Mae West: Dave Johns

In 1977, MAE WEST posed with Dave Johns, newly crowned Mr. America.

• • Dave Johns [5 August 1945 — 26 July 1986] • • 

• • Racism has kept the Mr. America title going primarily to white men.  Since Mae West took an interest in black boxers and bodybuilders, she probably was aware of the discrimination they faced. Handsome and well-built Dave Johns, born on 5 August 1945, was 31 years old when he won in 1977 and Mae was there to commemorate his achievement.

• • A year later, Dave Johns was awarded the global title Mr. Universe. Beyond his competitions and winning record, little is known about this hard working Afro-American.  The five-foot-nine muscleman died at the age of 41 of a lung infection.

• • Marilyn Monroe [1 June 1926 — 5 August 1962] • •

• • In an article titled "Mae West Talks about Marilyn Monroe," the Brooklyn bombshell had an opinion about Norma Jeane Mortenson, professionally known as Marilyn Monroe.

• • Looking back on her long career, Mae West told a reporter: My advice for her? Forget about the men; win over the ladies. The men won't forget you, anyway — — not the way you walk. 

• • And, said Mae, Marilyn has the Mae West roll. In my pictures I never took a man from another woman or pursued another woman's husband, said Mae. That was all part of my plan to keep women audiences happy. They don't like to be reminded of the fact that their man might stray after some thing like — — well, you know what I mean.

• • Marilyn Monroe, commemorated by the USPS with a postage stamp, has been dead for fifty years, much longer than her lifespan.  A sad ending at 36 years old.

• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1913 in Manhattan • •

• • A review of Mae West's performance at Hammerstein's Victoria appeared in a NYC newspaper on Tuesday, 5 August 1913. The critic noted that she was appealing to the audience "by singing a repertory of 'I Don't Care' type of songs and appearing in a dazzling series of low-and-behold gowns." However, it was clear she was trying to steal the thunder from the main act, Evelyn Nesbit, and having a hard time of it.

• • Even Variety's columnist Joshua Lowe [whose critique was published on 8 August 1913] noticed how hard she was working. "Mae West sang loud enough to be distinctly heard in the rear," wrote Joshua Lowe.

• • On Tuesday, 5 August 1980 • •

• • Mae West signed a check to pay Beverly West $125.00 for maintenance and care of the ranch on Tuesday, 5 August 1980. This check was drawn on her personal account at the United California Bank.

• • On Sunday, 5 August 2012 • •

• • On Sunday, 5 August 2012 the swinging Mel-Tones will perform hits by Mae West and Dean Martin and also lovely old standards such as “On the Sunny Side of the Street” as part of the Pawtucket City Hall Concert Series in Rhode Island. This free concert begins this evening at 6 o'clock at Veterans Amphitheater.

• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •

• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.

• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.

• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.

• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "I'm so ultra-modern that I'm old-fashioned. That's the real truth of the matter."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • When Mae West joined her first stock company in 1907, opened that year by Hall Clarendon in Brooklyn, she was often assigned male roles.
• • An article about the play "East Lynne" mentioned Mae West's portrayal of Little Willie.
• • The Washington Elm staff wrote: There is still the jealous, forgotten lady who is the real cause of all the trouble; a weak and good for nothing brother; a faithful maid, and Little Willie. This last part — — to be played Friday evening by Hazel Lynch — — was portrayed by Mae West when she was starting her stage career. ...
• • Source: Article: "Washington Players Announce Schedule"  written by The Washington Elm Staff; published on Saturday, 30 November 1935 

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2385th 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 • • 1977 • •
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Mae West: # 1893 Continued

