Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:07,140
I'm Loretta Swit tonight on intimate
2
00:00:04,490 --> 00:00:10,350
portrait Mae West
3
00:00:07,139 --> 00:00:13,589
goodness goodness I happened to do with
4
00:00:10,349 --> 00:00:16,859
a giri in her long show business career
5
00:00:13,589 --> 00:00:19,230
of almost 80 years Mae West burst more
6
00:00:16,859 --> 00:00:22,200
bubbles of sexual and social pretensions
7
00:00:19,230 --> 00:00:25,410
than any other entertainer
8
00:00:22,199 --> 00:00:27,570
she won fame and fortune at one time she
9
00:00:25,410 --> 00:00:30,929
had the highest reported income of any
10
00:00:27,570 --> 00:00:32,570
woman in America and her West isms were
11
00:00:30,929 --> 00:00:36,149
quoted everywhere
12
00:00:32,570 --> 00:00:41,269
she was the 20th century's icon of sex
13
00:00:36,149 --> 00:00:41,269
one of the first truly emancipated women
14
00:00:45,390 --> 00:01:08,500
[Applause]
15
00:00:48,070 --> 00:01:08,500
[Music]
16
00:01:10,989 --> 00:01:21,349
maiya was born in Brooklyn New York on
17
00:01:14,090 --> 00:01:28,150
August 17th 1892 or 93 or maybe 1900 or
18
00:01:21,349 --> 00:01:30,649
possibly 1888 most have settled for 1893
19
00:01:28,150 --> 00:01:33,290
records of vital statistics were not
20
00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:37,210
well kept and the true birth date will
21
00:01:33,290 --> 00:01:41,860
remain a mystery or she was a legend and
22
00:01:37,209 --> 00:01:41,859
legends are not born they're made
23
00:01:41,978 --> 00:01:48,280
May's mother Mathilde named her Mary
24
00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:51,109
Jane but it was soon changed to may
25
00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:54,320
spelled with an E because as may
26
00:01:51,109 --> 00:01:59,478
explained the why went down and an E
27
00:01:54,319 --> 00:02:02,329
went up and Mae knew she was going her
28
00:01:59,478 --> 00:02:05,179
father John West ran a livery stable
29
00:02:02,329 --> 00:02:07,909
with horse-drawn carriages for rent he
30
00:02:05,179 --> 00:02:09,349
was known as battling Jack because he
31
00:02:07,909 --> 00:02:12,318
had once been a prizefighter
32
00:02:09,349 --> 00:02:16,129
he took baby Mae to the gym on many
33
00:02:12,318 --> 00:02:31,969
occasions perhaps it was there that her
34
00:02:16,129 --> 00:02:34,818
taste for matilda affectionately known
35
00:02:31,969 --> 00:02:37,520
as Tilly quickly pulled her baby away
36
00:02:34,818 --> 00:02:40,219
from the gin and pushed her into amateur
37
00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:43,040
nights at the local theaters she thought
38
00:02:40,219 --> 00:02:44,090
Mae was very special and made for the
39
00:02:43,039 --> 00:02:46,939
line
40
00:02:44,090 --> 00:02:51,229
mom would work behind the scenes the
41
00:02:46,939 --> 00:02:54,229
year was nineteen oh one I believe she
42
00:02:51,229 --> 00:02:58,789
was seven years old she had entered a
43
00:02:54,229 --> 00:03:02,030
contest in Brooklyn and she had to sing
44
00:02:58,789 --> 00:03:05,389
a song they gave her the words to sing
45
00:03:02,030 --> 00:03:09,199
and unbeknownst to anybody else she
46
00:03:05,389 --> 00:03:12,829
rewrote the words and wrote extra words
47
00:03:09,199 --> 00:03:15,429
for herself she did the number and she
48
00:03:12,830 --> 00:03:15,430
won a prize
49
00:03:16,519 --> 00:03:21,390
continuing to win amateur nights led to
50
00:03:19,199 --> 00:03:24,539
our entrance with moms pushing and
51
00:03:21,389 --> 00:03:26,958
blessings into vaudeville she was only
52
00:03:24,539 --> 00:03:30,329
eight years old
53
00:03:26,959 --> 00:03:34,969
Mae worked hard to perfect her craft she
54
00:03:30,330 --> 00:03:37,680
later said my education was the theater
55
00:03:34,969 --> 00:03:40,310
the only time she spent away from the
56
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:44,129
stage was between the ages of 12 and 14
57
00:03:40,310 --> 00:03:47,098
the awkward years she got to know her
58
00:03:44,128 --> 00:03:49,139
sister Beverly and her brother John she
59
00:03:47,098 --> 00:03:51,839
later said these were happy times and
60
00:03:49,139 --> 00:03:55,679
her only remembrance of early family
61
00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:58,829
life in 1908 it was back to vaudeville
62
00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:03,540
and playing the circuit this meant long
63
00:03:58,829 --> 00:04:05,909
periods of time on the road the road was
64
00:04:03,539 --> 00:04:08,878
lonely and dangerous for a single girl
65
00:04:05,908 --> 00:04:11,639
so when she was 17 the show was in
66
00:04:08,878 --> 00:04:14,929
Milwaukee and she secretly married a
67
00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:17,879
cast member by the name of Frank Wallace
68
00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:21,720
he was a hoofer in one of the Shubert
69
00:04:17,879 --> 00:04:25,259
shows and she said she married him for
70
00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:30,810
protection that she felt at least now
71
00:04:25,259 --> 00:04:34,728
she was a married woman but Mae didn't
72
00:04:30,810 --> 00:04:34,728
have time for love and domestic bliss
73
00:04:35,970 --> 00:04:44,040
I believe Mays love affair was really
74
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:47,670
with herself in the end because it was
75
00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:50,490
herself the only one she really knew the
76
00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:54,410
only one she could really trust the one
77
00:04:50,490 --> 00:04:57,960
who really knew the secrets that may I
78
00:04:54,410 --> 00:05:01,200
don't think I really enjoyed imparting
79
00:04:57,959 --> 00:05:04,099
to any other people including those who
80
00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:08,639
considered her they're very dear close
81
00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:10,890
wonderful friend may appeared in a Ned
82
00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:14,610
way burned vaudeville revue called
83
00:05:10,889 --> 00:05:16,649
a la Broadway she continued to learn and
84
00:05:14,610 --> 00:05:18,720
grow and searched for the
85
00:05:16,649 --> 00:05:22,429
characterization that would be forever
86
00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,430
Mae West
87
00:05:23,269 --> 00:05:28,439
broadville required performers magnetic
88
00:05:26,129 --> 00:05:29,250
enough to dominate an enclosed area on
89
00:05:28,439 --> 00:05:31,110
the stage
90
00:05:29,250 --> 00:05:33,569
and with the specialness of their
91
00:05:31,110 --> 00:05:35,600
personalities hold the attention of the
92
00:05:33,569 --> 00:05:40,069
audience until the finale of their act
93
00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:43,560
may constantly worked toward that end
94
00:05:40,069 --> 00:05:47,219
may receive good reviews for her work in
95
00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:52,259
a la Broadway but she had not yet found
96
00:05:47,220 --> 00:05:57,600
the indelible image she sought it took
97
00:05:52,259 --> 00:05:59,819
Mae West about 30 years to create the
98
00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:04,800
image that would sustain her throughout
99
00:05:59,819 --> 00:06:10,860
