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Mae West

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Mae West

Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned more than seven decades. Recognized as a prominent sex symbol of her time, she was known for portraying sexually confident characters and for her use of double entendres, often delivering her lines in a distinctive contralto voice. West began performing in vaudeville and on stage in New York City before moving on to film in Los Angeles. She was frequently associated with controversies over censorship and once stated, "I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it." As her film career declined, she remained active by writing books and plays, performing in Las Vegas and London, and appearing on radio and television. In later years, she also released rock and roll recordings. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her 15th among the greatest female screen legends of classic American cinema.

Infobox

Born
Mary Jane West(1893-08-17)August 17, 1893Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died
November 22, 1980(1980-11-22) (aged 87)Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place
Cypress Hills Cemetery
Occupations
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Years active
1907–1979
Spouse
mw- Frank Wallace (m. 1911; div. 1943)
Partner
Paul Novak (1954–1980)

Tables

Broadway stage · Broadway stage
September 22, 1911 – September 30, 1911
September 22, 1911 – September 30, 1911
Date
September 22, 1911 – September 30, 1911
Production
A La Broadway
Role
Maggie O'Hara
November 20, 1911 – February 24, 1912
November 20, 1911 – February 24, 1912
Date
November 20, 1911 – February 24, 1912
Production
Vera Violetta
Notes
West left the show during previews.
April 11, 1912 – September 7, 1912
April 11, 1912 – September 7, 1912
Date
April 11, 1912 – September 7, 1912
Production
A Winsome Widow
Role
Le Petite Daffy
Notes
West left show after opening night.
October 4, 1918 – June 1919
October 4, 1918 – June 1919
Date
October 4, 1918 – June 1919
Production
Sometime
Role
Mayme Dean
August 17, 1921 – September 10, 1921
August 17, 1921 – September 10, 1921
Date
August 17, 1921 – September 10, 1921
Production
The Mimic World of 1921
April 26, 1926 – March 1927
April 26, 1926 – March 1927
Date
April 26, 1926 – March 1927
Production
Sex
Role
Margie LaMont
Notes
Written by Jane Mast (West), West was jailed for 8 days because of the play's content.
January 1927
January 1927
Date
January 1927
Production
The Drag
Notes
Closed during out-of-town tryouts (Bridgeport, Connecticut)credited only as writer
November 1927
November 1927
Date
November 1927
Production
The Wicked Age
Role
Evelyn ("Babe") Carson
April 9, 1928 – September 1928
April 9, 1928 – September 1928
Date
April 9, 1928 – September 1928
Production
Diamond Lil
Role
Diamond Lil
October 1, 1928 – October 2, 1928
October 1, 1928 – October 2, 1928
Date
October 1, 1928 – October 2, 1928
Production
Pleasure Man
Notes
Credited only as writer
September 14, 1931 – November 1931
September 14, 1931 – November 1931
Date
September 14, 1931 – November 1931
Production
The Constant Sinner
Role
Babe Gordon
August 2, 1944 – January 13, 1945
August 2, 1944 – January 13, 1945
Date
August 2, 1944 – January 13, 1945
Production
Catherine Was Great
Role
Catherine II
1945–46
1945–46
Date
1945–46
Production
Come on Up
Notes
Tour
September 1947 – May 1948
September 1947 – May 1948
Date
September 1947 – May 1948
Production
Diamond Lil
Role
Diamond Lil
Notes
(Revival) United Kingdom
February 5, 1949 – February 26, 1949
February 5, 1949 – February 26, 1949
Date
February 5, 1949 – February 26, 1949
Production
Diamond Lil
Role
Diamond Lil
Notes
(Second revival) until West broke her ankle on the latter dateThe play resumed as a "return engagement".
September 7, 1949 – January 21, 1950
September 7, 1949 – January 21, 1950
Date
September 7, 1949 – January 21, 1950
Production
Diamond Lil
Role
Diamond Lil
Notes
(Second revival) as "return engagement"
September 14, 1951 – November 10, 1951
September 14, 1951 – November 10, 1951
Date
September 14, 1951 – November 10, 1951
Production
Diamond Lil
Role
Diamond Lil
Notes
(Third Revival)
July 7, 1961 – closing date unknown
July 7, 1961 – closing date unknown
Date
July 7, 1961 – closing date unknown
Production
Sextette
Notes
Edgewater Beach Playhouse
Date
Production
Role
Notes
Ref.