The MAE WEST BLOG is celebrating a special anniversary this week — — in honor of blog post # 1893. To mark this occasion, a number of Mae-mavens offered their Westian wisdom inspired by the Brooklyn bombshell who was born in the year 1893.
• • • What is Mae West's legacy, in your opinion, and is she still relevant?
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Quinn O'Hara, actress, Los Angeles, California [born in Scotland]
• • Regarding her LEGACY and her relevance — — She was the first real feminist movie star. She was never a clinging vine type who would say, "Oh honey, I need you so much." She was open about her feelings. If she liked you, you knew it. And she made stars of some our great actors, i.e., Cary Grant. She knew how to pick her men and what to do with them after she had them. She made money investing in real estate and had her own fortune that SHE earned, with hard work and using her talents to get what she needed and got done what was essential. There was nothing weak-kneed about her. She was feminine and used it in her wonderfully humorous way. It is often said that Mae West could read the phone book and make it sound intriguing and naughty.
• • She was one of a kind. And so very witty and sharp. She didn't miss a beat. There is so much to say, but it still comes out to she was the one and only Mae West, sharp, business savvy, and sexy with a terrific sense of timing.
• • Mae West was such a treat to meet in 1977, recalls the effervescent redhead Quinn O'Hara, who had starred in a motion picture "A Swinging Summer" [1965] with a newcomer to the cinema — — Raquel Welch. Quinn recalls: The announcements read ". . . and introducing Raquel Welch, the Hollywood Palace billboard girl!" With many frames jammed with bikini-clad fillies, this movie got attention for director Robert Sparr and is now a collector's item selling for $195 (if you can find it).
• • Quinn O'Hara clearly remembers the warm humid day when she met Mae West at a Hollywood hoe-down given by the director of "One Day at a Time" — — Herbert Kenwith. "I had just done one of the episodes and Herb Kenwith was such a lovely person, too," she explained. Listen to the eternally beautiful Quinn O'Hara recount this special evening event exclusively for the MAE WEST BLOG.
• • When I met Mae, she was very nice to me. My hair is simply frightful in humid weather, so I had to do "the Mae West thing" of patting my hair, to keep it in place.
• • Since I had been following her around like a puppy, I wanted to apologize to Mae and explain that I wasn't trying to imitate her.
• • Mae West looked at me and smiled — — and said, as only she could — — "My dear, you have beautiful hair!"
• • Several guests nearly fainted. I discovered that she rarely ever complimented a woman. Then I took a chance and asked if I might have my picture taken with her, and voila! Here is the photo I treasure. There will always be no one like Mae West!!
• • The photograph is the personal property of Quinn O'Hara. Please do not "steal" it for your blog or web site. Thank you for the courtesy.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • More guest commentators to follow tomorrow!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • British movie maven Stephen Cole began a review with this first sentence: “To clear my head, I went to a nude beach,” announces Smith, teen hero of Gregg Araki’s aptly titled Kaboom, a film with enough sexy one-liners to tempt Mae West from the grave. ...
• • Source: Movie review "Kaboom: Dating, ritual murder and magic cookies" written by Stephen Cole for The Globe and Mail, UK; posted on 8 April 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1894th 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 • • a keeper of the eternal flame • •
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Mae West: Don Ruffin

Arizona artist Don Ruffin did a portrait of MAE WEST. Some of his artwork will be displayed on Saturday 2 May 2009.
• • Born in 1928 (according to AskArt.com), Don Ruffin became a nationally recognized painter during the 1970s. Among the portraits he did was that of Senator Barry Goldwater. The artist died at age 49 in 1977.
• • Don Ruffin was introduced to Mae West by a mutual acquaintance — —.psychic Richard Ireland. According to Mark Ireland, some of Don's canvases were "inspired by psychic experiences."

• • Anthony DeFrange also painted Mae West (1971) • •
• • The painter, who enjoyed giving psychic readings at parties, told his neighbor Tony DePrima that he would soon be a pallbearer for a close friend, remembered Mark Ireland. Curiously, a week later, Don Ruffin passed away and Tony DePrima carried his casket during the funeral.
• • The organizer of the Cinco de Mayo celebration coming up at West Valley Art Museum, Ms. Sheny Ruiz Milligan will bring along her private collection of paintings by the Phoenix artist. Sheny fondly recalled Don Ruffin's extraordinary portraits of actress Mae West, Barry Goldwater, and other notables. He also specialized in Southwestern scenes with a spiritual element.
• • Here's where the fun takes place this weekend: West Valley Art Museum, 17420 North Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, Arizona 85374.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/ ________ Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml Mae West
• • Photo:  Mae West, oil painting in 1971 • •
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Mae West: A Fan's Story

Continuing our eye-witness coverage of the MAE WEST panel at UCLA on Monday evening, 23 February 2009, here is a fascinating first-person recollection that was duly noted by our indefatigable Hollywood correspondent, who knew we would find it quite charming.
• • This intensely devastating Angeleno, who appreciates male pulchritude, recounts this narrative: "The only truly memorable story on Monday night was when an audience member told a story of his encounter with Mae West in 1977."
• • The man said he was having dinner at Imperial Gardens in Los Angeles when he heard Mae West was in the house. He saw Paul Novak near the restroom and asked if he could meet Mae West. Paul said, "Sure, come on over to the table."
• • Since this gentleman was very good looking in February 2009, I can only imagine what he must have looked like then. Mae West asked him to sit with them — — she was sitting with a table of male friends. This guy was stunned but pleased and forgot all about his companions at his own table! Then, to his surprise, Mae West asked three of her friends to move, so HE could sit next to her! After dinner, she said, "Ya want an autographed picture?" He said he would be thrilled. She TOOK HIS HAND and they walked through the restaurant to the car with Mae's buddies in tow. The guy's tablemates saw this and almost fainted! Outside, Mae West went through her stack of photos (presumably from the trunk) and discovered she had PRE-SIGNED all of them already TO people (men's names, of course). She said, "Well, it looks like they're already signed, see. So how about this one — — 'to John?'" He said his name wasn't John. Mae West said, "Mmmm. Well, this one's to 'Robert' — — how 'bout that?" He said he couldn't. Then Mae West says, "Well, I'm havin' a party Sunday afternoon. I'll sign one then."
• • He did go to her party. He said she was lovely and gracious, with very soft hands and a smooth face. She signed a photo for him.
• • This story seemed to have woken up much of the audience — — and then the night was over.
• • Unfortunately, there were not too many voyagers into Mae West's storied past on February 23rd. UCLA's promotion coordinators put forth a rather low-energy outreach and the auditorium (which can accommodate 278 listeners) was barely half-full for this free event.
• • The Mae West blog is grateful to these stalwart screen-lovers for their patience and their comments. More front-row details will appear tomorrow.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: December 1977

