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8 comments:
Mae West as 'Tyra the Lion Tamer' in "I'm No Angel"
She can make it happen when the shades are drawn!
She made the rules and lived life on her own terms!
She's just as funny today as she was then. Would love to have met her. The closest I got was getting to know Gee Gee!
Mabel Stark set Mae up to work these cats, sorry the whole time that the script called for lions instead of Mabel's tigers. The two got on famously, and as we see with Mae remaining friends for life with Billy Barton, she did so also with Mabel. Once asked if she'd ever trade places with anyone, Mae said, "If I ever did, it'd be with this tiger gal, Mabel Stark." She never spoke the same of any other woman.
For over 50 years, Mae occupied the luxury penthouse suite at the still-standing Ravenswood building, where Vine intersects at Melrose. To the astonishment of the industry, Mae is one of two stars who kept their phone numbers listed in the book. The other was Stan Laurel.
Turning Left on Melrose, you see how Mae could have walked home for lunch from Paramount. During the Depression, it was Mae's 10 films that kept the studio alive. All who worked there owed their jobs to the success of her pictures, and they loved her for it. Many recall that Mae wrote all her own plays and films, realizing no one else could capture her persona. One or two others at times got 2nd writing credits, but they did not contribute to Mae's character.
When we returned to 20th Century-Fox for additional scenes for DR. DOLITTLE, we were shooting on Stage 21. Word spread like wildfire that Mae West was arriving to shoot a cameo right across the street, on Stage 20. We of the DOLITTLE cast and crew all abandoned our duties and gathered on the curb to see her limo slow to a stop. Six tall, broad-shouldered men, ideally handsome and dressed in white tuxedos, got out, and one opened her door. He took her hand and guided her onto the sidewalk. We heard this was needed, since if she looked down her makeup would crack. Tom Selleck was in her entourage in those days, and may have been there, but we weren't looking at her men. Everyone on Stage 20 had assembled and all but genuflected when Miss West stood before them. Across the street, we were all in awe. This was our Mae West moment.
Wonderful story, Roger! Who knew Tom Selleck was one of her "boys" back in the day?
Awesome insight, Rog!
:-)
Cindy
Tom Selleck often fondly remembers his time around Ms. West in interviews. Mae's concept was that she could get and keep all those tall guys with the perfect hair, broad shoulders, and muscles. She carried on into her 80s as Hollywood's enduring sex symbol, and she wasn't going to let them forget it.
Look up the Mae West sites for her history, and for her indelible quotes.
One more? OK. Selleck laughs when he tells of Mae's exaggerated, sexy walk. He said she was only five feet tall and wore platform shoes which sometimes went 6 inches. He says she wasn't trying for a sexy walk, she was trying to keep her balance.
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