Mae West: Making Love

"Making Love to MAE WEST Is Like a Football Game" was the hilarious headline on the cover of Motion Picture's sassy issue for September 1934.  The first-person piece was attributed to her handsome co-star Johnny Mack Brown (as told to reporter Jack Smalley).  
• • Romantic scenes in "Belle of the Nineties" would have to be re-shot, the actor confessed to his fans, with the censors calling the shots as the studio acted as the referee. 
• • Paramount sent a mascot to survey the field, hoping to guard against those potential problems resulting from any steamy footage between American beauty queen Ruby Carter and her screenland suitors. 
• • As the cameras rolled, said Johnny Mack Brown, they had to be very careful that no romantic embraces "got too close for Primville."  
• • Robert B. McKenzie [22 September 1880 — 8 July 1949] • •
• • Born in County Antrim, Ireland on Wednesday, 22 September 1880, Robert B. McKenzie set his compass for Tinseltown and launched his cinema career in 1915 when he was in his mid-30s and scored his first roles as a hotel proprietor, desk clerk, waiter, constable, and father.
• • The busy bit parts player had a comical look that casting agents could use — — he was a small man with a big belly.  From 1915 — 1946, he managed to squeek into 327 shorts and feature films, many of them B-level Westerns.
• • The portly Irishman had the opportunity to work with Mae West twice.  In "I'm No Angel" he was "man at rooming house" and in "My Little Chickadee" he was a townsman.
• • Robert B. McKenzie had a fatal heart attack in Manunuck, Rhode Island on 8 July 1949.  He was 68.
• • On Friday, 22 September 1911 • •
• • On Friday, 22 September 1911, 18-year-old Mae West was in the spotlight. On that date, "A La Broadway" had opened at the Folies-Bergere Theatre, New York, NY. This short-lived revue closed on 30 September 1911.
• • On Saturday, 22 September 1934 • •
• • In September 1934, Mae was involved in promoting her fourth feature for Paramount Pictures: "Belle of the Nineties." This motion picture was released on September 21st. The title of the movie review published in The New York Times on Saturday, 22 September 1934 was "Mae West and Her Gaudy Retinue in 'Belle of the Nineties'." Here is the first sentence — — "Of course, Miss West is her own plot," wrote Times critic Andre Sennwald.
• • On Tuesday, 22 September 1992 • •
• • An article "Way Out West" was published (on page 57) in The Advocate (issue dated for 22 September 1992).  Journalist R.L. Pela wrote about Mae West's career.  
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have to go to the safe deposit box and get the stuff out, and that's a lot of trouble."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A news item by Kevin Thomas revealed the private life of Mae West.
• • Mae West was the genuine article — — even if not all her diamonds were real. Such were my thoughts as Joe Gold and I, both longtime friends of Mae's, went over the jewelry and memorabilia that her longtime companion Charles Krauser had stored after her death in 1980 at 87.  ...
• • Source: News Item: "Up for Bid: All That Glittered on Mae West" written by Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer for The L.A. Times; posted on Friday, 22 September 2000

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2435th 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: Ken Darby

MAE WEST starred in "Belle of the Nineties" [1934] — — and the quartet The King's Men performed during the spiritual "Troubled Waters."

• • Formed in 1929 in Hollywood, The King's Men quartet was comprised of 20-year-old Ken Darby, arranger and bass, the group's founder; Rad Robinson, baritone; Jon Dodson, lead tenor; Bud Linn, top tenor. The young vocalists were first hired by Paramount to sing the title song in "Sweetie" [November 1929], an assignment that opened the door to radio contracts and more movie gigs.

• • Born in Hebron, Nebraska during the month of May — — on 13 May 1909 — — Kenneth Lorin Darby worked as a composer, vocal arranger, lyricist, and conductor. During a long and lucrative tenure in Tinseltown, Darby's film scores were recognized with three Academy Awards and one Grammy Award.  He joined ASCAP in 1946.

• • Ken Darby died in Sherman Oaks, California on 24 January 1992. He was 82.

• • Frank Rice [13 May 1892 — 9 January 1936] • •

• • In "Belle of the Nineties" [1934] cinema staple and singer Frank Rice played the Best Man at a wedding — — so maybe some rice was thrown during rehearsals.

• • Born in Muskegon, Michigan during the month of May — — on 13 May 1892 — — the long-necked and balding funnyman was often the casting director's pick when a moment of comic relief was called for such as his rolling-eyeballs specialty (which was on display when he played the butler in a Laurel and Hardy movie).

• • After appearing in 131 productions, from playful shorts in 1912 to meatier bits by the 1930s, Frank Rice died prematurely at age 43 of complications ensuing from hepatitis and nephritis. He was in demand and working right up to the end in Los Angeles, when he breathed his last on 9 January 1936 two years after working with Mae West in her fascinating screen role as Ruby Carter.

• • On Sunday, 13 May 1956 • •

• • Blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield encountered the very handsome Mr. Universe 1956 Miklos (Mickey) Hargitay on 13 May 1956, while attending a performance of the "Mae West Revue" at the Latin Quarter night club in Manhattan.

