Mae West: Hitman Hays

Shocking and controversial in its time, a play by MAE WEST continues to be revived for open-minded audiences. This recent production was on the boards in Cape Cod. This is Part 4 of 9 segments.
• • Theatre Review:  Doing the Time Warp in Mae West’s Play “The Drag” • •
• • Howard Karren wrote: But it failed for The Drag, which was shut down by authorities in out-of-town tryouts in 1927 and never made it to Broadway.
• • Howard Karren wrote: The 1935 Hays Code in Hollywood eventually did squelch her screen voice.

• • Howard Karren wrote: And in the 1940s, she returned to live concerts and theater.
• • Howard Karren wrote: She died in 1980, at age 87, having directed herself in the film “Sextette” only a few years earlier.
• • Howard Karren wrote: During the Jazz Age, West was friendly with gay men and lesbians, and sympathetic to their lives as pariahs.
• • “The Drag” by Mae West (continued) • • … 
• • Source: The Provincetown Independent; published on Wednesday, 25 May 2022.
• • On Saturday, 7 July 1934 • •
• • "Mae West Rouses Ire of Victorian Women” • •
• • "It Ain't No Sin," Mae West's latest picture, is due to arrive in Australia soon. Mr. Kelly thinks that after its ban by the New York Board of Regents the film will be entirely re-made at Hollywood. …
• • Source: The Australian Women's Weekly (on page 4), issue dated for Saturday, 7 July 1934.
• • July 2004: Mae West Blog launches • •
• • What are we up to, writing about the Brooklyn-born bombshell for eighteen years now?
• • We’re here to keep Mae mavens up to date, correct errors, celebrate each revival of a play she wrote, post the latest Westian stage and book reviews. And answer our fan mail!
• • The light’s still on. Come up and see Mae every day.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • The three movie sets that an outside photographer positively can't enter in Hollywood are those of Mae West, Shirley Temple, and Greta Garbo.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If I was a drinking girl, you might figure I had up and married this guy in an off moment and forgotten about it. But I don't drink."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An autobiography mentioned Mae West.
• • “John Gielgud [1904 ― 2000] told us this story about Mae West," wrote Isherwood in his memoir.
• • Mae West was once asked, ‘Do you ever smoke after you’ve had sex?’
• • She answered, ‘I never looked.'  …
• • Source: Christopher Isherwood, Liberation: Diaries: 1970 ― 1983 [US:‎ Harper Perennial, 3 December 2013]
• • 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 5,032nd 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 1948 • •
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Mae West: Khushwant Singh

On Friday, 30 January 1948, MAE WEST was starring in London's West End production of "Diamond Lil."
• • Born in 1915 in pre-Partition Punjab, Khushwant Singh, perhaps India’s most widely read and controversial writer, was a Mae West fan.  Let's revisit his recollection of enjoying the diva sashaying around Suicide Hall onstage.

• • Khushwant Singh wrote: I was still in London when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in Delhi on Friday, 30 January 1948. I had taken leave to pack up my belongings to proceed to Canada.  ... Instead of going to the shipping office to confirm our passage, we made our way  to India House to be with our own people. . . . We sat there for an hour.  In my pocket were theatre tickets I had bought a month earlier to see Mae West in "Diamond Lil." I was torn with conflict in my mind. Was it right to see the world's greatest sex symbol when Bapu lay dead in Delhi?  Ultimately, we decided to go to the theatre.  I did not have any shame or sense of guilt when I saw the bosomy woman come out with her punch line: "Come up and see me sometime." I would have happily responded to her invitation. From the brochure, I discovered Mae West was the same age as my mother.  . . .
• • Source: excerpt from "Truth, Love and A Little Malice" written by Khushwant Singh [UK: Penguin, 10 February 2003].
• • On Sunday, 30 January 1938 • •
• • "Mae West Is Banned Over Radio" • •
• • ("The Sunday Times" Special Message) • •
• • NEW YORK, Saturday — — The National Broadcasting Company from its headquarters here has issued definite instructions that the name of Mae West must not be mentioned over any station in the network which it controls.
• • It is believed that this is the result of violent objection that followed Miss West's recent appearance, after a four-year absence from the air, in a sketch entitled "Adam and Eve."
• • Source: Sunday Times (Perth); published on Sunday, 30 January 1938.
• • On Wednesday, 30 January 1935 in Singapore • •
• • "Lord Byng at a Mae West Tea-Party — Star Will Be in London for Jubilee Celebration"
• • Lord Byng and Lady Byng joined Mae West for tea and tried to butter her up with some friendly persuasion. The Straits Times in Singapore ran an article with all the particulars on page 6 on Wednesday, 30 January 1935.
• • The NYC newsman wrote: "Miss West entertained Lord and Lady Byng at tea in her dressing room at Paramount Pictures. She soon put her guests at their ease with a few simple Westisms." ...
• • Before he left, Lord Byng suggested that she should come to London. "Sure," said Miss West. "It would fascinate me." ...
• • "Tea began formally but Miss West soon broke the ice," the journalist noted.
• • Source: Article: "Lord Byng at a Mae West Tea-Party — Star Will Be in London for Jubilee Celebration" printed in The Straits Times; published on Wednesday, 30 January 1935.
• • On Sunday, 30 January 2011 in Florida • •
• • Words of Mae West come to life in “The Drag” • •
• • Orlando-based columnist Dawnn Behrens wrote this for Examiner.com: Originally written in 1926, the words of Mae West come to life in “The Drag” tonight [on January 30th] at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center (Studio B). Directors Michael Wanzie, John DiDonna and their group received permission from the estate of the late Mae West to present the show. It will be present tonight as the last night of an exclusive 2 night performance as part of their “Dangerous Plays Series — Giving breath to dissenting voices” series. . . .
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In her first film endeavor, "Night After Night," Mae West was a mild success in a meager part.  Then Mae made "She Done Him Wrong." It had not played more than two or three days before the studio executives realized they had stumbled upon on a gold mine.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I'll stick to the movie game for some time. But I hope to be able to find time to do another play."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Malaysian paper mentioned Mae West.  Which actor gave Mae West a kiss onscreen that would be monumental?
• • "Mae West's First Kiss" • •
• • Hollywood — For the first time in any of her films, Mae West has agreed to kiss a man.
• • The lucky man is Charles Winninger, who is playing the part of a social reformer in the film she is now making, "Every Day's a Holiday."
• • Said Mae in announcing the big decision: "I figured I owed just one kiss to reformers as a class. So Charlie gets it.  He's old enough not to take it too seriously."
• • Mae West is 45 and Charles Winninger is 53.
• • Source: Item: The Straits Times [Singapore]; published on Sunday, 26 September 1937 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 1,430 visitors. We reached a milestone this week: 3,100 posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3104th 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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Mae West: David Davies

