Mae West: Diamond's Adeline

The producer of MAE WEST's play “Diamond Lil” had been shopping a sequel — — for at least 20 years. The N.Y. Daily News first announced Jack Linder's project on Sunday, 25 January 1931.
• • "The Daughter of Diamond Lil " Takes to the Stage • •
• • This is the initial news coverage from January 1931.
• • "The Daughter of Diamond Lil" is the title of a play that Jack Linder has held for some time, and which he now hopes to place in rehearsal next week.
• • Diamond Lil herself was Mae West, a very tough lady from the Bowery who made Salvation Army officers forget themselves.
• • The new piece, Linder confides, is about a girl who has to live down her mother's reputation.
• • The play begins in New York on Armistice night, 1918, and it jumps around to South America and other places. Lil's daughter is looked upon by everyone as an incipient trollop just because of her mother's reputation. But in the end she proves that she is a sweet girl.

• • Adeline Leitzbach, who had nothing to do with the Mae West play, “Diamond Lil,” is the author of the new piece, and Miss West won't appear as her own daughter.
• • Source: The N.Y. Daily News [NYC]; published on Sunday, 25 January 1931.
• • Note: Adeline M. Leitzbach (c1884 — 1968) was one of Mae West’s ghostwriters. Mae West had a German-born mother and Adeline had a German-born father, Maximilian, who was an artist. Adeline's mother Fanny died during the run of "Diamond Lil" (on 7 September 1928).
• • Note: Adeline M. Leitzbach’s death date is not entirely confirmed, but sources indicate that she died in 1968 in New York City at the age of 81.
• • On Wednesday, 25 September 1940 • •
• • Andrew R. Kelley reviewed "My Little Chickadee" for Variety. His heavy-handed piece began on page 3 (continued on page 20) in the issue dated for Wednesday, 25 September 1940.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • After a long battle with the Hays Office, "Belle of the Nineties" won its approval. Despite that, several state censor boards deemed certain portions of the motion picture objectionable.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "She who laughs lasts."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Singapore newspaper mentioned Mae West.
• • "I've Come to Find out, Says Mae West" • •
• • The Singapore Free Press wrote: Mae West invited goggle-eyed British reporters to "come up and see me sometime" when she ran the first gauntlet of them on her arrival at Southampton at two o'clock on Wednesday morning.  
• • Just to keep everything above board, Mae asked them all to a press reception at the Savoy Hotel ...
• • Source: The Singapore Free Press; published on Tuesday, 23 September 1947
• • 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 16th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,569th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • author Adeline Leitzbach in 1917 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Diamond's Daughter

The producer of MAE WEST's play “Diamond Lil” had been shopping a sequel — — for at least 20 years. The N.Y. Daily News first announced Jack Linder's project on Sunday, 25 January 1931.
• • This is some of the follow-up coverage from September 1943.
• • The author was Adeline M. Leitzbach (c1884 — 1968); she was one of Mae West’s ghostwriters.
• • Jack Linder's Indie Picture, “Daughter of Diamond Lil” • •
• • Variety wrote: Jack Linder, former N.Y. independent vaude booker who some years ago produced several legits, including 'Diamond Lil' starring Mae West, has closed a deal to produce three feature films for Astor Pictures, indie distributing organization headed by Robert M. Savini.

• • Variety wrote: Contract calls for an option for three additional pictures if the initial trio are satisfactory and profitable.
• • Variety wrote: First feature for Astor Pictures will be “The Daughter of Diamond Lil.” But prior to going into production on it, Linder, now in San Francisco, will put on “Lady Chatterly's Lover” as a legit attraction at the Geary there.
• • Variety wrote: Jack Linder has taken the house for three weeks starting Nov. 7. He tried out “Lady Chatterly's Lover” previously at the Brighton, in Brighton Beach, NY and at the Locust, Philadelphia. During the past year, Jack Linder became an exhibitor through the acquisition of a motion picture house in Michigan.
• • To be continued on tomorrow's post.
• • Source: Variety; published on Wednesday, 8 September 1943.
• • Starting on Monday, 24 September 1928 • •
• • "Pleasure Man" written by Mae West was shown at the Bronx Opera House from 17 September until 22 September 1928. Then the play moved to the Boulevard Theatre in Queens for a single week starting on Monday, 24 September 1928.  Then Mae's provocative piece opened at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway on 1 October 1928, at which point the police padlocked it, despite its heavy advance sale.
• • The stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the police raid and the aftermath.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Believe it or not, the person besieged by the most autograph hunters, with the exception of Mae West, was Buck Jones.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Keep a diary and one day it'll keep you."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • Praise for Mae West: “Censor-proof, club-women proof. Should have a grand effect at the box-office. Intensely saleable. “ — National Bulletin  ...
• • Source: quoted in The Film Daily; published on Thursday, 6 January 1938
• • 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 16th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fifteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,568th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml  
• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • as Diamond Lil in 1928 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: September Embers

