Mae West: Going Down? No!

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 2.
• • Mae West in Hollywood 1932 – 1943 • •
• • Mae West: A formula? No, not really. • •
• • Andy Goulding wrote: There’s received wisdom amongst many reviews that all Mae West films are pretty much the same and that they go downhill the moment the censorious Hays Code takes a firm grip.

• • Andy Goulding wrote: While there is certainly a hint of a formula to some of the early films, it is an effective one and to say it continues across the whole West catalogue is simply untrue.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: The style varies across her output to incorporate farce, melodrama, westerns, light character comedy, boisterous ensemble pieces and showbiz revues.
• • Andy Goulding wrote: And only those hungry for the most risqué of one-liners and nothing besides (something West is unfortunately reduced to all too frequently) would contend that the quality dips significantly.
• • Mae West: As censors square up to her • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Blueprint Reviews U.K.; posted on Friday, 3 December 2021.
• • On Sunday, 13 September 1953 • •
• • Walter Ames wrote the amusing article "Who's Marilyn Monroe, Queen Mae West Asks" for The Los Angeles Times.  His piece ran on the front page — — of the weekend edition dated for Sunday, 13 September 1953.  
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Letters come to Mae West from all over the world.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'd rather make pictures than whoopee."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about a new TV show mentioned Mae West.
• • TV Guide wrote: Mae West, now 66, will soon star in a five-a-week, late night, quarter hour show locally, and then has plans for a film series, "Klondike Lou" ....
• • Source: TV Guide; published on Saturday, 13 September 1958
• • 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 5,080th 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 • • wearing a diamond necklace in 1932 • •
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Mae West: 22 Carat Diamond

MAE WEST enjoyed copious coverage in Time Magazine ― some of it positive such as her 1978 interview with Gerald Clarke. This is Part 11 of 15 segments.
• • "Show Business: At 84 Mae West Is Still Mae West" • •
• • Mae West: Her 22 carat diamond ring • •

• • Gerald Clarke wrote: Though two of the three huge diamond rings Mae sports are false, one is real, weighing in at 22 carats.
• • Gerald Clarke wrote: And Paul Novak never escorts her without a protective .38.
• • Gerald Clarke wrote: He seems totally devoted to her and nods agreement at whatever she says.
• • Gerald Clarke wrote: "I never argue with her," he notes, "because she is always right."
• • Gerald Clarke wrote: Like many people her age, Mae has a perfect memory for the distant past, but yesterday she can scarcely recall.
• • Mae West: Her errant memory • • …   
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Time Magazine; issue dated for Monday, 22 May 1978.
• • On Wednesday, 5 September 1934 • •
• • The syndicated series called "Me and My Past" focused on actress Mae West.
• • This lengthy up-close look by Mae West (as told to Leicester Wagner) — — "Any Woman Can Outsmart a Man, Mae West Says" — — was reprinted in newspapers across the USA on Wednesday, 5 September 1934.  
• • Among other matters, Mae West discusses ("How Her Famous Gait Was Born with Ed Wynn and Frank Tinney") the development of her slow, studied, slouchy strut while appearing on Broadway in "Sometime" with Ed Wynn, a comedian who moved very quickly across the stage.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West will abandon corsets and wear modem apparel in her new motion picture.
• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "I’ve developed a different way of selling my sex. I laugh them into it. I cover it with comedy. If you laugh with a sinner, you like her. You grow fond of her, feel sympathy for her."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Indianapolis Recorder mentioned Mae West.
• • "Myra Breckinridge" at the Regency 2. • •
• • The screen adaptation of Gore Vidal’s controversial novel of a trans-sexual, “Myra Breckinridge,” is now playing at the Lafayette Road, Shadeland, South 31, and Regency 2.
• • The satirical dissection of many of our sexual mores, manners and hang-ups marks the return of Mae West to the screen after an absence of 27 years, co-stars director John Huston (in strictly an acting chore), and Raquel Welch in the title role, and introduces the noted writer Rex Reed in his first film role.
• • The 2Oth Century-Fox attraction was produced by Robert Fryer, whose recent motion pictures were “The Boston Strangler” and “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” and directed by the youthful Michael Sarne, who guided last year’s hit, “Joanna.” ...
• • Source: Indianapolis Recorder; published on Saturday, 5 September 1970
• • 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 5,074th 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 1933 and 1943 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Tricky Pronunciation

In 1934, Picture Play, piqued by a New York newcomer’s meteoric rise, pondered this: “Is MAE WEST a Fizzle? A bold discussion of an important question!” This is Part 27 of 29 segments.
• • Is Mae West a Fizzle? • •
• • Mae West: Tricky pronunciation • •
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Unlike the stage productions, motion pictures have to survive the stern eyes of censors.  
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Tricky pronunciation doesn't always pass the censors. To cut a scene because of this seriously hurts a film, interfering as it does with the story's continuity of action.
• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae has also to be reminded of this.

