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actress  Mae  West
[1893-1980]

unusual poster for actress Mae West [1893-1980]          short profile

Mae West on stage

movies of Mae West

other works by Mae West

books by Mae West

works about Mae West

image gallery

friends & family

links

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”

— entertainer Mae West


     B I O
          t e x t
          h e r e
Mae West was only 5-feet tall, and used custom platform shoes to look taller on-camera.

4-19 in 1927 that actress Mae West was sentenced to 10 days in prison for her starring role in the play Sex, which she also wrote and directed. It was her first Broadway show. Sex got terrible reviews but attracted huge audiences. It had been running for 41 weeks when the police showed up and arrested the cast and crew — although only West was sent to jail. She was charged with “producing an immoral show and maintaining a public nuisance.” She said: “I wrote the story myself. It’s about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.” In jail, West was forced to turn over her silk stockings, but allowed to keep her silk underwear. She got her own private cell, and she charmed the warden and his wife so much that they invited her to eat dinner with them in their home each night. She befriended the other inmates while she made beds and dusted. In her down time, she read business articles comparing various Hollywood studios. She was released two days early for good behavior. The following year, she wrote and starred in the play Diamond Lil (1928) on Broadway, and it was a big success. She went to Hollywood, got a part in Night After Night (1932), and was allowed to rewrite her scenes. In her first scene, a hatcheck girl says to her “Goodness, what beautiful diamonds!” and West says, “Goodness has nothing to do with it, dearie.” It was a hit, and the next year she co-starred with Cary Grant in I’m No Angel (1933). By 1935, she was said to be the second highest paid person in the United States, after William Randolph Hearst. Ninety-seven years ago today 4-19, Mae West was sentenced to jail by a New York court for corrupting the morals of youth with her Broadway play “Sex.” After West was released, Thyra Samter Winslow wrote this fantastic Profile for the magazine, describing her as “one hundred per cent good showman,” on and off the stage: “Her admirers come back to see her after the show, and for two hours after the final curtain Mae is in the costume of the bad lady of the nineties, wig and corset and tight-fitting gown. The gown is immensely becoming in spite of its grotesqueries. If the evening is warm she’ll take off a couple of outer garments as she laughs over the foibles of the day, adding comments in her husky, Brooklynese drawl, always the Little Queen.”

Mae West entry at Wikipedia
Mae West's Broadway credits, 1911-1951
Mae West credits at Internet Movie Database
search for Mae West videos & DVDs {over 200 items} at Amazon


Mae West won
1933 Photoplay Award - Best Performance of the Month (March)
1933 Photoplay Award - Best Performance of the Month (December)
1934 Photoplay Award - Best Performance of the Month (November)
1935 Photoplay Award - Best Performance of the Month (May)
1969 Winner Golden Apple Award as Female Star of the Year
1978 Photoplay Awards - Nominee Gold Medal / Hall of Fame: Actress
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street   and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 1960


Mae West on Stage

West was five years old when she first entertained a crowd at a church social, and she began appearing in amateur shows at the age of seven. She frequently won prizes at local talent contests. She began performing professionally in vaudeville in the Hal Clarendon Stock Company in 1907, at the age of 14. As a child performer, she used the stage name 'Baby Mae'.

Mae West's Broadway credits, 1911-1951

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musical/burlesque "A La Broadway" on Broadway in Sept 1911
Produced by William LeBaron; Mae West appeared as 'Maid'.

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musical comedy "Vera Violetta" on Broadway, July 1911-Feb 1912
show set in Paris, France. Music / lyrics by Harold Atteridge. Book by Leonard Liebling and Harold Atteridge. Based on the German of Leo Stein. Directed by Lewis Morton. Winter Garden Theatre: 112 performances/played in repertory with "Undine". NOTE: In the second number in Act I, backed by the chorus, Mae, as Mademoiselle Angelique, sang "Angelique of the Opera Comique," a song whose lyrics were written by Melville Gideon to music composed by Louis A. Hirsch.

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musical comedy/farce "A Winsome Widow" on Broadway, April-Sept 1912
Produced by Charles B. Dillingham and Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Music by Raymond Hubbell. Based on "A Trip to Chinatown" by Charles Hale Hoyt.
Directed by Julian Mitchell. Moulin Rouge Theater: 172 performances. Mae West appeared as 'Le Petite Daffy'.

