Mae West: Charles B. Dillingham

As a child, MAE WEST heard fascinating recollections about New York City's Chinatown and the Bowery. Aware of the attractiveness of these lively locales, authors found creative ways to situate their narratives in these neighborhoods.
• • Charles H. Hoyt, for instance, wrote the immensely popular musical comedy "A Trip to Chinatown." The story focuses on a widow who connives and contrives to bring romance to several couples and herself in a big city restaurant [think of "Hello, Dolly!"].
• • Still capitalizing on the "Trip to Chinatown" craze, clever showmen reworked the play again and presented it under a new title: "A Winsome Widow."
• • Nineteen-year-old brunette Mae West was featured in the show "A Winsome Widow" as La Petite Daffy in 1912.  This musical was produced by Charles B. Dillingham and Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.
• • This box office smash was presented at the Moulin Rouge, then located at 1514 — 1516 Broadway [West 44th Street], New York, NY. This showplace was demolished in 1935.
• • Charles Bancroft Dillingham [30 May 1868 — 30 August 1934] • •
• • Born in Hartford, Connecticut — — in late May — — on Saturday, 30 May 1868, Charles Bancroft Dillingham became very fond of the dramatic arts. He secured employment in NYC as a theater reviewer for the New York Evening Post.  Gradually, he increased his influence and became an impresario, a director, producer, and theatre operator.
• • From 1902 — 1934, C.B. Dillingham either produced shows on The Great White Way or participated via talent management or leasing the auditorium for the production.
• • Charles Bancroft Dillingham died in New York, New York on 30 August 1934.  He was 66.
• • On Wednesday, 30 May 2007 • •
• • Christie's held this auction of a Mae West movie collectible in New York City, Rockefeller Plaza on Wednesday, 30 May 2007.
• • A costume design for Mae West, circa 1970s, by Edith Head possibly for "Sextette" [1978]. The sketch of this elegant pink gown is pictured in the auction booklet. A collector paid $900 to possess it.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "I have been in love at various points in my career, but as long as my mother lived I shied from marriage. When she died, it released the only governor of possible marriage inclinations."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An Australian news item from 1939 mentioned Mae West.
• • "Conditions Delay Mae West Greetings" • •
• •  It may not be possible after all for film star Mae West to send her greeting to the opening of Jack Lester's 'Ziegfeld Follies' at His Majesty's Theatre tonight.
• • Protracted negotiations were successfully concluded with the actress during the week, but the scheme was threatened by unfavourable atmospheric conditions over the trans-Pacific radio link. ... This was despite the fact that at 7:49 AM (Perth time) successful two-way contact was made between His Majesty's Theatre and Hollywood. Arrangements were completed for Mae West to talk later in the day. ...
• • Source: Article: The Daily News (Perth, Australia); published on Friday, 8 December 1939
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2660th 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 • • 1912 • •
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Mae West: Ida M. Adams

In 1912, MAE WEST had the role of Le Petite Daffy in "A Winsome Widow" and pretty Ida Adams was seen as Tony.
• • Ida M. Adams [c. 1888 — 4 November 1960] • •

• • Born in the USA circa 1888, Ida Adams became a musical comedy actress.  Her New York stage career began in 1909 when she appeared as Miss Glick in "The Candy Shop." In 1911 the 22-year-old was a success as Desiree in the crowd-pleasing musical comedy "The Pink Lady"; she toured with the show as well.   Then came the box ofice blockbuster "A Winsome Widow," and her cast mates included Mae West, Harry Connor, Emmy Wehlen, Leon Errol, Elizabeth Brice, Charles King, Frank Tinney, and the Dolly Sisters.  Then she was part of "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1912" with Bert Williams, etc.
• • Ida Adams worked the West End, staying in London 1915 — 1918.
• • From 1916 — 1920, Ida M. Adams received screen credit (as Ida M. Evans) as the writer of five silent movies, for instance, "Limousine Life" [1918] starring Olive Thomas [1894 — 1920].
• • Screenplays brought in a nice income.  The New York Commercial Register for 1919 — 1920 listed her as "Adams Ida M. (Miss), 140 W. 55th. Actress."  But soon she was using her screenwriter's stash to secure real estate in Manhattan. In 1919, she commissioned the architects Warren and Clark to remove the original brownstone facing at 130 East 38th Street and refurbish the frontage with tinted stucco and impressive leaded glass windows. She was living there, according to the 1920 census, with her cook.
• • Who knows what she did for the next forty years?  Ida M. Adams died on Friday, 4 November 1960.  She was 72. 
• • Lester Lee [7 November 1904 — 19 June 1956] • •
• • A native New Yorker (like Mae), Lester Lee was born in The Big Apple on Monday, 7 November 1904. An accomplished author and composer, he joined ASCAP in 1942. Working with his chief musical collaborators, Ned Washington, Allan Roberts, Zeke Manners, and Bob Russell, Lester Lee turned out numerous pop songs. A versatile hit-factory in his prime, with numerous chart-toppers to his credit, Lester Lee wrote many musical-production tunes. In 1943, he signed a contract with a Hollywood film studio. From 1945 on, he was creating special material for radio.
• • In June 1954, when Mae West debuted her new muscleman act at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, one of her hot numbers was “Take It Easy, Boys,” which the prolific Lester Lee had written.
• • Lester Lee died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on 19 June 1956. He was 51 years old.
• • On Wednesday, 7 November 1934 • •
• • On Wednesday, 7 November 1934 Vassar's "Polite Questionnaire" asked coeds on campus this question: "Who (sic) did your father dote on in 1932?  Mae West, Aimee Semple McPherson, or Margaret Sanger?"
• • Source: Vassar Miscellany News, Volume XIX, Number 11, on 7 November 1934.
• • On Friday, 7 November 2003 in Los Angeles • •
• •  Mae's apartment house The Ravenswood was designated a landmark in the month of November — — on Friday, 7 November 2003.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I hear Marilyn and Jane are tryin' to build themselves up with their sex appeal. Well, they haven*t got what it takes. They're artificial. They haven't arrived yet."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article published in November 1954 interviewed Mae West.
• • The NY correspondent wrote: The buxom platinum blonde with free-swinging hips and sultry come hither voice has returned to New York after a smash-hit run in the vastly opulent nightclubs and cabarets of Las Vegas and Reno.  Her current show in a New York theatre is not making as much money as she earned 20 years ago, when she was the highest paid woman in America and probably the world, but it is doing pretty well all  the same. ...
• • Source: Article: "At 62, Mae West Now Brings Women Flocking To Learn From The Girl With IT" for The Sun-Herald (Sydney, NSW); published on Sunday, 7 November 1954 

