Monday, May 25, 2015

Mae West: Uplift Campaign

It was Monday, 25 May 1936 and MAE WEST was in the headlines in Brisbane, Australia.
• • "Klondyke Annie" Banned! • •
• • Mae West's 'Uplift' Campaign in Alaska • •
• • Sydney, Sunday — — Australians will not be permitted to view Mae West's latest picture, 'Klondyke Annie,' as the Federal film censorship has placed a ban on it.
• • The film, however, was released in New Zealand. 
• • Mae West's role in the picture is that of a woman who has committed a murder, and is escaping to Alaska on board a ship. The only other passenger, a Salvation Army lassie, dies just before the vessel reaches Nome. Mae West lands in the goldfields town wearing a Salvation Army uniform, and immediately begins an "uplift" campaign.
• • "Attacked by Papers" • •
• • The manager of a Brisbane picture theatre yesterday said that when this picture was shown in America, it was attacked by several newspapers — — but was not banned.
• • Source: Article rpt in The Courier-Mail [Brisbane]; published on Monday, 25 May 1936.
• • On Saturday, 25 May 1912 • •
• • "Mae West — Songs" • •
• • When Mae West made her solo debut at Hammerstein's, the act was eleven minutes of dances and songs that were delivered in a Bert Williams like manner — — talking her way through.  Mae selected "Parisienne," "Dancing-Prancing," and "Rap, Rap, Rap."  Her closing number was a sultry cooch.
• • Reviewing this variety artist in their issue dated Saturday, 25 May 1912, The New York Clipper felt that a number of well-placed comrades in the audience were there, helping her along.
• • In their edition dated for Saturday, 25 May 1912, Variety's critic called her a "freak." In their opinion, Mae's presentation lacked "that touch of class that is becoming requisite nowadays for first-class houses."
• • On Wednesday, 25 May 1927 in Variety • •
• • Apparently, Texas Guinan was having difficulties with the Shuberts over her show "Padlocks of 1927."  When Variety printed an item on 25 May 1927 noting that "Mae West is being readied to jump in," their intention was probably meant to pinch some sense into the speakeasy hostess, who regularly paid for ads to promote her night spots in The New Yorker and whose spectacles attracted people from The Algonquin Round Table, an audience quite far from the circle of Mae West admirers. 
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Cary Grant showed up at Mae West Ciro's opening. Three other of Mae's former leading men also were in attendance: Steve Cochran, Phil Reed, and Jack La Rue. 
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said: "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie."
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • A fan magazine mentioned Mae West.
• • "Benefit?" I shrieked, "Jean Harlow, I told you five years ago to give up benefits. Let somebody else be the sucker sometime. Already by actual count you have appeared
at ten benefits and five free radio programs this year. Jean, you're a sap."
• • "Oh, no," said Jean, quite seriously, too. "I'm flattered that they want me when they
could have Joan Crawford, or Carole Lombard, or Mae West. And besides, it's such a little thing to do for anybody."  . . .
• • Actress Jean Harlow [3 March 1911 — 7 June 1937] died young from kidney disease at the age of 26.
• • Source: Article on Jean Harlow in Screenland; issue dated for August 1935 
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 10th anniversary • •    
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during this past decade. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,100 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started ten years ago in July 2004. You are reading the 3185th 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 • in 1935

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