Mae West: Amelia Bingham

MAE WEST had purchased a swan bed for her 1928 stage melodrama of the Bowery. Let us learn more the fascinating female who was its original owner.
• • The Museum of the City of New York owned a photograph of Amelia Bingham kneeling beside her swan bed — — which Mae West purchased and used in "Diamond Lil."
• • One of the things that pleased Mae West the most about "Diamond Lil" was that, on the stage, she was able to use the extraordinary bed beside which Amelia Bingham, a famous dramatic star of yesteryear, used to pray.
• • The Swan Bed Onscreen • •

• • This massive bed, designed to represent the hollowed back of a giant swan with the sleeper resting in the hollow and the foot tapering into the outstretched breast and neck of the bird passed from Miss Bingham to Diamond Jim Brady.
• • Miss West obtained it from the Jim Brady estate, and it still reposes in her Kew Gardens, L. I., home a rival for her favorite bed in her Manhattan apartment boudoir on West Avenue Avenue, . . . .
• • Amelia Swilley Bingham [20 March 1869  – 1 September 1927] was an American actress born in Hicksville, Ohio. Her Broadway career extended from 1896 until 1926.  Amelia Bingham died in 1927 following an eight month battle with heart disease complicated by pneumonia. She was 58 years old.
• • Amelia died at her home at 103 Riverside Drive, Manhattan, New York City, a house formerly owned by the actor Joseph Jefferson.
• • Note: French actress-dancer Gaby Deslys also commissioned a large bed in the form of a swan, as well as a bed  with a Cupid on the prow fashioned in the shape of a boat, which was used in several Hollywood films.
• • On Wednesday, 10 March 1926 in Variety • •
• • A news item noted that a new play by "Jane Mast" (Mae West) called "Sex" was coming to Broadway. This announcement ran in Variety's issue dated for Wednesday, 10 March 1926.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • In all her films, Mae West is an unabashed sex symbol. She continues to play the siren in "Sextette" — — a lady who goes through six husbands.
• • On stage and off, Mae plays the part to the hilt. In her trailer dressing room at Paramount Studios, Mae lounged on a couch. She wore a white, satin-like dressing gown with white fur-like material at the collar and cuffs.  
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “I do all my writing in bed; everybody knows I do my best work there.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • South China Morning Post mentioned Mae West.
• • Own Mae West's Swan Bed • •
• • A collection of dresses, negligees, bankbooks and furniture demonstrating the overblown taste of the irrepressibly vulgar 1930s siren Mae West are to be auctioned in New York on Tuesday.
• • The blonde American entertainer died in 1980 having taken Hollywood by storm. She was the author of the line: 'It's not the men in my life that counts; it's the life in my men.'
• • Undoubtedly the most extraordinary lot in the auction is her 'swan bed' in which the actress reclined to give interviews.
• • Like her other possessions, it is sensual and overstated, in the Louis XV style with a carved canopy decorated with a gilt 'W'. ...
• • Source: South China Morning Post; published on Sunday, 4 December 1994
• • 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 16th 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 4,600 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4,687th 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: Suitors and Swan Beds

