Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Mae West: Bill Wolfe

MAE WEST wrote the screenplay for "My Little Chickadee" [1940] with W.C. Fields and  Bill Wolfe was seen as a barfly in a trance. 
• • Bill Wolfe [14 August 1894 — 16 February 1975] • •
• • Born in New York, New York during the month of August — — on Thursday, 14 August 1894 — — was little William Wolf. When he was 33, he began to pop up in silent movies.
• • From 1927 — 1950, Bill Wolfe was seen in 85 motion pictures and was cast as a barfly in 15 of them and a townsman in 28 films (i.e., 43 titles). The thin, possibly toothless character actor must have pleased W.C. Fields, who offered Wolfe fully credited roles. His uncredited bits included stay-in-the-background screen time as a cow hand, farmer, homesteader, juror, pianist, rancher, settler, spectator, stable attendant (that is, when he wasn't tasked to play the barfly nor the townsman).
• • Bill Wolfe obliged W.C. Fields by doing a barfly routine in "My Little Chickadee" [1940]. We do know that real drunks annoyed Mae West — — but how about fake barflies?.
• • When he made his final screen appearance in "The Nevadan" [1950], 56-year-old Wolfe played a barfly.  Last call.
• • Bill Wolfe died in Los Angeles, California on 16 February 1975.  He was 80.
• • On Wednesday, 14 August 1935 • •
• • "Banned in Australia — — Miss Mae West's Novel" • •
• • Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday — A novel written by Miss Mae West, the film star, has been banned by the Customs Department, because it is said to contain indecent and obscene passages. The novel, "She Done Him Wrong," is the story of a woman of the underworld, and becomes associated with gangsters in New York.  Another of Miss West's novels, "The Constant Sinner," has not been banned in Australia.
• • Source: News Item: The Sydney Morning Herald; published on Wednesday, 14 August 1935.
• • Good thing we were able to read from "Diamond Lil" at Hudson Park Library in Greenwich Village on Monday, 12 August 2013 — — and not be arrested.  While we didn't have time to read all the passages about Mae's characters who are prostitutes and pick-pockets, we did cover a lot of material discussing the sex slave trade and how young girls were enticed with ads and false promises.  Lurid and stirring.
• • Save the Dates: August 17th and August 18th • • 
• • What: two more events timed to celebrate the 120th birthday of Mae West, born in Brooklyn, NY on August 17, 1893
• • There are some seats left so tell your fun-loving friends about these special dates!
• • All of the sex and none of the censorship . . . • • 
• • The novel "Diamond Lil" closely follows the 3-hour production Mae performed onstage from 1928 — 1951, and it is much more exciting than the family-friendly screen version. Playwright LindaAnn Loschiavo massaged Mae's classic opus into an 85-minute adaptation featuring all of the sex and none of the censorship. No intermission. 
• • There will be two stagings of "Diamond Lil" on August 17th and August 18th in NYC.
• • On Saturday, 17 August 2013 at 7:30pm on West 38th St. • •
• • One night only! • •
• • Where: John Strasberg Studios, 555 8th Avenue, Suite 2310, New York, NY 10018;  accessible to wheelchairs 
• • What: "Diamond Lil" by Mae West in a new adaptation for the stage by LindaAnn Loschiavo — and costumed in 1890s Bowery style
• • Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
• • August 17th Mae West Raffle Tickets are free
• • August 17th  Admission: $10 — must be pre-paid!
• • RSVP: Advance sale tickets: you must email MaeWestDiamondLil (at) gmail (dot) com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over)
• • Updates: facebook.com/MaeWestDiamondLil
• • On Sunday, 18 August 2013 at 7:00pm on West 46th St. • • 
• • One night only! • •
• • Where: Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC 10036; T. (212) 757-0788
• • What: "Diamond Lil" by Mae West in a new adaptation for the stage by LindaAnn Loschiavo — and costumed in 1890s Bowery style
• • Cast: Starring Darlene Violette as Diamond Lil, Queen of the Bowery and also featuring Sidney Myer, Anthony DiCarlo, Joanna Bonaro, Gary Napoli, Juan Sebastian Cortes, Kimmy Foskett, Jim Gallagher and live music by Brian McInnis
• • August 18th Mae West Raffle Tickets are free
• • RSVP: August 18th  Admission:  $15.00 cover charge plus a two drink minimum
• • Reservations: www.donttellmamanyc.com
• • Closest MTA subway stations: 42nd St./ Times Sq. via A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 
• • The public is invited (suitable for age 18 and over). Join us as we turn the iconic NYC nightspot Don't Tell Mama into Gus Jordan's "Suicide Hall"!
• • Updates: facebook.com/MaeWestDiamondLil 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm easy to get along with but threats can make me nasty!"
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Photoplay Magazine interviewed Mae West.
• • "Has Mae West Gone High Hat?" • •
• • Kirtley Baskette wrote:  In the first place, Mae has been as busy as a one-armed paper hanger with the hives. As she says, "I haven't had time to change!"
• • By her success in "She Done Him Wrong," Mae just stuck her diamond-draped neck out for a whole lot of fast and furious work. To cash in on the great world-wide eagerness for another Western, "I'm No Angel" was rushed into production. Mae wrote the story, helped with the script, the casting, the whole business, besides playing the starring part.
• • At the same time, all of Hollywood was wanting to pat her back and shake her hand. Vicariously, so was all the world. Parties take time. Interviews take time. Pictures take time.
• • And Mae no longer had the time. ...
• • Source: Article: "Has Mae West Gone High Hat?" for Photoplay Magazine; published in the issue dated for July 1934
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2716th 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 Diamond Lil

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