Mae West: Gentlemen's Choice

Paramount's Christmas tree blazes brightly with two of the year's big hits: MAE WEST in "Gentlemen's Choice" and Bing Crosby and Kitty Carlisle in "Here Is My Heart' — — delivered to you for holiday business.
• • That was the studio's prediction for the Santa season as it appeared in the industry publication Motion Picture Daily on Sunday, 8 July 1934.
• • On Friday, 25 December 1914 • •
• • Readers of Variety could not help but notice the ornate half-page advertisement for handsome Guido Deiro — — "The Master of the Piano Accordion, The Incomparable in His Line" (on the left, seated and displaying his accordion) — — and Mae West — — "The Original Brinkley Girl, A Style All Her Own" (on the right, wearing a lovely gown) who were "Engaged Jointly as Headline Features."
• • The final line, along the bottom margin of their promotional ad, offered a seasonal greeting in all caps: "WISHING THE ENTIRE WORLD A MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. This eye-catching ad ran on page 73 of Variety in the issue dated 25 December 1914.
• • On Thursday, 25 December 1919 • •
• • Cast in the successful Broadway hit "Sometime" [October 1918 — June 1919] as Mayme Dean, a vamp whose suitors always seem to decamp, Mae West was in the unusual position of putting across a few comically wistful laments in the show.
• • The 26-year-old performer was made up as a vamp, a la Theda Bara, after her appearance in Ned Wayburn's "Demitasse Revue" — — on the cover of a prestigious magazine, New York's Dramatic Mirror, 25 December 1919. This was quite a front page and it has become a fabulous collector's item.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Santa Baby, come and trim my Christmas tree."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Film Daily mentioned Mae West and Texas Guinan intently watching the movie "Little Caesar" in Manhattan.  Supposedly, the character of Joe Massara was based on their friend George Raft.
• • "Little Caesar" officially debuted at the Strand Theatre in New York City on 9 January 1931.
• • Though the motion picture was reviewed in Photoplay Magazine in their December 1930 issue, and was ready for general release during the twelfth month of the year, Warner Brothers felt it was not a Christmas film.
• • The Film Daily wrote: Zeb Epstein and his assistants made a list of the notables who entered the Strand, to see "Little Caesar," during the 24 hours ending Monday midnight. Here they are: Mae West, Eddie Leonard, Texas Guinan, Bill Tilden, Pauline Starke, George Bancroft, Irving Berlin, Grant Withers, Tammany Young, Primo Camera, and "Shipwreck" Kelly, who tried to crash the gate with his wife and whole family. ...
• • Source: Item: "'Little Caesar' Draws Notables" in The Film Daily; published on Wednesday, 21 January 1931  
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2526th 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 • • 1934 • •
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Mae West: Shyness

The headline in Singapore read "Shy MAE WEST!" on Saturday, 4 October 1947.
• • British correspondent Cecil Wilson wrote: Mae West, in London to play "Diamond Lil," was "on show" at the Savoy Hotel for newspapermen.  And she put on the performance of her life to give them the Mae West they know on the screen.
• • Cecil Wilson explained: Pressmen, BBC men, agents, managers. and all those people who follow celebrities around surged to meet her.  And all came away saying: "Isn't she quiet?" and "What has happened to those curves?"
• • "Nearest thing to shyness ..." • •
• • Cecil Wilson continued: For catch 57-year-old Mae West in repose and you find her almost a demure little thing with an almost svelte figure. She wore a simple black georgette dress with diamante trimmings.  She talked in a tiny husky voice and answered all the silly questions with a sly, gentle smile.  It was the nearest thing to shyness I have ever seen in a Hollywood star.
• • Cecil Wilson added: But Mae West, with reporters and photographers jostling round her seeking the wisecrack and the "come hither" look, had good value.  She put on just the act they wanted. ...
• • Source: "Shy Mae West!" written by Cecil Wilson for The Singapore Free Press (on page 2); published on Saturday, 4 October 1947.
• • Fergus Cashin [1924 — 4 October 2005] • •
• • Fergus Cashin's highly suspect bio on Mae West was released in paperback by Virgin Books on Thursday, 17 June 1982.  Before you try to find it, however, read the review by Kirkus, which slams it and explains why.
• • Lacking footnotes and spiked with peculiar points, Cashin's biography makes you wonder what standards a British book publisher has before they accept a manuscript.
• • Born in Wales in 1924, Fergus Cashin, who worked for the Daily Express, Daily Sketch, and The Sun, died at a hospice in Surrey, England on Tuesday, 4 October 2005.  He was 81.
• • On Friday, 4 October 1918 • •
• • .It was ninety-four years ago this October — — when 25-year-old Mae West was cast in a show produced by Arthur Hammerstein: "Sometime." Her character was Mayme Dean.  Mae received top billing in the musical's review by The New York Times (published on Saturday, 5 October 1918).
• • This musical, which opened at the Shubert Theatre [225 West 44th Street, NYC] on 4 October 1918, closed in June 1919, after running for 283 performances.
• • On Friday, 4 October 1935 • •
• • The iconic Raffles Hotel presented the entertainers Lorrison and Cody on Friday night,  4 October 1935.  This comedy pair specialized in "song, dance, and Mae West parodies." The display ad was printed in The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (on page 1) on Friday, 4 October 1935.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Tired of all those jokes about my figure and my man talk? No,  If people expect me to be the same off-stage — — why I call that flattery."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about vocational guidance mentioned Mae West.
• • Carl L. Bedal wrote:  A feature article in the April 18th issue of Life magazine stated, "At the age of 75, Mae West is about to have a renaissance." For those of you who are too young to remember Miss West, I would hasten to add that she publicized sex both literally and figuratively in her movies of the thirties. And now Mae West is making a comeback. In the "making" are a TV special, an LP record, and a new movie. In somewhat similar fashion, vocational guidance is making a comeback ...
• • Source: Article: "The Renaissance.of Vocational Guidance" written by Carl L. Bedal  for Canadian Counsellor; published in October 1969

