Mae West: Leo White

MAE WEST made her screen debut in "Night After Night" [1932] and Leo White was seen as a kitchen helper.  The following year he appeared at the beginning of "She Done Him Wrong," the outdoor scene, where he was the pedestrian tipping his hat to Lady Lou.
• • Leo White [10 November 1873 — 20 September 1948] • •

• • Born in Graudenz, West Prussia, Germany (now Poland) in the month of November — — on Monday, 10 November 1873 — — Leo Herbert White sharpened his comic chops touring the revered British Music Hall circuit during the late 1890s.  In 1910 Leo White accompanied theatrical producer Daniel Frohman to Tinseltown; Frohman became partners later with Adolph Zukor.
• • Though he was kept busy during the silent screen era, working with Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Wallace Beery, etc., and though he made the transition to talkies, the five-foot-six actor could no longer count on supporting roles.  Though bit parts were to be his bread-and-butter, White didn't starve.  From 1911 — 1948, he was seen in 442 motion pictures.  Working right up to the end, he was a pedestrian onlooker in "The Fountainhead" [1949], filmed when he was in his 70s.
• • Leo White died in Glendale, California on 20 September 1948.  He was 74.
• • Maude Eburne [10 November 1875 — 15 October 1960] • •
• • Born in Bronte-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada on Wednesday, 10 November 1875, Maude Eburne began her career on the stage up north in Canada before heading to New York.  She was seen on Broadway from 1913 — 1930, usually in comedies or a musical comedy, and often cast as a Cockney servant.
• • By 1918, fortified by her stage training, Maude Eburne tried her luck getting cast during the silent film era.  When she transitioned to talkies, casting agents patched her into scenes that called for a maid, mother, landlady, socialite, party guest, an aristocrat, and assorted comical female relatives (such as the coroner's wife). From 1918 — 1951, she participated in 117 full-length films either in featured roles or itty bits. In "Every Day's a Holiday" [1937], Maude Eburne had an uncredited role.
• • Maude Eburne died in Hollywood on Saturday, 15 October 1960.  She was 84.
• • On Saturday, 10 November 1928 • •
• • The New Yorker published a lengthy Mae West interview titled "Diamond Mae" illustrated with a cheeky illustration on page 26. Written by Thyra Samter Winslow, this profile appeared in the issue dated for the week of 10 November 1928.
• • On Saturday, 10 November 1951 • •
• • "Diamond Lil," after a regional tour, returned to the Broadway Theatre for a victory lap. Gus Jordan's Gay Nineties saloon on the Bowery was seen again on The Great White Way beginning on 14 September 1951.
• • Two months later, Mae West and her gaudy retinue took their final bows on Saturday, 10 November 1951 after this "last stand" on Broadway — — yes, sixty-seven performances.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I have given six life-stories but I can always give another."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on "Diamond Lil" quoted Mae West.
• • Thyra Samter Winslow wrote: Mae West says that people want dirt in plays, so I give 'em dirt. Miss West is secretive, especially about her past and family. When "Diamond Lil" closes, Mae will star in another of her plays, "Men."  ...
• • Source: Article:  "Diamond Mae" written by Thyra Samter Winslow for The New Yorker; published on Saturday, 10 November 1928

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2481st 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: Marie Dressler

In May 1904, when Dreamland opened on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, MAE WEST saw Bostock's lions for the first time. Holding the hand of her father "Battling Jack" West, the wide-eyed 11-year-old was mesmerized especially by the lead lion tamer Captain Jack Bonavita, handsome, fearless, and popular with the ladies. Actress Marie Dressler, then working a concession at Coney Island, caught Bonavita's act as often as she could.