September 22, 1911 – September 30, 1911
A La Broadway
Maggie O'Hara
November 20, 1911 – February 24, 1912
Vera Violetta
West left the show during previews.
April 11, 1912 – September 7, 1912
A Winsome Widow
Le Petite Daffy
West left show after opening night.
October 4, 1918 – June 1919
Sometime
Mayme Dean
August 17, 1921 – September 10, 1921
The Mimic World of 1921
April 26, 1926 – March 1927
Sex
Margie LaMont
Written by Jane Mast (West), West was jailed for 8 days because of the play's content.
January 1927
The Drag
Closed during out-of-town tryouts (Bridgeport, Connecticut)credited only as writer
November 1927
The Wicked Age
Evelyn ("Babe") Carson
April 9, 1928 – September 1928
Diamond Lil
Diamond Lil
October 1, 1928 – October 2, 1928
Pleasure Man
Credited only as writer
September 14, 1931 – November 1931
The Constant Sinner
Babe Gordon
August 2, 1944 – January 13, 1945
Catherine Was Great
Catherine II
1945–46
Come on Up
Tour
September 1947 – May 1948
Diamond Lil
Diamond Lil
(Revival) United Kingdom
February 5, 1949 – February 26, 1949
Diamond Lil
Diamond Lil
(Second revival) until West broke her ankle on the latter dateThe play resumed as a "return engagement".
September 7, 1949 – January 21, 1950
Diamond Lil
Diamond Lil
(Second revival) as "return engagement"
September 14, 1951 – November 10, 1951
Diamond Lil
Diamond Lil
(Third Revival)
July 7, 1961 – closing date unknown
Sextette
Edgewater Beach Playhouse
Other plays as writer · Broadway stage
1921
The Ruby Ring
Role(s)
Vaudeville playlet
1922
The Hussy
Role(s)
Unproduced
1930
Frisco Kate
Role(s)
Unproduced, later produced as the 1936 film Klondike Annie
1933
Loose Women
Role(s)
Performed in 1935 under title Ladies By Request
1936
Clean Beds
Role(s)
Sold treatment to George S. George, who producedan unsuccessful Broadway play of West's treatment
Year
Title
Notes
Ref.
1921
The Ruby Ring
Vaudeville playlet
1922
The Hussy
Unproduced
1930
Frisco Kate
Unproduced, later produced as the 1936 film Klondike Annie
1933
Loose Women
Performed in 1935 under title Ladies By Request
1936
Clean Beds
Sold treatment to George S. George, who producedan unsuccessful Broadway play of West's treatment
· Filmography
1932
Night After Night
Role(s)
Maudie Triplett
Notes
Story: Louis Bromfield Screenplay: Vincent LawrenceContinuity: Kathryn ScolaAdditional dialogue (uncredited): Mae West
1933
She Done Him Wrong
Role(s)
Lady Lou
Notes
Screenplay: Harvey F. Thew and John Bright Based on the play Diamond Lil by Mae West
I'm No Angel
Role(s)
Tira
Notes
Story, Screenplay and All Dialogue: Mae West Suggestions: Lowell BrentanoContinuity: Harlan Thompson
1934
Belle of the Nineties
Role(s)
Ruby Carter
Notes
Mae West
1935
Goin' to Town
Role(s)
Cleo Borden
Notes
Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell
1936
Klondike Annie
Role(s)
The Frisco DollRose CarltonSister Annie Alden
Notes
Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. DowellAnd material suggested by Frank Mitchell Dazey
Go West, Young Man
Role(s)
Mavis Arden
Notes
Screenplay: Mae West Based on the play Personal Appearance by Lawrence Riley
1937
Every Day's a Holiday
Role(s)
Peaches O'Day
Notes
Mae West
1940
My Little Chickadee
Role(s)
Flower Belle Lee
Notes
Mae West and W. C. Fields
1943
The Heat's On
Role(s)
Fay Lawrence
Notes
Fitzroy Davis & George S. George and Fred Schiller
1970
Myra Breckinridge
Role(s)
Leticia Van Allen
Notes