her very long career which was nearly 80
100
00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:14,759
years and her long life she once said to
101
00:06:10,860 --> 00:06:18,150
me should when your parents put you on a
102
00:06:14,759 --> 00:06:21,509
stage in your five you'll learn to take
103
00:06:18,149 --> 00:06:24,839
care of yourself
104
00:06:21,509 --> 00:06:28,230
and take care of herself she did on
105
00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:30,479
November the 20th 1911 she finally
106
00:06:28,230 --> 00:06:33,900
opened on Broadway for the world-famous
107
00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:39,140
Schubert Brothers in a Romberg operetta
108
00:06:33,899 --> 00:06:41,659
there are Violetta starring Al Jolson
109
00:06:39,139 --> 00:06:44,370
then it was back to vaudeville
110
00:06:41,660 --> 00:06:46,740
unlike burlesque vaudeville was not
111
00:06:44,370 --> 00:06:48,810
looked down on and for survival
112
00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:53,250
performers often played on the circuit
113
00:06:48,810 --> 00:06:55,860
as well as on Broadway she teamed up
114
00:06:53,250 --> 00:06:58,500
with two young men Bobby O'Neil and
115
00:06:55,860 --> 00:07:01,770
Harry Laughlin they played the circuit
116
00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:04,529
as Mae West and the Gregory Brothers she
117
00:07:01,769 --> 00:07:06,539
almost caused a riot in New Haven by
118
00:07:04,529 --> 00:07:08,989
driving the students from Yale in the
119
00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:12,840
audience to Stampede when she did her
120
00:07:08,990 --> 00:07:15,600
wriggle she twisted her body with
121
00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:19,289
sinuous writhing motions and the
122
00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:21,000
Bluenose censors were up in arms the
123
00:07:19,290 --> 00:07:24,780
cautious theater owner played it safe
124
00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:27,829
and fired the act the newspapers said
125
00:07:24,779 --> 00:07:31,469
that her wriggles cost her her job in
126
00:07:27,829 --> 00:07:34,919
spite of this Mae was pleased the
127
00:07:31,470 --> 00:07:37,320
audience reaction had excited her she
128
00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:40,379
knew she was on the right path to future
129
00:07:37,319 --> 00:07:43,079
stardom it was only a matter of time and
130
00:07:40,379 --> 00:07:46,860
an unswerving attention to the creation
131
00:07:43,079 --> 00:07:50,399
of what would become Mae West
132
00:07:46,860 --> 00:07:50,399
[Music]
133
00:07:52,839 --> 00:08:03,278
[Music]
134
00:08:05,389 --> 00:08:11,250
her search for image and success in the
135
00:08:08,220 --> 00:08:13,260
quirky arena called show business led me
136
00:08:11,250 --> 00:08:15,839
to write her own sketches for the act
137
00:08:13,259 --> 00:08:18,959
she would constantly shape the material
138
00:08:15,839 --> 00:08:21,750
to serve her own purposes she admitted
139
00:08:18,959 --> 00:08:24,389
that her ego was grand but it was
140
00:08:21,750 --> 00:08:28,500
bringing in 350 dollars a week for the
141
00:08:24,389 --> 00:08:30,569
act a lot of money at that time Flo
142
00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:33,418
Ziegfeld who would gain Fame for his
143
00:08:30,569 --> 00:08:36,629
Follies produced a comedy the winsome
144
00:08:33,418 --> 00:08:40,319
widow in 1912 in which may appeared when
145
00:08:36,629 --> 00:08:41,969
she was just 19 years old then she set
146
00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,830
out with a solo act on the Keith
147
00:08:41,969 --> 00:08:46,700
vaudeville circuit billed as the
148
00:08:43,830 --> 00:08:50,840
original brinkley girl the act was
149
00:08:46,700 --> 00:08:50,840
provocative to say the least
150
00:08:51,049 --> 00:08:56,219
that's earlier stages according to all
151
00:08:53,820 --> 00:08:58,320
records and people I've known like
152
00:08:56,220 --> 00:09:00,990
George Peter actually saw this stuff it
153
00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:07,230
it was pretty raw you know it was pretty
154
00:09:00,990 --> 00:09:09,389
raunchy for that era 1914 began her
155
00:09:07,230 --> 00:09:12,600
lifelong association with her mother's
156
00:09:09,389 --> 00:09:15,720
lawyer James Timoney who gave up his law
157
00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,970
practice to manage May's career there
158
00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,889
are stories of a quick romance and after
159
00:09:17,970 --> 00:09:22,769
that a lot of jealousies on the part of
160
00:09:19,889 --> 00:09:25,980
Timoney but he managed Mae until the day
161
00:09:22,769 --> 00:09:30,569
he died and kept her focused on her
162
00:09:25,980 --> 00:09:32,970
career may introduce the shimmy dance to
163
00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:36,990
Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in the
164
00:09:32,970 --> 00:09:39,629
musical sometime she based the dance on
165
00:09:36,990 --> 00:09:42,839
her observations of dancers she had seen
166
00:09:39,629 --> 00:09:47,000
in a lowdown jazz club called elite
167
00:09:42,839 --> 00:09:49,500
number one on Chicago's South Side
168
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:53,980
there was little movement of the feet
169
00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:56,688
just shaking of the torso breasts and
170
00:09:53,980 --> 00:09:59,528
it translated to the audience in a
171
00:09:56,688 --> 00:10:02,688
rather amazing way when they did it they
172
00:09:59,528 --> 00:10:06,799
stomp their feet and whistled and the
173
00:10:02,688 --> 00:10:09,379
critics approved and Mae approved of the
174
00:10:06,799 --> 00:10:13,698
audience's reaction and continued to
175
00:10:09,379 --> 00:10:17,028
give them what they wanted in 1921 she
176
00:10:13,698 --> 00:10:20,359
was Cleopatra in a play called mimic
177
00:10:17,028 --> 00:10:23,240
world and dazzled the eyes of boxer Jack
178
00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:25,579
Dempsey he asked her to make a screen
179
00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:28,060
test for his film called daredevil Jack
180
00:10:25,578 --> 00:10:30,859
but the picture was never made
181
00:10:28,059 --> 00:10:33,609
Hollywood was still a long way down the
182
00:10:30,860 --> 00:10:33,610
road for me
183
00:10:33,759 --> 00:10:38,720
venturing into the male-dominated area
184
00:10:36,289 --> 00:10:41,389
of the playwright Mae began to write her
185
00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,790
first play under the name of Jane mast
186
00:10:41,389 --> 00:10:44,629
it would deal with a prostitute with a
187
00:10:43,789 --> 00:10:47,809
heart of gold
188
00:10:44,629 --> 00:10:50,089
Margie lamont she thought about what the
189
00:10:47,809 --> 00:10:51,049
play should be called settled on a
190
00:10:50,089 --> 00:10:56,180
working title
191
00:10:51,049 --> 00:10:58,669
the Albatross when she completed the
192
00:10:56,179 --> 00:11:01,938
manuscript she read it to her mother and
193
00:10:58,669 --> 00:11:03,828
her manager James Timoney who decided
194
00:11:01,938 --> 00:11:07,620
they should produce the play themselves
195
00:11:03,828 --> 00:11:10,449
