Mae West: Liberty

It was during the Depression on Saturday, 28 April 1934, and MAE WEST was in the news.

• • That weekend, Australian readers were learning about this: The new star, Mae West, will be seen at the Wintergarden and Earl's Court Saturday next. All Mae West's repertoire has been added to this gay story of a diamond-loving lady of the gay '90's. The "come up and see me sometime" girl is original and merry in a story she wrote herself, and her two songs, "Frankie and Johnny Were Lovers" and "Haven't Got No Peace of Mind," will also be heard.  The cast includes Cary Grant, Owen Moore, Gilbert Roland, Noah Beery, and others. Mae West brings a totally new style of comedy to the screen and "She Done Him Wrong" has been acclaimed wherever it has been screened, said Queensland's newspaper Morning Bulletin on page 11. This issue was dated for Saturday, 28 April 1934.

• • A popular New York publication was Liberty Magazine.

• • Liberty Magazine's issue dated for 28 April 1934 offered this fascinating cover line: "Jesse Lasky Tells the Facts about Hollywood Salaries" and the marquee names included Mae West and other stars. 

• • Ken Hughes [19 January 1922 — 28 April 2001]  • •

• • Kenneth Graham Hughes was born in Liverpool, England on 19 January 1922.

• • "Sextette" [1978] was his first American film — — as well as Mae West's final effort on the silver screen.  Previously, she had toured successfully in the stage version.

• • The Hollywood director developed Alzheimer's disease and died in Los Angeles on 28 April 2001.  He was 79.

• • On Wednesday, 28 April 1926 in Variety • •

• • On Wednesday, 28 April 1926, Variety (usually hostile to Mae West and nasty) took an early stand against the play "Sex," which had just opened on Broadway.

• • Variety wrote: “Mae West … has broken the fetters and does as she pleases here. After three hours of this play’s nasty, infantile, amateurish, and vicious dialog, after watching its various actors do their stuff badly, one really has a feeling of gratefulness for any repression that may have toned down her vaudeville songs in the past. If this show could do one week of good business it would depart with a handsome profit, it’s that cheaply put on.”

• • Phooey on you, Variety. Unstoppable "Sex" not only sold out its premiere but it also offered 385 performances with general admission tickets sold for $3.50. According to Mae West, orchestra seats were $10.

• • On Friday, 28 April 1939 in Newsweek • •

• • Newsweek's issue dated for 28 April 1939 was filled with newsmakers such as Mae West and Lieutenant General Drum (for whom Fort Drum in New York is named). 

• • On Sunday, 28 April 1940 in Singapore • •

• • Why would a daily horoscope in Singapore mention Mae West?  Hmmm.

• • The horoscope was printed on page 16 of The Straits Times on Sunday, 28 April 1940.
• • The astrologer wrote: It is your week (as Mae West said) go ahead. But keep a check on expenditure and be careful you don't get the worst end of business deals. . . .

• • Mae West said that, huh?

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "Keep cool and collect."  

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article on theatrical productions in San Francisco mentioned Mae West.

• • Michael Scott Moore, SF Weekly wrote:  "Dirty Blonde"  — A play about Mae West could have used more Mae and a less contrived plot.  . . .

• • Source: Review: "Dirty Blonde" written by Michael Scott Moore for SF Weekly; published  on 16 May 2001  

• • By the Numbers • •

• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2284th 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: Screenland 1934