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musical "Sometime" [Oct 1918 - June 1919] on Broadway. Produced by Arthur Hammerstein.Written by Rida Johnson Young and Rudolf Friml. Additional lyrics by Ed Wynn. Musical Director: Herbert Stothart. Directed by Oscar Eagle. Shubert Theatre: /283 performances) Mae West appeared as 'Mayme Dean'

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appeared in "Ned Wayburn's Demi-Tasse Revue" [1919] on Broadway

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"Frisco Kate" stageplay [written 1921]
adapted with Victor McLaglen as the screenplay for director Raoul Walsh's "Klondike Annie" [1936], in which she also appeared.

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musical "The Mimic World" [Aug-Sept 1921] on Broadway, in the roles of Cleopatra, a Shimmy Dancer, and La Belle Madelon
Produced by The Shuberts.Book / lyrics by Harold Atteridge, Jimmy Hussey [credited as James Hussey] and Owen Murphy. Lyrics by James Hussey and Owen Murphy. Music by Jean Schwartz, Lew Pollack and Owen Murphy. Additional lyrics by Sidney Clare and Howard Johnson. Directed by Allan K. Foster. Century Promenade: 17 Aug 1921-10 Sep 1921 (26 performances)

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stageplay "Sex" [April 1926 - March 1927] on Broadway at Daly's 63rd St. Theatre
wrote (as Jane Mast), produced, directed & starred as 'Margie LeMont'

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"The Drag" [1927], produced in Paterson, NJ
NOTE: The play, about homosexuality, was a hit in Paterson but she was warned not to bring the show to New York City
- where it was to be presented after it had closed in Paterson - or she would be arrested. She took the advice.

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stageplay "The Wicked Age" [Nov 1927] on Broadway - Mae West appeared as 'Evelyn (Babe) Carson'

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"Diamond Lil" [wrote & starred in April 1928 - Jan 1929] on Broadway
"Diamond Lil: The Story of A Broadway Sensation" [Nov 2025] by Mae West, edited by Romain Tutak
http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Lil-Story-Broadway-Sensation/dp/B0G2JXZNB1/

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"Pleasure Man" [wrote & appeared in Oct 1928] on Broadway.

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appeared in "Diamond Lil" [June 1929] at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio

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appeared in "Sex" [Nov 1930] at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio

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comedy "The Constant Sinner" [wrote & starred in Sept-Nov 1931] on Broadway
http://www.amazon.com/Constant-Sinner-Babe-Gordon/dp/1590774795/

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"Catherine Was Great" [1944] on Broadway. Produced by Mike Todd; Directed by Roy Hargrave. Choreographed by Margaret Sande.
Shubert Theatre Aug-Dec 1944, The Royale Theatre Dec 1944-Jan 1945 (191 performances), written by & starring Mae West
appeared in "Catherine Was Great" [April 1945] at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio

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Miles Mander, Fred Schiller and Thomas Dunphy's play
appeared in "Come On Up, Ring Twice" [Nov 1946] at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland, Ohio
appeared in the U.S. tour of "Come On Up, Ring Twice" [1947]

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comedy/melodrama "Diamond Lil" [wrote 1928, revival Feb 1949] on Broadway
comedy/melodrama "Diamond Lil" [wrote 1928, revival Sept 1949 - Jan 1950] on Broadway
appeared in "Diamond Lil" [wrote 1928, revival Feb 1950] at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio
starred in comedy/melodrama "Diamond Lil" [wrote 1928, revival Sept-Nov 1951] on Broadway
appeared in "Diamond Lil" [wrote 1928, revival Nov 1951] at the Broadway Theatre in De Pere, WI

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appeared in "Come On Up, Ring Twice" [Summer 1952] in a Kenley Players production in York and Lakewood Park Theatre in Barnesvile, Pennsylvania

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"Sex-Tette" [Summer 1961] in a Kenley Players production at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Columbus and Packard Music Hall Theatre in Warren, Ohio

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"Diamond Lil" [1987-88] stageplay written by Mae West, adapted by Paul Blake (also director) and Dennis Powers
in an American Conservatory Theatre production in San Francisco, CA

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"Sex" (wrote 1930, off-Broadway revival 1999]


Movies & Television  of  Mae  West
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_West#Filmography

