Mae West: Merry Month

MAE WEST was named Mary Jane by her parents. Was "May" or "Mae" more popular?

• • Omaha columnist Cleveland Evans wrote: May is now more common as a girl’s middle name.  ... May was at its height in the USA around the time of the Civil War. The Social Security Administration’s yearly list of the most popular baby names begins with 1880, when May ranked 57th for girls. It then gradually fell and dropped off the top thousand list in 1963.

• • Cleveland Evans explained: Americans have been especially fond of the alternate spelling Mae. Since 1886, Mae’s been more common in the United States than May, while staying rare in Britain.  Mae West [1893 — 1980], America’s original “sex symbol,” was born Mary Jane West. She’s another example of how a popular star can’t help a former fashion that’s declining. Mae dropped as a first name throughout her career, leaving the top thousand in 1970.

• • Cleveland Evans continued: May did become extremely popular as a middle name, as many parents like one-syllable names in that position. May was one of the top three middle names for American girls born in the 1920s.  ... [Read more about the name May, Mae, Mai on Omaha.com.]

• • Al Jolson [26 May 1886 — 23 October 1950] • •

• • Mae West worked with a versatile performer whose death caused The Gay White Way to go black as a final tribute.

• • In 1911 both Mae West and Al Jolson accepted an offer to perform in the play "Vera Violetta." The show opened on 20 November 1911 and it was a phenomenal success. In this musical Jolson portrayed Claude, a blackface singer.  Staged at the Winter Garden Theatre, the production finally closed on 24 February 1912.  (Gaby Deslys got Mae fired well before that.)

• • It was on 25 June 1926 that Mae West appeared with Al Jolson — — as well as Houdini and other entertainers (such as George M. Cohan, Fanny Brice, the Marx Brothers, Ann Pennington, Hazel Dawn, Eddie Foy, etc.) — — at the Polo Grounds on West 155th Street in Manhattan's Washington Heights area. The fundraiser was for the benefit of the United Jewish Campaign.

• • Mae West rarely appeared on radio. When she did, she was there to promote one of her films. Mae West had guest-starred on The Shell Chateau with Al Jolson in 1936. The Shell Chateau was a musical variety series that began on 29 June 1935, with Jolson serving as its host. Due to other commitments, Jolson left this show permanently in April 1936.

• • In 1886, Al Jolson was born as Asa Yoelson in a Jewish hamlet (Srednik) in Lithuania, which was then part of Russia.  Unaware of his exact birthdate, he decided on May 26th.

• • Al Jolson died  in San Francisco, California, evidently of a heart attack, on 23 October 1950.  The showman was 64.

• • On Sunday, 26 May 1889 • •

• • Another wedding in the Jacob Delker family; Delker was Mae's maternal grandfather.  Matilda West's brother Carl Delker married Miss Mathilde Misdorn on Sunday, 26 May 1889. 

• • Earlier that year Miss Matilda Delker had wed John West in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Saturday, 19 January 1889.

• • On Wednesday, 26 May 1999 • •

• • Wednesday, 26 May 1999, TV viewers and Mae mavens were able to watch  Intimate Portrait, Season 5, Episode 28: "Mae West." This was the original air date and it was shown on LIFE.

• • Mae West on the Bookshelf • •

• • A memoir written by Derek Taylor was called "As Time Goes By: Living in the Sixties with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Brian Epstein, Allen Klein, Mae West, Brian Wilson, The Byrds, Danny Kaye, The Beach Boys, one wife and six children living in London, Los Angeles, New York City, and on the Road."  Quite a title. Whew!

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "The wages of sin are sables and a film contract."

• • Mae West said: "Don't keep a man guessing too long.  He's sure to find the answer somewhere else."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about quotations mentioned Mae West.

• • David Crystal wrote: "The memories of childhood," said Dylan Thomas, "have no order and no end." And, as the BBC World Service's recent Moving Words poll demonstrated, so it is with quotations. Proposals flooded in from all over the world, juxtaposing politics and cinema, philosophy and literature, science and religion. Woody Allen rubbed shoulders with the Dalai Lama, St Augustine, with Mae West.  ...