In early September 1928, as the Broadway run of "Diamond Lil" was coming to a close, MAE WEST went over to the northern borough of the Bronx to pay her respects.
• • In the month of September — — on 7 September 1928 — — Fanny Leitzbach had died. Shortly afterwards, the funeral proceeded from her residence and the Bavarian native was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Fanny's devoted daughter was sweet-natured Adeline, Mae's frequent writing partner.
• • Adeline M. Leitzbach [c1884  — 1968] • •
• • After Mae West read the play "Following the Fleet" (written by J.J. Byrne and Ted McLean), it did not suit her idea of a vehicle that would make the most of her talents. So once again she contacted a female playwright of German descent who was often hired to collaborate.
• • In 1922, Mae had first contacted this ghost writer, who helped her put together a full-length, three act play: "The Hussy."
• • The author was living in the Bronx with her widowed mother Mrs. Maximilian Leitzbach and had worked on projects such as adapting a woman's novel Wife in Name Only [1923] for the screen. Soon Mae West, age 32, and Adeline M. Leitzbach, age 38, would be revising the script that would become Sex and be staged in April 1926.
• • On 7 September 1912 • •
• • Nineteen-year-old brunette Mae West was featured in the show "A Winsome Widow" as La Petite Daffy in 1912.
• • The musical was presented at the Moulin Rouge, then located at 1514-16 Broadway [West 44th Street], New York, NY. This showplace was demolished in 1935.
• • This extravaganza was produced by Flo Ziegfeld, and during its latest revision the Eastside musical was relocated to the West Coast — — to San Francisco's Chinatown.
• • As La Petite Daffy, Mae West won acclaim for her vivacity and sauciness. "Mae West assaults the welkin vigorously," applauded the New York Dramatic Mirror from their tony perch on West 42nd Street right opposite the New York Public Library.
• • It was on 7 September 1912 that "A Winsome Widow" closed.
• • On 7 September 1949 • •
• • When "Diamond Lil" left the Plymouth Theatre on 21 January 1950, Mae West immediately took the show on the road.
• • The revival had enjoyed great success at the venerable Plymouth [at 236 West 45th Street]. It opened at this playhouse on 7 September 1949 — — and had 182 performances on Broadway.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West wrote this: "I like my clothes to be tight enough to show I'm a woman — — but loose enough to show I'm a lady."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on J Class yachts, a racing boat that enjoyed a heyday during the 1930s, mentioned the "Mae West" spinnaker. Let's clarify the term for you landlubbers. A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e., with the wind 90° — 180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. You can see why they named this sail after Mae West.
• • Regatta pro Steve Knauth writes: In their heyday, when they were sailed off Newport in the successful Cup defenses of 1930, 1934, and 1937, these powerful, graceful racehorses were the most advanced sailing yachts ever built. Aluminum masts, moveable spreaders, rod rigging, quadrilateral headsails, the “Mae West” spinnaker — — these were just a few of the innovations we take for granted today. Only 10 were built — — six in the United States and four in England — — and only three originals survive. ...
• • Source: Article: "Beautiful Brutes" written by Steve Knauth for Soundings; posted on 01 September 2011• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2046th 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/
________Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xmlMae West• • Photo: • • Mae West • • as Margy LaMont, 1926 • •• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYCMae West.

Mae West: Shedding Bylines

In many ways Adeline Leitzbach was the ideal ghostwriter for MAE WEST — — hard-working, experienced, flexible, self-effacing, and willing to shed her byline.
• • Sweet Adeline comes to mind in August because on 10 August 1918 the scriptwriter left Fox Films.
• • Adeline M. Leitzbach • •
• • A female author of German descent, who was often hired to collaborate on silent movie scripts as well as Broadway plays, Adeline was born in 1887 and raised in Manhattan, living in genteel circumstances in Greenwich Village — — until her father died.
• • In 1922, Mae had first contacted this hired pen, who helped her put together a full-length, three act play: "The Hussy."
• • During the World War I era, the unmarried woman was living in the Bronx with her widowed mother Mrs. Maximilian Leitzbach, and had many high-profile projects to her name. When she was 30 years old, Adeline Leitzbach had co-written the Broadway play "Success," staged at the Harris Theatre [254 West 42nd Street] from January — March 1918.
• • Building some momentum and increasing her visibility, Adeline kept busy supporting herself and her mother. Her credit was appearing frequently on screenplays for the silent cinema, too. In 1918, several of her projects made it to the big screen: "The Liar," "Her Price," "The Heart of Romance," and "Stolen Honor." Interestingly, one silent film she had scripted — — "Diamonds and Pearls" [1917] — — featured actor Curtis Cooksey in the role of Jack Harrington. Eleven years later, Cooksey would be on stage opposite Mae in "Diamond Lil" in the plum role of Captain Cummings.
• • Miss Leitzbach was also tapped to adapt a woman's novel "Wife in Name Only" for the screen; it was filmed as "Counterfeit Love" [1923] by Murray W. Garsson Productions.
• • Not long after, Mae West, age 32, and Adeline M. Leitzbach, age 38, would be revising the manuscript that would become "Sex" and would debut in April 1926 in the legit. The authorship would be attributed to "Jane Mast" (wink wink).
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: September 1928