• • In Disney's animated cartoon "Mickey's Gala Premier" [1933] the top box office stars appear.  Emerging from a limousine together are co-stars Wallace Beery and Marie Dressler along with other big names.  Entering the theater are several guests such as Charlie Chaplin (costumed as The Little Tramp) and sexy Mae West (costumed for her Bowery drama "She Done Him Wrong").
• • A book "Playbills to Photoplays: Stage Performers Who Pioneered the Talkies," says editor Brenda Loew, chronicles the lives and career paths of early twentieth-century vaudevillians and legitimate actors who transitioned from entertaining on stage before live audiences to acting in the new technological medium of sound films — — such as Mae West and Marie Dressler.
• • Marie Dressler [9 November 1868 — 28 July  1934] • •
• • Born in Ontario, Canada on November 9th, Marie Dressler [9 November 1868 — 28 July  1934] was an actress and Depression-era film star.  Marie Dressler won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a dockside innkeeper Min Divot, who loves Bill, a hard-drinking fisherman who resides at her establishment. "Min and Bill" [1930] co-starred Wallace Beery as booze-loving Bill. 
• • Wallace Beery was the brother of Noah Beery, the actor cast as Gus Jordan, the shady saloon-keeper who is buying diamonds for Lady Lou, Mae West's character in "She Done Him Wrong" [1933].
• • Dorothy Dandridge [9 November 1922 — 8 September 1965] • •
• • Mae West shares a permanent tribute in Hollywood with black beauty Dorothy Dandridge. Both are depicted on the  "Four Ladies of Hollywood" gazebo.
• • Born in Cleveland, Ohio in November — — on Thursday, 9 November 1922 — — beautiful Dorothy Jean Dandridge made a name for herself first as a child performer who toured on the so-called "chitlin' circuit" with her sister, and later as an actress and a vocalist. Their act was "The Dandridge Sisters."
• • Unfortunately, the motion pictures Dandridge had been cast in were not always box office hits. By the end of 1961, job offers were scarce. Alone in West Hollywood and down on her luck, supposedly Dorothy Dandridge had a breakdown. Intent on her comeback, Earl Mills booked her in the prestigious Basin Street East in midtown Manhattan. But before she could get on a plane to NYC, Dorothy Dandridge died in West Hollywood of an overdose on 8 September 1965. She was only 42 years old.
• • She has received recognition on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which now terminates at the silver "Four Ladies of Hollywood" gazebo. Dorothy Dandridge was selected to be the African-American figure.
• • On Tuesday, 9 November 1920 • •
• • Mae filed for divorce from Guido Deiro on the grounds of adultery on 14 July 1920. The divorce was granted by the Supreme Court of the State of New York on Tuesday, 9 November 1920. Guido almost immediately re-married for the third time. Mae later said, "Marriage is a great institution. But I'm not ready for an institution."
• • On Wednesday, 9 November 1927 • •
• • Variety discussed "The Wicked Age" in their issue dated for Wednesday, 9 November 1927.  Variety wrote: "Miss West is well fortified with masculine support. None is less than six feet and a couple are above the 6' 3" mark.  No one will believe that Babe is exactly a lily of the valley. She knows too many fly comebacks. ..."
• • Unfortunately, Mae's bathing suit stills and other cheesecake promotional shots by Kesslere did not evoke the desired euphoria among critics that Mae hoped for. Instead Variety sneered, describing the entire enterprise as "a choice piece of limburger."  Tsk.
• • On Wednesday, 9 November 1932 • •
• • Could Mae West's drama "Diamond Lil" make the leap from the page to the stage to the silver screen?
• • On Wednesday, 9 November 1932, Paramount Pictures executive Harold Hurley wrote a memo to William LeBaron indicating the lines that must be cut in order to pacify the screenplay screeners. These included: "I ain't running no Sunday school!"; "Diamond Lil would do anything for diamonds, eh?"; "Enter a convent!"; "Gawd! You gotta give a man more than clothes!"; and "I always knew you could be had." [If you saw the movie, you know which lines Mae sneaked back in.]
• • On Wednesday, 16 November 1932, Will Hays communicated again with Adolph Zukor, insisting that his plans for a movie version of "Diamond Lil" must be scrapped. It was too filthy for Hays.
• • On Saturday, 9 November 1935 • •
• • On Saturday, 9 November 1935, Mae West's name popped up in a curious news item on page 1 of The Cornell Daily Sun, Issue 42, 9 November 1935, about a performer who could imitate the Brooklyn bombshell as well as King Kong.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm my own original creation."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article on Santa Monica inaccurately claimed that Mae West was in silent films.
• • Loran Smith wrote: They often ride down to the Santa Monica beach, 15 minutes away, driving by the first house they owned — — it was Mae West’s summer home on West Channel Road. There is a framed quote in their house, attributed to Mae West: “Too much of a good thing ... is wonderful.” They agree with the quote but for reasons different from the onetime vaudeville star, who was a sex symbol dating back to silent movies. ...
• • Source: Article:  "Julie Moran finds success in Hollywood, family" written by Loran Smith for Athens Banner Herald; published on Sunday, 4 November 2012

