Monday, August 06, 2012

Mae West: Jack Elliott

MAE WEST sang a very memorable song on TV (no, not just the duet with Rock Hudson) — — and the lyrics were written by Jack Elliott.
• • Jack Elliott [6 August 1927 — 18 August 2001] • •
• • Born in Hartford, Connecticut in August — — on 6 August 1927 — — his birthname was Irwin Elliott Zucker. During the 1950s he was a jazz pianist in Paris and New York City. Judy Garland brought him to the West Coast  to become an arranger for her television show.
• • During his long career, Jack Elliott worked as an arranger, a conductor, a composer,  as well as a lyricist.
• • Nice To Have a Man Around • •
• • He teamed up with composer Harold Spina to co-create several chart-toppers — — including "It's So Nice To Have a Man Around the House," made famous in 1950 by Dinah Shore, and most memorably performed by Mae West when she guest-starred in March 1960 on CBS-TV's "The Red Skelton Show" wearing a gorgeous red gown. The song ends with this cynical quip: "Though it's two to one you'll wind up with a louse."
• • Jack Elliott died in Los Angeles from a brain tumor on 18 August 2001.  He was 74.
• • Arthur Fields [6 August 1888 — 29 March 1953] • •
• • Mae was close to her 19th birthday when she was invited back by Oscar Hammerstein for a seven-day booking that began on 6 August 1912 at Hammerstein's Victoria. She shared the stagebill with several acts — — including the inimitable Fields and Carroll.
• • Half of the team was Arthur Fields [born on 6 August 1888] who hailed from Philadelphia, where he started out in life as Abe Finkelstein — — and who toured for years with Harry Carroll. Arthur Fields was just 11 years old when he turned pro, booking singing engagements in Utica, New York and then branching out to Coney Island.
• • Sadly, in March 1953, after a long career, Arthur Fields had a stroke and went under the care of the Littlefield Convalescent Home in Largo, Florida. Most unfortunately, the institution had a fire, which ended his life at the end of March — — on Sunday, 29 March 1953. He was 64 years old.
• • On Tuesday, 6 August 1912 • •
• • In 1912 a teenage Mae West was invited to perform again at Hammerstein's Victoria. The singing comedienne was booked for a week-long engagement that began on Tuesday, 6 August 1912.
• • On Monday, 6 August 2012 • •
• • A classic by Mae West is being released by the TCM Vault Collection. "Belle of the Nineties" starring Mae West will be available on Monday, 6 August 2012.
• • Save the Date: Thursday, August 16th • •
• • Thursday, 16 August 2012 will be the next Mae West Tribute in Manhattan and the evening affair will start at 6:30 pm at 155 Mulberry Street.  This year Mae-mavens will enjoy an indoor event (ahhh, air conditioning), music written by Mae West's Italian husband will be played, and attendees will be seated.
• • At the Reception, Italian wine and light refreshments will be served. The ever-popular Mae West Raffle will offer rare prizes once again to a number of lucky attendees. The public is invited.
• • Mae West was born in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, 17 August 1893.
• • Closest MTA subway stations: Grand St. or Canal St.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "The man I don't like doesn't exist."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • An article about Mae West's divorce was printed in August.
• • A.A.P. wrote:  Los Angeles, August 5 ( A.A.P.) — The film star, Mae West, has divorced Frank Wallace, whom for years she had insisted she had never married. She later admitted that they were married in 1911.
• • Source: Article: "Mae West Divorced" written by A.A.P. for The Courier-Mail in Australia; published on Friday, 6 August 1943
By the Numbers • •
• • The Mae West Blog was started eight years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2386th 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 • 1960
• •
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