The Films of Mae West 1973 book by Jon Tuska  "The Films of Mae West" [1973] by Jon Tuska [1942-2016], Introduction by Parker Tyler
Still photographs, film reviews, and production notes provide a detailed history of actress Mae West's film career
180-page Citadel Press pb [1990] out of print/used
Citadel Press hardcover [11/1975] out of print/used
Lyle Stuart hardcover [1973] out of print/used
The Complete Films of Mae West 2000 book by Jon Tuska  "The Complete Films of Mae West" [rev 1992 & 2000] by Jon Tuska [1942-2016],
Introduction by Parker Tyler

208-page Virgin Books pb [1992] out of print/used
195-page Citadel Film Series 11x8½ hardcover [2000] out of print/used
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"Night After Night" [Paramount Pictures Oct 1932] /tt0023266/
Maudie Triplett Story: "Single Night") by Louis Bromfield Screenplay: Vincent Lawrence Continuity: Kathryn Scola
Additional dialogue (uncredited): Mae West starring George Raft, Constance Cummings, Wynne Gibson Archie Mayo Mae West

"She Done Him Wrong" [1933] /tt0024548/
Lady Lou Screenplay: Harvey F. Thew and John Bright Based on the play Diamond Lil by Mae West Cary Grant Owen Moore Gilbert Roland Lowell Sherman

"I'm No Angel" [1933] /tt0024166/
Tira Story, Screenplay and All Dialogue: Mae West // as a lion tamer Suggestions: Lowell Brentano Continuity: Harlan Thompson Cary Grant, Gregory Ratoff Edward Arnold Wesley Ruggles

"Belle of The Nineties" [1934] /tt0024873/
Ruby Carter Mae West Roger Pryor Johnny Mack Brown Katherine DeMille Leo McCarey

"Goin' To Town" [1935] /tt0026419/
Cleo Borden Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell Paul Cavanagh Gilbert Emery Marjorie Gateson Alexander Hall

"Klondike Annie" Western film [1936] The Frisco Doll /tt0027851/
Rose Carlton Sister Annie Alden Screenplay: Mae West Story: Marion Morgan and George B. Dowell, and material suggested by Frank Mitchell Dazey
Victor McLaglen Phillip Reed Helen Jerome Eddy Raoul Walsh
"Frisco Kate" stageplay [written 1921]
adapted with Victor McLaglen as the screenplay for director Raoul Walsh's "Klondike Annie" [1936], in which she also appeared.

"Fashions In Love" short film [July 1936] /tt1830600/
retrospective docufilm showing love scenes from various movies
Cary Grant & Mae West listed as not archive footage

"Go West, Young Man" [1936] /tt0027684/
Mavis Arden Screenplay: Mae West Based on the play "Personal Appearance" by Lawrence Riley Warren William Randolph Scott Alice Brady Henry Hathaway

"Every Day's A Holiday" [1937] /tt0028843/
Peaches O'Day Mae West Edmund Lowe Charles Butterworth Charles Winninger A. Edward Sutherland

"My Little Chickadee" [Universal Pictures 1940] /tt0032828/
Flower Belle Lee starring W.C. Fields & Mae West Joseph Calleia Dick Foran Edward F. Cline

"The Heat's On" [Columbia Pictures 1943] /tt0035978/
Fay Lawrence Fitzroy Davis & George S. George and Fred Schiller Victor Moore William Gaxton Lester Allen Gregory Ratoff

"How To Fly A Lazy Eight" animated short [USAAF First Motion Picture Unit 1943] /tt32142411/
animated short training film narrated by Mae West instructs pilots how to do the flying maneuver known as a 'lazy eight', in which the airplane flies in alternating loops;
since attempting the maneuver at too high an airspeed can result in the aircraft stalling, special care must be exercised in making the turns

"Four Press Agents vs. Diamond Lil" episode [aired Sept 1949] /tt39538699/
S2.E2M of the "Say It With Acting" TV game show series [1949]

"The 30th Annual Academy Awards" TV special [NBC-TV March 1958] /tt0343334/
Co-hosted by Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Niven, Rosalind Russell, James Stewart; Mae West listed as 'performer'

"Klondike Lou" unsold TV pilot [1959] Mae West starred - set during the Alaskan Gold Rush days