• • Source: Article: "First steps on a journey with words" written by David Crystal for The Guardian Weekly [U.K.]; published on Friday, 26 May 2006     

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2312th 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: Croon Crazy

MAE WEST heard Paul Whiteman's orchestra perform at Texas Guinan's night clubs. (When Guinan died suddenly in 1933, bandleader Paul Whiteman was a pallbearer.) Since Whiteman was born in Denver in March — — on Friday, 28 March 1890 — — it's a good time to revisit an animated short that featured both West and Whiteman.
• • “Croon Crazy” [December 1933] • •
• • In “Croon Crazy” [1933] Cubby Bear is hosting a live radio show on R.K.O. and discovers all his guests cancelling at the last moment, leaving him no choice but to impersonate them. Cubby's stars are Mae West, Al Jolson [26 May 1886 — 23 October 1950], Kate Smith [1 May 1907 — 17 June 1986], and bandleader Paul Whiteman [28 March 1890 — 29 December 1967].
• • "I've Got a Lot of What I've Got" is sung by Cubby — — impersonating Mae West.
• • This frisky Pre-Code cartoon shows Cubby Bear performing "Mammy" in black-face, cross-dressing, and depicting Mahatma Gandhi [2 October 1869 — 30 January 1948]. A scrawny Gandhi comes dancing along and, when he flashes open his white robe, he reveals himself as a cross-dresser modeling the latest style in scanty feminine lingerie. There's also a lustful sultan and his skimpily clad harem.
• • Steve Muffati directed and co-write this daring Pre-Code 8-minute animation. It was first released on 29 December 1933. It seems that the character Cubby Bear, featured in 20 cartoons during 1933 — 1934, was an intrepid interloper, a Mickey Mouse clone created at the Van Beuren studio.
• • Mae West and Paul Whiteman are two names featured on "All Of Me — A 60 Year Celebration." The original recordings of this hit single have been remastered.
• • Dorothy Fields [15 July 1905 — 28 March 1974] • •
• • Apparently always "in the mood," Mae West sang "I'm in the Mood for Love" — — and it was featured on the LP Fabulous Mae West [released in September 1955]. The song had been published twenty years earlier in 1935.
• • Born in Boston, James Francis McHugh [1894 — 1969] was a prolific songwriter who was doing his best work from the 1920s through the 1950s. McHugh composed over 270 songs and his hits were recorded by Mae West as well as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, June Christy, Peggy Lee, Deanna Durbin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
• • Composer Jimmy McHugh collaborated with lyricist Dorothy Fields on "I'm in the Mood for Love," which enjoyed great popularity and is still being sung today.
• • A native of New Jersey, Dorothy Fields wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Along with Ann Ronell, Dana Suesse, Bernice Petkere, and Kay Swift, she was one of the first successful Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood female songwriters.
• • Dorothy Fields died in New York City of a stroke during the month of March — — on Thursday, 28 March 1974. She was 68.
• • On Wednesday, 28 March 1927 • •
• • In March 1927, in reaction to the Broadway aspirations of Mae West's play "The Drag," the New York State Legislature passed a law banning all depictions of homosexuality on the stage.
• • After the Grand Jury's indictments were finished, the courtroom trial began in earnest on Wednesday, 28 March 1927. First on the agenda was jury selection.
• • A few days later, Norman Schloss would open the case for the defense, pointing out the most obvious details: that "Sex" had already run for 339 performances, and it had been seen by more than 325,000 patrons, including members of the police department and their wives, by judges of the criminal courts, by seven members of the district attorneys’ staffs, and by citizens of the city who showed no moral impairment. A Broadway “play jury” had previewed the show, and belated prosecution was unreasonable.
• • The prosecutor would argue that the play "Sex" was obscene and he would be calling a series of detectives who became courtroom actors.
• • Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad seemed to relish reciting the more ribald lines from "The Drag," and imitating the walk and gestures of "the fairies" on stage.
• • The full-length stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the trial and other matters leading up to it — — and, of course, the colorful aftermath.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "You can dunk that in your beer sundae and believe it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about advertising mentioned Mae West.
• • Dynamic Business editors write: Mae West said that too much of a good thing can be wonderful. Obviously, Ms. West was never on the receiving end of the avalanche of marketing messages consumers now receive. . . .
• • Source: Article: "Advertiser overload: Are you guilty?" written by Dynamic Business staff for Dynamic Business; posted on 12 March 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2252nd 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: Jose Collins