Screenplay: Michael Sarne and David GilerBased on the novel by Gore Vidal
1978
Sextette
Role(s)
Marlo MannersLady Barrington
Notes
Screenplay: Herbert BakerBased on the play by Mae West
Year
Film
Role
Writer(s)
Co-stars
Director
Studio
1932
Night After Night
Maudie Triplett
Story: Louis Bromfield Screenplay: Vincent LawrenceContinuity: Kathryn ScolaAdditional dialogue (uncredited): Mae West
George RaftConstance CummingsWynne Gibson
Archie Mayo
Paramount Pictures
1933
She Done Him Wrong
Lady Lou
Screenplay: Harvey F. Thew and John Bright Based on the play Diamond Lil by Mae West
Cary GrantOwen MooreGilbert Roland
Lowell Sherman
I'm No Angel
Tira
Story, Screenplay and All Dialogue: Mae West Suggestions: Lowell BrentanoContinuity: Harlan Thompson
Cary GrantGregory RatoffEdward Arnold
Wesley Ruggles
1934
Belle of the Nineties
Ruby Carter
Mae West
Roger PryorJohnny Mack BrownKatherine DeMille
Leo McCarey
1935
Goin' to Town
Cleo Borden
Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell
Paul CavanaghGilbert EmeryMarjorie Gateson
Alexander Hall
1936
Klondike Annie
The Frisco DollRose CarltonSister Annie Alden
Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. DowellAnd material suggested by Frank Mitchell Dazey
Victor McLaglenPhillip ReedHelen Jerome Eddy
Raoul Walsh
Go West, Young Man
Mavis Arden
Screenplay: Mae West Based on the play Personal Appearance by Lawrence Riley
Warren WilliamRandolph ScottAlice Brady
Henry Hathaway
1937
Every Day's a Holiday
Peaches O'Day
Mae West
Edmund LoweCharles ButterworthCharles Winninger
A. Edward Sutherland
1940
My Little Chickadee
Flower Belle Lee
Mae West and W. C. Fields
W. C. FieldsJoseph CalleiaDick Foran
Edward F. Cline
Universal Pictures
1943
The Heat's On
Fay Lawrence
Fitzroy Davis & George S. George and Fred Schiller
Victor MooreWilliam GaxtonLester Allen
Gregory Ratoff
Columbia Pictures
1970
Myra Breckinridge
Leticia Van Allen
Screenplay: Michael Sarne and David GilerBased on the novel by Gore Vidal
Raquel WelchJohn HustonFarrah Fawcett
Michael Sarne
20th Century Fox
1978
Sextette
Marlo MannersLady Barrington
Screenplay: Herbert BakerBased on the play by Mae West
Timothy DaltonDom DeLuiseTony Curtis
Ken Hughes
Crown International Pictures

References

  1. Encyclopædia Britannica
    https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mae-West
  2. Hollywood's Censor: Joseph I. Breen and the Production Code Administration
    https://books.google.com/books?id=mBAiYzRx5LQC&q=mae+west+contraltoWest&pg=PA55
  3. "Actress Mae West Sentenced for 'Sex'"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20161020041040/http://www.historychannel.com.au/this-day-in-history/actress-mae-west-sentenced-for-sex/
  4. Women Know Everything!
    https://books.google.com/books?id=46nduIAfxFgC&pg=PT86
  5. "Mae West Biographical Timeline"
    https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mae-west-biographical-timeline/14486/
  6. Eells & Musgrove 1982, p. 20.
  7. Louvish 2006, p. 5.
  8. Leider 2000, p. 21.
  9. Watts 2003, pp. 10, 12.
  10. West 1970, p. 1.
  11. Leider 2000, p. 23.
  12. Louvish 2006, p. 6.
  13. 1870, 1880, and 1900 U.S. censuses.
  14. adherents.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20190617092453/http://www.adherents.com/people/pw/Mae_West.html
  15. forward.com
    http://www.forward.com/articles/6244
  16. Leider 2000, pp. 23–24.
  17. Watts 2003, pp. 12, 289.
  18. amNew York, September 5, 2013, p. 23.