"The Dean Martin Show" TV special [May 1959] /tt13273290/
host Dean Martin and guests Bob Hope & Mae West

"Person To Person" episode [aired Oct 1959] /tt1017217/
episode #7.1; new series host Charles Collingwood interviews Edith Head, James Mason, Mae West

"Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It" episode [aired March 1960] with guest star Mae West /tt1028888/
S9.E20 of "The Red Skelton Hour" [1951-71]
In a parody of "Person To Person", Mae West is interviewed about the three men who do not appear in her autobiography:
Cauliflower McPugg, San Fernando Red, and Clem Kadiddlehopper (all portrayed by Red Skelton)

"Mae West Meets Mister Ed" episode [Filmways/CBS-TV March 1964] /tt0649841
S4.E21 of the "Mister Ed" TV series [1961–1966]
Mae West hires Wilbur to redesign her horse stable.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWtzqDNWT8w5EvcLX8S2frn6W-C42Xgxz in 6 parts

"Myra Breckinridge" feature film [Fox 1970] /tt0066115/
Leticia Van Allen; screenplay: Michael Sarne and David Giler Based on the novel by Gore Vidal [1925-2012]
Raquel Welch John Huston Farrah Fawcett Michael Sarne

"The Dick Cavett Show" episode [aired April 1976] /tt12502334/

"Sextette" [Crown Intl Pictures 1978] - as Marlo Manners /tt0078238/
Lady Barrington Screenplay: Herbert Baker Based on the play by Mae West
Timothy Dalton, Dom DeLuise, Tony Curtis, Ken Hughes


Other Works by Mae West

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Recordings by Mae West
Mae West discography at Discogs website
At least 21 Mae West singles (78 rpm and 45 rpm) were released from 1933 to 1973.

Fabulous Mae West album on vinyl & CD  "The Fabulous Mae West" music album [1956]
Decca D/DL-79016 & Rev-Ola CR Rev 181 and other reissues - includes 12 songs: "Love Is The Greatest Thing", "I'm In The Mood For Love", "Pecado", "My Daddy Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll)", "All of Me", "They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk", "Frankie and Johnny", "I Want You, I Need You", "Havana For A Night", "A Guy What Takes His Time", "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)", "Criswell Predicts"
MCA Records vinyl album [1980] 12 tracks - out of prodn/used
MCA Records vinyl album [2014] 12 tracks - out of prodn/used
P.I.D. music CD [1/2007] 12 tracks for $28.87
UMG Recordings MP-3 music album download [2006] for $9.49

'W.C. Fields ... His Only Recording' spoken-word album on vinyl disk  "W.C. Fields . . . His Only Recording" spoken-word & music album [circa 1960s]
Proscenium Records vinyl LP recording PR 22 [1/2008] out of prodn/scarce
Proscenium Records vinyl LP recording PR 22 [undated] out of prodn/scarce
Side A contains two Fields cuts recorded in 1946 at Les Paul Studios, with guitar & piano accomp-animent: "The Temperance Lecture" [10:40] & "The Day I Drank A Glass of Water" [5:57]; Side B contains eight songs performed by Mae West, with jazz quartet or symphony orchestra
Mae West 'Way Out West' music album on vinyl  "Way Out West" music album [1966] by Mae West, with "Somebody's Chyldren" band
Tower T/ST-5028 - 11 songs including: "Day Tripper", "Treat Him Right", "Twist and Shout", "Boom Boom", "When A Man Loves A Woman", "If You Gotta Go", "You Turn Me On", "Shakin' All Over", "Lover, Please Don't Fight", "Nervous" & "Mae Day"
Tower vinyl album [4/2008] out of prodn/used
Tower vinyl album [2/2008] out of prodn/used

1966: Wild Christmas; Dragonet LPDG-48

1970: The Original Voice Tracks from Her Greatest Movies; Decca D/DL-791/76
https://www.discogs.com/release/37024068-Mae-West-The-Original-Voice-Tracks-From-Her-Greatest-Movies

