Mae West: Rapturous Rituals

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 33.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: Duke Ellington’s Orchestra altered musical numbers • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Accompanied by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, West’s usual snatches of scattered tunes are replaced by some big production numbers.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: The opening “My American Beauty” involves several impressive costume and scenery changes, and a bizarre and somewhat un-PC sequence involving a campily overwrought African-American spiritual service is impressively handled by Leo McCarey as he inter-cuts its rapturous rituals with a lonely solo performance by Mae West.
• • Mae West: “My Old Flame” — pleasing simplicity • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Wednesday, 1 November 1933 • •
• • On Wednesday, 1 November 1933, Mae West rehearsed "Frankie and Johnny" for the broadcast on "The Rudy Vallée Hour." The music for the orchestra was arranged by Elliott Jacobi.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • There are tantalizing flashes of insight about how Marilyn Monroe developed her screen persona: Natasha Lytess encouraged her to imitate Mae West’s walk. And Johnny Hyde told her to study Charlie Chaplin’s movies.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I take an enema every single day of my life — — after I leave the bathroom, you can go in and fry an egg.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Palm Springs newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • Louis Sobol wrote: Johnnie Ray travels backstage of the Latin Quarter to pose for a few camera shots with Mae West.  ...
• • Source: Gossip column item in Desert Sun; published on Monday, 1 November 1954
• • 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 5,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,111th 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 • • in 1934 • •
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