Mae West: Sneaks It In

MAE WEST came to the attention of Tinseltown ninety years ago in 1932. Step into the Time Machine with me for a long, leisurely ride. This is Part 3.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: As censors square up to her • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: In fact, as the censors square up to West, it’s fascinating to see how she gets round them and often surprising just how much she sneaks in under their noses.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: Watching these films chronologically is a fascinating and consistently enjoyable experience and I emerged a fully fledged fan.
• • "NIGHT AFTER NIGHT" (76 mins., 1932) • •

• • Mae West’s role: Maudie Triplett • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: “Night After Night” was Mae West’s screen debut and from what I’d heard about the film I was very much expecting it to be a mere hors d’oeuvre to the main course of her starring vehicles.
• • Mae West: Underrated Gem • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Monday, 14 September 1931 • •
• • On Monday, 14 September 1931, Mae West's Harlem drama "The Constant Sinner" opened on Broadway. Mae took the role of Babe Gordon.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Hollywood — Mae West announced last week that she would move her permanent residence from New York to California. She and her father, Dr. [sic] Jack West, are looking over San Fernando Valley for a ranch.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I got in everyone's hair asking questions. Why this and why that? I was in a strange land and I had to learn the tricks."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A syndicated article circulated an interview with Mae West.
• • “Will I Last?” • •

• • Mae West said: That's the question which has had Hollywood talking from the time I first flashed on the screen until today. I can answer that one for Hollywood.
• • Mae West said: My answer is "Yes."
• • Mae West said: But the fact that "I'm No Angel" did three times the business of the record-setting "She Done Him Wrong" and "The Belle of the Nineties" speaks for itself. I have always — — as the diamond-saying goes — — two strikes on me. Because of the records set by my pictures, I have to top each one.  ...
• • Source: Syndicated article rpt in Logansport Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana); published on Wednesday, 12 September 1934
• • 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 5,081st 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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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • lobby card in 1932 • •
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Mae West: Dennis O'Keefe

MAE WEST made a splash in "Night after Night" [1932]. Bit parts player Dennis O'Keefe was seen briefly as Maudie Triplett storms through Joe Anton's speakeasy. He was cast as a drunk asleep at a table. You might recall him as the courtroom reporter in "I'm No Angel," as well.
• • His birthname was Edward Vance Flanagan when he started out in life in Fort Madison, Iowa in the month of March — — on 30 March 1908. He was born in the business, accompanying his vaudevillian parents, "Flanagan and Edwards, the Rollicking Twosome," in their act. While enrolled in college, Bud Flanagan tried his hand at writing screenplays. After he started to be hired as an extra, he signaled his Irish heritage in a new stage name, Dennis O'Keefe.
• • Between 1930 — 1966, he was seen in 259 projects on the silver screen and on TV. The tall, genial, outdoorsy character actor transitioned from walk-on bits to Hollywood B movies.
• • Until the mid-1960s, Dennis O'Keefe kept busy with guest-starring roles in Kraft Theatre, Studio One in Hollywood, Lux Video Theatre, Screen Directors Playhouse, all produced on the small screen. Lung cancer claimed him. He died in Santa Monica on 31 August 1968. He was 60.
• • Ned Wayburn [30 March 1874 — 2 September 1942] • •
• • Born in Pennsylvania at the end of March — — on 30 March 1874 — — Ned Wayburn was a choreographer and a producer. His promotional campaigns pictured some of his most successful dance pupils — — and though Mae was not featured on those testimonials, Ned taught her to dance and cast her in several shows, adding heft to her resume and stage career.
• • On Wednesday, 30 March 1927 • •
• • By Wednesday, 30 March 1927, twelve male jurors had been selected for Mae West's "Sex" trial set for Jefferson Market Court on Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village. Mae hired four attorneys to represent her. Her defense team was headed by Harold Spielberg, Herman "Beansie" Rosenthal's former associate. Trial coverage appeared in the N.Y. Herald Tribune, The N.Y. Times, Variety, and elsewhere.
