Friday, August 12, 2016

Mae West: Experience

One of my favorite sketches of MAE WEST was done by Michaël Borremans.  With a deft touch and watercolor playfulness, he brings out new elements in the movie queen.
• • Michaël Borremans called his 2002 piece "A Mae West Experience"; he did his portrait with pencil, watercolor on paper, 6 13/32 x 8 in. (16.3 x 20.3 cm). It is now in a private collection in Belgium.
• • His gallery wrote:  Michael Borremans drawings are full of fluid lines that describe figures and architecture while personal notes are utilized as compositional tools. These drawings are often on the inside of ragged book covers or aged, crumbled paper that Borremans decided to rescue with his skillful hand.  However, mostly everything in "As sweet as it gets" takes a back seat to Borremans intensely detached and serene paintings.
• • Image:  A Mae West Experience, 2002
• • Courtesy Zeno X Gallery Antwerp © Photographer Felix Tirry ©Michaël Borremans
• • On Saturday, 12 August 1944 • •
• • According to an article in Billboard Magazine [on Saturday, 12 August 1944], Mike Todd and Mae West shared the financial burden of mounting this costume drama ("Catherine Was Great") — — $150,000, not an inconsiderable sum during the World War II era. 
• • And though she often hired inexperienced actors and actresses for the minor roles, Mae West sought out the best costume people and set designers. Despite the savage reviews that would greet the star's own efforts, the critics heaped praise on the production itself, calling the scenery "as beautiful as Howard Bay's best" and rhapsodizing over lavish details such as the fireplace set in Count Mirovich's apartment and the decor of the ghoulish "secret room" of Ivan VI where a murder occurs.
• • On Saturday, 12 August 1961 • •
• • "Come On Up" was having a revival in 1961. The copyrighted version bears the credit line "based on a story idea by Charlotte Francis" but Mae had tinkered with the text and brought in a handsome old friend Jack LaRue to play the heroine's former gangster husband.
• • Save the Date: Wednesday, 17 August 2016 • •
• • Mae West: New Yorker, Vaudevillian, Upstart, and Jailbird — — a Birthday Celebration! • •
• • Link: Mae West event on August 17, 2016
• • Overheard in Hollywood • •
• • Frank Wallace, who says he is the husband of actress Mae West, sued her business manager, James Timony, and five John Does for $105,000 damages.
• • In Her Own Words • •
• • Mae West said:  "As long as the public supports my pictures, I'll fight to provide what the people want." 
• • Quote, Unquote • •
• • The Desert Sun mentioned Mae West.
• • "Mae West to Be Replaced by Jayne Mansfield?" • •
• • HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — Mae West had an Icy “no comment” today to reports that the Mae West life jacket (a flotation device widely used during WW2) is being replaced by a new streamlined model, the Jayne Mansfield. . . .
• • Source: Item in Desert Sun; published on Monday, 5 October 1959
• • The Mae West Blog celebrates its 12th anniversary • •
• • Thank you for reading, sending questions, and posting comments during these past twelve years. The other day we entertained 3,497 visitors. And we reached a milestone recently when we completed 3,500 blog posts. Wow! 
• • By the Numbers • • 
• • The Mae West Blog was started twelve years ago in July 2004.
You are reading the 3507th 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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