Mae West: Deserves a Stamp

Hattie McDaniel [1895 — 1952], who was featured in "I'm No Angel" starring MAE WEST, was featured as the 29th inductee on the Black Heritage Series by the United States Postal Service. The announcement from the US Postal Service came through in the month of January — — on 25 January 2006.
• • The 39-cent stamp was released (on 29 January 2006) when the Oscar-winner had been dead for 53 years. This stamp features an image of Hattie McDaniel taken in 1941 in the same dress she wore when she accepted her Academy Award in 1940.
• • Beginning this year, however, Americans will see acclaimed musicians, sports stars, writers, artists, and other nationally-known figures on U.S. postage stamps — — while they are still alive. The Postal Service is inviting the public to use social media to submit their ideas for individuals to honor.
• • In September 2011 the Postal Service announced that they would be dropping a rule that currently requires an individual to have been deceased at least five years before being honored on a stamp. Under the new guidelines, living or recently deceased individuals will be eligible for commemoration on postage stamps.
• • Mae-mavens are waiting for the day that the Brooklyn bombshell [1893 — 1980] will be featured on a postage stamp issued in the USA. The Hollywood legend has been dead for 31 years. When do we get a Mae West stamp? When? When?
• • Mail your suggestions to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, Room 3300, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-3501.
• • Midsumma, Melbourne, Mae West • •
• • At the end of January, Marie-Therese Byrne will take the role of Mae West in "Courting Mae West," a play written by LindaAnn Loschiavo. A one-time only presentation in Australia, the play will have a concert reading during Midsumma Playing-In-The-Raw.
• • Based on true events during the Prohibition Era — — from December 1926 until December 1932 — — the play follows a pre-Hollywood Mae West, age 33, as she socializes in the drag cabaret where she had cast "The Drag" (in Act I, Scene 1), a daring production she plans to bring to Broadway. Unfortunately, she gets arrested and jailed instead (Act 1, Scene 3). Censorship, courtroom battles, bankruptcy, and other crises will dog her footsteps, forcing the Brooklyn bombshell to climb the ladder of success wrong by wrong. Finally, a Paramount Pictures star at 39 years old, Mae gets to bring her box-office blockbuster "Diamond Lil" to the silver screen on her own terms by the end of 1932.
• • WHAT: "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship & Secrets"
• • WHEN: Saturday, 28 January 2012 at 2.00pm
• • WHERE: Midsumma Playing-In-The-Raw at The Chapel [Melbourne, Australia]
• • Alan Brooks [1888 — 1936] • •
• • Actor Alan Brooks played the title role in "Pleasure Man" [1928] written by Mae West.
• • Born in New York City as Irving Hayward in the month of January — — on 25 January 1888 — — Alan Brooks was active on The Gay White Way from 1909 — 1932. During that interval, Brooks was cast opposite Lionel Barrymore in "The Piker" [1925] and helmed his own Broadway trifecta when he wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy "Merchants of Venus" [1920].
• • The life of an actor has never been an easy one whether onstage or during the drama of the witness stand.
• • "Pleasure Man" had its opening night on 1 October 1928 padlocked by the police. Alan Brooks who portrayed Rodney Terrill died at the end of September — — on 29 September 1936 — — in Saranac Lake, NY, at age 48.  The actor was treated at Will Rogers Hospital for TB, the disease that contributed to his early demise.
• • The legal battles fought by Mae West and Alan Brooks are dramatized in the play "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets," set during the Prohibition Era. Watch a scene on YouTube. Or attend the performance in Australia on January 28th.
• • Photo: 1930 Mae West leaves court with her lawyer Nathan Burkan and the cast of "Pleasure Man" in lower Manhattan
• • On Sunday, 25 January 1948 • •
• • On Sunday, 25 January 1948, The New York Times's London correspondent noted: "The audience displayed little interest in the comedy melodrama of the nineties but it warmed to Miss West. ..."
• • On Sunday, 25 January 1998 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • Published in The Times on 25 January 1998 was an interesting article by Albert Murray, "High-Stepping to an Uptown Beat," that offered the highlights of a decade.
• • Albert Murray wrote: It was during the 10-year period beginning in November 1918 that New York City consolidated its status as undisputed culture capital of the United States, indeed of the Western Hemisphere. This was the postwar decade of the Roaring 20's, with its deluxe sedans and sporty roadsters and increasingly available flivvers and jitneys. The newly ratified 18th Amendment brought in Prohibition, bootleg liquor and gangster-affiliated speak-easies. ...
• • Albert Murray wrote: Police come up to see Mae West: they raid "Sex," a musical revue [sic].
• • On Friday, 25 January 2002 • •
• • The Vegas View news-sheet announced on Friday, 25 January 2002 this interesting bit of weekend entertainment: The Magical Hula Girls performance Saturday [January 26th] will include appearances by a Mae West impersonator, stuntman and actor Samoan Sid on the Tahitian drums, and dancer One, who also performs in "O" at the Bellagio. At the Starbright Theatre in Sun City, Nevada.
• • On Sunday, 25 January 2009 • •
• • An intriguing item offered at the Winter Art and Antiques Auction on Sunday 25 January 2009 was this 1989 serigraph of Mae and an impressionist: "Large Caricature Portraits of Mae West and Jim Bailey."
• • On Tuesday, 25 January 2011 in The Orlando Sentinel • •
• • The paper announced on 25 January 2011 that the controversial Mae West play "The Drag" will get a reading in Florida: John DiDonna's Empty Spaces Theatre Co. will present a staged reason of Mae West's gay-themed "The Drag" twice this weekend as part of its Dangerous Plays Series.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Men are my hobby. If I ever got married, I'd have to give it up."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Year of the Dragon celebrities mentioned Mae West.
• • Andrea Reiher writes: The Chinese New Year on January 23 kicks off year 4710 in the Chinese calendar, which is a Year of the Dragon. The legend goes that Buddha asked the animals to meet him for a New Year's celebration and 12 showed up, so they were each assigned a year. He also said people born in those years would have some of those animal's traits.
• • Andrea Reiher writes: 4710 is a Year of the Dragon, which means people born in this year and previous Dragon years are supposed to share the positive traits of being magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal.
• • Andrea Reiher writes: The negative Dragon traits include tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
• • Andrea Reiher writes: Some famous Year of the Dragon celebrities include Mae West and also Susan B. Anthony, Florence Nightingale, Sigmund Freud, Shirley Temple, Salvador Dali, John Lennon, Raquel Welch, Bruce Lee, Keanu Reeves, Orlando Bloom, Sandra Bullock, Al Pacino, etc.
• • Source: Article: "Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon celebs" written by Andrea Reiher for pop2it; posted on: 23 January 2012