On 6 December 1911 "Vera Violetta" was still on Broadway, however, MAE WEST had been dismissed for her attempts at up-staging the star. One of the women Mae had rehearsed with was the British beauty Jose Collins, age 24, who was cast in this musical as Mme. von Gruenberg.
• • Born in London on 23 May 1887, Jose Collins was born to a famous music hall star and got into the business quickly as a child performer. By her 17th birthday, the vivacious brunette had appeared in both pantomime and music hall as a singer and actress. In 1908, she made her West End debut in a principal role in The Antelope (1908). On Broadway, she appeared in Vera Violetta (1911), The Merry Countess (1912), and The Whirl of Society (1912), in which she performed a duet with Al Jolson, etc. Her revue appearances included the Ziegfeld Follies (1913), and The Passing Show (1914). Starring roles in London and on Broadway and in revivals came her way in 1916.
• • Though her movie career was brief, lasting from 1915 — 1933, after appearing in 13 features for the silver screen — — including her role as Bessie, the vengeful model, in "The Light That Failed" [1916] based on Rudyard Kipling's poem — — Jose Collins would spend the remainder of her career in revues, variety, and also non-musical roles.
• • Though Jose Collins was married three times, she had no children. She died in London in December — — on 6 December 1958. She was 71.
• • In December, Let's Remember John Lorenz [1886 — 1972] • •
• • More than anything, variety artist Mae West wanted to be "in the legit" — — on The Gay White Way — — and Jesse Lasky gave her an opportunity. The extravaganza, produced by Ned Wayburn, Mae's dancing teacher, was titled "A La Broadway."
• • In 1911, Jesse Lasky opened the Folies-Bergere, a plush dinner theatre restaurant on West 46th Street and he cast a pretty 18-year-old Mae to appear in the revue along with a comedy duo, Cook and Lorenz. Supposedly, these comedians could not master their props in time to accompany her, therefore, Mae was unable to perform her first song, a ballad called "They Are Irish," the way it had been staged originally.
• • But what if the real explanation had to do with racial bias instead? James Cook was a black man and maybe that's why the producers yanked the team away from sharing a spotlight with Mae.
• • John Lorenz was cast as Nick O'Teene in "A La Broadway." Born in Buffalo, NY in December — — on 6 December 1886 — — his Broadway career began in 1909 when he was attached to a musical comedy "The Motor Girl." After doing several shows, he took his final bows in "Ramshackle Inn," a farce, in 1944.
• • He seems to have teamed up with a mature performer James Cook by 1910 and they actively toured on the vaudeville circuit. Considered to be one of the "monarchs of minstrelsy," James Cook had done a blackface act in 1885 with Rankin's Minstrels. (Blacks were recognized as musicians of talent, due to the popularity of minstrel shows.) Additionally, James Cook was an early member of the White Rats. James Cook was cast as Jim Jamb in "A La Broadway" and he may have been cast in another production on the Gay White Way in 1932.
• • John Lorenz died in Paramus, New Jersey on 30 April 1972.
• • On 5 December 1939 • •
• • In the year 1939, December's first musical on Broadway was "DuBarry Was a Lady," which opened on 6 December 1939 at the 46th Street Theatre, where Mae had once shared the stage twenty years before with Sophie Tucker. The female lead was said to have been tailored at first for Mae West.
• • On 6 December 1994 in NYC • •
• • It was on Tuesday, 6 December 1994 that Christie's New York held an auction listed as "Film and Television Memorabilia." One light-hearted Mae West item was "A box of approximately 120 red, white, and blue poker chips; a deck of cards from the Roosevelt Hotel." This lot of goodies was sold for $345.00 and now the deck is stacked at someone's house.
• • On 6 December 2008 in Santa Monica • •
• • Michael Gregg Michaud devoted his exhibit to Mae West figurines and it opened on Saturday, 6 December 2008 in the Project Room of the Lora Schlesinger Gallery in Santa Monica, California.
• • At the opening, on December 6th, attendees were handed programs. This is the text the West Coast gallery on Michigan Avenue had composed: With one hand firmly on her hip and the other primping her blond curls, Mae West represented the promise of good times ahead. Beginning in the 1930s, her figure was reproduced as a “chalk doll,” which became a popular prize at carnival games. These so-called “Carnival Dolls” were made of plaster of paris using a mould, and individually hand-painted. Several companies located on the West Coast produced these “Carnival Dolls.” One of the largest manufacturers was located in Venice, California and called the Venice Doll Company. Seventy years later, Mae West Carnival Dolls not only invoke a sense of nostalgia, but still represent the promise of fun. Mae West said it best, “It’s better to be looked over, than overlooked.” Mr. Michaud's display was on view there until 17 January 2009.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "To me the most difficult part of placing a successful motion picture story is getting it cast correctly."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on the initial Cannes Film Fest mentioned Mae West.
• • Kenneth Turan writes: The initial Cannes film festival was scheduled for the first three weeks of September 1939. Hollywood responded by sending over "The Wizard of Oz" and "Only Angels Have Wings" along with a "steamship of stars" including Mae West, Gary Cooper, Norma Shearer, and George Raft. The Germans, however, chose 1 September 1939 to invade Poland, and after the opening-night screening of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," the festival was cancelled and didn't start up again until 1946. .. .
• • Source: Article: "A festival of art and prostitution" written by USA critic Kenneth Turan for The Guardian [UK]; published on Thursday, 9 May 2002
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2137th 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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