• • Twenty months later, Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay wed on 13 January 1958. They had three children and, alas, would divorce in 1964.

• • On Saturday, 13 May 1961 • •

• • Mae West posed with Gary Cooper in a tavern to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. They socialized at several Tinseltown tete-a-tetes, too. On Saturday, 13 May 1961, the "Coop" lost his battle with cancer.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "His mother should have thrown him away — — and kept the stork." Happy Mother's Day to all!

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article on a Philadelphia cab driver mentioned Mae West.

• • Louis Antosh wrote: Cab driver Vincent Scullin has been called into the city of Philadelphia on several occasions. On one of these, a man stopped him outside the old Ritz Hotel back in the 1940s and asked to use his cab.  But I'll ask you please not to smoke while Miss West is in the cab, said the man.

• • Vincent turned his head to the right and recalled his thoughts back then. Could it be Mae West? But she always carries those long cigarette holders in the movies. Then the hotel door opens and out walks Mae West! And brother let me tell you she looked like a million bucks. White fur coat and dark glasses. Just between you and me and the gatepost. Whoo whoo! ...
• • Source:  Article: "A Cab Driver's View of People" written by Louis Antosh for Delaware County Daily Times, printed on page 1; published on Saturday, 13 May 1967

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2299th 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: Charles Sullivan

In her role as Ruby Carter, the beauty queen of the night club and sporting world, MAE WEST had many admirers.  Actor Charles Sullivan portrayed a New Orleans audience admirer in "Belle of the Nineties" [1934].

• •  Born in Monroe, Louisiana in the month of April — — on 24 April 1899 — — Charles Sullivan made his cinema debut at age 26.  From 1925 — 1960, the durable bit parts player was seen in 495 roles, mostly for the silver screen as well as a handful of guest starring bits on TV. Prizefighter, champion, brawler, MP, shore patrolman, soldier, tough sailor, marine, tank crew, football player, trainer, miner, cab driver, chauffeur, policeman, bailiff, henchman, convict, bodyguard, hood, mug, truckdriver assassin, bartender, etc. were some of the minor characters he brought his liveliness to.  Casting agents patched Charles Sullivan into scenes that called for physical confidence and muscular authority.

• •  Charles Sullivan died in Los Angeles on 25 June 1972.  He was 73.

• •  Owney Madden  [18 December 1891 — 24 April 1965] • •

• • "So sweet and so vicious," was Mae's character rating for Owney "The Killer" Madden, who died during the month of April.

• • Born in England on 18 December 1891, Owen "Owney" Madden grew up in midtown Manhattan's gang-ridden westside. In the early 1900s, his family moved to Hell's Kitchen. Mary Madden and her three youngsters had moved in with her sister-in-law Elizabeth O'Neil; both widows were raising children while trying to support a husband-less household. Young Owney soon joined the Gopher Gang and became a one person crime wave.

• • During the Prohibition Era, Madden owned the popular Cotton Club in Harlem. When Francis Ford Coppola made "The Cotton Club," he chose Bob Hoskins to portray Madden.

• • Owney Madden died in Hot Springs, Arkansas in April — — on 24 April 1965.  He was 75.

• • Mae West by Willem de Kooning • •

• • Born on 24 April 1904, artist Willem de Kooning did a bizarre nude of Mae West in 1964 using oil and charcoal.  It's a blob-like pastiche in pastels that makes you wonder why the heck it is in the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC. Sort of hilarious in its ugliness.  Maybe 60-year-old de Kooning was no longer capable of doing his best.

• • In Daily Mail Ideal Homes Olympia [March — April 1936] • •

• • This 288-page guide to the huge exhibition at the Olympia featured many looks at how celebrities lived. Visitors to the U.K. show could see Homes of the Film Stars (reproductions of rooms from the homes of famous personalities) such as Mae West's bedroom with its mirrored ceiling.

• • On 24 April 2008 • •

• • Goldmine Magazine featured Mae West on  24 April 2008.

• • Goldmine Magazine said: Mae West did it all, even 45s.  Mae West was sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll before there was sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.  After Mae West, the rest of us just tried to keep up.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "I never get friendly with the men on the set. The worst woman in pictures has to be careful." 

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• •  An article about "Belle of the Nineties"  mentioned Mae West.

• • The Hollywood Reporter wrote:  Roger Pryor was borrowed from Universal by Paramount Saturday for the role in the Mae West picture, "It Ain't No Sin," which George Raft refused to play. The deal was set by the William Morris office and Miss West has consented to the substitution. The shooting schedule will be arranged by Director Leo McCarey so that the picture work will not interfere with Pryor's performances in "Men in White" at El Capitan Theatre. The change has also caused the substitution of Johnny Mack Brown for . . .

• • Source: Article: "Pryor Replaces George Raft with Mae West" written for The Hollywood Reporter; published during April 1934   

• • By the Numbers • •

• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2280th 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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