of course Mae would star
196
00:11:07,620 --> 00:11:13,240
the money was raised and may hire the
197
00:11:10,450 --> 00:11:16,390
director mr. Edward Elsner who
198
00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:18,610
encouraged her not to act that herself
199
00:11:16,389 --> 00:11:21,460
mocking sexuality acquired from
200
00:11:18,610 --> 00:11:25,810
vaudeville was all she needed to bring
201
00:11:21,460 --> 00:11:28,480
margie to life Mae decided that the
202
00:11:25,809 --> 00:11:30,129
title the albatross was too heavy she
203
00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,409
informed Elsner the play would have a
204
00:11:30,129 --> 00:11:35,259
one word title sex
205
00:11:32,409 --> 00:11:43,120
he said if only we would dare use that
206
00:11:35,259 --> 00:11:45,370
word and dare they did sex opened on
207
00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:51,700
Broadway at the Daily Theatre in April
208
00:11:45,370 --> 00:11:55,740
of 1926 and it was shocking the word was
209
00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:58,780
unheard of to be put up in print and
210
00:11:55,740 --> 00:12:02,080
when she wanted sex put on top of the
211
00:11:58,779 --> 00:12:06,129
theater and lights they would not do it
212
00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:10,000
but the play had great publicity great
213
00:12:06,129 --> 00:12:13,450
notoriety and the only part of sex that
214
00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:16,029
really related to sex was the curtain in
215
00:12:13,450 --> 00:12:18,570
Act one she's covered with a blanket and
216
00:12:16,029 --> 00:12:21,519
the leading man jumped on top of her
217
00:12:18,570 --> 00:12:25,510
curtain came down and she was arrested
218
00:12:21,519 --> 00:12:30,809
she ended up spending I think ten days
219
00:12:25,509 --> 00:12:30,809
in jail welfare island or something and
220
00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:37,940
she always had dinner with the warden
221
00:12:33,740 --> 00:12:41,470
though and she also said she got to wear
222
00:12:37,940 --> 00:12:41,470
her own underwear
223
00:12:42,980 --> 00:12:49,070
in addition to the jail sentence she was
224
00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:51,470
fined $500 for corrupting the morals of
225
00:12:49,070 --> 00:12:53,540
youth this charge would be leveled at
226
00:12:51,470 --> 00:12:57,639
her time after time during her long
227
00:12:53,539 --> 00:13:03,079
career but his may said she who laughs
228
00:12:57,639 --> 00:13:05,240
lasts and may was laughing she had
229
00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,850
received a million dollars worth of free
230
00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:10,820
publicity for her play she was the talk
231
00:13:07,850 --> 00:13:15,889
of the town a personality to reckon with
232
00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:18,020
a legend in the making may began to cut
233
00:13:15,889 --> 00:13:21,740
records on the famous Brunswick label
234
00:13:18,019 --> 00:13:25,519
she sang purred low down honky-tonk
235
00:13:21,740 --> 00:13:27,500
songs and her sensual styling woven to
236
00:13:25,519 --> 00:13:32,269
the jazz accompaniment in a way that
237
00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:34,700
said she had lived what she sang in 1928
238
00:13:32,269 --> 00:13:37,059
Mae finished writing the play with which
239
00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:41,990
she would become forever synonymous
240
00:13:37,059 --> 00:13:43,609
diamond will diamond lil was set in the
241
00:13:41,990 --> 00:13:46,310
gay 90's in a dancehall
242
00:13:43,610 --> 00:13:50,009
in the Bowery gangsters and regulars
243
00:13:46,309 --> 00:13:52,379
mixed together in the opulent setting
244
00:13:50,009 --> 00:13:55,110
Lille was the super businesswoman and
245
00:13:52,379 --> 00:13:57,750
was at the top again she had a heart of
246
00:13:55,110 --> 00:14:00,840
gold and brilliant diamonds given to her
247
00:13:57,750 --> 00:14:06,450
by her many admirers may surround it
248
00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:12,870
herself with men on stage and a West
249
00:14:06,450 --> 00:14:16,410
produced herself she was very witty as a
250
00:14:12,870 --> 00:14:19,049
human being she was also very kind but
251
00:14:16,409 --> 00:14:22,649
she didn't necessarily like women she
252
00:14:19,049 --> 00:14:25,439
much preferred being with men in diamond
253
00:14:22,649 --> 00:14:28,679
lil she sang the rather suggestive song
254
00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:30,690
Frankie and Johnny and spoke the line
255
00:14:28,679 --> 00:14:39,870
that would become identified with her
256
00:14:30,690 --> 00:14:43,050
further the search for the elusive image
257
00:14:39,870 --> 00:14:45,509
was over Donald lil was the culmination
258
00:14:43,049 --> 00:14:50,000
of all the characteristics that may had
259
00:14:45,509 --> 00:14:53,069
found in nearly 30 years of vaudeville
260
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:57,419
when she came across the material that
261
00:14:53,070 --> 00:15:02,400
became the basis for diamond lil this is
262
00:14:57,419 --> 00:15:05,579
where she got her frame work everything
263
00:15:02,399 --> 00:15:09,659
came together and she was 35 by that
264
00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:11,220
time she had developed this wonderful
265
00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:15,000
way of quips
266
00:15:11,220 --> 00:15:20,210
and spontaneous lines and by putting it
267
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:26,009
in an 1890s framework this gave her some
268
00:15:20,210 --> 00:15:29,310
distance and the whole aiming started to
269
00:15:26,009 --> 00:15:32,720
come together and this was where she had
270
00:15:29,309 --> 00:15:36,119
her really great big success of people
271
00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:38,870
took her seriously as she always said
272
00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:40,830
she said I'm not a sex symbol I'm a sex
273
00:15:38,870 --> 00:15:45,029
personality which I thought was a very
274
00:15:40,830 --> 00:15:47,879
astute distinction
275
00:15:45,029 --> 00:15:52,199
and this is where the beginning of the
276
00:15:47,879 --> 00:15:54,269
Mae West image emerged diamond lil
277
00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:58,440
opened on Broadway at the Royal Theatre
278
00:15:54,269 --> 00:16:01,199
on April 9th 1928 and ran for 176
279
00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:04,110
performances and then went on a highly
280
00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:06,980
successful tour successful revivals
281
00:16:04,110 --> 00:16:09,960
would follow for over the next 30 years
282
00:16:06,980 --> 00:16:11,159
in her autobiography goodness had
283
00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:14,460
nothing to do with it
284
00:16:11,159 --> 00:16:18,360
Mae wrote diamond lil I'm her and she's
285
00:16:14,460 --> 00:16:20,639
me and were each other she added lil and
286
00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:24,360
I in my various characterizations
287
00:16:20,639 --> 00:16:29,879
climbed the ladder of success wrong by
288