In 1933, Charles Gates Sheldon did a magnificent portrait in delicate pastels of MAE WEST, which appeared on the cover of the January 1934 issue of Screenland. Oftentimes a movie star would have about three sessions with this artist as he worked on the right pose and other preliminaries. Mae was painted wearing a blonde wig with marcelled finger waves and diamond door-knocker earrings. This 1933 original was offered (as Lot #900, with a reserve of $1,000) in MastroNet's May 2002 auction. The lucky buyer got it for $10,330.
• • Born in 1889 in Massachusetts, Charles Gates Sheldon studied under George Bridgeman at the prestigious Art Students League in New York City, and later in Paris under the maestro of Art Nouveau illustration, Alphonse Mucha. He decided he would specialize in "pretty woman" portraiture, which made him constantly in demand for lucrative advertising assignments. Prior to 1926, his work was seen on the front cover of Collier's and The Saturday Evening Post. Additionally, he often did fashion illustrations for Woman's Home Companion and Ladies' Home Journal. But his smartest career move was a transition into colorful movie star portraits.
• • During the 1920s and 1930, when color photography was still rare, the preferred way to publicize and showcase the Hollywood mystique was via the fan magazines of the age. When it came to the denizens of the silver screen, Sheldon became the da Vinci of his day. From 1924 onward, pastelist Charles Sheldon was commissioned by Photoplay Magazine to produce ethereal, graceful renderings of the stars of stage and screen, especially screen. He was ranked as one of the top commercial artists of his day.
• • Supposedly, Sheldon had Eastman Kodak build custom cameras for his use, and he would take the photo studies of the stars in his Carnegie Hall Studio in New York City; the apartments sat atop Carnegie Hall on West 57th Street, right opposite the Art Students League. Hundreds of portraits were executed over the next decade. His distinctive style can be spotted on the front covers of Radio Digest, Screenland, Photoplay, ScreenBook, Motion Picture, and Motion Picture Classics, and other fanzines.
• • Later in his career, in 1936, Charles Sheldon was hired by Breck Shampoo to sketch dreamy, fanciful images of a "Breck Girl" in his well-known sophisticated glamour-girl style. Over the next 25 years he produced over 100 different unsigned "Breck Girl" images for the company's use. During his retirement years in New England, he spent a lot of time gardening. The pastel artist passed away in 1961 at his home in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• • Texas Guinan [1884 — 1933] • •
• • Born in Waco, Texas during the month of January — — on 12 January 1884 — — Mary Louise Cecilia "Texas" Guinan played a gun-slinger and rode bareback in silent films, took New York by storm in 1906, and earned a salary of $700,000 as a speakeasy hostess. The versatile stage star led a noisy and joyful life at full speed until 5 November 1933. One month later, Prohibition was repealed.
• • A good friend to Mae West who invested in her Broadway shows, Texas also held seances with her. We fondly remember the one and only Queen of the Night Clubs on her birthday.
• • On Saturday, 12 January 1929 • •
• • "Diamond Lil" was staged at the Royale Theatre in New York City on 9 April 1928 and closed on Saturday night, 12 January 1929 after 323 performances.
• • Mae West & the Memory Quilt in 1937 • •
• • Positioned by Ethel Sampson's head is a section labeled "Mae West." Here's an explanation of this curious artifact.
• • From a news account: Washington, DC, August 1937 — Joseph's coat of many colors had nothing on this unique quilt which is now being completed by Mrs. Ethel Sampson of Evanston, Illinois, after six years of collecting. Parts of wearing apparel from President Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, members of the Cabinet, diplomats and notables from all over. From Hollywood Bing Crosby sent a tie while Mae West and Shirley Temple contributed parts of dresses. Former Emperor Haile Selassie's neckties and a linen of Windsor, are also included on the quilt. Diapers from the Dionne Quintuplets are also prominently displayed. ...
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home, I’m tired."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Ken Hughes [19 January 1922 — 28 April 2001], who once worked with Mae West, was born in January. Then 56 years old when he was at the helm of "Sextette" in 1978, the British director had many career highs and low-points. "Sextette" was the middle-aged director's first American film — — as well as Mae West's final screen appearance.
• • Hughes developed Alzheimer's disease and died on 28 April 2001 in Los Angeles.
• • In an article for The L.A. Times published in 1997, dementia-aflicted director Ken Hughes was (supposedly) recollecting his first experiences with Mae West. Or perhaps someone else scratched it out and attached his byline. Who knows?
• • Ken Hughes wrote: The next morning I was on a plane for Los Angeles, and soon I was having dinner with the producers — — two young kids in their 20s. The money was in place, they had booked two stages at (where else?) Paramount Studios, they had a great script by Herb Baker — — but they did not have a director. One small fact had, it seemed, been overlooked: Mae West had director approval.
• • Ken Hughes noted: Not that there was any shortage of volunteers; she had already turned down a string of Hollywood veterans. "These are old guys," was her explanation. "And not only that, they are just not couth." The honor fell to me, and to quote her own words: "The guy is a gentleman." Whether that was because of my British accent, or because I came through a door that said so, has never been made clear.
• • Ken Hughes recalled: I had a few secret suppers with Mae in exclusive Hollywood restaurants, and as far as I could see she wasn't in a wheelchair, she didn't walk with a stick, all her marbles seemed to be in place. Most important, we liked each other.
• • Ken Hughes continued his account: Filming commences about two weeks later in a Paramount sound stage designed to look like the magnificent bridal suite of London's most exclusive hotel. The double doors swing open, revealing Miss West in all her legendary glory and one of Edith Head's most sensational creations. Right on time the good lady does her slow-motion shuffle onto the set, trailing 50 yards of white chiffon behind her.
• • "I got here as soon as I could," Mae says. "I didn't want to find you'd started without me."
• • I take her gently by the arm: "Let's just walk through it, shall we?"
• • "You're the boss, sweetheart."
• • I lead her forward. The doors open. "This is the first time we see you in the show. . . . You make the big entrance. . . .
• • Source: Article: "Acting Had Nothing to Do With It. How was it to direct Mae West in her final film? Don't ask." attributed to Ken Hughes for The L.A. Times; published on 23 February 1997
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2175th 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: Charlotte's Sextette

