Mae West: Worked Fast

"MAE WEST Signs for First Film" was the headline.  Reporters announced she had signed with Texas Guinan and Helen Morgan for the George Raft vehicle, a story set inside a speakeasy.  But in 1932 night club czarina Guinan [12 January 1884 — 5 November  1933] was touring Canada, not in the best of health.

• • Speakeasy hostess and singer Helen Morgan [2 August 1900 — 9 October 1941] was seen in eleven films between 1923 — 1936 including "Frankie and Johnny" and "Show Boat" (both released in 1936). But Morgan, an alcoholic, made no films in 1932 or 1933.

• • Here's the article from The United Press: HOLLYWOOD, Cal., 21 June 1932 — Svelte and blond. Mae West, night club queen (sic), is in Hollywood to make her first moving picture.

• • The United Press continued:  Mae worked fast.  She signed with Helen Morgan and Texas Guinan to appear in "Night After Night" on Wednesday. She left the same night for the coast, and stopped off in Chicago just long enough to cancel her appearance in "The Constant Sinner."  ...

• • Source: The United Press, syndicated and reprinted by The Pittsburgh Press (on page 19) on Tuesday, 21 June 1932.

• • Al Hirschfeld [21 June 1903 — 20 January 2003] • •

• • Born in St. Louis, Missouri during the month of June — — on 21 June 1903 — — Albert Hirschfeld moved with his family to New York City where he trained at the Art Students League of New York.

• • Al Hirschfeld was a caricaturist best known for his simple black and white portraits of Broadway stars, dancers, mimes, dramatists, and other celebrities of the stage and screen.  Hirschfeld sketched Mae West numerous times during his long career.

• • On Wednesday, 21 June 1933 • •

• • It was on Wednesday, 21 June 1933 when Russell Holmon of Paramount Pictures tried to explain to the Hays Office that the title of a song "No One Does It Like that Dallas Man" was essentially innocent and the lyrics were harmless.  Hays wanted changes though and got them.

• • On Sunday, 21 June 1936 • •

• • The headline read "Mae West Has Laugh at Studio — Producers Are at a Loss When Star Outsmarts Their Plans."  This coverage was published on page 20 of the Charleston Gazette on 21 June 1936.  Obviously the studio was behind this smack-the-naughty-girl's-hand story because the article explained that "It is no secret that she is very difficult to handle and that censor problems of the Mae West pictures caused the folks a notable series of delays ...." This one-sided piece also stated "There's another Mae West story going on here.  Mae stipulates that she must be credited with writing the script but it's whispered out loud that often times she hits an impasse and is unable to work out a scene to either her own or her director's satisfaction. ..."  

• • Back in February 1935, Paramount star Mae West and Emanuel Cohen boarded a train for Chicago. The movie star quietly attended a play with Cohen, "Personal Appearance," by then a Broadway road company show. They discussed creating a cinema version of this lampoon of the film industry. The idea of poking fun at Tinseltown, just when the moguls had been freezing Mae out of opportunities, must have seemed enormously appealing. Emanuel Cohen soon announced that Mae West was firing up a new sparkler for his fledgling company.

• • One project they did together was "Goin' to Town" [released on 25 April 1935], with Emanuel Cohen Productions operating as Major Pictures Corp.

• • In Her Own Words • •

• • Mae West said: "Why don't you come up and see me some time? Make it Tuesday, that's amateur night."

• • Quote, Unquote • •

• • An article about gender and films mentioned Mae West.

• • A Gender Variance Who's Who wrote:  The motion picture "Dinah East" [1969] tells of a female film star (Jeremy Stockwell in his first role) who is found to be male-bodied after she dies. The suggestion that this was a reference to Mae West is too strong, she threatens legal action, and the film is withdrawn.  ...