The spectacular swan bed purchased by MAE WEST had originally been the property of the Broadway actress Amelia Swilley Bingham [20 March 1869 — 1 September 1927].
• • After her husband Lloyd Bingham died in 1915, the actress continued to reside in their grand lodgings at 103 Riverside Drive in Manhattan; the house had once belonged to the successful stage star Joseph Jefferson. Amelia Swilley Bingham was 58 years old when she died of heart disease complicated by pneumonia in September 1927. 
• • At some point, Amelia's golden swan bed had been sold to Diamond Jim Brady [12 August 1856 — 13 April 1917].
• • Meanwhile, let's continue with another thrilling installment of Mae West in "Roads of Romance," so charmingly illustrated and scripted by Harry Lee and Winfield Meggs in 1934. (The pen and ink drawings were so striking that they made this week-long series even more extraordinary.)
• • Harry Lee and Winfield Meggs wrote:  Miss West doesn't tempt fate by walking under ladders and believes 1 and 7 to be her lucky numbers.  But she credits her success to work, and hard wallops she's taken and handed back. Now that she was in the money, she was besieged by people wanting money for a thousand causes, wanting jobs, wanting to marry her. One of the funniest of her suitors was a giant prospector from Alaska, who cama to the show every night for weeks, and haunted the stage door after the performance was over. She christened him "Dangerous Dan McGrew" and had to threaten to shoot him to shake him!
• • "A swell guy, too!" she says.
• • Mae's incredlbly gorgeous Swan Bed • •
• • Mae's incredlbly gorgeous Swan Bed had once been the property of Amelia Bingham and later of Diamond Jim Brady, which made it eminently fitting that it should descend to Diamond Lil's boudoir.
• • Its graceful neck arched over her blonde head. Its beak caught back the silken curtain. Its fleecy wings enfolded her and its pert tall curled up Into the most engaging bedroom furniture that ever delighted a stage queen. Huge mirrors reflected her from many angles and jewels and tlnselly things made her boudoir glitter like a room In the picture books about Aladdin. Mae West enjoyed it all to the limit.  "Sure am sittin' pretty!" she thought.
• • Mae was in magnificent health as she is today, never having known illness. Her days began, as they begin now, at noon, with what her maid calls a man-size breakfast. She is crazy about sweets, thick juicy steaks, and homemade pastries — — and she gormandizes to a degree which would make any other young lady eligible as a sideshow fat girl. She neither drinks nor smokes.  She had conquered Broadway and now visions of Hollywood begun to dance before her. She had entertained thousands. Why not millions? She began laying her plans well ahead of time. "They can be had!" she said.
• • See what happens tomorrow.
• • Source: Article:  "Mae West in Roads of Romance" by Harry Lee and Winfield Meggs, Side Glances columnists and illustrators for The Winnipeg Evening Tribune; published on Friday, 1 June 1934   
• • On Friday, 2 June 1916 in Variety • •
• • On 2 June 1916, Variety printed a list of names who had volunteered to go to jail — — as guests of the Mutual Welfare League — — to entertain the inmates of Sing-Sing on Decoration Day. Mae West, age 22, was in that number.
• • Sources have said this is the occasion when she met Owney Madden. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Some theaters are offering the old product in groups of a week of old favorites, while others group them according to "Ten Best" rating or by stars.
• • Pete Barnes of the Angelus Theater, San Angelo, Texas, held a "Mae West Week," playing three of the Paramount star's pictures for two days each, with business 30 per cent above average.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Love means one thing to one person and something else to another. It's a more or less powerful emotion beyond ordinary human control. Try it yourself, sometime, and you'll get what I mean."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Forbes Magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • Seth Porges wrote: Let’s back up: The Civic is a performance palace based smack in the center of the city’s Central Business District, mere blocks from the frenzied French Quarter. It first opened its doors in 1906 as the work of the Shubert brothers, those theatrical pioneers who are credited with establishing New York’s Broadway theater district. Back then, the Civic was known as The Shubert, and was the brothers’ first venue outside of New York. Over the years, the space went through a revolving door of names and functions. It morphed into the Star, the Lafayette, the Poché, the Civic. It hosted plays, vaudeville, burlesque, film. Cecil B. DeMille put on a production, and performers such as Mae West graced its stage. ...
• • Source: Article: "The True Story of How New Orleans' Oldest Theater Was Saved" by Seth Porges for Forbes; published on Tuesday, 27 May 2014
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2926th 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: Buy a Swan Bed