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2447th 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
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1947 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West: Saint Nick's Day

Invited to sing a duet in 1959 with ol' Rat Pack Dino on a "Dean Martin Special," MAE WEST performed "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" with her host in "point style" (that is, making asides to the lyrics). An a-Mae-zing performance on NBC-TV.
• • Dean Martin was born on 7 June 1917 as Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Italian parents. The crooner and occasional actor had an enviable career and became close friends with Frank Sinatra and numerous celebrities.
• • He died in Beverly Hills, California during the month of December — — on Christmas Day, 25 December 1995. He was 78 years old and had suffered from lung cancer.
• • His footprints were immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theater in 1964. Dean Martin has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one at 6519 Hollywood Boulevard, for movies; one at 1617 Vine, for recordings; and a third at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard, for television.
• • "Mae West — On the Air" • •
• • For the Mae-maven in your life (or as a special gift for yourself) "Mae West — On the Air" is sure to delight. These rare recordings from 1934 — 1960 are available on a CD. Don your gay apparel and get ready to enjoy these five appealing tracks:
• • • • "My Old Flame" — 1934
• • • • The Chesterfield Supper Club with Perry Como — January 1949
• • • • The Chesterfield Supper Club with Perry Como — 16 February 1950
• • • • The Dean Martin Show — NBC-TV — 4 May 1959
• • • • The Red Skelton Show — CBS-TV — 1 March 1960
• • In December, Let's Remember Marty Martyn [1905 — 1964] • •
• • Marty Martyn, who had a bit part as Malloy in "Night after Night" [1932], was born on 19 May 1905. He was also a Hollywood agent, however, he doesn't seem to have any other screen credit.
• • Marty Martyn died in Beverly Hills in the month of December — — on 25 December 1964. He was 59 years old.
• • On Friday, 25 December 1914 in Variety • •
• • Readers of Variety could not help but notice the ornate half-page advertisement for handsome Guido Deiro — — "The Master of the Piano Accordion, The Incomparable in His Line" (on the left, seated and displaying his accordion) — — and Mae West — — "The Original Brinkley Girl, A Style All Her Own" (on the right, wearing a lovely gown) who were "Engaged Jointly as Headline Features."
• • The final line, along the bottom margin of their promotional ad, offered a seasonal greeting in all caps: "WISHING THE ENTIRE WORLD A MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. This eye-catching ad ran on page 73 of Variety in the issue dated 25 December 1914.
• • On Thursday, 25 December 1919 • •
• • Cast in the successful Broadway hit "Sometime" [October 1918 — June 1919] as Mayme Dean, a vamp whose suitors always seem to decamp, Mae West was in the unusual position of putting across a few comically wistful laments in the show.
• • The 26-year-old performer was made up as a vamp, a la Theda Bara, after her appearance in Ned Wayburn's "Demitasse Revue" — — on the cover of a prestigious magazine, New York's Dramatic Mirror, 25 December 1919. This was quite a front page and it has become a fabulous collector's item.
• • On Saturday, 25 December 1920 on Broadway • •
• • When Mae was featured at the Central Theatre [Broadway & West 47th Street] on Saturday night, 25 December 1920, she had no idea that Santa Nick had a sweet little career surprise waiting.
• • Irish-American comedian Jimmy Hussey [1891 — 1930] was the star attraction that Christmas Day. Also performing were Phil Baker and Aileen Stanley — — but Mae West must have pulled focus and attracted Hussey's attention.
• • Clearly, Mae left the right impression on Christmas Day 1920. Several months later, Hussey wrote the book and the lyrics for the revue that would be renamed "The Mimic World 1921." He made sure his new material was custom-tailored to Mae's unique talents. She was cast in many prominent skits in this production — — including the con artist "Shifty Liz."
• • Clearly with Mae's approval and cooperation, Hussey penned the skit "The Trial of Shimmy Mae." Hussey himself played the judge as Mae demonstrated the shimmy in his topsy-turvy courtroom.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I was more concerned when he (Edward Friedman) threatened he'd break my nose — — and maybe I might lose my screen contract, too — — than with the $3,400 in cash and the $12,000 in jewelry he took when that crook held me up (on 28 September 1932)."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Newspapers coast to coast covered the trial in 1934 when Mae West took the witness stand.
• • Unable to get through crowded courthouse corridors until the police pushed her through, Mae West "stole the show" from Defendant Edward Friedman, on trial charged with robbing her, today. It was her third successive day as a witness. ...
• • Source: Article: "Mae West Steals Show Again at 3d Day of Robbery Trial" written by George Shaffer for The Chicago Daily Tribune; published on page 3 on 18 January 1934
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2156th 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
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • in 1935 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West.