Mae West: 128th Birthday Babe

Happy Birthday to MAE WEST, Brooklyn Bombshell, Empress of Sex, Queen of Comedy, a notable quotable comedienne who maintained a long career on stage and on screen and also sizzled on the nightclub circuit.
• • Delivered by a local mid-wife, this feisty newborn drew her first lusty breaths in Bushwick on Thursday, 17 August 1893 (under the proud leonine sign of Leo) in her parents' bedroom. Little Mary Jane West always said: "I was born on a cool night in a hot month so I knew I could expect anything."
• • She trumped the income of every film actress of her generation because Mae was paid as a screenwriter as well as a box office draw.

• • Each day at least one publication in the world mentions her name. [We can verify our claim, too, because we've tracked this a-Mae-zing trend daily for the past 17 years now!]
• • Often imitated but never duplicated, the one and only Mae West endures in our hearts and memories.
• • Darling Mae, to your loyal followers, you don't look a day over twenty-sex!
• • Image: Mae West, Paramount Pictures publicity portrait.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Even at the fourscore mark, she remains a remarkable figure of a woman. The well-padded frame, which inspired the Mae West life jacket in World War II, seems little changed.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West had been 40 when she made the first of 12 films and was an important influence on the early career of Cary Grant, teaching him much about the craft of comedy in the course of appearing with him in “She Done Him Wrong” and “I'm No Angel.”
• • The death of this sex goddess from Hollywood's Golden Age was front-page news in November 1980 when she was 87.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Come up sometime and see me. I'm home every evening."
• • Mae West said: "I give 'em what they want to see."
• • Mae West said: "You have to outfight everyone else to succeed."
• • Mae West said: "I'll never believe the worst about anyone without complete proof."
• • Mae West said: "I've always liked athletes because they don't smoke, don't drink, and understand the importance of keeping their bodies in top working order — — and a hard man is good to find."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • "Mae West Turns Sixty" • •
• • The Horsham Times wrote: Mae West turned 60 recently. To reporters who went along to wish her many happy returns, Miss West made it plain that birthdays are one thing a lady just doesn't discuss.
• • Fluttering her inch-long eyelashes demurely, she said: "You can see for yourself, a girl's just as old as she feels."
• • Source: The Horsham Times;  published on Friday, 12 September 1952
• • 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 17th anniversary • • 
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past seventeen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,800 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,801st 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 • • in 1934 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Morse Coded

MAE WEST sang “Smooch Around” and a drawing of her appeared on the song sheet. Let’s find out more about the husband and wife songwriting team (who were also NYC music publishers).
• • “Smooch Around” [composer Theodore Morse, lyricist D.A. Estrom; 1913] • •
• • Performer: Mae West
• • First line of verse:     Little Willie Green loved a little queen …
• • First line of chorus:     Then he would smooch around …

• • Theodore F. Morse [13 April 1873 — 25 May 1924] was an American composer of popular songs.
• • Born in Washington D.C., Morse was educated at the Maryland Military and Naval Academy. He went on to study both violin and piano.
• • He and his wife, Theodora Morse, became a successful songwriting team for Tin Pan Alley. Listed as Terriss and Morse, they were one of the earliest Tin Pan Alley husband-wife songwriting teams.
• • Alfreda Theodora Strandberg [11 July 1883 — 10 November 1953] was born in Brooklyn, New York.
• • On Thursday, 7 March 1907, she married Theodore F. Morse, who was ten years older.
• • Alfreda Theodora Strandberg hid her identity with pen-names. Professionally, she often used these pseudonyms: Dorothy Terriss, Dolly Morse, and D. A. Esrom [i.e., Morse spelled backwards].
• • Versatile and talented, Theodora not only wrote with her husband — — but she also collaborated with other composers on wildly popular hits such as “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here.”
• • After they teamed up, the married couple also became music publishers. Theodore Morse Music Company was located here: 143-145 West 40th Street, New York, NY.
• • On Sunday, 25 May 1924, Theodore F. Morse died in New York City. He was 51.
• • Almost 30 years later, on Tuesday, 10 November 1953, Alfreda Theodora Morse died in White Plains, NY. She was 70.
• • On Monday, 21 April 1975 • •
• • Released in a hardcover edition on Monday, 21 April 1975 was "Mae West on Sex, Health and E.S.P." written by Mae West.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West has taught radio a lesson.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I’m supposed to be a good woman and my fans don't like to see me in certain kinds of pictures."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article in The Chicago Tribune in April 1945 mentioned Mae West.
• • The Chicago Tribune wrote: "Mae West has Chicago's Hotel Stevens in a dither over her widely-broadcast invitations to friends to come up for a spiritualistic seance some time." . . .
• • Source: The Chicago Tribune; published on Friday, 13 April 1945
• • 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 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,457th 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 • • song sheet in 1913 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: A Secret Life

