Mae West: 10-Day Sentence

Publishers Weekly offered a capsule review of a new title devoted to Mae West — — which also includes revealing first-person statements about her imprisonment.
• • Speaking about the author Charlotte Chandler's latest release, the critic wrote this: Chandler (Not the Girl Next Door: Joan Crawford) draws on her interviews with the 86-year-old Mae West, known for her “risqué brand of humor,” in this chatty memoir. West carefully constructed and guarded the image of her personality as a woman who enjoyed sex at a time when “skirts had to cover ankles.” She contended she was “never vulgar. The word for me was suggestive.”
• • West (1893–1980) craved the spotlight from a young age and had been a success in vaudeville, where she began to write her own material. Her screen legend perfected her sexually playful alter ego in such films as She Done Him Wrong, which contained her most quoted line: “Come up and see me sometime” [sic].
• • Chandler also includes Mae West's first-person account of her 10 days in jail — — when she was found guilty of producing an immoral Broadway show, her first full-length play, Sex. West remained a box-office draw into her 70s, appearing in the 1970 film Myra Breckinridge. Whether discussing her love life or advising on playwriting or beauty tips, Mae West was always entertaining. Photos. (Feb.)
• • Title reviewed: She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography Charlotte Chandler. [NY: Simon & Schuster (336p) ISBN 978-1-4165-7909-0]
— — Source: — —
• • Article: PW's Nonfiction Reviews
• • Printed in: Publishers Weekly — — www.publishersweekly.com
• • Printed on: 12 January 2009
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• • "Courting Mae West" features intriguing scenes dramatizing Mae's arrest and trials.
• • Offered onstage July 19th—22nd in New York City during the Annual Fresh Fruit Festival, "Courting Mae West" has been nominated for several awards. The black-tie awards gala will take place during April 2009 in Manhattan.
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Courting Mae West
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • Jefferson Market Court • • 1927 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West on Emerysworld

Emerysworld.com has dedicated the month to MAE WEST by introducing several items embellished with her image.
• • The Empress of Sex graces their two-year calendar, buttons, magnets, keychains, mirrors, and a handy address book.
• • As a special gift to "Courting Mae West," Emery made these expressly for us! We really love having our very own logo on this keychain along with these other nifty items.
• • Located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, the clever creators at Emerysworld can be found online at their EBAY emporium as well as their virtual boutique — — Emerysworld.com, Emerysthestore.com, and Emerysworld.etsy.com — — and wait until you see what intriguing gifts and a-Mae-zing treats they have in store for you. Emery makes Valentine's Day shopping easier. Be sure to come up and see Emery and tell 'em Mae sent you.
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Source:http://courtingmaewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Courting Mae West
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • made by Emerysworld.com • • 2009 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Mae West's Father

Despite having an ambivalent relationship with her father, MAE WEST took after him and also worked for him when he peddled fruit in Brooklyn and when he helmed a "detective agency" in New Jersey and New York City.
• • Born on Manhattan's Lower East Side in March 1866, John West [called "Jack"] grew up feisty, impatient, and strong. As a child he boasted that he'd rather fight than eat. He got his Irish up rather quickly, remembered Mae. He was easily angered and "always ready to do physical violence when the urge was on him." In 1969, Mae revealed in an interview that she thought her father was cruel — — but realized "all his fighting was done doing other people's fighting for them."
• • Jack West was 7 years old in 1873 when his family moved to Brooklyn, settling first in Red Hook, and then in Greenpoint.
• • Though he had no inclination to follow his father's vocation as a ship rigger, Jack knew his parents wanted him to learn a trade; they apprenticed him to a boilermaker in 1880 when he was 14.
• • But Jack West was contemplating starting a fire in the arena. At 11 years old, "Battling Jack" had fought in his first boxing match as a featherweight and yearned to become a bare-knuckles champion. These matches were often arranged by local racketeers. His favorite place to hang out was the gymnasium. His closest companions were weightlifters and boxers — — both black and Caucasian.
• • During the late 1880s, Jack was sidetracked from his vigorous athletic routine after meeting a buxom young lady named Matilda Delker [born in 1870 in Bavaria]. Youthful rebels, Jack and Tillie had much in common. Both defied their parents' expectations, Jack through boxing and Tillie through entertaining the idea of a theatrical career.
• • Initially, the couple forged a passionate bond. Mae explained, "My father had swept her off her feet." But Tillie's youthful transgressive ambitions met an end with Jack West.
• • On 19 January 1889, in Greenpoint, Battling Jack West and Tillie Delker took their wedding vows before a local minister with Jack's sister Julia West acting as maid of honor.
• • On 5 January 1935, "Battling Jack" heard the final countdown; he passed away in Oakland, California of a stroke. The previous November, Mae's father had a severe heart attack and was under the care of a Bay Area heart specialist. A funeral was held in Hollywood within days. Shortly thereafter, the deceased was taken back to Brooklyn to be placed next to his wife in the West's family crypt. Accompanying the body was his son John, his daughter Beverly, and Jim Timony.
• • On this date we remember John Patrick West with love and respect.
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Courting Mae West
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • Jack West at the fights in 1934 • •
NYC
Mae West.

Keeping Up with the Cast

"Courting Mae West" cast member Steven Viola has been busy. After doing such an outstanding job portraying Declan Rourke in the summer production of the play during the Annual Fresh Fruit Festival, Steven Viola took a role in "The Three Sisters" that was performed in a Brooklyn landmark during December 2008. To play a Russian character, Viola grew a beard.
• • Steven called upon the talented Gloria Buccino, who played Peg Rourke in July 2008, to take a role in "The Three Sisters" showcase as well.
• • On 3 January 2009, Steven Viola took multiple roles in a Richard Diamond radio play scripted by Blake Edwards. [So that's what Blake was doing before he invented the Pink Panther!] Steven was also cast in a Sherlock Holmes radio drama: "Murder in the Casbah." Afterwards, there were gifts and gossip and gabbing about the upcoming awards gala in April 2009.
• • "Courting Mae West" — — is a full-length play based on true events in the life of Mae West during the Prohibition Era. This drama-comedy was nominated for several awards — — including a "Best Actress" nod for Yvonne Sayers who won great acclaim for her excellent portrayal of Mae West in 2008 — — and much more information will be posted soon.
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Source:http://courtingmaewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Courting Mae West
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • 2009 • •
NYC
Mae West.

AN A-MAE-ZING NEW YEAR!

MAE WEST wishes you and your loved ones the very best for the New Year!
• • Special announcements, event details, and news will be noted shortly — — so don't stray too far from Mae.
• • "Courting Mae West" — — is a full-length play based on true events in the life of Mae West during the Prohibition Era. This drama-comedy was nominated for several awards — — including a "Best Actress" nod for Yvonne Sayers who won great acclaim for her excellent portrayal of Mae West in 2008 — — and much more information will be posted soon.
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Source:http://courtingmaewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Courting Mae West
Mae West
• • Photo: Mae West • • 1930 • •
NYC
Mae West.