Mae West: Unvarnished Truth

At last, MAE WEST gets an outstanding, intimate biography by a family member, her step-son, whose education she financed. This is Part 7 of 7.
• • “Mae West and the Count — — Love and Loss on the Vaudeville Stage” by Guido Roberto Deiro
• • Reviewed exclusively for The Mae West Blog by R. Mark Desjardins
• • this memoir will be a revelation • •   
• • For readers not familiar with the life and times of Count Guido Deiro, this work will be a revelation. Much of Deiro's music is still available and it is well worth seeking out. Fans of the accordion will learn truths of its introduction and popularization that are in many ways as new as those facts written about Mae.

• • For diehard Mae West fans, not used to reading some unvarnished truths, this book may prove to be unsettling, but it relates a story that needed to be told. For the record, this reviewer has even greater respect for the tenacity and sheer will power of Mae West to hone and shape her image.
• • A five stars out of five rating for this stunning work!
• • Mr. Desjardins’ book review has now concluded. Time to buy the book on Amazon!
• • Source: “Mae West and the Count” — — a biography by Guido Roberto Deiro. [Outskirts Press; published on 20 March 2019; 331 pages.]
• • On Tuesday, 14 August 1984 • •
• • It was on 2 May 1982 that the TV bio-pic "Mae West" had its small screen premiere starring actress Ann Jillian in the title role. The two-hour program was re-broadcast on ABC television at 9:00 PM on Tuesday, 14 August 1984 (following the excitement of the U.S. Olympics).
• • Remembering the May 1982 production, New York Times critic Richard F. Shepard had these comments two years later. Shepard wrote: ''Mae West'' was originally seen in 1982, long enough ago in these fast-moving times to almost qualify the show as a revival rather than as another summer re-run. It is reasonable programming, a show about a torrid actress in matching weather.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • George Raft told a reporter, ”Mae West stole everything but the cameras, and I never made another picture with her after 1932. I knew she had me licked."
• • However, they did work together again; George Raft had a walk-on part in Mae's last motion picture, "Sextette" [1978].
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "The man I don't like doesn't exist."
• • Mae West said: “Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.”
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A radio program mentioned Mae West.
• • “Theatre Talk” • •
• • Anthony Chase and Peter Hall wrote: Even though society may look down on her, she's still in control, and we could be talking about the flower girl, "Sonya," in “The Russian Play” by Hanna Moscovitch or Margy, the prostitute in Mae West's “Sex,” both of whom forego money for love, but "it's complicated." These two seemingly different plays just opened and continue the conversation started when Shawfest presented GBW's “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” several seasons back.
• • At The Shaw Festival, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada
• • "SEX" by Mae West, at the Jackie Maxwell Theatre, through October 13th  …
• • Source: WBFO radio; published on Friday, 12 July 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 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4278th 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 • • newspaper coverage of Deiro and Mae in 1914 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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Mae West: Smooching Around

At last, MAE WEST gets an outstanding, intimate biography by a family member, her step-son, whose education she financed. This is Part 6 of 7.
• • “Mae West and the Count — — Love and Loss on the Vaudeville Stage” by Guido Roberto Deiro
• • Reviewed exclusively for The Mae West Blog by R. Mark Desjardins
• • "Smooch Around" created Clara Bow confusion • •
• • This mislabeled photo has been perpetuated by repeated publication. However, its incorrect use can be forgiven in light of the fact that a song sheet from 1913 for "Smooch Around" depicts a drawing of Mae West in this similar pose to Clara.
• • Smooch Around • •

• • A second stumble is the author placing a fireplace for dramatic effect in Mae’s Ravenswood apartment where none, as serious Mae fans know, has ever existed.
• • Mae West shaped the facts of her career to be a smooth, uphill ride to the top. Many critics in the past have disputed information passed as fact. Guido Roberto Deiro has crafted a tender, honest and riveting account of his father and Mae intersecting at a time when Vaudeville was the only form of mass entertainment.
• • this memoir will be a revelation • • . . . 
• • Mr. Desjardins’ book review will be concluded on the next post, which is Part 7.
• • Source: “Mae West and the Count” — — a biography by Guido Roberto Deiro. [Outskirts Press; published on 20 March 2019; 331 pages.]
• • On Sunday, 13 August 1922 in The N.Y. Daily News • •
• • "The Ginger Box Revue" was written to showcase Mae West's talents. But a feckless producer made off with the advances.
• • "Ginger Revue Now a Pepless Stew as Promoter Disappears" announced the New York Daily News [on Sunday, 13 August 1922]. Thirteen Equity actors sued producer Paul Dupont (a.k.a. Mr. Perkins) to recover their salaries — — but not Mae, who was to have received a percentage of the box office.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Mae West will guest-star on the "Hollywood Hotel" show on April 26th, 1935.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Of course, I like diamonds. And who doesn't?”
• • Mae West said: "I like to know that there are crowds passing in front of my place. I guess that's a left-over from New York — — but those great open spaces got on my nerves."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A Chicago journalist mentioned Mae West.
• • J.R. Jones wrote: Remaking “Get Smart” without Don Adams and Barbara Feldon is like remaking “My Little Chickadee” without Mae West and W.C. Fields — meaning the best possible outcome is disappointment. …
• • Source: Chicago Reader; published in 2008
• • 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 4,200 blog posts. Wow!  

• • By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started fifteen years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 4277th 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/
________
Source: https://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml   
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • on a song sheet in 1913 • •
• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
NYC  Mae West