Mae West: Joseff, Judy, Mae

MAE WEST wore it first.
• • For her 1943 musical comedy, “The Heat's On” [Columbia, 1943), Mae West had a onscreen finale that showed her adorned with a boatload of jewelry including a simulated diamond crossover necklace suspending large Art Deco style dress clip brooches.

• • The pendants were originally mounted by Joseff to a shorter chain for Mae’s costume.
• • Three years later, Joseff retooled this piece. The pendants were re-mounted to a much longer crossover chain and worn by Judy Garland in “Ziegfeld Follies” [MGM, 1946].
• • In November 2017, the necklace was sold in an auction called “Joseff of Hollywood: Treasures from the Vault” and a lucky buyer paid $18,750.

• • Curiously, despite significant alterations, this jewelry was billed “Judy Garland and Mae West Worn Necklace.”
• • On Saturday, 12 August 1944 • •
• • According to an article in Billboard Magazine [The Billboard, Saturday, 12 August 1944], Mike Todd and Mae West shared the financial burden of mounting this costume drama — — $150,000, not an inconsiderable sum during the World War II era. And though she often hired inexperienced actors and actresses for the minor roles, Mae West sought out the best costume people and best set designers.
• • Despite the savage reviews that would greet the star's own efforts, the critics heaped praise on the production itself, calling the scenery "as beautiful as Howard Bay's best" and rhapsodizing over lavish details such as the fireplace set in Count Mirovich's apartment and the decor of the ghoulish "secret room" of Ivan VI where a murder occurs.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Hush-Hush Magazine (Vol. 2, No. 8, August 1956 issue) contained the article "Show Biz Buzzer: Mae West versus Marilyn Monroe."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "My advice for Marilyn Monroe was:  Forget about the men; win over the ladies. The men won't forget you, anyway — — not the way you walk."  
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A memoir mentioned Mae West.
• • Scott Thorson wrote: He [Liberace] had no trouble getting all the dates he wanted and he gloried in escorting well-known entertainers to parties, getting his picture taken with Susan Hayward, Gale Storm, Rosemary Clooney, Mae West, and Judy Garland. Mae was the only one of his so-called lady friends I actually met.
• • Scott Thorson wrote: As they say in Texas, Mae was a hoot! She and Lee were an unpredictable twosome who enjoyed trying to outdo each other’s outrageousness.” …
• • Source: “Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace” by Scott Thorson [USA: Tantor Media, Incorporated; 1st edition; 10 May 2013]
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,058th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • necklace by Joseff of Hollywood • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Judy's Safe Abortion

Though you don’t usually find MAE WEST linked to actress Judy Garland, it seems they took a mysterious trip together in 1942 to Hawley, Pennsylvania.
• • This episode will not be featured in any bio-pic about Judy’s life.
• • The Hotel Belvidere • •
• • Judy Garland [10 June 1922—22 June 1969] did not work (as expected) on the M-G-M set in Culver City, California, where she was co-starring in “For Me and My Gal” on Tuesday, 10 March 1942. This musical motion picture paired her with a handsome dancer, who was a newcomer to the screen, Gene Kelly [1912 — 1996].