1970: Mae West & W.C. Fields Side by Side; Harmony HS 11374/HS 11405

Mae West 'Great Balls of Fire' music album on vinyl  "Great Balls of Fire" [1972] by Mae West, with The Hot Rockers & Mike Curb singers
MGM SE 4869; includes "How Miss West Won World Peace"; see track listing at Discogs website
M.G.M. Records vinyl album [4/2008] 10 tracks - out of prodn/used
Sixteen Sultry Songs by Mae West album on CD  "Mae West, Queen of Sex Sings Sultry Songs" [1987]
Rosetta RR 1315; see track listing at Discogs website
Rosetta Records music CD [1992] 16 tracks - out of prodn/used
Mae West I'm No Angel music album  "I'm No Angel" music album [1996] by Mae West
Jasmine Music CD 04980 102
Jasmine Music import CD [2/2007] 28 tracks for $14.99
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NBC Radio Network 1930s logo  "Garden of Eden" episode featuring Mae West [NBC Radio Network Dec 1937]
of the weekly "Chase & Sanborn Hour" [1929-48] starring Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy

Mae being Mae, the material offended many self-appointed censors & moral watchdog groups; fellow performers include host Don Ameche, announcer Wendell Niles, Nelson Eddy, Dorothy Lamour, and the Robert Armbruster orchestra • Radiola MR-1126; see details at Discogs website
watch/listen to full radio program with slide show [10/2023 upload; 1:00:16] online at YouTube

1974: Original Radio Broadcasts; Mark 56 Records 643 Mae West Original Radio Broadcasts LP Mae West (Author, Performer)
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Original-Radio-Broadcasts/dp/B000UHCCRW/

original radio broadcasts complied by George Garabedian
http://www.amazon.com/original-radio-broadcasts-MAE-WEST/dp/B0040Z728O/

"Mae West on the Air" []
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Air/dp/B000008M7P/

"https://www.amazon.com/Mae-Day-Masquers-Club-Salutes/dp/B000006BFP/


Books by Mae West

"Babe Gordon" [The Macaulay Company 1930] by Mae West - the novel on which the stageplay "The Constant Sinner" was based
http://www.amazon.com/Constant-Sinner-Babe-Gordon/dp/1590774795/

"Diamond Lil" novelization of stageplay [Caxton House 1932] by Mae West

"The Wit and Wisdom of Mae West" [G.P. Putnam 1967] by compiled & edited by Joseph Weintraub ISBN 978-0-399-50549-2
http://www.amazon.com/Wit-Wisdom-Mae-West/dp/B000GU9K0A/ 1970

"Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It: The Autobiography of Mae West" [Jan 1959, rev 1970] by Mae West
http://www.amazon.com/Goodness-had-nothing-Mae-West/dp/B0006C9F4Y/ rev 1970
http://www.amazon.com/Goodness-Had-Nothing-May-West/dp/B001RWUDE8/ mass
http://www.amazon.com/Goodness-had-nothing-Autobiography-West/dp/B0007DQI9M/ hc + 978-1-86049-034-7

"Mae West On Sex, Health, and ESP" [W.H. Allen 1975] ISBN 978-0-491-01613-1

"Pleasure Man" novel [Dell 1975] ISBN 978-0-440-07074-0

"Three Plays by Mae West: Sex, The Drag, The Pleasure Man" [Routledge Aug 1997] edited by Lillian Schlissel ISBN 978-0-415-90933-4
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Plays-Sex-Drag-Pleasure/dp/0415909333/

"Mae West – The First Plays: Ruby Ring, The Hussy, The Wicked Age, Frisco Kate" [2023] edited by Romain Tutak ISBN 979-8856398860.


Works About Mae West

article "Mae West, The Queen of New York: The writer and star of “Sex” and “Diamond Lil” is calm, clear, and eager for success.
by Thyra Samter Winslow new yorker November 2, 1928
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1928/11/10/mae-west-profile-diamond-lil

"Mae West" [1982] by George Eells
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-George-Eells/dp/068800816X/

"He Done Her Wrong" mystery series novel - co-starring Toby Peters & Mae West [#8=1983] by Stuart M. Kaminsky

"The Mae West Murder Case" mystery novel [1993] by George Baxt [1923-2003]

"Mae West" [1993] by Tim Malachosky & James Greene
Large format book, approx 11 x 14 inches; commemorated the 100th anniversary of Mae West's birth; limited edition of 2000, signed by both authors. TM served as Miss West's personal secretary for the previous 10 years. It is profusely illustrated with b&w and color photographs of Mae West throughout the various stages of her life, and with other Hollywood icons such as Tony Curtis, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, Ringo Starr, and many others.
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Tim-Malachosky/dp/0963716948/
accused of fakery in the text and the main author's credentials, but the exclusive photos are supposed to be fabulous