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:32,490
wrong in 1930 came up low that staggered
289
00:16:29,879 --> 00:16:35,759
Mae and closed diamond lil in Los
290
00:16:32,490 --> 00:16:38,789
Angeles her beloved mother Tilly became
291
00:16:35,759 --> 00:16:42,299
ill may cancel the tour and rushed home
292
00:16:38,789 --> 00:16:45,120
to be with her but she died Mae said of
293
00:16:42,299 --> 00:16:47,909
this experience her death was the
294
00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:49,379
greatest shock and deepest sorrow of my
295
00:16:47,909 --> 00:16:52,688
life
296
00:16:49,379 --> 00:16:58,509
father and another man had to hold me as
297
00:16:52,688 --> 00:17:00,519
I howled for self-destruction finally
298
00:16:58,509 --> 00:17:02,949
she returned to work in a place she had
299
00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:05,759
written based on her own novel babe
300
00:17:02,948 --> 00:17:08,619
gordon retitled the constant sinner
301
00:17:05,759 --> 00:17:12,759
again may played a prostitute with a
302
00:17:08,619 --> 00:17:15,338
heart of gold it would be May's final
303
00:17:12,759 --> 00:17:18,129
Broadway show for many years talking
304
00:17:15,338 --> 00:17:20,408
pictures had arrived the concept of
305
00:17:18,130 --> 00:17:23,380
filmmaking was turned upside down
306
00:17:20,409 --> 00:17:26,140
no more title cards and exaggerated
307
00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:28,990
action the movie moguls wanted actors
308
00:17:26,140 --> 00:17:31,750
and actresses that had voices and maze
309
00:17:28,990 --> 00:17:35,829
certainly had that and a lot of other
310
00:17:31,750 --> 00:17:36,970
things so in 1932 when Paramount
311
00:17:35,829 --> 00:17:41,259
Pictures Cole
312
00:17:36,970 --> 00:17:44,589
Mae said should think about it this is
313
00:17:41,259 --> 00:17:47,859
one thing to be a stage star even tour
314
00:17:44,589 --> 00:17:49,119
all the key cities of America but it's
315
00:17:47,859 --> 00:17:51,459
another thing when you have the
316
00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:54,398
tremendous access of the silver screen
317
00:17:51,460 --> 00:17:56,110
and neighborhood theaters and movie
318
00:17:54,398 --> 00:18:00,579
palaces all over the country all over
319
00:17:56,109 --> 00:18:04,909
the world and this is where I think she
320
00:18:00,579 --> 00:18:07,980
really had her big lasting impact
321
00:18:04,910 --> 00:18:10,440
in June of that year she and her manager
322
00:18:07,980 --> 00:18:10,980
Jim Timoney boarded a train for the West
323
00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,940
Coast
324
00:18:10,980 --> 00:18:17,670
it was bye-bye New York City California
325
00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:25,990
here I come
326
00:18:17,670 --> 00:18:25,990
[Music]
327
00:18:28,589 --> 00:18:39,269
[Music]
328
00:18:37,349 --> 00:18:41,939
from the moment the train pulled into
329
00:18:39,269 --> 00:18:46,649
the station may felt as if she had
330
00:18:41,940 --> 00:18:49,350
entered another reality Hollywood in
331
00:18:46,648 --> 00:18:52,349
1932 was not the Hollywood that it is
332
00:18:49,349 --> 00:18:54,599
today it was still a little town in many
333
00:18:52,349 --> 00:18:57,629
ways and the movie industry was just
334
00:18:54,599 --> 00:19:01,500
beginning to turn itself into a colossus
335
00:18:57,630 --> 00:19:03,600
there was sunshine and palm trees there
336
00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:05,759
were beautiful people on the streets and
337
00:19:03,599 --> 00:19:09,259
there were studios in Hollywood where
338
00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:12,889
they actually made motion pictures
339
00:19:09,259 --> 00:19:12,889
paramount was one of them
340
00:19:13,039 --> 00:19:17,339
paramount had secured an apartment for
341
00:19:15,509 --> 00:19:20,819
May that was only a mile from the studio
342
00:19:17,339 --> 00:19:23,659
it was called the Ravenswood Mae
343
00:19:20,819 --> 00:19:25,889
approved it reminded her of New York
344
00:19:23,660 --> 00:19:28,110
little did she know at the time that
345
00:19:25,890 --> 00:19:32,610
this would be her main residence for the
346
00:19:28,109 --> 00:19:35,159
rest of her life some in Hollywood were
347
00:19:32,609 --> 00:19:37,589
intrigued with Mae but others like
348
00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:40,410
gossip columnist Louella Parsons were
349
00:19:37,589 --> 00:19:44,909
skeptical she wanted to take the big
350
00:19:40,410 --> 00:19:46,380
Broadway star down a notch or two when
351
00:19:44,910 --> 00:19:48,450
she first came to Hollywood Louella
352
00:19:46,380 --> 00:19:52,200
Parsons interviewed her and she says
353
00:19:48,450 --> 00:19:54,120
well how do you think the theater
354
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:56,910
audience is going to accept you you know
355
00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:58,979
you're a Broadway star and she says well
356
00:19:56,910 --> 00:20:00,930
so that they're paying 40 or 50 dollars
357
00:19:58,980 --> 00:20:02,519
a ticket to see me in the stage I think
358
00:20:00,930 --> 00:20:06,509
they'll pay two bits to see me in the
359
00:20:02,519 --> 00:20:09,000
screen after her first picture
360
00:20:06,509 --> 00:20:11,390
night after night which starred her old
361
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:14,250
friend from the stage George Raft
362
00:20:11,390 --> 00:20:16,900
audiences gladly shelled out more than
363
00:20:14,250 --> 00:20:21,068
two bits to see me again
364
00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:21,069
[Music]
365
00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:30,870
night after night was a hit
366
00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:32,879
Studio Chief Adolph Zukor said it
367
00:20:30,869 --> 00:20:35,389
brought Paramount back from the brink of
368
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,390
bankruptcy
369
00:20:36,769 --> 00:20:41,480
although may only received fourth
370
00:20:39,170 --> 00:20:43,400
billing in the picture it was clear that
371
00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:48,559
it was her presence that brought an
372
00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:51,950
otherwise dead movie to life she had a
373
00:20:48,559 --> 00:20:55,490
small part in it but she made it the
374
00:20:51,950 --> 00:20:58,279
focus of the picture I believe she had a
375
00:20:55,490 --> 00:21:02,420
scene with a character actress called
376
00:20:58,279 --> 00:21:05,059
Alison Skipworth and a Miss Skipworth
377
00:21:02,420 --> 00:21:07,220
was furious when the scene was over
378
00:21:05,059 --> 00:21:11,929
because she felt that she was left in
379
00:21:07,220 --> 00:21:20,180
the background and it was her scene do
380
00:21:11,930 --> 00:21:23,390
you believe in love everyone agreed Mae
381
00:21:20,180 --> 00:21:25,880
stole the picture George Raft who had
382
00:21:23,390 --> 00:21:31,090
recommended Mae for the part laughed and
383
00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:31,090
said Mae stole everything but the camera
384
00:21:31,378 --> 00:21:38,288
her second picture was based on maze
385
00:21:34,028 --> 00:21:40,089
play diamond lil they had to change the
386
00:21:38,288 --> 00:21:40,990