In 1978, director Ken Hughes worked with MAE WEST and everybody knows it. Raise your right hand if you realize that the Brooklyn bombshell did not write "Sextette"! Bonus points if you can name the Englishwoman who did.
• • In 1994, Christie's auctioned off a most intriguing bit of memorabilia: a bound copy of the stage play "Sextette" [1927] by the British actress and dramatist Charlotte Francis. The auctioneer's lot also included these tag-alongs: a bound soft-cover copy of Mae West's "Sextette"; a copy of a 1952 contract between Charlotte Francis and her American manager in which she refers to her agreement with Mae West for an adaptation by Miss West of said play; and a May 1952 agreement letter between Mae West and the William Morris Agency for her to appear in a play entitled "Come On Up" (changed from "Sextette"), signed in original ink by Mae West; and a negative photostat of a Dramatic Production Contract between Charlotte Francis and Alexandre Ince to perform "Sextette" at the Piccadilly House on 1 April 1952.
• • Clearly, there was an intrinsic appeal to the 85-year-old to be back in the game. The last time she was in a film had been in "Myra" [1970] and her last stage appearance had been the starring role in "Come On Up," which toured briefly during the 1960s. The stage play "Sextette" by Charlotte Francis was centered on the sixth marriage of a famous sex goddess and the amusing demands of her former husbands. (The movie grafts a sub-plot of global diplomacy onto this rom-com.)
• • If you can put aside its "artistic merit" and your quibbles about the cinematic production, it will become much clearer how much is purely biographical and thus a fitting farewell to Mae's unique career — — that swan bed replica, a fond echo about "Catherine Was Great," a fashion show of Edith Head's delightful diva-wear, a parade of bodybuilders, reminders of the Diamond Lil persona, a walk-on for faithful friend George Raft, and a poke at Paramount foe Ernst Lubitsch (when her filmmaker ex is called a "son of Lubitsch"), not to mention a liberal borrowing of well-loved Mae West one-liners, etc. Moreover, Marlo Manners is called an "American institution" and Mae saw herself as nothing less. .
• • There are defects, to be sure, however, as Marlo Manners strokes her breast in front of the mirror and purrs, "It's real, it's all real," there's another meaning, too. In every way, Mae West was the real thing and she still has no equal.
• • Ken Hughes died 28 April 2001 • •
• • On 19 January 1922, Kenneth Graham Hughes was born in Liverpool, England.
• • The Hollywood director developed Alzheimer's disease and died in the month of April — — on 28 April 2001 in Los Angeles. Several of his obituaries reminded the public that "Sextette" was a camp disaster and, furthermore, that the writer/ director had had a prolific but "remarkably inconsistent career" with only one hands-down triumph: "The Trials of Oscar Wilde." Hard to believe, perhaps, that the same individual directed the family musical and moneymaker "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," the James Bond loser "Casino Royale," and "Sextette."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Before she goes to the polls, Canadian columnist Adrienne King is thinking about Mae West and writes: Why not take the Mae West approach? “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” New, fresh evil is bound to be more interesting than the same old evil we’ve become mind-numbingly used to. Maybe the other evil will be the “light” version. Maybe it won’t be evil at all. ...
• • Source: Article: "Contractors, frenemies, and being prepared" written by Adrienne King for The Independent (Canada); posted on 27 April 2011
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 1914th 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: Kenneth Hughes