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2480th 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: Romantic Antics

It was Sunday, 8 November 1936 and MAE WEST was in the newspaper as an advice columnist. "Five Letters to the Lovelorn by Hollywood's Foremost Bachelor Girl" was the headline that appeared, in syndication, to local dailies — — such as the Port Arthur News, who carried this feature on page 33.
• • Readers were assured that, when considering these matters, "Mae West put her heart in the role of counselor on romantic matters." Moreover, "Even though the movie star is married only to her career and is quite famous as Hollywood's bachelorette, Mae's deft handling of romantic problems on the horizon make her an expert on love to thousands of her fans."  This Sunday's offering was to be the first installment in a series of "six articles prepared exclusively for The News and NEA in which Mae West set forth the answers to typical letters from her daily mailbag."
• • For Port Arthur News subscribers, Mae West wrote: Every day my mail is full of questions people want answered about their love problems. Since my fans figure I'm an expert on these matters, I wouldn't want to disappoint where romance is concerned.    Now just this other day, for example, I got a letter from J.S., a young girl. She is puzzled about the opposite sex and why she can't get the boyfriend she wants. She has a lot of nice guys in her neighborhood who flirt with her she but then this one fellow won't give her a tumble. She admits she's tried hard to be attractive to him but he just gives her the go-by.
• • Mae West continued: Dear J.S., since you've asked me, I'd say you're tryin' too hard. It's a bit difficult to do this but you've got to make a man think he's makin' the play for you, even if he isn't — — if you get what I mean. Let him talk about subjects he's interested in.  Let him think he's the hunter. He'll get all enthusiastic and pretty soon your predicament will be solved.  You see, it's easy that way to attract a fellow. You can get most men that way but maybe you don't always want 'em after you've got 'ern. — Mae West.
• • Mae West also replied to questions from gentlemen seeking advice.  So much fun.
• • Robert Homans [8 November 1877 — 28 July 1947] • •
• • Mae West starred in "She Done Him Wrong" and Robert Homans was seen as Doheney.
• • Born on Thursday, 8 November 1877 in Malden, Massachusetts, Robert Edward Homans was raised by down-to-earth native New Englanders but the crazy acting bug bit him anyway.  Cast in a silent film in 1917, the five-foot-eleven performer decided to pursue a screen career. Between 1923 — 1946 he racked up 385 featured appearances. His height and very serious look made him a natural for bit parts of uniformed men such as a fire chief, doorman, sailor, policeman, detective, and assorted lawmen and judges. A useful skill was his ability to affect an Irish brogue and he was kept busy working on one picture or another until he was 69 years old.
• • Robert Edward Homans died of a heart attack on Monday, 28 July 1947 at the Motion Picture Country House in Los Angeles where he had been residing.  He was 69.
• • On Sunday, 8 November 1931 in Brooklyn • •
• • The Brooklyn Daily Eagle recalled in its archives that on Sunday, 8 November 1931 Mae West performed her play "The Constant Sinner" in Brooklyn's Majestic Theatre.
• • On Wednesday, 8 November 1933 • •
• • On page 2 of The Cornell Daily Sun, Volume 54, Number 39, on 8 November 1933 readers saw an ad that announced "Starting Sunday — Mae West in "I'm No Angel" — "Come Up Some Time!"
• • On Wednesday, 8 November 1933 • •
• • On Wednesday, 8 November 1933 William Troy's article "Mae West and the Classic Tradition" was published on page 548 of The Nation.
• • On Saturday, 8 November 1969 in Los Angeles • •
• • Stanley Musgrove's diary on 8 November 1969 noted his assistance to Mae West as she revised her part for "Myra Breckinridge" and fleshed out her character.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Half-starved women can’t have no life in them any more than a half-starved dog."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article published in 1930 mentioned Mae West who did NOT star in "Pleasure Man."
• • The International Herald Tribune wrote: NEW YORK —  Mae West, star of ''Pleasure Man'' (sic), and eleven co-defendants of the cast were placed on trial in General Sessions court today [March 20], on charges of producing an ''indecent, immoral, improper and obscene'' play. ...
• • Source: News Item for The International Herald Tribune; published on Friday, 21 March 1930

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2479th 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 • • 1936 • •
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