name because they didn't take diamond
387
00:21:40,089 --> 00:21:43,058
they'll sounded a good
388
00:21:40,990 --> 00:21:45,519
the original working title was ruby red
389
00:21:43,058 --> 00:21:49,148
and then they changed it to she done him
390
00:21:45,519 --> 00:21:50,440
wrong and that's the movie first movie
391
00:21:49,148 --> 00:21:52,589
with Cary Grant
392
00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:55,629
[Music]
393
00:21:52,589 --> 00:21:59,019
she done him wrong was a big success and
394
00:21:55,628 --> 00:22:02,498
may was an even bigger one the public
395
00:21:59,019 --> 00:22:05,710
loved her and so did Maremma she was a
396
00:22:02,499 --> 00:22:07,740
movie star and acted accordingly
397
00:22:05,710 --> 00:22:10,690
[Music]
398
00:22:07,740 --> 00:22:12,940
her talent made her seem ten feet tall
399
00:22:10,690 --> 00:22:16,058
but in reality she was just under five
400
00:22:12,940 --> 00:22:19,929
feet so to be on the safe side she wore
401
00:22:16,058 --> 00:22:21,308
7 inch heels under her long dresses the
402
00:22:19,929 --> 00:22:23,409
last time anyone saw her legs
403
00:22:21,308 --> 00:22:27,450
professionally was when she played a
404
00:22:23,409 --> 00:22:27,450
lion tamer in I'm no angel
405
00:22:28,130 --> 00:22:34,360
I know angel was May's third movie and
406
00:22:31,069 --> 00:22:37,009
Cary Grant was once again her co-star
407
00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:40,099
stories circulated that the two had an
408
00:22:37,009 --> 00:22:43,400
affair if they didn't everyone wanted to
409
00:22:40,099 --> 00:22:45,079
think they did just how main Carey ended
410
00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:50,600
up together in the movies depends upon
411
00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:54,710
who is telling the story she was in the
412
00:22:50,599 --> 00:22:58,219
car going I believe to her set when she
413
00:22:54,710 --> 00:23:00,140
said stop the cop and she was looking
414
00:22:58,220 --> 00:23:04,600
through the window and she said who's
415
00:23:00,140 --> 00:23:07,730
that now that's a good-looking guy
416
00:23:04,599 --> 00:23:10,009
that's the guy I want for my picture my
417
00:23:07,730 --> 00:23:16,220
next picture and that's how Cary Grant's
418
00:23:10,009 --> 00:23:18,519
career was born the night of the big
419
00:23:16,220 --> 00:23:21,380
Hollywood premiere for I'm no angel in
420
00:23:18,519 --> 00:23:24,769
1934 at Sid Grauman's Chinese Theater
421
00:23:21,380 --> 00:23:29,020
was a gala affair all the stars came out
422
00:23:24,769 --> 00:23:29,019
the brightest being made
423
00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:41,900
I'm no angel boss I didn't call the lab
424
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,900
no angel for nothing
425
00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:52,250
May was a good businesswoman she made
426
00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,470
personal appearances at movie houses
427
00:23:52,250 --> 00:23:56,650
throughout the country plugged her
428
00:23:54,470 --> 00:24:02,690
movies and the box office receipts
429
00:23:56,650 --> 00:24:05,150
soared as the box office revenue on her
430
00:24:02,690 --> 00:24:06,140
pictures climbed so did Mays personal
431
00:24:05,150 --> 00:24:08,990
finances
432
00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:12,380
she had renegotiated her contract with
433
00:24:08,990 --> 00:24:14,679
Paramount for 300,000 a picture a share
434
00:24:12,380 --> 00:24:18,190
of the profits and an additional
435
00:24:14,679 --> 00:24:21,440
$100,000 for her writing services by
436
00:24:18,190 --> 00:24:25,250
1935 she had the highest reported income
437
00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:26,519
of any woman in America and they did not
438
00:24:25,250 --> 00:24:30,660
squander her money
439
00:24:26,519 --> 00:24:33,490
[Music]
440
00:24:30,660 --> 00:24:36,130
she was very good with finance
441
00:24:33,490 --> 00:24:38,769
she was very good with investing her
442
00:24:36,130 --> 00:24:43,090
money she knew to the dime practically
443
00:24:38,769 --> 00:24:44,430
every penny she had where it was etc she
444
00:24:43,089 --> 00:24:47,799
knew a lot of things that most men
445
00:24:44,430 --> 00:24:50,070
really controlled but she controlled it
446
00:24:47,799 --> 00:24:53,319
for herself and built herself a vast
447
00:24:50,069 --> 00:24:55,059
real-estate empire that provided her
448
00:24:53,319 --> 00:24:55,480
with a great deal of money to the very
449
00:24:55,059 --> 00:24:57,179
end
450
00:24:55,480 --> 00:25:00,180
she never really had to worry about
451
00:24:57,180 --> 00:25:00,180
finances
452
00:25:01,750 --> 00:25:07,210
she had large parcels of land in the San
453
00:25:04,509 --> 00:25:09,879
Fernando Valley and a ranch there where
454
00:25:07,210 --> 00:25:12,009
her sister Beverly lived she had a beach
455
00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,680
house in Santa Monica where she often
456
00:25:12,009 --> 00:25:17,829
entertained but her real home remained
457
00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:23,920
her beloved Ravenswood apartment Mae
458
00:25:17,829 --> 00:25:28,000
thought it was cozy it's a small
459
00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:30,970
apartment in or two bedrooms and of
460
00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:32,950
course her famous boudoir with the the
461
00:25:30,970 --> 00:25:36,700
mirrored over the ceiling at all it was
462
00:25:32,950 --> 00:25:41,100
all ultra ultra LOUIE LOUIE she had baby
463
00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:44,860
grand piano which had sort of like
464
00:25:41,099 --> 00:25:47,469
fraggin or or Bouchet a kind of
465
00:25:44,859 --> 00:25:49,359
paintings on the side the room was very
466
00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:51,759
elegant it was an it was everything was
467
00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:54,219
white on white and it was but it was
468
00:25:51,759 --> 00:25:56,140
actually sort of cream I was very
469
00:25:54,220 --> 00:25:58,660
flattered all the lighting everything
470
00:25:56,140 --> 00:26:01,390
was very flattering but it was a perfect
471
00:25:58,660 --> 00:26:03,370
setting for her you know but it was but
472
00:26:01,390 --> 00:26:08,620
it was comfortable you sat down on the
473
00:26:03,369 --> 00:26:12,159
couch and it was comfortable as to her
474
00:26:08,619 --> 00:26:13,809
love life Mae kept everyone guessing she
475
00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:16,870
led people to believe that she had an
476
00:26:13,809 --> 00:26:20,049
infinite capacity for men on screen and
477
00:26:16,869 --> 00:26:23,169
off the writer F scott Fitzgerald said
478
00:26:20,049 --> 00:26:26,889
in a world of Garbo's Barrymore's
479
00:26:23,170 --> 00:26:29,560
Harlow's Valentino's and Clara bows Mae
480
00:26:26,890 --> 00:26:33,310
West is the only type with an ironic
481
00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:38,639
edge a comic spark that takes on a more
482
00:26:33,309 --> 00:26:38,639
cosmopolitan case of life's enjoyments
483
00:26:39,009 --> 00:26:45,019
this enjoyment of life that may shared
484
00:26:42,619 --> 00:26:47,989
with her audiences put her into the
