Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Mae West: A Bit Looser

Maude Latham offered a charming MAE WEST anecdote, prefacing it with "Mae's generosity has a touch of the oriental about it."
• • Maude Latham wrote: One day a young woman from the Paramount offices came on to the set. She remarked that Miss West's perfume was the fragrance that she adored above all others. Mae's reply was. "Yes, I like it, too." But the next day the girl found a large bottle of the precious liquid on her desk, with a card from Mae West.
• • Maude Latham explained: If you've ever saved your nickels in the hope of buying an ounce of this particular kind, you'll know that it took the better part of a fifty-dollar bill to pay for it. ...
• • Source: Article: "How famous stars show their appreciation to those who help them" written by Maude Latham for The New Movie Magazine; published in June 1934.
• • On Saturday, 12 November 1927 • •
• • Billboard commented on Saturday, 12 November 1927 about Mae West's play "The Wicked Age." Their remarks were exceedingly unkind.
• • On Thursday, 12 November 1964 • •
• • Hal Humphrey's article, "Charlie and Mae (West) Together Again," ran in The Los Angeles Times on Thursday, 12 November 1964.
• • On Friday, 12 November 2010 • •
• • On Friday, 12 November 2010, The City Commons Club of Berkeley offered a program on Mae West at their luncheon. Jennifer King spoke about "Mae West, America's Actress, Dancer, and Entertainer Extraordinaire" in the Venetian Room of the lovely Julia Morgan City Club in Berkeley, California.
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • When screen history is written it will be recorded that the Golden Age of Art began with Mae West and the Three Little Pigs. It took Mae's "cumup'n see me s'm'time" to bring Prosperity around the corner into the theaters. "I'm No Angel" was appropriately premiered at the Seamen's Church Institute in New York. I tried to join the Navy and see Mae, but didn't get by, because sailors are now required to have a high school education.
PHOTO: DLW Photography NYC
• • See "Diamond Lil" This Autumn! • • 
"Darlene Violette channels Mae West to perfection!" — Stu Hamstra
• • Actress Darlene Violette — — and the wonderful cast who have brought the Bowery denizens and Suicide Hall’s ne’er-do-wells to life since 17 August 2013 — — are concluding their triumphant run of “Diamond Lil” with two more evening performances at Don’t Tell Mama [343 W. 46th Street]:
• • 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
• • 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.

• • Mrs. Jean McLoughlin of NYC said:   I recently saw "Diamond Lil" and loved every minute. The entire cast was top-notch, and I was impressed with their creative use of the entire space. The characters really came to life and I was transported back to the raunchy days of Mae West. Darlene Violette gave a great performance as Diamond Lil  — — but Joanna Bonaro really shone as the sultry, venomous Rita. Joanna commands attention and I was more than willing to give it. Fantastic show, I highly recommend that everyone see it! Even my husband, who does not like theater, really enjoyed it.
• • At Jefferson Market Library in NYC this month • •
• • Mae West's legal woes inspired the stage play "Courting Mae West." See it on Saturday, 23 November 2013 in the very same room where Mae faced off with Judge George Donnellan and 12 jurors. 

• • Darlene Violette stars as Mae West and the rest of the cast will soon be announced. 
• • The play, based on true events, is set during the Prohibition Era when Mae's plays were padlocked and she was sent to jail. Talk about a woman who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.. 
• • This free event is open to the public and there is ample seating. [Note: The humor and adult themes are not suitable for children under 13.]
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "I'm sorry I can't see you in private." [The Hays Office deleted this "objectionable" screen line.]
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Plain Dealer mentioned Mae West.
• • Chuck Yarborough wrote:   Mitchell Morris noted that prior to the Depression and the Hays Code, which set a strict censorship code the film industry, things were a bit looser, to say the least. “Think about the Hays Code,’’ he said. “Once that was installed in Hollywood in 1933, the careers of people like Mae West were ruined. She modeled much of her style on close friends who were female impersonators.” . . .
• • Source: Article: "'Queer music' conference at Case looks at cultural impact of the medium" printed in The Plain Dealer;  published on Friday, 8 November 2013 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started nine years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 2785th 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
  Mae West

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