When MAE WEST wrote “The Drag: A Homosexual Comedy” in 1926, the law stepped in and shut down the productions in 1927. Mae’s hopes of reviving her stage play came to nothing. She’d be delighted at this new surge of interest. Jeanne Huff’s article refers to the recent Boise, Idaho staging. This is Part 1 of 2 segments.
• • “The Drag” by Mae West is anything but • •  
• • Jeanne Huff wrote: Sometimes what goes around really does come around.
• • Jeanne Huff wrote: "The Drag: A Homosexual Comedy," a controversial, gender-bending comedy written in 1927 by Mae West, is set for a run at the Danny Peterson Theatre at the Morrison Center, March 5— 22, 2020.
• • Jeanne Huff wrote: Darrin J. Pufall-Purdy, director of University Theatre and Costume Design, department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing is the director of the play. Also contributing to the show with original devised choreography work is Anne McDonald of Frankly Burlesque.
• • What is the cost of living a secret life? • • . . .
• • This article will be concluded (with Part 2) on Monday’s post.
• • Source: The Idaho Press; published on Sunday, 1 March 2020.
• • On Saturday, 17 April 1937 • •
• • "Mae West Disappears — Star in Retreat" • •
• • From London, the snippy, snooty British gossip columnist Greville Bain wrote: It cannot have escaped the notice of the film public that it is a long while since we had any news or even rumors of Mae West.
• • Giving his own snarky opinion, Greville Bain wrote: Even her greatest admirers had to admit that Miss West's more recent pictures were not calculated to enhance her reputation.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • 'Tis being said here and there that "Diamond Lil" herself may come to the screen if Mae West and Columbia come to terms.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “The curve is the loveliest distance between two points.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Movie Classic discussed Mae West in 1932.
• • Mae West, Broadway's Most Daring Actress, Is in Hollywood • •
• • Playwright—Actress, Whose Plays about Sex Have Often Been Raided, Will Make One Film — — Is Different from What Hollywood Expected • •

• • Madge Tennant wrote: You will see her in "Night After Night," with Nancy Carroll and George Raft. And if the public likes her in this picture, you will probably see more of her.
• • "Divine!" says Mae West of Hollywood.
• • Madge Tennant wrote: But Mae did not look especially happy when we saw her at the Legion boxing matches the other night, with James Timony, her manager. She looked about her, frowning, and few people noticed her.
• • "Oh, it's divine not to be recognized," Mae insists. "I'm so happy to be able to go about without being followed by crowds." . . .
• • Source: Article written by Madge Tennant for Movie Classic; issue dated for September 1932
• • 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 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,455th 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 • • movie poster in 1932 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Drag Racy

When there is a revival or a staged reading of a controversial MAE WEST play, people flock to the venue. This is Part 7 of 7 segments.
• • “Banned 1927 Mae West Play Gets a Reading at Vermont Pride Theater” • •
• • “The Drag: A Homosexual Comedy in Three Acts” • •
• • Mae West’s credo was about self-acceptance • •
• • Dan Bolles wrote: "That's something that we're only now discovering," Holbrook said. "That you shouldn't hide behind someone, because you're hurting them."
• • Dan Bolles wrote: As for those more progressive present-day attitudes toward sexuality, she believes West would approve.  "I think one of her main things was accepting one's sexuality, embracing it and being more open about sex in general," Holbrook said. "I see that in the dialogue in this play."
• • Dan Bolles wrote: The original print version of this article was headlined "Drag Racy | A once-banned Mae West play gets a staged reading in Randolph, Vermont"
• • “The Drag” by Mae West was presented at Vermont Pride Theater.
• • This seven-part article by Dan Bolles has now been concluded with this post.  
• • Source: Seven Days Vermont; published on Wednesday, 22 January 2020.
• • On Monday, 16 April 1934 • •

• • Here's what Mae was doing on Monday, 16 April 1934, during the height of the Depression: the Paramount Pictures star had ordered and signed for a 1934 V-12 Cadillac Town Cabriolet. The specifications indicated: a black chassis; wire wheels; the top (or roof) in Landau black leather; upholstery in black leather.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Styled as “the blonde bombshell of filmdom," Jean Harlow would usher in a new category of sexy starlets who were usually buxom, often blonde, and frequently full-figured. Others — — like Mae West — — and, to a degree, Jean Harlow, established a genre of sexual, defiant characters on the silver screen.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “If I wanted local color, I sure got it in that [jail] place.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • “The Singular Boldness of One Mae West” • •
• • Rachel Wager-Smith mentioned Mae West.
• • Rachel Wager-Smith wrote: “She then served eight days in jail, eating dinner with the warden and his wife [sic] and ultimately getting two days off for good behavior. . . .
• • Note: This error-riddled article (which refused to post my corrections) mentioned Warden Schleth’s “wife,” who never met Mae. Depressed and lonely on Blackwell’s Island, Mrs. Schleth committed suicide months before Mae West arrived.
• • Source: InSession Film; published on Wednesday, 16 October 2019
• • 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 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,454th 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 • • one of her automobiles (from 1934) • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Sex Outlaw