The swan bed MAE WEST used in "Diamond Lil" made such an impression on the audience that several artists used the image in sketches of the costumed actress in 1928, for instance, Irving Hoffman and Miguel Covarrubias. 
• • Formerly, the gilded swan-shaped furniture belonged to the turn-of-the-century actress Amelia Bingham [1869 — 1927]. Mae said she purchased it from the estate of Diamond Jim Brady [1856 — 1917].
• • Time Magazine's theatre critic, admitting Lil had his heart at hello, felt her big-hearted bountifulness was on a scale with this golden bird: "Propped up under the armpits by a dress that might have been designed by the stage carpenter, Mae West played the role that she had written about a bygone queen of Manhattan's underworld. Diamond Lil was a harlot whose heart was as big and golden as the enormous swan shaped bed that stood in her elaborate cubicle above Gus Jordan's saloon and brothel. ..."
• • A different swan bed was seen in the play's cinema version filmed in 1932 as "She Done Him Wrong." One hilarious scene shows Lady Lou perusing The National Police Gazette while reclining on her swan divan.
• • Children's Swan Bed • •
• • A hand-painted wooden Children's Swan Bed is available from Little Treasures [47 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire, BL0 9HU]. Maybe your little prince or princess would like to sleep in this swan? No ordinary youth bed is this. What dreams will come to the lucky one who lies down between enchanted wings, carefully carved by a British craftsperson, we can only imagine.
• • In December, Let's Remember Raymond Hubbell [1879 — 1954] • •
• • Mae West was cast in "A Winsome Widow," a musical comedy farce that was produced on Broadway from 11 April 1912 — 7 September 1912. The music was by Raymond Hubbell.
• • Born in Urbana, Ohio on 1 June 1879, Raymond Hubbell attended local schools but earned serious musical training in Chicago. Like most young men at the time, he formed a dance band in Chicago. Ready for serious employment, he accepted a position as a staff arranger and pianist with the influential firm Charles K. Harris Publishers.
• • By 1902, the 23-year-old began composing for theatrical musicals in The Windy City. And, fortunately, his very first show then transferred to New York City.
• • By 1905, he was regularly being pulled in to Broadway projects. In a short time, Raymond Hubbell was composing light fare for productions starring Nora Bayes. By 1911 he was assigned to the Ziegfeld Follies, which kept him on for later editions.
• • In 1912 he was hired to do the score for "A Winsome Widow." Following up these successes, he would write for Bessie McCoy, Will Rogers, Julian Eltinge, Irene Dunne, Leon Errol, and others.
• • After he worked on "Three Cheers" in 1928, he returned to Miami, Florida. Raymond Hubbell died there in the month of December — — on 13 December 1954.
• • In December 1933 • •
• • Hollywood trend-setters and East Coast clothes horses were enlightened by Mae West's article "Clothes and Me" when it was published in the November — December issue of Mode Magazine on page 44.
• • Costume designer Edith Head used to say, "Mae West taught me all I know about sex, clothes-wise."
• • In December 1934 • •
• • Motion Picture, the popular fan magazine, carried this cover line in their issue for December 1934: "'Don't Get Me Wrong' — — Mae West" and the article carried Mark Dowling's byline [pages 32 — 33, 68] and showed wonderful studio shots of the star of Paramount Pictures.
• • In December 1974 in Hollywood • •
• • "Mae West: The Queen at Home in Hollywood" appeared in the December 1974 issue of Interview Magazine (published in NYC by Andy Warhol) on page 12. Journalist Peter Lester and actress Angelica Huston worked on this together.
• • Angelica's father John Huston [1906 — 1987], who was featured in "Myra Breckinridge" with Mae, had admired her since 1928, when he saw her in "Diamond Lil" on Broadway, then took off across America to research the folk roots of a song she sang called "Frankie and Johnny."
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Come up sometime. I'll tell your fortune."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A holiday event in Manhattan at the Merchant's House Museum will include a bit of Mae West.
• • According to The Villager: For 75 years, the Merchant’s House Museum has preserved domestic life as lived from 1835 — 1865. This holiday season, they’re making room for some compelling curiosities from a very different era. “From Candlelight to Bubble Light: A 1950s Christmas in an 1850s House” is a visionary mash-up of times and traditions. Through January 9, the halls will be retro-decked with conceptual stylist (and East Village icon) Deb O’Nair’s collection of 1950s/60s holiday decorations and Americana. Mae West Christmas albums and molded-plastic lit-from-within Frostys might seem like a jarring contrast to the original furnishings and personal possessions of the Tredwell family — — but taken as a whole, the place just plain feels like home. ...
• • Source: Article: "Your Holiday To-Do List" written by the editors of The Villager; posted on 10 December 2011 
• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started seven years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2144th 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 • • 1928 • • 