485
00:26:45,019 --> 00:26:54,038
forefront of sexual emancipation for
486
00:26:47,990 --> 00:26:57,788
women named West is very honest about
487
00:26:54,038 --> 00:27:02,329
that that a woman can have the same
488
00:26:57,788 --> 00:27:06,109
sexual appetites as a man as far they're
489
00:27:02,329 --> 00:27:08,058
just perfectly natural and that she
490
00:27:06,109 --> 00:27:14,839
could even be the aggressor in the
491
00:27:08,058 --> 00:27:18,888
situation and she can have a romance
492
00:27:14,839 --> 00:27:22,428
with somebody outside of wedlock and not
493
00:27:18,888 --> 00:27:24,979
be damned perdition for it
494
00:27:22,429 --> 00:27:28,249
all this was really quite daring in
495
00:27:24,980 --> 00:27:30,259
popular entertainment Ruby I must have
496
00:27:28,249 --> 00:27:32,808
you your golden hair your fascinating
497
00:27:30,259 --> 00:27:36,829
eyes your luring smile and lovely arms
498
00:27:32,808 --> 00:27:38,418
of your form divine wait a minute what
499
00:27:36,829 --> 00:27:41,808
is this a proposal he had taken
500
00:27:38,419 --> 00:27:44,240
inventory her provocative but often
501
00:27:41,808 --> 00:27:46,398
subtle manner of presentation drove the
502
00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:49,519
self-appointed censors and religious
503
00:27:46,398 --> 00:27:55,319
zealots into a frenzy it wasn't so much
504
00:27:49,519 --> 00:27:59,730
what she said but rather how she said it
505
00:27:55,319 --> 00:28:01,579
May was 42 years old worldly seductive
506
00:27:59,730 --> 00:28:04,099
and desirable
507
00:28:01,579 --> 00:28:07,189
she struck a responsive chord with the
508
00:28:04,099 --> 00:28:09,949
public audiences loved her for telling
509
00:28:07,190 --> 00:28:12,230
it like it is the Hollywood censors
510
00:28:09,950 --> 00:28:16,249
reigning supreme at the production code
511
00:28:12,230 --> 00:28:18,399
offices didn't they stood poised with
512
00:28:16,249 --> 00:28:21,690
their scissors waiting to cut Mays next
513
00:28:18,398 --> 00:28:33,078
even vaguely suggestive scene
514
00:28:21,690 --> 00:28:33,078
[Music]
515
00:28:35,079 --> 00:28:44,808
[Music]
516
00:28:42,368 --> 00:28:48,470
may would make four more pictures for
517
00:28:44,808 --> 00:28:50,569
paramount go into town Klondike Annie go
518
00:28:48,470 --> 00:28:53,509
west young man and everyday is the
519
00:28:50,569 --> 00:28:59,089
holiday all between the years of 1935
520
00:28:53,509 --> 00:29:02,360
and 1938 she became one of the
521
00:28:59,089 --> 00:29:05,418
best-known women in the world her movies
522
00:29:02,359 --> 00:29:11,209
had enormous influence on society women
523
00:29:05,419 --> 00:29:15,350
sat up and took notice so did the senses
524
00:29:11,210 --> 00:29:19,440
it seems to me that every 10 20 years
525
00:29:15,349 --> 00:29:23,939
somebody comes along from Washington who
526
00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:29,970
says Americans should not be doing this
527
00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:35,190
we need greater morality May believed in
528
00:29:29,970 --> 00:29:37,980
freedom of everything she never liked
529
00:29:35,190 --> 00:29:41,730
censorship she would never believe in
530
00:29:37,980 --> 00:29:46,490
censorship they thought that whatever
531
00:29:41,730 --> 00:29:50,099
she did on stage the material she wrote
532
00:29:46,490 --> 00:29:57,029
her Hollywood productions that there was
533
00:29:50,099 --> 00:29:59,428
never anything really bad in 1937 May
534
00:29:57,029 --> 00:30:01,619
appeared on the chase and Sanborn radio
535
00:29:59,429 --> 00:30:03,000
show with Edgar Bergen and Charlie
536
00:30:01,619 --> 00:30:09,989
McCarthy
537
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:12,000
she played Eve to don amici's adam time
538
00:30:09,990 --> 00:30:13,650
I told you a thing it soon ever since
539
00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,909
creation I've done nothing but playing
540
00:30:13,650 --> 00:30:17,100
double solitaire
541
00:30:14,909 --> 00:30:20,070
thus customers shut me down well we've
542
00:30:17,099 --> 00:30:22,529
got a nice place here that's too much
543
00:30:20,069 --> 00:30:23,668
well I'm not complaining but I want
544
00:30:22,529 --> 00:30:25,918
something that happened a little
545
00:30:23,669 --> 00:30:27,538
excitement a little adventure the girls
546
00:30:25,919 --> 00:30:33,480
that I have a little fun once in a while
547
00:30:27,538 --> 00:30:35,429
there's no future mother a fig tree for
548
00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:39,750
this remark the network executives
549
00:30:35,429 --> 00:30:42,210
banned me from radio and will haze czar
550
00:30:39,750 --> 00:30:44,548
of motion picture censors told
551
00:30:42,210 --> 00:30:47,750
Washington that Hollywood would police
552
00:30:44,548 --> 00:30:51,059
themselves and they were as zealous
553
00:30:47,750 --> 00:30:54,240
especially with maze scripts
554
00:30:51,059 --> 00:30:56,789
every day's a holiday released in 1938
555
00:30:54,240 --> 00:31:00,870
was the first picture to lose money for
556
00:30:56,789 --> 00:31:03,569
Parramatta the censors had their way May
557
00:31:00,869 --> 00:31:07,009
tried to please them she cut or changed
558
00:31:03,569 --> 00:31:10,829
scene after scene and the film failed
559
00:31:07,009 --> 00:31:13,650
she left paramount and ultimately agreed
560
00:31:10,829 --> 00:31:17,339
to make a picture for Universal what
561
00:31:13,650 --> 00:31:20,610
emerged in 1940 was the great classic my
562
00:31:17,339 --> 00:31:25,129
little chickadee which United May and WC
563
00:31:20,609 --> 00:31:25,129
Fields in a spoof of the Western film
564
00:31:25,970 --> 00:31:31,740
would you mind if I avail myself the
565
00:31:29,039 --> 00:31:33,569
second helping compromising me she
566
00:31:31,740 --> 00:31:36,329
didn't want any of the leading men to
567
00:31:33,569 --> 00:31:39,359
kiss her she really wanted to feel that
568
00:31:36,329 --> 00:31:43,799
she had the freedom of a woman not being
569
00:31:39,359 --> 00:31:45,899
possessed by any one person May's desire
570
00:31:43,799 --> 00:31:48,960
for freedom found her moving from one
571
00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:51,240
affair to the next apart from show
572
00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:53,990
business her reason for being was a
573
00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:57,269
secret she did not share with her public
574
00:31:53,990 --> 00:32:00,120
she became interested in ESP and psychic
575
00:31:57,269 --> 00:32:02,430
phenomenon she would often hold evenings
576
00:32:00,119 --> 00:32:05,089
of psychic readings for friends in the
577
00:32:02,430 --> 00:32:07,070
reception room of the Ravenswood
578
00:32:05,089 --> 00:32:12,740
perhaps she was looking for something
579
00:32:07,069 --> 00:32:18,888
beyond the footlights and her interest
580
00:32:12,740 --> 00:32:21,710
in psychics and the world beyond really
581
00:32:18,888 --> 00:32:24,229
became a whole world for herself I am
582
00:32:21,710 --> 00:32:27,889
positive that there was this other side
583
00:32:24,230 --> 00:32:30,829
of me may the little girl may the
584
00:32:27,888 --> 00:32:33,229
private private person that probably no
585
00:32:30,829 --> 00:32:35,778
one ever saw when somebody gave her a
586