• • On Tuesday, 30 March 2010 • •
• • On Tuesday, 30 March 2010, Urban Art & Antiques wrote this: One of the great surprises of the auction came in the form of a Paramount 1933 Style A one sheet for the pre-Code classic "She Done Him Wrong," one of Mae West’s most famous films, based on a play the famous vamp wrote herself. West’s performance as Lady Lou remains, to this day, a virtuoso accomplishment of wit and innuendo that garnered the film an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, as well as devotion from fans more than 75 years after its release. The poster, which came into the auction with a $7,000 estimate rapidly outpaced that prediction and, with several determined bidders, rose to nearly three times that amount to finally find a new home at $19,120.
• • Heritage Auctions held this movie poster sale in 2010.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • In an interview with Parade in 1929, Mae West said: "Many of our famous lawyers, doctors, bankers, and judges are homo-sexualists."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about television networks mentioned Mae West.
• • Stephen Battaglio introduced his TV Biz column like this: Mae West once said, "All discarded lovers should be given a second chance, but with somebody else." Several TV networks couldn't agree more. ...
• • Source: "The Biz: Second-chance Successes" written by Stephen Battaglio, TV Guide; posted on 30 March 2011• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2254th 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: Roscoe Karns

Who would even remember "Night After Night" [1932] if it were not for MAE WEST? Without a doubt, Mae West's portrayal of Maudie Triplett stole the show from George Raft, Roscoe Karns, and Constance Cummings, who were supposed to be the stars of the 73 minute speakeasy drama. Former gangster Joe Anton falls for a Park Avenue peach, whose fortunes have fallen after the Wall Street crash of 1929. But the couple on the DVD box would turn out to be Mae in the foreground and George behind her. Heh-heh.
• • Mordaunt Hall's assessment appeared in The N.Y. Times on 31 October 1932.
• • Hall wrote: "Mr. Raft's eyes and sleek hair cause him to remind one of the late Rudolph Valentino. Roscoe Karns, as Leo, does so well that one is inclined to feel just as interested in his characterization as in Mr. Raft's."
• • Born in San Bernardino, California on 7 September 1891, Roscoe Karns started his showbiz career onstage when he was a teenager. His street-wise demeanor and five-foot-ten stature was put to use on the silver screen often as the leading man's buddy. Often given a role with a don't-him-seriously-name such as Stubby, Shorty, Cuffy, Kangaroo, Mopsy, 'Pighead' Larrabee, Irish McGurn, 'Rip' Harrigan, Doc 'Short Circuit' Wilson, Spud McGurke, etc., Roscoe Karns stayed busy from 1915 — 1964 in 149 projects for Tinseltown as well as a turn on TV.
• • His son Todd Karns was born in 1921 and worked with his father for 5 years on the live television show "Rocky King, Detective."
• • Roscoe Karns died in Los Angeles in the month of February — — on 6 February 1970. He was 78.
• • "NIGHT AFTER NIGHT," adapted from Louis Bromfield's story, "Single Night"; directed by Archie Mayo; produced by Paramount — Publix. At the Times Square Paramount and the Brooklyn Paramount.
• • Joe Anton . . . . . George Raft
• • Jerry Healy . . . . . Constance Cummings
• • Iris Dawn . . . . . Wynne Gibson
• • Maudie Triplett . . . . . Mae West
• • Mrs. Mabel Jellyman . . . . . Alison Skipworth
• • Leo . . . . . Roscoe Karns
• • Blainey . . . . . Al Hill
• • Dick Bolton . . . . . Louis Calhern
• • Jerky . . . . . Harry Wallace
• • Patsy . . . . . Dink Templeton
• • Frankie Guard . . . . . Bradley Page
• • Malloy . . . . . Marty Martyn
• • On Tuesday, 7 February 1933 • •
• • It was on Tuesday, 7 February 1933, that Mae recorded "A Guy What Takes His Time" (one of her saucy hits from "She Done Him Wrong") for Brunswick Records.