"Becoming Mae West" [] by Emily Wortis Leider | Apr 4, 2000
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-West-Emily-Wortis-Leider/dp/0306809516/

"Mae West: It Ain't No Sin" [] by Simon Louvish | Nov 14, 2006
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Aint-No-Sin/dp/0312348789/

"The Playboy Interviews: Larger Than Life" [Dark Horse Comics 12/2006] Edited by Stephen Randall
Interviews with 14 people: {all four} Beatles, Marlon Brando, Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, Howard Cosell, Walter Cronkite, Bette Davis,
Bob Dylan, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne [1907-79], and Mae West
http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Interviews-Larger-Than-Life/dp/1595820450/

Hollywood Blondes book by Michelle Vogel & Liz Nocera  "Hollywood Blondes: Golden Girls of The Silver Screen" [2007]
by Michelle Vogel & Liz Nocera

Wasteland Press 9x5¾ pb [3/2007] for $22.45
chapter/subjects include Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Jean Harlow, Judy Holliday, Grace Kelly, Veronica Lake, Carole Landis, Carole Lombard, Jayne Mansfield, Marie McDonald, Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Payton, Lana Turner, Thelma Todd & Mae West

"She Always Knew How: Mae West - A Personal Biography" [Applause Books March 2010] by Charlotte Chandler

"Mae West: Between The Covers" [May 2018] edited by Michael Gregg Michaud
http://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Between-Covers-Hardback/dp/1629333239/

"The Love Goddesses: A History of Sex In The Cinema"
[Paramount March 1965]
The Love Goddesses 1965 docufilm  Co-produced, co-written & directed by Saul J. Turell; co-produced & co-written by Graeme Ferguson; narrated by Carl King; featuring Theda Bara, Brigitte Bardot, Ingrid Bergman, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Joan Craw-ford, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Ava Gardner, Jean Harlow, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, Hedy Lamarr, Dorothy Lamour, Gina Lollobrigida, Carole Lombard, Sophia Loren, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Nita Naldi, Pola Negri, Simone Signoret, Barbara Stanwyck, Gloria Swanson, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Gene Tierney, Lana Turner & Mae West
Image Ent. widescreen color/b&w DVD [7/99] out of prodn/used
Embassy/Nelson color/b&w VHS [undated] out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb

"The Best of Laurel and Hardy" feature [Dec 1968, USA 1971] /tt0196372/
includes archive footage of Mae West, many others

"The Second Annual Rock Music Awards" [CBS-TV Sept 1976] /tt0392756/
hosted by Diana Ross & Alice Cooper

"Rude Songs: Vaudeville & Music Hall" episode [aired March 1977]
S1.E6 of the "All You Need Is Love" tv series []
http://www.amazon.com/All-You-Need-Love-Vol/dp/B01M4QNR3Y/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsLxu3lsR-0
Mae West sings 'honky-tonk' 8:44 to 9:58

"Mae West: Dirty Blonde" TV special (1985) /tt11902754/ S34.E2 of American Masters
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interview/tim-malachosky/

"Mae West and The Men Who Knew Her" 57m TV special [(Aug 1994] - hosted by Dom DeLuise /tt0819661/
As Hollywood's first 'blonde bombshell', Mae West reigned supreme and changed the nation's view of women, sex, and race - on stage, in films,
on radio, and on television. In addition to home movies and archival footage, Anthony Quinn, Rex Reed and Robert Wise

"Mae West" episode [aired May 1999] - narrated by Loretta Swit /tt0500020/
of the "Intimate Portrait" tv series [1990-2005]

"Mae West" episode [aired May 1999] /tt1364592/
S2.E14 of the "E! Mysteries & Scandals" tv series [] hosted by A.J. Benza

"Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2" TV special [1999] /tt0320868/
featuring Bruce Lee, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Temple, Robert Wagner, Tuesday Weld

"Myra Breckenridge" episode [aired Sept 2001] /tt0797991/
of the "Backstory" tv series [] - archive footage as Leticia Van Allen

"Mae West" episode [orig circa 2001; Passport Video 2006] /tt5743152/
S1.E56 of "Hollywood Remembers" TV series [2000]

"Mae West" episode [aired Jan 2003] /tt1724330/
S1.E10 of the "Living Famously" (2002) tv series

"Complicated Women" 55m TV Movie [2003] /tt0365076/
A look at actresses - Jean Harlow, Norma Shearer, Mae West - who starred in thought-provoking films made from 1929-1934
- before the Hollywood Production Code was enforced.