00:32:33,230 --> 00:32:40,429
good reading on a number of occasions I
587
00:32:35,778 --> 00:32:42,109
saw a very happy smiling face so it was
588
00:32:40,429 --> 00:32:44,538
something that somebody said that
589
00:32:42,109 --> 00:32:48,918
obviously gave her a moment of joy
590
00:32:44,538 --> 00:32:53,359
beyond that which she attained listening
591
00:32:48,919 --> 00:32:55,490
to the clapping of an audience what was
592
00:32:53,359 --> 00:32:59,599
to be May's final picture for many years
593
00:32:55,490 --> 00:33:01,909
was released in 1943 the Heat's on for
594
00:32:59,599 --> 00:33:04,248
Columbia Pictures was a musical
595
00:33:01,909 --> 00:33:07,369
extravaganza of sorts which presented
596
00:33:04,249 --> 00:33:11,118
May with a new contemporary look the
597
00:33:07,368 --> 00:33:13,908
picture died at the box office her
598
00:33:11,118 --> 00:33:16,398
career was her life and her one true
599
00:33:13,909 --> 00:33:18,499
love and when her movie career slowed
600
00:33:16,398 --> 00:33:23,748
she returned to Broadway with her famous
601
00:33:18,499 --> 00:33:26,600
creation diamond lil she got the very
602
00:33:23,749 --> 00:33:31,509
bright natural idea of reviving diamond
603
00:33:26,599 --> 00:33:35,538
lil in the late 40s and that was a big
604
00:33:31,509 --> 00:33:38,480
critical and commercial tryouts she took
605
00:33:35,538 --> 00:33:40,609
it to London she toured all over the
606
00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:42,950
country this is the beginning where
607
00:33:40,609 --> 00:33:47,240
people realized that this is a great
608
00:33:42,950 --> 00:33:51,019
American institution here on February
609
00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:53,720
5th 1949 diamond lil opened at the
610
00:33:51,019 --> 00:33:58,878
Coronet Theatre in New York she took it
611
00:33:53,720 --> 00:34:01,669
on tour until November of 1951 she
612
00:33:58,878 --> 00:34:04,158
returned to radio after an absence of 13
613
00:34:01,669 --> 00:34:07,429
years as a guest on Perry Como's
614
00:34:04,159 --> 00:34:10,639
Chesterfield supper club this time the
615
00:34:07,429 --> 00:34:15,039
Bluenose censors didn't interfere the
616
00:34:10,639 --> 00:34:17,599
sketch comeƶ and juliet was a
617
00:34:15,039 --> 00:34:20,599
[Music]
618
00:34:17,599 --> 00:34:23,519
wherefore art thou
619
00:34:20,599 --> 00:34:27,079
down here in yonder orchard below your
620
00:34:23,519 --> 00:34:27,079
balcony why don't you come up
621
00:34:30,110 --> 00:34:38,250
in 1954 amazed dear friend and longtime
622
00:34:34,079 --> 00:34:41,429
manager James Timoney died he had been
623
00:34:38,250 --> 00:34:42,090
with her for 38 years her link to the
624
00:34:41,429 --> 00:34:44,820
past
625
00:34:42,090 --> 00:34:48,120
her early days in vaudeville she would
626
00:34:44,820 --> 00:34:49,710
miss him tremendously but life went on
627
00:34:48,119 --> 00:34:52,918
[Music]
628
00:34:49,710 --> 00:34:55,500
the same year May pioneered a nightclub
629
00:34:52,918 --> 00:34:58,409
act that would turn the tables on the
630
00:34:55,500 --> 00:35:00,838
traditional Vegas Villa fare she
631
00:34:58,409 --> 00:35:03,328
surrounded herself with mr. America
632
00:35:00,838 --> 00:35:06,328
types and invited the women in the
633
00:35:03,329 --> 00:35:09,740
audience to AH deled the boys the way
634
00:35:06,329 --> 00:35:11,940
men had traditionally boggled the girls
635
00:35:09,739 --> 00:35:16,459
with the nightclub act because she
636
00:35:11,940 --> 00:35:20,099
thought you know if I just have myself
637
00:35:16,460 --> 00:35:21,510
the women our income and so she said
638
00:35:20,099 --> 00:35:23,818
I've got to have something in that show
639
00:35:21,510 --> 00:35:25,619
that that's gonna bring the women in and
640
00:35:23,818 --> 00:35:29,190
that's when she said I'll have men you
641
00:35:25,619 --> 00:35:30,750
know muscle man and it's why she did and
642
00:35:29,190 --> 00:35:35,068
she's probably the first one ever do
643
00:35:30,750 --> 00:35:39,630
that may and her Adonis's set box-office
644
00:35:35,068 --> 00:35:43,318
records in Las Vegas it was 1954 she was
645
00:35:39,630 --> 00:35:49,099
almost 61 years old and still packing
646
00:35:43,318 --> 00:35:49,099
them in once again she was on the top
647
00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:58,558
[Music]
648
00:36:01,679 --> 00:36:09,699
[Music]
649
00:36:05,130 --> 00:36:14,910
you have a wonderful future I see a man
650
00:36:09,699 --> 00:36:20,169
in your life what only one may like
651
00:36:14,909 --> 00:36:22,629
muscle men just unique different big
652
00:36:20,170 --> 00:36:26,200
guys and she loved to be around handsome
653
00:36:22,630 --> 00:36:27,940
pupils and one day I did ask her I said
654
00:36:26,199 --> 00:36:30,849
did you ever have an affair with all of
655
00:36:27,940 --> 00:36:33,460
these men that you've met and she gave
656
00:36:30,849 --> 00:36:36,579
me one of those looks and she said there
657
00:36:33,460 --> 00:36:41,260
was some things girl you'll never ask a
658
00:36:36,579 --> 00:36:44,049
lady of balance part of the Mae West
659
00:36:41,260 --> 00:36:47,470
myth was built around the number of men
660
00:36:44,050 --> 00:36:50,110
in her life early in the century Frank
661
00:36:47,469 --> 00:36:55,000
Wallace had married her but that didn't
662
00:36:50,110 --> 00:36:58,059
last she was close with gangster Owney
663
00:36:55,000 --> 00:37:01,300
Madden owner of the famous Harlem cotton
664
00:36:58,059 --> 00:37:03,610
club at the Cotton Club may met
665
00:37:01,300 --> 00:37:06,310
orchestra leader Duke Ellington and
666
00:37:03,610 --> 00:37:08,890
would later cross sensitive color lines
667
00:37:06,309 --> 00:37:12,579
when she put him in her movie Belle of
668
00:37:08,889 --> 00:37:15,699
the 90s like all of the men in her life
669
00:37:12,579 --> 00:37:20,170
just how close Mae was with Gangster
670
00:37:15,699 --> 00:37:25,839
Madden is a mystery I can hear mace say
671
00:37:20,170 --> 00:37:30,460
when she spoke of owning she said oh so
672
00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:35,860
always with the parole so vicious so
673
00:37:30,460 --> 00:37:36,579
sweet and she was very impressed for the
674
00:37:35,860 --> 00:37:39,970
fascism
675
00:37:36,579 --> 00:37:42,670
you know he took about 26 sluts and
676
00:37:39,969 --> 00:37:44,379
lived to tell the story and she said
677
00:37:42,670 --> 00:37:46,389
every couple of months aids have to go
678
00:37:44,380 --> 00:37:51,820
the hospital I'd dig another bullet out
679
00:37:46,389 --> 00:37:54,400
of him the final man in her life was
680
00:37:51,820 --> 00:37:56,950
Paul Novak who had worked in her act in
681
00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:59,340
Las Vegas he lived with her at the
682
00:37:56,949 --> 00:38:01,319
Ravenswood and would be there for me
683
00:37:59,340 --> 00:38:04,800
until the end
684
00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:08,110
for all the years that I knew made
685
00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:12,519
personally the man in her life was Paul
686
00:38:08,110 --> 00:38:16,660
Novak and I never met anybody who was
687
00:38:12,519 --> 00:38:19,949
ever so kind so gracious so good who
688
00:38:16,659 --> 00:38:24,549
loved this woman more than life itself
689
00:38:19,949 --> 00:38:28,779