• • On Thursday, 7 February 1935 • •
• • Between 1935 — 1936 uncut movie star paper doll sets were featured once a week in the Dallas Journal newspaper. Approximately three dozen Hollywood notables appeared with an array of glamorous outfits. The paper doll published on Thursday, 7 February 1935 was Mae West. Other favorites included Ginger Rogers, Dolores del Rio, Baby Jane, Anna Sten, Phyllis Brooks, Carole Lombard, Ann Harding, Helen Vinson, Gertrude Michael, etc. On 28 March 1935 George Raft was showcased.
• • On Wednesday, 7 February 1940 • •
• • Despite the robust ticket sales for "My Little Chickadee," and the advance word that predicted a sure-fire box office hit, the Hollywood Reporter held to their narrow opinion that "the story doesn't amount to much" and printed their sniggling satisdiction (from the sidelines) on 7 February 1940.
• • "The gags are rather slim," felt the news man from Variety, whose opinions were printed on 7 February 1940. All the same, Variety did emphasize that the considerable loyalty of Mae's followers and W.C. Fields' fanbase would create a demand at the moviehouses.
• • On Monday, 7 February 1949 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • The headline in The N.Y. Times read "Mae West Back in Town as 'Diamond Lil'" and a long warm-hearted article followed on Monday, 7 February 1949.
• • Toward the end of Act III, Mae came downstage to sing "Frankie and Johnnie," "Come Up and See Me Sometime," and "After You've Gone." As the footlights caressed her face, the crowd went wild. "If Saturday night's audience had its way, she would still be singing," noted William Hawkins, recalling his excitement and enjoyment at the Coronet Theatre on the weekend.
• • N.Y. Times reporter William Hawkins wrote: Gallantly supported by four or five handsome, muscular leading men, Mae West has brought "Diamond Lil" back to New York, where it began its renowned career twenty-one years ago. She wriggled through it at the Coronet on Saturday evening, attired in some of the gaudiest finery of the century -- the femme fatale of the Bowery, bowling her leading men over one by one with her classical impersonation of a story-book strumpet.
• • N.Y. Times reporter William Hawkins continued: When Miss West restored her study of society to America last November, a bus-load of the Broadway nightwatch rolled out to Montclair to pay their respects to her artistry. ...
• • On Monday, 7 February 2004 in The Brooklyn Papers • •
• • A fascinating article "Go West: Boro Park Native Conjures the Spirit of Mae West in New Play" was the title of an interview written by NYC journalist and dramatist Paulanne Simmons published on 7 February 2004 in The Brooklyn Papers.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on curves and feminine beauty in the cinema mentioned Mae West.
• • The Courier-Mail editors wrote this: Although she has given the world of women back curves and removed some feminine angles, Mae West is not fat. She weighs but 119 1b. She believes in being nicely rounded. Because of her versatility and charm in presenting comedy, Mae West became internationally famous in "She Done Him Wrong," which introduced Mae West to the world. She turned out most of the dialogue, wrote the lyrics for the original musical score, and aided the designing of the wardrobe as well. "She Done Him Wrong," which will come to the Tivoli Theatre next Friday, presents Mae West to Brisbane in her first starring picture. Her wit and originality have made it popular. ...
• • Source: Article "Mae West, Tivoli Theatre" in The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Queensland) on page 20; published on Wednesday, 7 February 1934.
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2202nd 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: Esurient

During her vaudeville days, MAE WEST would bring a bunch of performers back to her parents' house and her mother would serve a "midnight lunch." The items Tillie prepared would include sauerkraut, pig knuckles, and other earthy German delicacies. When she was still a variety artist, Mae also enjoyed the Bavarian cuisine at The Triangle Inn and other local home-style restaurants.