"Sex At 24 Frames Per Second" 1h 41m docufilm [Playboy 2003] with Marilyn Monroe and Mae West /tt0383630/
traces the evolution of sex in Hollywood cinema and uncovers the formula for successfully arousing audience interest around the world

"The Great Man: W.C. Fields" 54m biofilm [2005] /tt0447989/
rare behind-the-scenes footage and home movies of legendary W.C. Fields [1880-1946] at work and at play,
along with hilarious scenes from some of his greatest films

"Mae West" 46m episode [aired Jan 2006] /tt0776931/
S3.E1 of "Dead Famous" [2004-2006] tv series

"Mae West" episode [aired Aug 2006] /tt11337928/
S3.E10 of the "Screen Goddesses" TV series [2004-2007]
overview of the portrayal and influence of sexuality on film, from the silent era until the Hays Code began in 1934.

"Why Be Good? Sexuality & Censorship In Early Cinema"
[Playboy/American Cinemateque May 2007]
Why Be Good? Sexuality and Censorship in Early Cinema docufilm  70-minute documentary about the uncensored days before the Hays Code was established in 1935; featuring archive & interview footage of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Cecil B. DeMille, Marlene Dietrich, Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, Jean Harlow, Will H. Hays, Wm. Randolph Hearst, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford, Barbra Stanwyck, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, and Mae West • Co-written & directed by Elaina Archer; co-written by cinema historian Scott Eyman; narrated by Diane Lane; modern interviewees include Cari Beauchamp, Budd Schulberg, Kevin Thomas & Marc Wanamaker
Image Ent. color/b&w DVD [11/2008] out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb

"Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship In Pre-Code Hollywood" TV movie [2008] 1h 8m /tt1200078/
Tira (archive footage)

"Rebellen" [2013] 1h 30m TV /tt3246948/
Hollywood would be nothing without them: without the stars, who combine a lot of light and shadow,
who act as rebels not only in front of but also behind the camera.

"Mae West: Die Verruchte Blonde" (2021) 51m TV Movie /tt14189102/ archive footage)

"Florenz Ziegfeld and The Legends of Vaudeville" docufilm [in dev't 2026] /tt8937460/  4/2026


Image  Gallery

        

statues at Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea Avenue  'Four Ladies of Hollywood' Gateway gazebo
at intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and La Brea Avenue [Feb 1994]

tribute to the women of the film industry; the stainless-steel statues depict Brooklynite actress Mae West, Afro-American actress Dorothy Dandridge, Hispanic actress Dolores Del Rio, and Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong; designed by film director Catherine Hardwicke, sculpted by Harl West, dedicated on 1 February 1994


Friends & Family & Colleagues
Mary Jane West was born in August 1893 at home in Brooklyn, New York City; she began performing in vaudeville at age 14, and on Broadway from 1911.
Her movie career lasted from 1932 to 1978; she died after several strokes in Nov 1980 at age 87.

father John Patrick "Battlin' Jack" West, a former prizefighter [] - married 1889
Mathilde Doelger (later Americanized to 'Delker') West, a corset and fashion model []
brother
younger sister Beverly [d. 1982]

first husband Frank Szatkus Wallace [1890-??] - m. 1911; div. 1943

secret second husband Guido Deiro [1880-1950] - married 1914, divorced November 1920
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_Deiro

life partner Paul Novak aka Chester Rybinski [1923-99] - from 1954-80

Colleagues & Paramours

Mae West did not get along with co-star W.C. Fields [1880-1946]


L i n k s
Mae West entry at Wikipedia
official website/blog
Mae West credits at Internet Movie Database
search for Mae West videos & DVDs {over 200 items} at Amazon



here on the actress Mae West [1893-1980] Page at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

top of pageshort profileMae West on stagemovies of Mae Westbooks by Mae Westworks about Mae Westimage galleryfriends & familylinks

                                                   

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