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Mae West: Diamond Life

MAE WEST, whose Broadway blockbuster was "Diamond Lil," was fascinated by characters – – and the actress-loving gift dispenser Diamond Jim Brady was one of them. Since the very generous gent died in mid-April, it's time for a toast.
• • James Buchanan Brady, also known as Diamond Jim Brady [12 August 1856 – 13 April 1917], was an American businessman, a financier, and a philanthropist.
• • Known for his penchant for jewels, especially diamonds, he collected precious gems and favored his idol Lillian Russell with dazzling doo-dads such as a bicycle encrusted with mother-of-pearl inlaid and other imaginative tributes.
• • For another actress, Diamond Jim commissioned a hand-carved gilded swan bed [shown here].
• • After Brady died on 13 April 1917, Mae West managed to buy the swan bed from his estate. It was used onstage as part of the bedroom suite of "Diamond Lil" [1928] and Mae also finessed the vintage prop into the filmed version "She Done Him Wrong" [1933].
• • Where lies the gilded swan bed today? Who knows?
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 • •
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Mae West: Diamond Jim

MAE WEST was fascinated by certain notables – – and the actress-loving gift dispenser Diamond Jim Brady was one of them.
• • James Buchanan Brady, also known as Diamond Jim Brady [12 August 1856 – 13 April 1917], was an American businessman, a financier, and a philanthropist.
• • Known for his penchant for jewels, especially diamonds, he collected precious gems and favored his idol Lillian Russell with doo-dads such as a bicycle encrusted with mother-of-pearl inlaid and other imaginative tributes.
• • For another actress, Diamond Jim commissioned a hand-carved gilded swan bed [shown here].
• • After Brady died on 13 April 1917, Mae West managed to buy the swan bed from his estate. It was used onstage as part of the bedroom suite of "Diamond Lil" and Mae also finessed the vintage prop into the filmed version "She Done Him Wrong" [1933].
• • Where lies the gilded swan bed today? Who knows?
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1933 • •
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Mae West & the Swan

An article written in 1930 mentioned the preferences of MAE WEST on home decor.
• • "She likes everything massive," noted the journalist. "Her furniture, bed, even her car is larger than the average. The swan bed used onstage in Diamond Lil was taken from her home. Formerly it belonged to Diamond Jim Brady. ..."
• • When it was time to recreate the Bowery on the stage of the Royale Theatre in 1928, Mae West opted for a stylish version of her mother's era. Broadway's set designer August Vimnera equipped the saloon with an old-fashioned piano and situated Lil's upstairs dressing room in a way that guaranteed opportunities for grand sweeping entrances.
• • Onstage, Diamond Lil reclines in a gilded swan-shaped bed. Formerly, it belonged to the turn-of-the-century actress Amelia Bingham [1869 — 1927]. Mae said she purchased it from the estate of Diamond Jim Brady [1856 — 1917].
• • The swan bed made its way into the Paramount Pictures production of "She Done Him Wrong" as well.
• • During the week when carollers are singing about the "Twelve Days of Christmas" and the partridge in a pear tree, Mae West's languid pose with the swan seems so festive.
• • Question: what became of this famous swan bed? Who owns it now?
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photograph: Mae West • • 1932 • •
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