On 1 December 1977 MAE WEST was very busy.
• • "Sextette" began production on that date.
• • Synopsis: Marlo Manners is enjoying her honeymoon with Sir Michael Barrington, husband number six. As Lady Luck would have it, an international conference is taking place in the same hotel and the Russian delegate (one of Marlo's former husbands) is threatening to derail the negotiations unless he can have one more fling with his ex.
• • "Sextette" was released on 3 March 1978.
• • Mae West attended the screening of that film with her longtime buddy Herb Kenwith — — who remembered that the leading lady said very little afterwards except that she had to move on. Tsk.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: The Mighty Quinn

Mae West was such a treat to meet, recalls the effervescent actress Quinn O'Hara.
• • Quinn O'Hara remembers the warm humid day when they met at a Hollywood hoe-down given by the director of "One Day at a Time" — — Herbert Kenwith. "I had just done one of the episodes and Herb Kenwith was such a lovely person, too," she explained. Listen to the eternally beautiful Quinn O'Hara recount this special evening event exclusively for the Mae West Blog.
• • When I met Mae, she was very nice to me. My hair is simply frightful in humid weather, so I had to do "the Mae West thing" of patting my hair, to keep it in place.
• • Since I had been following her around like a puppy, I wanted to apologize to Mae and explain that I wasn't trying to imitate her.
• • Mae West looked at me and smiled — — and said, as only she could — — "My dear, you have beautiful hair!"
• • Several guests nearly fainted. I discovered that she rarely ever complimented a woman. Then I took a chance and asked if I might have my picture taken with her, and voila! Here is the photo I treasure. There will always be no one like Mae West!!
• • The photograph is the personal property of Quinn O'Hara. Please do not "steal" it for your blog or web site. Thank you for the courtesy.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Quinn O'Hara and Paul Novak, 1977 • •
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Mae West: Drag Queen's Missus

MAE WEST's former fan club president, female impersonator Craig Russell was married for eight years to Lori [1982-1990], a warm-hearted brunette.
• • Canadian blogger Nancy Paiva writes that Lori's first love was Craig Russell — — and a fabulously juicy memoir is in the works.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: Though he never made a secret of his homosexuality, they were married in 1982. Craig was a female impersonator during the 1970s and 1980s, and Lori was his biggest fan. Craig became famous after his starring role in the Canadian feature film Outrageous! (1977). He portrayed a gay hairdresser who wanted to be drag queen — — and it was one of the first North American films with a gay theme to receive widespread distribution.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: His impersonations included Mae West, Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Peggy Lee, and Judy Garland. Unlike most drag queens today, he spoke and sang with his own voice and was able to sing abroad range of octaves. As a teenager, Russell became president of MaeWest's fan club, and briefly worked and lived in Los Angeles as West'ssecretary. He eventually returned to Toronto and worked as ahairdresser while pursuing his career as a stage performer. By 1971, he was a regular performer in Toronto gay clubs and had a widespread international following.
• • According to Nancy Paiva: Lori shared Craig's life for eight years — — as his wife. She also shared his battle with AIDS. Craig died of an AIDS-related stoke on October 30, 1990. She kept diaries of their time together and has started writing a book.
• • Lori, 49, has her own battle to overcome. ...
— — excerpt — —
• • Source: Faces of Toronto: Lori — — http://blogto.com/
• • Byline: Nancy Paiva
• • Posted: 1 September 2007
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: Poetic Salute

Dublin-born versifier John Jordan [1930-1988] waxed poetic about MAE WEST.
• • The mammary-minded academic, who lectured at University College [Dublin], was a leading light in the literary life of Ireland from the 1950s until his accidental death in Cardiff, Wales [June 1988] at age 58 years old.
• • A few months ago, Dedalus Press published a posthumous collection: Selected Poems by John Jordan. This body-obsessed salute to Mae on her 85th birthday — — referring to her breasts as "platinum alps" and "plastic dugs" — — would not have charmed the actress. Or would it?
You decide.
• • • • To Ms Mae West on Her 85th • • • •

What right have you?
Did you pat your platinum alps
When across the electric wire
The thrilling message came
That the pelvic muscles were tranquillized
The gluteal shivers forever fridged
That in fact (O lamentable extinction!)
Elvis had gone pop.

Or did you cable another Cadillac
To some lucky mother-doll of Christ’s
Or over caskets run your pensive eye,
Golden, placid, lined with peachy silk,
And have your self re-measured
For the last tango with the beautician
Who’ll set all curves in proper mould,
The plastic dugs on top?

I weep not for the ‘King’: he wasn’t my type.
(Well, give him some pink, false roses.)
But you, old-timer, had better go West
While the pickings (pan me a nugget, Beulah)
Are ripe. The blue jeans of yesteryear
Might yet reverence your mummy,
And e’en their grassed spawn be mesmerized.
• • [Vallodolid — 17 August 1977 — by John Jordan]
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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