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven (7) years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2188th 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 • • during "Pleasure Man" trial in 1930 • •• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West: Stamp Advocate

Born in September, the lifelong MAE WEST friend and man-of-the-cloth Andre Penachio [18 September 1926 — 01 April 1999] campaigned vigorously in 1997 and 1998 to have the actress honored with a postage stamp.
• • In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service launched a popular series — — "Legends of Hollywood" — — and devoted the first postage stamp to the late Marilyn Monroe. Other Tinseltown luminaries soon followed, for example, comedienne Lucille Ball and Cary Grant, Mae West's co-star.
• • "Mae West deserves to be commemorated on a stamp," said Bishop Penachio. The Italian American New Yorker first met the movie queen during World War II.
• • Bishop Andre Penachio officiated at Mae West's burial at Cypress Hills Abbey in Brooklyn, New York in 1980.
• • Until his retirement, Bishop Andre Penachio had been attached to the St. Thomas Liberal Catholic Church [147 West 144th Street, New York, NY 10030; 212-283-9566].
• • Get Involved • •
• • Do you agree that the lady should be a stamp? Write a letter! Help get Mae West commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.
• • Here's a sample letter and here is where you should write:
• • • • To: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
• • • • c/o Stamp Development; U S Postal Service
• • • • 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
• • • • Washington, DC 20260 — 3501
• • • • SAMPLE • • • •
• • Dear Chairman — Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:
• • Please issue a US postal stamp commemorating MAE WEST, the former Broadway star and Hollywood icon who died in 1980.
• • Comedy and entertainment are hallmarks of the popular culture of the United States of America. The U.S. Postal Department has befittingly honored screen legends Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart by issuing commemorative stamps depicting these adults.
• • However, none of these individuals wrote their own plays. MAE WEST wrote "Diamond Lil" and many other plays that were staged on Broadway.
• • None of these individuals wrote their own movie dialogue. MAE WEST wrote all of her own dialogue for most of the nine films she appeared in.
• • None of these individuals can match MAE WEST when it comes to numerous original quotes. Her witty sayings are often quoted in books and newspaper articles to this day.
• • Please approve the issuance of a US postal stamp commemorating a legendary American talent MAE WEST (1893 - 1980).
• • Source of this sample letter: Mae West Blog — http://MaeWest.blogspot.com
• • • • The Stamp Selection Process • • • •
• • Ideas for stamp subjects that meet CSAC criteria may be addressed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Stamp Development; US Postal Service; 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300, Washington, DC 20260 — 3501.
• • The Committee only reads hard-copy letters. No faxes, no emails.
• • Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved.
• • Submit stamp proposals in writing to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. This allows everyone the same opportunity to suggest a new stamp subject. All proposals are reviewed by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee regardless of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.
• • After a proposal is determined not to violate criteria set by CSAC, research is done on the proposed stamp subject. Each new proposed subject is listed on the CSAC's agenda for its next meeting. The CSAC considers all new proposals and takes one of two actions: it may reject the new proposal or it may set it aside for consideration for future issuance. If set aside for consideration, the subject remains "under consideration" in a file maintained for the Committee.
• • An "I Love Lucy" stamp appeared in the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" series. A new Lucille Ball stamp [released in 2001] is the seventh in a "Legends of Hollywood" series. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart are among other Hollywood icons who have been featured.
• • Actor Karl Malden had been a long-time member of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which helps choose stamp subjects and designs.
• • Who • • Why • • What • •
• • As of March 2001, these were the Committee's Stamp Subject Selection Criteria:
• • It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.
• • No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
• • Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The only exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death.
• • Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
• • No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
• • On 18 September 1980 • •
• • It was on 18 September 1980 that, most unfortunately, Mae West suffered a second stroke which left her right side paralyzed.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said this: "It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws now and then — — just so long as you don't break any."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fascinating article about gender mentioned Mae West.
• • Dr. Birute Regine writes: Some women use the negative gender schemas against them to their advantage. These women play along as if they don’t know what’s going on, when in reality they are five steps ahead of the guys. As Mae West put it, “Brains are an asset, if you hide them.”...
• • Source: Article: "Why Is It That Women Are Seen As Less Competent?" written by Birute Regine, Ed.D. for Forbes; posted on 14 September 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2057th 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.xml

Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • stamp issued by the Congo • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West.

Mae West: A Stamp Vamp

Help get MAE WEST commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.
• • Here's a sample letter and here is where you should write:
• • To: Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee
• • c/o Stamp Development; U S Postal Service
• • 1735 North Lynn St [Rm 5013]; Arlington VA 22209-6432.
• • • • SAMPLE • • • •
• • Dear Chairman - Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee:
• • Please issue a US postal stamp commemorating MAE WEST, the former Broadway star and Hollywood icon who died in 1980.
• • Comedy and entertainment are hallmarks of the popular culture of the United States of America. The U.S. Postal Department has befittingly honored screen legends Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart by issuing commemorative stamps depicting these adults.
• • However, none of these individuals wrote their own plays. MAE WEST wrote "Diamond Lil" and many other plays that were staged on Broadway.
• • None of these individuals wrote their own movie dialogue. MAE WEST wrote all of her own dialogue for most of the nine films she appeared in.
• • None of these individuals can match MAE WEST when it comes to numerous original quotes. Her witty sayings are often quoted in books and newspaper articles to this day.
• • Please approve the issuance of a US postal stamp commemorating a legendary American talent MAE WEST (1893 - 1980).
• • Source of this letter: The Mae West Blog http://MaeWest.blogspot.com
• • • • The Stamp Selection Process • • • •
• • Ideas for stamp subjects that meet CSAC criteria may be addressed to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Stamp Development; US Postal Service; 1735 North Lynn St Rm 5013; Arlington VA 22209-6432.
• • The Committee only reads hard-copy letters. No faxes or emails.
• • Subjects should be submitted at least three years in advance of the proposed date of issue to allow sufficient time for consideration and for design and production, if the subject is approved.
• • Submit stamp proposals in writing to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. This allows everyone the same opportunity to suggest a new stamp subject. All proposals are reviewed by the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee regardless of how they are submitted, i.e., stamped cards, letters or petitions.
• • After a proposal is determined not to violate criteria set by CSAC, research is done on the proposed stamp subject. Each new proposed subject is listed on the CSAC's agenda for its next meeting. The CSAC considers all new proposals and takes one of two actions: it may reject the new proposal or it may set it aside for consideration for future issuance. If set aside for consideration, the subject remains "under consideration" in a file maintained for the Committee.
• • An "I Love Lucy" stamp appeared in the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" series. A new Lucille Ball stamp [released in 2001] is the seventh in a "Legends of Hollywood" series. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Alfred Hitchcock, and Humphrey Bogart are among other Hollywood icons who have been featured.
• • Actor Karl Malden is a long-time member of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which helps choose stamp subjects and designs.
• • who • • why • • what • •
• • As of March 2001, these are the Committee's Stamp Subject Selection Criteria:
• • It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.
• • No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.
• • Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The only exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death.
• • Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.
• • No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.
• • 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 • •
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Mae West.