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2477th 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: Tips to Wives

"MAE WEST's Tips to Wives" was an interesting feature published in newspapers during February 1945. "Get into shape — — good shape," Mae urged the ladies. "Build up surplus vitality, you'll need it. Be as attractive as possible, be cheerful, happy, and inviting. Above all, don't nag him," Mae advised. "You have everything Continental that other women have — — only show him you have more of it."
• • Actresses Jane Wyatt, Cornelia Otis Skinner, and Tallulah Bankhead were interviewed, too, but Mae had much more to say to married women. ["Mae West's Tips to Wives" was published in Australia's Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW) on page 7 on Saturday, 10 February 1945 as well as in other newspapers.]
• • Kathleen Clifford [16 February 1887 — 28 December 1962] • •
• • Born in Charlottesville, Virginia in the month of February — — on 16 February 1887 — — Kathleen Clifford was an American vaudeville and Broadway stage and film actress of the early twentieth century.
• • As with "Baby Mae," Kathleen Clifford's career acting was initially built on the vaudeville stages as a comedienne. Renowned for her impersonations of men, Kathleen Clifford was often humorously billed as "The Smartest Chap in Town."
• • In 1912, a large cast was hired for the Florenz Ziegfeld musical production "A Winsome Widow" [staged on Broadway from April — September 1912]. Kathleen Clifford was hired to play a male role: Willie Grow. Mae West won acclaim as La Petite Daffy in the same production.
• • Miss Clifford died on 28 December 1962. She was 75.
• • Broadcast on Thursday, 16 February 1950 • •
• • From "Mae West On The Air" [Sandy Hook LP and CD SH 2098]
• • "Little Red Riding Hood" performed by Mae West (from "The Chesterfield Supper Club" program aired on 16 February 1950).
• • "The Chesterfield Supper Club" was broadcast by NBC and sponsored by Chesterfield. The segment was pre-recorded in January (on 23 January 1950) for broadcast on February 16th, 1950 so that NBC could screen the content in advance. Mae sings a duet with Perry and tells her version of "Little Red Riding Hood." It's a very good show. Perry Como, Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra, The Fontane Sisters, Martin Block (announcer), Mae West: airtime: 28 minutes.
• • On Thursday, 16 February 1950 in Rochester • •
• • Rarely did Mae West miss a performance. When she did, however, it made the news.
• • On Thursday, 16 February 1950, Mae was starring in her popular Bowery drama "Diamond Lil" at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY — — when she collapsed onstage. At first it was thought that she was suffering from food poisoning.
• • A news reporter wrote: Mae West collapsed on the stage at Rochester last night, but the show went on. She was unable to continue with the third act of the play, 'Diamond Lil.' It was presented without her. It was thought at first that she had food poisoning, but her doctor, who was in the wings during the show, said that she was suffering mainly from "sheer exhaustion." Mae West hopes to appear in "Diamond Lil" again tonight.
• • The Auditorium Center was originally constructed for the Freemasons in 1928.
• • Happily, the Rochester Auditorium Theatre is still open for business and in the same location as back in 1950: 875 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14605.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "In my pictures I never took a man from another woman or pursued another woman's husband. That was all part of my plan to keep women audiences happy. Women don't like to be reminded of the fact that their man might stray after some thing like — — well, you know what I mean."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Asians mentioned Mae West.
• • Journalist Barrymore Laurence Scherer wrote: "I'm an occidental woman in an Oriental mood for love," sings the curvaceous Queen of Innuendo, Mae West, sporting a bespangled pseudo-Chinese headdress in the 1936 film "Klondike Annie." The scene is classic West and pure Hollywood kitsch. But the 1978 publication of Edward Said's book "Orientalism" effectively ended the long tradition of such risible, somewhat racist perceptions, at least in terms of nomenclature. ...
• • Source: Article: "Go East, Monsieur" written by Barrymore Laurence Scherer for the WSJ; posted on 7 February 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2211th 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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