• • Instead, accompanied by Mae West, the 19-year-old actress very discretely visited the Hotel Belvidere.
• • Image: See the photo of their signatures on the hotel's register.
• • LINK  https://maewest.blogspot.com/2019/10/mae-west-abortion-outing.html
• • The Hotel Belvidere, 330 Main Avenue, Hawley, Pennsylvania.
• • A landmarked 3-story hotel in Hawley, PA., it has done business at the intersection of Main Avenue and Church Street since 1902. Known as the Falls Port Inn and Steak House in recent years, in the spring of 2014 it returned to its original name, the Hotel Belvidere. The word "Belvidere" is visible on the corner fascia.
• • What was the reason for this curious sojourn to such an out-of-the-way corner in Wayne County (when Judy was due on the set)? It sounds like Judy might have been there to meet an abortionist and Mae was there for moral support and/or to co-sign papers for this minor.
• • During her short-lived marriage to Guido Deiro, Mae West had a back-door abortion in Oregon. There were serious consequences to Mae’s decisions to abort in secret including sterility. Wiser for it, Mae West took charge of a nervous Tinseltown teen during a hush-hush trip to a precinct unpatrolled by newsmen and gossip columnists.
• • In 1946 Judy Garland welcomed her first child. Perhaps Mae sent congratulations by Western Union.  
• • In the 15 July 1974 issue of The New Yorker • •
• • Edward Field's poem “Mae West” was published on page 30 in The New Yorker's issue dated for the week of 15 July 1974.
• • July 2004: Mae West Blog launches • •
• • What are we up to, writing about the Brooklyn-born bombshell for eighteen years now?
• • We’re here to keep Mae mavens up to date, correct errors, celebrate each revival of a play she wrote, post the latest Westian stage and book reviews. And answer our fan mail!
• • The light’s still on. Come up and see Mae every day.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West's performances were powerful for their ability to shock.
• • There was no subject matter considered “off-limits” within Mae West’s work, and her plays and films were marked by her fearless approach to topics that even today are often seen as problematic (substance abuse, abortion, rape, and the idea of the “expiry date” of the female performer and her sexuality).
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'll never tell anyone else how to live. These happen to be my own rules, but they might not apply to someone else. If anyone tried them out and they didn't work happily, I'd feel responsible."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Daily Times mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West Still Comes on Strong But She Forgot to Pucker" • •
• • Lee Mueller wrote: One of these women, named Elsie, who is 70 years old, said she worked in that hotel as a cleaning maid and lived over in Brooklyn's Bushwick section where Miss Mae West was born.
• • Lee Mueller wrote: "When I was a girl growing up, Mae West was somethin'," she said. "I heard about her when she was in vaudeville, you know. I remember I told my mother I wanted to grow up to be like Mae West and she slapped me.” …
• • Source: Syndicated feature written by Lee Mueller, NBA, rpt in The Daily Times (Burlington, N.C.); published on Wednesday, 15 July 1971 
• • 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 18th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past eighteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 5,000 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eighteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 5,038th 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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• • Be sure to bookmark or follow The Mae West Blog
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • with Ethel Merman and Judy Garland in 1954 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Abortion Outing

Though you don’t usually find MAE WEST linked to actress Judy Garland, it seems they took a mysterious trip together in 1942. This episode will not be featured in the new bio-pic about Judy’s life.
• • Judy Garland [1922—1969] did not work (as expected) on the M-G-M set in Culver City, California, where she was co-starring in “For Me and My Gal” on Tuesday, 10 March 1942. This musical motion picture paired her with a handsome dancer, who was a newcomer to the screen: Gene Kelly.
• • But instead the 20-year-old actress quietly visited the Hotel Belvidere with Mae West.

• • Image: See the photo of their signatures on the hotel's register.
• • The Hotel Belvidere, 330 Main Avenue, Hawley, Pennsylvania.
• • A landmarked 3-story hotel in Hawley, Pa., it has done business at the intersection of Main Avenue and Church Street since 1902. Known as the Falls Port Inn and Steak House in recent years, in the spring of 2014 it returned to its original name, the Hotel Belvidere. The word "Belvidere" is visible on the corner fascia.
• • What was the reason for this curious trip to such an out-of-the-way corner in Wayne County (when Judy was due on the set)? It sounds like Judy might have been there to meet an abortionist and Mae was there for moral support or to co-sign papers for this minor.
• • On Tuesday, 8 October 2019 • •
• • In Illinois, Lake Bluff Women's Club kicks off its "Annual Monthly Luncheon Program Season" with a catered luncheon and a sassy Mae West costumed interpretive performance by Martina Mathisen, who asks, “Do you think you know Mae?” on the invitation.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Another topper from Louis Charninsky was put across on "She Done Him Wrong," a 22-foot art head of Mae West reaching the dome of the lobby. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "When you tell people a play is naughty, they rush to see it. I can't help that, can I?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Variety mentioned Mae West.
• • Variety ran with all sorts of coverage about "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West. For instance, their article "Downtown Frisco Will Milk Next Mae West Opus; Nabes Can Squawk" was published on page 11 in Variety.
• • Source: Variety; published on Tuesday, 3 October 1933
• • 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 15th 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 4,300 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4318th 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   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • hotel register in 1942 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West