  19. Daily News
    http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/woodhaven-bar-neir-tavern-time-machine-fix-article-1.184603
  20. Watts 2003, pp. 16, 18.
  21. Louvish 2006, pp. 9–10.
  22. Eells & Musgrove 1982, p. 23.
  23. Eells & Musgrove 1982, p. 38.
  24. Leider 2000, pp. 122–123.
  25. Louvish 2006, p. 18.
  26. Watts 2003, pp. 32–33.
  27. Leonard 1991, pp. 33–34.
  28. Louvish 2006, p. 50.
  29. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1939/04/23/archives/the-sun-still-shines-herewith-a-note-or-two-on-the-eminent-gus-sun.html
  30. Movie Classic
  31. The Complete Films of Mae West
  32. Louvish 2006, p. 78.
  33. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jul/05/polly-stenham-mae-west-gay-pride-the-drag-national-theatre
  34. Watts 2003, pp. 88–89.
  35. All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities
    https://archive.org/details/allaroundtownama0000buny
  36. West 1997, p. 16.
  37. Hamilton 1997, pp. 57, 67.
  38. Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890–1940
    https://archive.org/details/gaynewyork00geor/page/312
  39. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 66–68.
  40. Watts 2003, p. 299.
  41. West 1970, p. 94.
  42. West 1975a, p. 43.
  43. Cullen, Hackman & McNeilly 2007, p. 1187.
  44. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 78, 79, 81.
  45. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 223, 228–229.
  46. IBDB & The Constant Sinner. sfn error: no target: CITEREFIBDBThe_Constant_Sinner (help)
  47. "J. B" (J. Brooks Atkinson). "THE PLAY/Mae West in New Scarlet Role/The Constant Sinner", The New York Times, September
  48. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 97–98.
  49. IBDB & Diamond Lil. sfn error: no target: CITEREFIBDBDiamond_Lil (help)
  50. Leonard 1991, pp. 98–104.
  51. Leonard 1991, pp. 102–103.
  52. Leonard 1991, p. 103.
  53. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 105–106.
