her. While a guest of director Leo McCarey, Elliot visited the blonde film star on her set.
• • Mae is pictured explaining her script to the President's son.
• • Note: President FDR screened Mae West’s movies in The White House.
• • Source: The World (Coos Bay, Oregon); published on Wednesday, 11 April 1934.
• • On Wednesday, 11 July 1934 • •
• • "What's Wrong with the Movies?" • •
• • Writing from Hollywood, on Wednesday, 11 July 1934, Dan Thomas complained about nudity on the screen and vile dialogue. The front page article was illustrated with two scantily clad chorines. In his opinion, "It is harder to find a defense for the class of picture which offers nothing but a parade of nudity or ..."
• • Dan Thomas wrote: "And the increase in this type of motion picture of late was one of the reasons for the avalanche of public disapproval which fell on the movies. Mae West's excursion into the movie ring from Broadway offers a pretty good example of the progression."
• • Dan Thomas continued: "Famous for her New York characterization of Diamond Lil, Mae West came to the movies. The result was She Done Him Wrong, a picture which, though low in tone, contained such excellent characterizations that it not only drew few objections but it created a sort of vogue."
• • More and More Liberty • •
• • Dan Thomas added:  But what followed was "I'm No Angel." This was a picture of far less artistic merit and one designed to cash in on the Mae West vogue.  It was cruder and with far less real merit. Then came the announcement of "It Ain't No Sin," not yet released but with a prospect of even greater liberty ...
• • Source: Dan Thomas, NEA Services Staff Correspondent (in syndication) and printed on page 1 of the Hope Star on Wednesday, 11 July 1934.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Trade interest is high in such planned ventures as the teaming of W.C. Fields and Mae West for a film.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I've always taken the rap for the Code, but it was really those Barbara Stanwyck pictures (i.e., 'Babyface') that did it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Hollywood Brevities — Hollywood, July  2

• • Nate Blumberg on Saturday completed, via long distance, with Mae West a prematurely reported deal whereby the silver screen siren will make three motion pictures for Universal.
• • In her first film for the Universal studio, Mae West will co-star with W.C. Fields, with Eddie Cline directing and Lester Cowan producing. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Daily; published on Monday, 3 July 1939
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,057th 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 Elliot Roosevelt in 1934 • •
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