• • Source: A Gender Variance Who's Who; posted 1 June 2009

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2338th 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: Croon Crazy

MAE WEST heard Paul Whiteman's orchestra perform at Texas Guinan's night clubs. (When Guinan died suddenly in 1933, bandleader Paul Whiteman was a pallbearer.) Since Whiteman was born in Denver in March — — on Friday, 28 March 1890 — — it's a good time to revisit an animated short that featured both West and Whiteman.
• • “Croon Crazy” [December 1933] • •
• • In “Croon Crazy” [1933] Cubby Bear is hosting a live radio show on R.K.O. and discovers all his guests cancelling at the last moment, leaving him no choice but to impersonate them. Cubby's stars are Mae West, Al Jolson [26 May 1886 — 23 October 1950], Kate Smith [1 May 1907 — 17 June 1986], and bandleader Paul Whiteman [28 March 1890 — 29 December 1967].
• • "I've Got a Lot of What I've Got" is sung by Cubby — — impersonating Mae West.
• • This frisky Pre-Code cartoon shows Cubby Bear performing "Mammy" in black-face, cross-dressing, and depicting Mahatma Gandhi [2 October 1869 — 30 January 1948]. A scrawny Gandhi comes dancing along and, when he flashes open his white robe, he reveals himself as a cross-dresser modeling the latest style in scanty feminine lingerie. There's also a lustful sultan and his skimpily clad harem.
• • Steve Muffati directed and co-write this daring Pre-Code 8-minute animation. It was first released on 29 December 1933. It seems that the character Cubby Bear, featured in 20 cartoons during 1933 — 1934, was an intrepid interloper, a Mickey Mouse clone created at the Van Beuren studio.
• • Mae West and Paul Whiteman are two names featured on "All Of Me — A 60 Year Celebration." The original recordings of this hit single have been remastered.
• • Dorothy Fields [15 July 1905 — 28 March 1974] • •
• • Apparently always "in the mood," Mae West sang "I'm in the Mood for Love" — — and it was featured on the LP Fabulous Mae West [released in September 1955]. The song had been published twenty years earlier in 1935.
• • Born in Boston, James Francis McHugh [1894 — 1969] was a prolific songwriter who was doing his best work from the 1920s through the 1950s. McHugh composed over 270 songs and his hits were recorded by Mae West as well as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker, Dinah Washington, June Christy, Peggy Lee, Deanna Durbin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
• • Composer Jimmy McHugh collaborated with lyricist Dorothy Fields on "I'm in the Mood for Love," which enjoyed great popularity and is still being sung today.
• • A native of New Jersey, Dorothy Fields wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films. Along with Ann Ronell, Dana Suesse, Bernice Petkere, and Kay Swift, she was one of the first successful Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood female songwriters.
• • Dorothy Fields died in New York City of a stroke during the month of March — — on Thursday, 28 March 1974. She was 68.
• • On Wednesday, 28 March 1927 • •
• • In March 1927, in reaction to the Broadway aspirations of Mae West's play "The Drag," the New York State Legislature passed a law banning all depictions of homosexuality on the stage.
• • After the Grand Jury's indictments were finished, the courtroom trial began in earnest on Wednesday, 28 March 1927. First on the agenda was jury selection.
• • A few days later, Norman Schloss would open the case for the defense, pointing out the most obvious details: that "Sex" had already run for 339 performances, and it had been seen by more than 325,000 patrons, including members of the police department and their wives, by judges of the criminal courts, by seven members of the district attorneys’ staffs, and by citizens of the city who showed no moral impairment. A Broadway “play jury” had previewed the show, and belated prosecution was unreasonable.
• • The prosecutor would argue that the play "Sex" was obscene and he would be calling a series of detectives who became courtroom actors.
• • Sergeant Patrick Keneally of the Midtown Vice Squad seemed to relish reciting the more ribald lines from "The Drag," and imitating the walk and gestures of "the fairies" on stage.
• • The full-length stage play "Courting Mae West" dramatizes the trial and other matters leading up to it — — and, of course, the colorful aftermath.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "You can dunk that in your beer sundae and believe it."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about advertising mentioned Mae West.
• • Dynamic Business editors write: Mae West said that too much of a good thing can be wonderful. Obviously, Ms. West was never on the receiving end of the avalanche of marketing messages consumers now receive. . . .
• • Source: Article: "Advertiser overload: Are you guilty?" written by Dynamic Business staff for Dynamic Business; posted on 12 March 2012
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2252nd 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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