• • By the time the Brooklyn bombshell moved to Los Angeles to work in motion pictures, she was 40 years old and always conscious of watching her weight and fitting into her costumes. She did not like to compromise on taste, however.
• • Here is a recipe for Mae West's Breakfast Fruit Salad
• • • 1 large apple, chopped
• • • 1 large pear, chopped
• • • 1 large banana, chopped
• • • 2 or 3 almonds, grated
• • • Combine fruits; top with almonds. If desired, apples may be sliced and combined with raisins and topped with a syrup made of powdered almonds, milk, and honey. Serves 1.
• • Although Mae West worked very hard to trim down and get in gear before making a new movie, her public posture took the form of carefree insouciance. "I never worry about diets," she said. "The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond."
• • Whether you eat carrots, or fruit salad, or the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, here's wishing all of our readers a Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday, 24 November 2011.
• • In November, Let's Remember George Raft [1895 — 1980] • •
• • Mae West once told a reporter that she almost married George Raft [26 September 1895 — 24 November 1980], a native New Yorker and an actor most closely identified with his portrayals of gangsters in crime dramas of the 1930s — 1940s.
• • Born George Ranft in NYC (to a father who was of German descent), the five-foot-seven dancer adopted a slick "tough guy" persona that he would later use in his Hollywood films.
• • In "When I'm Bad, I'm Better," Marybeth Hamilton discusses how Mae West's former lover George Raft, who was becoming a matinee idol in Hollywood during 1932, was instrumental in getting Mae a cameo role as Maudie Triplett, his blowsy ex-girlfriend in "Night After Night." Hamilton also explains how Mae was aghast at being cast in such a colorless bit part — — and then went on to revise her dialogue and win all the applause. "If nothing else," writes Hamilton, "[Mae West] showed Paramount that they were dealing with an expert scene stealer."
• • Leukemia ended the life of George Raft in Los Angeles, California in the month of November — — on 24 November 1980. Raft was interred in Forest Lawn —Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
• • On 24 November 1931 • •
• • On 24 November 1931 the newspaper Washington Herald reviewed "Constant Sinner." The D.C.-based drama critic wrote about the Greek-American actor George Givot's portrayal of the Harlem pimp Money Johnson as well as "the aroma of Mae West's hybrid dialogue."
• • On 24 November 1966 • •
• • For the Beatles' album "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band," the recording sessions began in studio two at Abbey Road on 24 November 1966. When the Fab Four requested permission to add Mae to the album cover, Mae West's first reaction was, "No, I won't be on it. What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?"
• • On 24 November 1996 in The New York Times • •
• • An interesting article “Mae West, Our Little Chickadee” by Martha McPhee was published in The New York Times in their Sunday Magazine section on 24 November 1996.
• • On 24 November 2006 in The N.Y. Times Crossword • •
• • November 24th's Crossword Clue: Where Mae West did jail time
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Don’t marry a man to reform him — — that’s what reform schools are for.”
• • Asked about how she happened to be mixed up in a delicate situation, Mae West replied, “Like an olive in a dry Martini.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about the Pacific Dining Car mentioned Mae West.
• • Every evening brought a sprinkling of the famous or notorious personalities of the day. Louella Parsons was a regular, with her husband, Dr. Martin, and George Raft or Sid Ziff frequently stopped in for dinner. When Mickey Cohen and bodyguard dined, other guests tended to finish dinner and fade away — — but Mae West and bodyguard guaranteed quickly concealed admiring stares. Good manners at the Pacific Dining Car dictated that even the most famous should be able to enjoy a leisurely dinner without unseemly interruptions. Another fine tradition that has persisted throughout the years.
• • The 1940 Los Angeles census placed the population at just under a million and a half, and growing rapidly. ...
• • Source: History of the PDC, "That's When It All Started"
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2125th 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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