he adored her everything was done in the
690
00:38:24,550 --> 00:38:31,720
name of Mae West everything he had her
691
00:38:28,780 --> 00:38:34,360
on a pedestal that was so high I mean
692
00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:37,299
and he enjoyed her being there and
693
00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:44,019
needless to say she enjoyed being there
694
00:38:37,300 --> 00:38:46,000
too in 1959 Mae's autobiography goodness
695
00:38:44,019 --> 00:38:49,000
had nothing to do with it was published
696
00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:53,860
to great success one tends to forget
697
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:56,380
that Mae was an accomplished writer in
698
00:38:53,860 --> 00:38:58,510
that same year Mae appeared with Charles
699
00:38:56,380 --> 00:39:01,720
Collingswood on TVs highly rated
700
00:38:58,510 --> 00:39:03,820
primetime show person-to-person its
701
00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:06,459
specialty was visiting celebrities in
702
00:39:03,820 --> 00:39:09,430
their homes and conducting interviews as
703
00:39:06,460 --> 00:39:11,349
the camera followed Mae pointed out
704
00:39:09,429 --> 00:39:13,809
various things in her apartment for
705
00:39:11,349 --> 00:39:17,219
Charles when asked about the mirrors
706
00:39:13,809 --> 00:39:21,820
over her fabled canopy bed she said I
707
00:39:17,219 --> 00:39:28,569
like to see how I'm doing the show never
708
00:39:21,820 --> 00:39:31,420
aired now in her 70s Mae kept busy with
709
00:39:28,570 --> 00:39:33,250
a variety of activities she appeared on
710
00:39:31,420 --> 00:39:35,980
the red skeleton and the mr. edge
711
00:39:33,250 --> 00:39:40,380
television shows she continued to write
712
00:39:35,980 --> 00:39:40,380
and still enjoyed a night on the town
713
00:39:41,150 --> 00:39:48,150
and then it happened after being away
714
00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:51,539
from films for over 27 years at the age
715
00:39:48,150 --> 00:39:53,639
of 77 she was asked to play the part of
716
00:39:51,539 --> 00:39:56,489
big-time casting director
717
00:39:53,639 --> 00:39:59,269
Leticia Van Allen in the film version of
718
00:39:56,489 --> 00:40:02,369
the gore Vidal book Myra Breckinridge
719
00:39:59,269 --> 00:40:04,199
may had a lavish production number and
720
00:40:02,369 --> 00:40:06,960
received three hundred and fifty
721
00:40:04,199 --> 00:40:09,059
thousand dollars for her appearance she
722
00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:17,309
also got to act with the then reigning
723
00:40:09,059 --> 00:40:21,599
sex symbol Raquel Welch I mean have you
724
00:40:17,309 --> 00:40:23,969
any that I don't know about what about
725
00:40:21,599 --> 00:40:25,819
stunts they don't call you the queen of
726
00:40:23,969 --> 00:40:29,879
the casting couch for nothing
727
00:40:25,820 --> 00:40:34,320
Raquel Welch and may certainly did not
728
00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:37,230
get on and that to me was to be expected
729
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:38,970
I mean when you know that may doesn't
730
00:40:37,230 --> 00:40:42,389
enjoy being in competition with other
731
00:40:38,969 --> 00:40:45,329
women it would be very difficult for her
732
00:40:42,389 --> 00:40:48,629
to be in a movie with the so-called sex
733
00:40:45,329 --> 00:40:52,949
symbol of the 70s when she still
734
00:40:48,630 --> 00:40:56,700
considered her to be the sex symbol of
735
00:40:52,949 --> 00:41:00,079
life Myra Breckinridge was a colossal
736
00:40:56,699 --> 00:41:02,730
failure but May received good notices
737
00:41:00,079 --> 00:41:06,150
many thought she was dead and were
738
00:41:02,730 --> 00:41:08,400
surprised at her vitality May was 77
739
00:41:06,150 --> 00:41:09,930
years old and she wasn't even thinking
740
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,950
about retirement
741
00:41:09,929 --> 00:41:14,739
[Music]
742
00:41:11,949 --> 00:41:17,049
her final years were filled with honors
743
00:41:14,739 --> 00:41:20,709
she was named the sweetheart of Sigma
744
00:41:17,050 --> 00:41:23,080
Chi at USC the maskers club saluted her
745
00:41:20,710 --> 00:41:26,320
in Hollywood and there was one film left
746
00:41:23,079 --> 00:41:29,069
for her to do sextet based on her play
747
00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:29,070
of the same name
748
00:41:29,949 --> 00:41:37,849
in sextet Timothy Dalton was her leading
749
00:41:33,590 --> 00:41:42,590
man George Hamilton was guest Ringo
750
00:41:37,849 --> 00:41:44,569
Starr George Raft made a cameo
751
00:41:42,590 --> 00:41:49,640
appearance which you know that was his
752
00:41:44,570 --> 00:41:53,200
last film in her last film sextet
753
00:41:49,639 --> 00:41:57,789
premiered in Hollywood on March 2nd 1978
754
00:41:53,199 --> 00:41:57,789
may knew the film was less than perfect
755
00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:03,519
we got back it's the limousine after the
756
00:42:01,179 --> 00:42:05,500
opening I was looking out of my window
757
00:42:03,519 --> 00:42:06,608
on the left she was looking out of the
758
00:42:05,500 --> 00:42:09,460
window on her right
759
00:42:06,608 --> 00:42:12,929
suddenly she put her hand on mine and I
760
00:42:09,460 --> 00:42:15,159
did turn to her and she said Herbert
761
00:42:12,929 --> 00:42:20,649
that was yesterday
762
00:42:15,159 --> 00:42:23,588
now I must think about tomorrow May
763
00:42:20,650 --> 00:42:27,250
suffered a stroke on August 10th 1980
764
00:42:23,588 --> 00:42:29,019
and died on November the 22nd that her
765
00:42:27,250 --> 00:42:36,239
beloved Ravenswood apartment in
766
00:42:29,019 --> 00:42:40,989
Hollywood she was 87 years young to me
767
00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:48,038
Mae West is unique an American show
768
00:42:40,989 --> 00:42:50,739
business I think it could be arguable
769
00:42:48,039 --> 00:42:55,630
that there have been as great or even
770
00:42:50,739 --> 00:43:00,250
greater stars but I truly believe that
771
00:42:55,630 --> 00:43:02,769
no star had greater impact in the long
772
00:43:00,250 --> 00:43:07,349
run than Mae West Mae West was a
773
00:43:02,769 --> 00:43:07,349
one-woman sexual revolution
774
00:43:08,010 --> 00:43:15,030
but legacy is that she was a true
775
00:43:10,320 --> 00:43:18,180
original that when history is written
776
00:43:15,030 --> 00:43:22,650
she'll go down as being a true
777
00:43:18,179 --> 00:43:27,319
Emancipator for women and that till the
778
00:43:22,650 --> 00:43:32,610
end of time people will always remember
779
00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:36,150
some of those West witticisms her career
780
00:43:32,610 --> 00:43:38,190
had spanned an amazing 80 years from a
781
00:43:36,150 --> 00:43:41,010
confident little girl on amateur nights
782
00:43:38,190 --> 00:43:44,340
to one of the most famous and polished
783
00:43:41,010 --> 00:43:48,300
women performers in the world Mae West
784
00:43:44,340 --> 00:43:50,130
was perhaps the greatest sexual icon of
785
00:43:48,300 --> 00:43:53,160
the 20th century
786
00:43:50,130 --> 00:43:55,530
[Music]
787
00:43:53,159 --> 00:44:01,829
[Applause]
788
00:43:55,530 --> 00:44:01,830
[Music]
90613
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.