David Davies bought it as a special gift for MAE WEST during the time when "Diamond Lil" was touring in the United Kingdom.  The Welch actor was playing the role of Gus Jordan. Let's find out more about his career and that amazing present. 
• • David Davies [1906 — 1974] • •

• • David Davies was born in Bryn Mawr, Wales on Tuesday, 3 April 1906 and decided to devote himself to the dramatic arts. 
• • The six-foot-four Welshman acted in a West End production of "Rose Marie" [1925] — — an operetta-style romantic comedy with music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II. David Davies was seen onstage at the Stoll Theatre in London, England with cast members such as Marjorie Browne, Raymond Newell, George Lacey, Phyllis Monkman, and Paul Jackson. What a thrill for a lad of 19.
• • After continuing his work on the boards for decades, he was cast in his first film "The Three Weird Sisters" [released in 1948]; he was 42 years old when he played the police sergeant. Coincidentally, another actor played the role of "David Davies" in this movie.
• • For the autumn of 1947 and for the early part of 1948, David Davies devoted himself to the U.K. tour of "Diamond Lil" and enjoyed a good relationship with his leading lady.
• • In the London cast were Richard Bailey as Captain Cummings;  David Davies as Gus Jordan; Hal Gould as Chick Clark; Noele Gordon as Rita; Bruno Barnabe as Juarez, etc.
• • "Screen stars and Scottish tweeds" • •
• • In September 1948, an article appeared about Alexander MacPherson, a single canny Scot who "weaves tweeds which are sought after by Lord and Ladies, film stars and millionaires. Soon his fame spread and Americans were forming queues for share in his weekly output of 60 yards of tweed. Today these soldiers and sailors from all parts of the world still seek his tweeds — — and they are prepared to pay well for them.
• • Bette Davis has one of  Alexander MacPherson hand-woven tweeds and so has her mother.  Mae West has one — — purchased for her by David Davies, who appeared in "Big Ben" and "Diamond Lil" and has long been a customer.
• • Source:  Mirror (Perth); published on Saturday, 25 September 1948.
• • David Davies was featured in about 65 projects for the cinema and for the home viewing audience. Perhaps you spotted him as the Theatre Commissioner in "39 Steps," the scene where they ask, "How old is Mae West?"
• • The last credits for David Davies were "Under Milk Wood" [1972] and his on-going role in the British TV series "Coronation Street."  He died in 1974.  We wish we knew more.
• • On Tuesday, 10 April 1928 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The New York Times reported on "Diamond Lil" on 10 April 1928 on page 32. The review carried this headline and a sub-title: "'DIAMOND LIL' IS LURID AND OFTEN STIRRING" and "Mae West's Melodrama at the Royale Suffers From a Bad Third Act."
• • Opposite the coverage on page 33 was a small advertisement for the play at the Royale Theatre.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's family is almost as interesting as she is, herself.
• • Her Dad, an ex prize-fighter, likes to recall the time he was a young fellow and raising English bulldogs.  He used to name the brutes after all the girls in the neighborhood.  As the gals would stroll by, Jack West would call: "Here, Emma!  Come here, Emma, you ugly little mutt!"  And, boy, were those girls sore!
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "Nothing interested me enough to want to bother going out much. I was too busy and too interested in me to be interested in other people. And then if there was somebody I really wanted to meet, I'd have them come up and see me."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about a Sophie Tucker movie mentioned Mae West
• • Pomona filmmakers Susan and Lloyd Ecker will bring their documentary "The Outrageous Sophie Tucker" to the Lafayette Theater in Suffern for one evening only on Sunday, April 6.
• • The film documents the life and career of Tucker, a vaudeville superstar whose bold, sassy style helped paved the way for female performers from Mae West to Lady Gaga.  ...
• • Source: Article in The Lower Hudson Journal News; published on Wednesday, 2 April 2014
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2889th 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 • • actor who played Gus Jordan in 1948 • •
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