• • Dorothy Herzog wrote: Mae West is a genius at making wisecracks, but it takes more than wisecracks to justify six reels of celluloid.
• • Mae West: A good supporting cast is necessary • • …
• • This will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for May 1934.
• • On Wednesday, 23 February 1927 in Variety • •
• • On Wednesday, 23 February 1927, Variety sympathized with Mae West and the others whose Broadway shops were closed down due to a contagious censorship epidemic.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • This never happened before in Hollywood: The day before Mae West was expected back from the East Coast, a large group of movie theater owners in Southern California called at Paramount studio and demanded the pleasure of meeting the train and giving Mae a rousing welcome.
• • "We want to show our appreciation to Miss West for the marvelous picture she has given us to show in our theaters . . . it's the first one in a long time that has made our friends stand in line at our box-offices!"
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I was aware of the changing times and I studied audiences and acts to discover all the secrets of show business.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Picture Play mentioned Mae West.
• • Mae Can Wear Paste, Anyway • •
• • Diamond Lil may have been robbed of her precious jewels since she came to the West Coast, but there are compensations. For she, namely Mae West, looks forward to a really sparkling film career. Paramount thought so when they signed her. …
• • Source: Picture Play; issue dated for June 1933
• • 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 seventeen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,936th 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 1933 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Jingle Belle

MAE WEST got diamonds for Christmas on Tuesday, 25 December 1934.
• • "Santa Leaves Gems in Socks of Film Stars" • •
• • "Mae West Gets Diamonds; Ruby Keeler Sapphires; Gracie Toys" • •
• • Hollywood — Dec. 25 — United Press — Film folk and their children awoke today to find any and all manner of gifts in their stockings. Gems and jewelry were the most popular, perhaps, for the adults, but it fell upon Norman Taurog [1899 — 1981] to be the Santa Claus to give the most unique gift. Out in the garden of the Taurog home the director's daughter, Patsy Ann, found a miniature merry-go-round all set up and ready to whirl. With five wooden horses, it was complete in every detail down to the electric piano.
• • "Diamonds for Mae" • •

• • Diamonds sparkled at the home of Mae West. "Diamond Lil" justified her screen sobriquet by giving "sparklers" to her sister, brother, and father. A necklace, studded with similar stones, was the present she received in return.  ...
• • Source: Syndicated article "Mae West Gets Diamonds; Ruby Keeler Sapphires; Gracie Has Toys" printed in The Ogden-Standard Examiner; published on Tuesday evening on 25 December 1934.
• • On Saturday, 25 December 1937 • •
• • The article "Mae West's Eve Brings Eden's Curse on Radio — Apology, Alibi, Indignation and Investigation" was printed in Motion Picture Herald on Saturday, 25 December 1937.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West took an enema every day. When someone suggested this unorthodox regimen would not be approved by any doctor, Mae replied, ''Naturally. It kept me from going to any of them.''
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Every day's a holiday, Santa Claus, and the biggest and best one is right around the corner."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Sabina Stent discussed Mae West.
• • British freelancer Dr. Sabina Stent wrote: Mae West’s legs were always covered. Even on the rare occasion when she is wearing “ordinary” heels, she is sitting.
• • Sabina Stent pondered: Did we ever see Mae West walk in a regular shoe? . . .
• • Sabina Stent’s fascinating article will be continued on Thursday, 26 December 2019. Come up to read Part 6 . . .
• • Source: Santa-season , Issue 2; posted in December 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 4,300 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,374th 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 • • an updated red-green version of Mae (copied from Modern Screen's September 1933 issue) • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest

Mae West: Object Lessons

“Is MAE WEST Skidding on the Curves?” Asks Madame Sylvia, Photoplay's Beauty Editor, in the next issue. And her answer offers a wealth of practical advice to all women — young and old, fat and lean. Whether or not you're concerned over your own appearance, you'll thoroughly enjoy Madame Sylvia's keen, clear-cut comments in the November 1936 issue. This is Part 6.
• • Object Lessons Drawn from Miss West • • 
• • Sylvia wrote: There are two object lessons I'd like to draw from Miss West, and then I'll give some good, workable advice to you who need it.
• • Sylvia wrote: First: It was commonly accepted that the men "went for her" in what is technically known as a big way. But I wondered, too. Did they? I've always doubted it. They laughed at her wisecracks . . . she amused them . . . But . . .

• • Sylvia wrote: Mae West was never a menace to the American home. Jean Harlow, Crawford, Colbert, Lombard, Dietrich — — all these so-called glamor girls . . . yes! These girls caused the boy friend to look at the girl friend and think, "Well, I can't have Jean Harlow, so it might as well be you." These girls caused papa to look at mama with a disapproving glint in the eye. But not Miss West.
• • Women didn't resent Mae — — at first • •  . . .
• • “Is Mae West Skidding on the Curves?” will be continued on the next post.
• • Source: Photoplay; published in the issue dated for November 1936.
• • On Monday, 19 June 1933 • •
• • A line eliminated from the script of "I'm No Angel" (dated for Monday, 19 June 1933) is a statement by Tira, during her sideshow performance: "That's all, boys. Now you can go home and beat your wives." Sheesh.  Did a comedienne ever think that wife-beating was funny?
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • "Our Gang" will always have a stronger appeal than our gangsters. Even the curves of Mae West and the histrionics of Greta Garbo had to give way before the unadorned dimples and spontaneous laughter of Shirley Temple.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Let go of the things that can’t possibly matter to you, and you’ll always have room for the better things that come along.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Dressing Rooms of Broadway: 33 Photos Over Nearly a Century • •
• • Jesse Green of N.Y. Times got it wrong when he wrote: “Mae West playing the title character of her play “Diamond Lil” — — Mae West put on some prop jewelry [sic] in her dressing room. Circa 1949.”
• • CORRECT: The "Diamond Lil" program credits jeweler Harry Winston for supplying an Ali Baba's cave worth of glitter for this show. How expensive was that eyeful of razzle-dazzle?
• • CORRECT: Mae West's adornments in 1949 included: “Seven part waist decoration, $500,000; necklace, $100,000; three bracelets, $200,000; 46-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, $300,000; 30-carat oval-cut diamond ring, $75,000…”
• • CORRECT: These industrial-strength carats were ferried by couriers each night to the vault — — and brought back to the Coronet Theatre, heavily guarded, in time for each performance. …
• • LINK: https://maewest.blogspot.com/2007/08/mae-west-was-wild-about-harry-jeweler.html
• • Source: The New York Times; published on Friday, 7 June 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 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 4238th 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 • • Photoplay ad in 1936 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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