  54. With Amusement for All: A History of American Popular Culture Since 1830
    https://archive.org/details/withamusementfor00ashb/page/224
  55. Children, Cinema and Censorship: From Dracula to the Dead End Kids
  56. Cary Grant: A Class Apart
  57. Hollywood Musicals Nominated for Best Picture
  58. The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s
  59. Eells & Musgrove 1982, p. 127.
  60. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture
    https://archive.org/details/stjamesencyclope04pend
  61. West 1997, p. 24.
  62. Pre-Code Hollywood: Sex, Immorality, and Insurrection in American Cinema, 1930–1934
    https://archive.org/details/precodehollywood0000dohe
  63. Louvish 2006, p. 279.
  64. Hollywood Censored: Morality Codes, Catholics, and the Movies
  65. Mae West
  66. Watts 2003, p. 10.
  67. Leider 2000, p. 402.
    https://archive.org/details/becomingmaewest0000leid/page/402
  68. Louvish 2006, p. 308.
  69. Man on the Flying Trapeze: The Life and Times of W. C. Fields
    https://archive.org/details/manonflyingtrape00simo/page/435
  70. The Complete Films of W.C. Fields
  71. W.C. Fields: A Biography
  72. Parody as Film Genre: "Never Give a Saga an Even Break"
  73. Tuska 1992, p. 153.
  74. The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures
  75. Hilmes & Loviglio 2002, p. 137.
  76. Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
  77. On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-time Radio
    https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn/page/229
  78. Don Ameche: The Kenosha Comeback Kid
  79. Out of Eden: The Legion of Decency, the FCC, and Mae West's 1937 Appearance on The Chase and Sanborn Hour
  80. Hilmes & Loviglio 2002, p. 138.
  81. Curry 1996, p. 81.
  82. American Women Playwrights, 1900–1950
    https://archive.org/details/americanwomenpla0000shaf
  83. Broadway: An Encyclopedia
  84. Robertson 1996, p. 27.
  85. Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase
  86. Robertson 1996, p. 25.
  87. Cullen, Hackman & McNeilly 2007, p. 1188.
  88. Kashner & MacNair 2003, p. 335.
  89. Yeatts 2000, p. 73.
  90. Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt. Pepper
  91. Midnight Movies
  92. Hamilton 1997, p. 263.
  93. Louvish 2006, p. 463.
  94. Leider 2000, p. 401.
  95. Yeatts 2000, p. 74.
  96. Watts 2003, p. 309.
  97. Watts 2003, p. 310.
  98. Kashner & MacNair 2003, p. 336.
  99. theaterhalloffame.org
    http://www.theaterhalloffame.org/members.html#VW
  100. "The Gershwin Theatre – On This Very Spot"
    https://archive.today/20140320224158/http://www.onthisveryspot.com/find/spot.php?spot_web_name=The_Gershwin_Theatre
  101. Costume and Fashion Source Books: The 1920s and 1930s
  102. Leonard 1991, pp. 29–30.
  103. The Gleaner
    https://eu.thegleaner.com/story/news/columnists/frank-boyett/2016/11/26/frank-boyett-nov-27-henderson-entertainer-never-got-over-mae-west/94290010/
  104. Hamilton 1997, p. 15.
  105. Watts 2003, pp. 201–202.
  106. Louvish 2006, p. 283.
  107. Watts 2003, p. 224.
  108. Louvish 2006, pp. 350–351.
  109. Louvish 2006, p. 351.
  110. American Masters
    https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mae-west-dirty-blonde-documentary/14998/
  111. Encarta Book of Quotations
    https://archive.org/details/encartabookofquo00swai/page/980
  112. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 39–61, 188–191, 241.
  113. Womack 2013, p. 52. sfn error: no target: CITEREFWomack2013 (help)
  114. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 90–91.
  115. Hollywood Then and Now
  116. Watts 2003, pp. 168, 187–188, 207, 288.
  117. Watts 2003, p. 207.
  118. Eells & Musgrove 1982, pp. 249–250, 293.
  119. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-15-mn-56251-story.html
  120. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-paul-novak-1107530.html
  121. Eells & Musgrove 1982, p. 293.
  122. Watts 2003, p. 313.
  123. The New York Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080407064502/http://www.nytimes.com/specials/magazine4/articles/west1.html
  124. rogerebert.com
    https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/remembering-mae-west
  125. Cullen, Hackman & McNeilly 2007, p. 1183.
  126. Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/11/23/mae-west-hollywoods-sex-symbol-dies/21d91e47-e6af-466a-8d4f-58506de45a65/
  127. United Press International
    https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/25/Friends-of-Mae-West-gathered-today-for-a-private/8068343976400/
  128. Jet
    https://books.google.com/books?id=t0EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52
  129. Leonard 1991, p. 406.
  130. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/08/theater/blown-sideways-but-landing-on-broadway.html
  131. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/25/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-east-side-the-lady-is-a-stamp.html
  132. Stand-In
    https://ok.ru/video/259914926755
  133. What in the Word?: Wordplay, Word Lore, and Answers to Your Peskiest Questions about Language
    https://archive.org/details/whatinwordwordpl0000elst/
  134. "Parachute Rigger Handbook"
    https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/prh_change1.pdf#page=340
  135. Leider 2000, p. 349.
    https://archive.org/details/becomingmaewest0000leid/page/349
  136. The Daily Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3604018/Object-of-the-week-the-Mae-West-lip-sofa.html
  137. Data Boy Pacific Southwest
  138. Svenska Dagbladet
  139. Wild Side Story
    http://libris.kb.se/bib/21675795?vw=full
  140. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOV2tY8Scs08biLNoc3eCmGCy1C-I_5Ol
  141. IBDB
    https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/dirty-blonde-12573#OpeningNightCast
  142. The Age
    https://www.theage.com.au/technology/southern-cross-cable-network-commissions-third-us-access-point-20020819-gdfk0n.html
  143. Amazon Prime Video
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B078WYJHJ9/
  144. The Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/featured/sns-pbs-mae-west-doc-20200615-3gtlc6tjjvchjihah2vcel3sta-story.html
  145. Vachon
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200804083743/https://www.vachon.com/en/pastries/may-west/#regulier
  146. "Mae West"
    https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/mae-west-7476
  147. Curry 1996.
  148. Louvish 2006, p. 461.
  149. Chicago Tribune
    http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1961/07/08/page/61/article/mae-west-still-a-show-stopper/
  150. Louvish 2006, p. 85.
  151. Louvish 2006, p. 93.
  152. Louvish 2006, p. 140.
  153. Louvish 2006, p. 244.
  154. Louvish 2006, p. 460.
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