Thursday, October 03, 2013

Mae West: Trouble Shoots Back

Newsboys screamed these headlines on October 3rd: "MAE WEST Once Again Arrested!"
• • "Actress and Author Arrested for Alleged Indecent Performance" • • 
• • NEW YORK Oct 3 — (AP) — Mae West, actress and author who served ten days in jail last year for taking part in an alleged indecent performance, was again arrested early yesterday under the same charge after police raided the Broadway premiere of West's play.
• • Fifty people, comprising the play's cast, were loaded in patrol wagons at the close of the evening's performance and taken to the local police station a block away where, after several hours, they were released on bail.
• • Miss West, who is author of the play but not a cast member, was arrested at another theatre where she is starring in "Diamond Lil."  She posted $500 bail . . .
• • Source:  Lancaster Eagle-Gazette (page 10); published on Wednesday, 3 October 1928.
• • On Wednesday, 3 October 1928 in The N.Y. Times • •
• • COURT STAYS POLICE on MAE WEST PLAY; Writ Bars Interference Until Friday and 'Pleasure Man' Is Performed to Full House. CASES OF 56 UP TOMORROW Cant Pleads Not Guilty and Bail Is Continued — — Walker Revealed as Instigator of Raid. Seeks Conference With Warren. Arrests May Still Be Made. Author Appears Concerned.
• • Source: The New York Times (page 33; published on Wednesday, 3 October 1928.
• • On Wednesday, 3 October 1928 • •
• • It was on 3 October 1928 when Mae West appeared in court to answer charges that she had written and produced another "immoral" play. Wire services sent out her photograph, explaining that the entire cast had been arrested after one opening performance.
• • The infamous raid at the Biltmore Theatre begins Act 2, Scene 1 of the serious-minded comedy "Courting Mae West."
• • In "Courting Mae West," Texas Guinan [vividly portrayed in NYC during The Fresh Fruit Fest in July 2008 by Eileen Glenn] visits Mae West [dynamically portrayed in July 2008 by Yvonne Sayers] backstage at the Royale Theatre on 1 October 1928 to warn her about the raid.
• • MAE WEST: Tex, isn't there a way to trouble-shoot this?
• • TEXAS GUINAN: Honey child, the problem with trouble-shooting is that, invariably, trouble shoots back!
• • The legal battles fought by Mae West and Jim Timony are dramatized in the play "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets," set during the Prohibition Era. Watch a scene on YouTube.
• • On Tuesday, 3 October 1933 in Variety • •
• • Variety ran with all sorts of coverage about "I'm No Angel" starring Mae West. For instance, their article "Downtown Frisco Will Milk Next Mae West Opus; Nabes Can Squawk" was published on page 11 in Variety's issue dated for Tuesday, 3 October 1933.
Darlene Violette and Anthony DiCarlo in a scene from "DIAMOND LIL"
• • See "Diamond Lil" This Autumn! • • 
"Darlene Violette channels Mae West to perfection!" — Stu Hamstra
• • By popular demand, actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life — — will return in “Diamond Lil” for several evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street] on these dates in 2013:
• • 7:30pm on Sunday October 27th — Hallowe'en Party — come in 1890s costume!
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 3rd — vote for Gus Jordan for Sheriff Night.
• • 8:30pm on Sunday November 10th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 17th
• • 7:00pm on Sunday November 24th
• • Phone after 4pm to reserve a seat: 212-757-0788; RSVP online: 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"! 
• • The 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
• • Director: Co-directed by Dena Tyler, The Actors Studio, and Darlene Violette.
• • Come up and see for yourself. You might even win a swell Raffle Prize.
• • Watch a short clip: Diamond Lil meets Pablo, a gigolo
• • Read a Review of "Diamond Lil" • •
• • L'Idea Magazine's editors attended four times and had a lot to say. Here's the link: http://www.lideamagazine.com/usa-still-entertaining-mae-wests-diamond-lil-makes-new-fans-in-new-york-city/
• • Staying faithful to the gritty themes in the novel, LindaAnn Loschiavo trimmed the work to 85 minutes for a cast of eight.
• • Audience Comments about "Diamond Lil" • •
• • Gigi Garcone said:  Just saw "Diamond Lil" — — a very entertaining production! This tribute to the sultry, irresistible diva Mae West is a must see! All the actors are very talented and you can see they put their hearts into their roles. I especially liked Darlene Violette as Mae West and Joanna Bonaro as Rita, a madam from Rio. Darlene encompassed the whole persona of Mae and Joanna was sublime as the madam — — she really has such a presence on stage. Very enjoyable performance and it's worth the trip!
• • Rick Baynes of Baltimore said: I second Gigi's comments. "Diamond Lil" brings the fabulous Mae West back to life. The wonderful Darlene Violette is spot-on in her portrayal of the lusty, bawdy Mae. Do yourself a favor and go see this lovely production.

• • At Jefferson Market Library in NYC next month • • 
• • Mae West's legal woes inspired the stage play "Courting Mae West." See it on 23 November 2013 in the very same room where Mae faced off with Judge George Donnellan and 12 jurors.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: “Love isn't an emotion or an instinct — — it's an art."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • Motion Picture Daily mentioned Mae West.
• • "Paramount Will Get 'No Angel' on Oct. 13" • • 
• • Motion Picture Daily wrote: Mae West in "I'm No Angel" will alight at the New York Paramount instead of the Rivoli, the picture going into the Times Square house on Oct. 13, following "The Torch Singer." Originally allotted as one of the four Paramount films for the Rivoli for 1933 — 1934, the picture was set to go into the U. A. house following "Emperor Jones." ...
• • Source: News Item:  Motion Picture Daily; published on Tuesday, 3 October 1933   
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2755th 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 Diamond Lil returned for Mae's birthday

• • Feed — — http://feeds2.feedburner.com/MaeWest
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