Ken Hughes once worked with MAE WEST.
• • Then 56 years old when he was at the helm of "Sextette" in 1978, based on Mae West's play ["Sextet"], the British director died in the month of April and is being remembered. Not unlike reading the work of a very clever Marxist, the script's logic is impeccable, even when the premise — — that an actress in her 80s can portray a 26-year-old sexpot — — is wrong.
• • "Sextette" was the middle-aged director's first American film — — as well as Mae West's final screen appearance.
• • Vincent Canby, then the film critic of The New York Times, pursed his lips and gave the project a sound spanking. Canby wrote: The story, based on a play written some years ago by Miss West, is about a world-famous movie star and her attempts to consummate her sixth marriage to Sir Michael Barrington (Timothy Dalton) despite repeated interruptions by former husbands, lovers, dress designers, secret agents, publicity people and delegates attending an international peace conference just upstairs. It's a plot that Miss West has often favored, and it freely reprises a lot of lines from earlier pictures. The movie was directed by Ken Hughes ("The Small World of Sammy Lee," "Cromwell," and so on), a fellow you might think had better things to do than to prop up the Tower of Pisa. In addition to Mr. Dalton, "Sextette" features a number of other people who, in happier circumstances, are decent actors. These include Tony Curtis, George Hamilton, Ringo Starr, and the incomparable Dom DeLuise. There are some original songs and some old ones, a couple of which sound as if they'd been lip-synched by Miss West to old recordings . . . [N.Y. Times 8 June 1979].
• • On 19 January 1922, Kenneth Graham Hughes was born in Liverpool, England.
• • The Hollywood director developed Alzheimer's disease and died on 28 April 2001 in Los Angeles. Several of his obituaries reminded the public that "Sextette" was a camp disaster and, furthermore, that the writer/ director had had a prolific but "remarkably inconsistent career" with only one hands-down triumph: "The Trials of Oscar Wilde." Hard to believe the same person directed the family musical and moneymaker "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," the James Bond loser "Casino Royale," and "Sextette."
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
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Mae West: Ken and Then

Ken Hughes once worked with MAE WEST.
• • Then 56 years old when he was at the helm of "Sextette" in 1978, based on Mae West's play ["Sextet"], the British director died in the month of April and is being remembered. Not unlike reading the work of a very clever Marxist, the script's logic is impeccable, even when the premise — — that an actress in her 80s can portray a 26-year-old sexpot — — is wrong.
• • "Sextette" was the middle-aged director's first American film — — as well as Mae West's final screen appearance.
• • Vincent Canby, then the film critic of The New York Times, pursed his lips and gave the project a sound spanking. Canby wrote: The story, based on a play written some years ago by Miss West, is about a world-famous movie star and her attempts to consummate her sixth marriage to Sir Michael Barrington (Timothy Dalton) despite repeated interruptions by former husbands, lovers, dress designers, secret agents, publicity people and delegates attending an international peace conference just upstairs. It's a plot that Miss West has often favored, and it freely reprises a lot of lines from earlier pictures. The movie was directed by Ken Hughes ("The Small World of Sammy Lee," "Cromwell," and so on), a fellow you might think had better things to do than to prop up the Tower of Pisa. In addition to Mr. Dalton, "Sextette" features a number of other people who, in happier circumstances, are decent actors. These include Tony Curtis, George Hamilton, Ringo Starr, and the incomparable Dom DeLuise. There are some original songs and some old ones, a couple of which sound as if they'd been lip-synched by Miss West to old recordings . . . [N.Y. Times 8 June 1979].
• • On 19 January 1922, Kenneth Graham Hughes was born in Liverpool, England.
• • The Hollywood director developed Alzheimer's disease and died on 28 April 2001 in Los Angeles. Several of his obituaries reminded the public that "Sextette" was a camp disaster and, furthermore, that the writer/ director had had a prolific but "remarkably inconsistent career" with only one hands-down triumph: "The Trials of Oscar Wilde." Hard to believe the same person directed the family musical and moneymaker "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," the James Bond loser "Casino Royale," and "Sextette."
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West: British Director

When interviewed by The Biography Channel, Rex Reed admitted that MAE WEST was the only reason to watch the flop that he co-starred in: "Myra Breckinridge." Not considered one of Mae's best films, this step-child is often ranked as low (or lower) than "Sextette" [1979].
• • Ken Hughes, who was the director of "Sextette," based on Mae West's play ["Sextet"], died in April and is being remembered. Not unlike reading the work of a very clever Marxist, the script's logic is impeccable, even when the premise — — that an actress in her 80s can portray a 26-year-old sexpot — — is wrong.
• • "Sextette" was his first American film — — as well as Mae West's final screen appearance.
• • Kenneth Graham Hughes was born in Liverpool, England on 19 January 1922.
• • The Hollywood director developed Alzheimer's disease and died on 28 April 2001 in Los Angeles.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1979 • •
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