In case you missed a fascinating review of a book analyzing MAE WEST, here it is. This is Part 4 of 6 parts.
• • “Mae West, Diamond in the Rough” • •
• • “The Drag” showed the seamier side of NYC’s gay subculture • •
• • Gerald Weales wrote: She threatened to follow "Sex" with "The Drag," which would presumably do for the seamier side of gay subculture what "Sex" had done for the straight underworld, but pressured by the city and the Broadway establishment, both of which feared the prospect of censorship, she never opened the show.

• • Gerald Weales wrote: With "Diamond Lil" in 1928, she found the role that let her turn the sex outlaw into a finished comic creation. Her usual preoccupation with crime, prostitution, dope — — the whole bag of realistic melodrama — — was washed into retrospective innocence by the nostalgia that had long since cleaned the image of the once notorious Bowery, and her own "tough girl" was transformed into the figure of presumably irresistible sex that no one except the reformers — — and perhaps Mae West herself — — took seriously.
• • saw the insinuating walk, the knowing drawl • • . . . 
• • This book review by Gerald Weales will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: The Washington Post; published on Thursday, 11 January 1996.
• • On Monday, 3 February 1936 in Hollywood • •
• • There must have been a good reason why Paramount Productions published a "Klondike Annie: censorship dialogue script" on Monday, 3 February 1936. This script was 146 pages long.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • New Orleans can relax. Paramount has given up that "Belle of New Orleans" title for Mae West's next opus. It will be "Belle of the Nineties."
• • Uptown Manhattan may now protest. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "If you need a face job, why not?"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • McVickers, Shy on Pictures, Darkens • •
• • Chicago, July 22. — Unable to get product of sufficient drawing power to keep the house going as its advertised "home of big pictures," B. and K. have closed the McVickers. Officials explain that the move is only temporary and due to the product situation.
• • Expectation is that B. and K. will get the new Mae West film to reopen the house when the film is finally available. …
• • Source: Motion Picture Daily; published on Monday, 23 July 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 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 4,400 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,401st 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 • • "The Drag" is banned in Bayonne, 1927  • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Athletic Club

On Thursday, 18 April, 2019, MAE WEST was mentioned in an article movie buffs will want to read.
• • “Ten Los Angeles Locations for Movie Lovers” • •
• • Juliette Fay wrote: Hollywood Athletic Club, 6525 Sunset Boulevard, was founded by Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Cecil B. DeMille in 1924. It charged a $150 initiation fee and $10 for monthly dues. Membership included John Wayne, John Ford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Mary Pickford, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Mae West, and Joan Crawford.
• • Juliette Fay wrote: The very first Emmy Awards were hosted there in 1949, and it is now available as a filming location and events hall.
• • This site (6525 Sunset Boulevard) was one of the ten addresses mentioned in this interesting feature.
• • Source: CBS Local; published on Thursday, 18 April, 2019.
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935 in NYC • •

• • On Friday, 10 May 1935, "Goin' to Town" opened in Mae West's hometown at the New York City Paramount.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • On Friday, 10 May 1935 Frank Wallace filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles, California against Mae West declaring she was damaging his reputation and his professional standing by denying they had wed. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Of course, I was simply dressing in a way that would flatter my own rounded figure, and naturally I chose the gowns that would show me off to the best advantage.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • NYC Court Papers mentioned the trial of Mae West.
• • PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK v. MAE WEST, et al • •
• • N.Y. Prosecutor: The scenes, tableaux, incidents, parts, words, lines, passage, and portions of “The Pleasure Man” charged to depict and deal with the subject of degeneracy and sex perversion.
• • N.Y. Prosecutor: In a high falsetto voice, Stan Stanley exclaims: “Why, it’s a convention.” He then addresses one of these characters, saying, "What are you, Al Jolson?" To which this character replies: “Jolson sings a song on one knee. I sing it on two knees.”
• • N.Y. Prosecutor: Three more of the same type of male characters afterward come onstage, walking and talking in a very effeminate manner . . .
• • Source: District Attorney’s Bill of Particulars; published on Monday, 17 February 1930
• • 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 14th anniversary • •  

• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past fourteen years. Not long ago, we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fourteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4210th 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 costume in 1935 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West