In early September 1928, as the Broadway run of "Diamond Lil" was coming to a close, MAE WEST went to the Bronx to pay her respects.
• • On 7 September 1928, Fanny Leitzbach had died. Shortly afterward, the funeral proceeded from her residence and the Bavarian woman was buried in Woodlawn. Fanny's devoted daughter was Mae's frequent writing partner.
• • Adeline M. Leitzbach • •
• • After Mae West read the play Following the Fleet (written by J.J. Byrne and Ted McLean), it did not suit her idea of a vehicle that would make the most of her talents. So she again contacted a female playwright of German descent who was often hired to collaborate.
• • In 1922, Mae had first contacted this ghost writer, who helped her put together a full-length, three act play: "The Hussy."
• • The author was living in the Bronx with her widowed mother Mrs. Maximilian Leitzbach and had worked on projects such as adapting a woman's novel Wife in Name Only [1923] for the screen. Soon Mae West, age 32, and Adeline M. Leitzbach, age 38, would be revising the script that would become Sex and be staged in April 1926.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West: The Birth of SEX

MAE WEST gave birth to "Sex," her sensational and controversial play [registered with the U.S. Copyright Office from her parents' address in blue-collar Queens], thanks to some unusual mid-wives and odd-fathers.
• • In 1923, one year before James Timony acquired the rights to "Following the Fleet" by John Joseph Byrne, Mae had celebrated her thirtieth birthday. She had briefly returned to variety in 1924 on the touring wheel known as the Interstate Circuit. The month of March found the vaudevillian in heat in Houston, where she had fallen for a handsome Texas-based Variety reporter, Bud Burmeister. By then, Mae had quietly divorced her Italian husband Guido Deiro in the Queens County Courthouse but she was still legally (secretly) wed to danceman Frank Wallace. Either the romance went pretty far or perhaps Mae had a pregnancy scare — — because Burmeister applied for a marriage license.
• • After this hot-blooded escapade (or escape) in the Lone Star State, and after a brief commitment in Detroit at one of Keith's vaudeville emporiums, Mae was back in New York City under her parents' roof. By then Timony had made the acquaintance of a fellow Irishman, John J. Byrne, a 24-year-old thespian living with Mr. and Mrs. Patrick C. Murphy (his married sister and brother-in-law) in East Orange, New Jersey.
• • In Jim Timony's Manhattan office, Mae explained to Byrne she needed a play in the style of Rain, a sin-sational drama that had starred Jeanne Eagels in the role of Sadie Thompson, a beautiful tart who was a wanted woman in San Francisco, and on the run from a Honolulu brothel. After all, Rain — — based on W. Somerset Maugham's short story — — was the Broadway boxoffice smash of the 1922-1923 season. .
• • On the New York stage during the 1920s, whores and brothels were in vogue. David Belasco had scored a success with his racially mixed production of Lulu Belle; Leonore Ulric portrayed the mulatto courtesan. And Mae had been monitoring the meteoric rise of Eugene O'Neill, whose Anna Christie opened in 1921 with Pauline Lord playing the title role of the Swedish farm gal from Minnesota who winds up in New York City — — after escaping from a St. Paul brothel — — and is searching for her alcoholic father, a seaman. Quite aware that O'Neill had helped legitimize a raw realism fueled by life's seamy, seedy side, Mae West was ready to express herself in this idiom.
• • Explaining what she wanted to Byrne, Mae pointed out that Rain's Sadie Thompson was a loose woman who made a living from soldiers. "I told him I had an idea of a girl who made her living from sailors — — and to call the play A Sailor's Delight or True to the Navy, sayings I had previously used in a song," Mae revealed to a reporter.
• • Though Following the Fleet seems to have been written to order by J.J. Byrne and Ted McLean, it did not suit Mae. So she contacted a female playwright of German descent who was often hired to collaborate. The author was living in the Bronx with her widowed mother Mrs. Maximilian Leitzbach and had worked on projects such as adapting a woman's novel Wife in Name Only [1923] for the screen. Soon Mae West, age 32, and Adeline M. Leitzbach, age 38, were revising the script that would become Sex and be staged in April 1926.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West onstage in Sex • • 1926 • •
NYC
Mae West.