Mae West never won and Oscar, but her brand is more enduring than many who did. Today in 1979, she sold the bulk of her possessions at an auction held in Pontiac, Michigan. West, who was 84, had moved into an apartment and shipped 2,000 items, weighing 4,400 pounds from her Santa Monica home. Considering the mores of the times, she was the Lady Gaga / Madonna of her day, bucking the system, pressing the edge of the envelope and winning the admiration of Depression-era audiences in the process. She got her first movie contract at age 40, unheard of for a woman in the day. Wikipedia notes that, “When her cinematic career ended, she wrote books and plays and continued to perform in Las Vegas, in the United Kingdom, on radio and television and to record rock and roll albums. She was once asked about the various efforts to impede her career, to which she replied: ‘I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.'”
The secret of her success? She dialed into her audience and found a way to give them something unique that they wanted. Women of her day admired her liberation. Her ability to radiate allure was recognized by World War II pilots who named their life vests after her. She deployed brand across every medium of the day. One of the first true social media stars.
When she died, a little more than a year after the auction, she was still a worldwide brand. Careful investment advice made her independently wealthy but she never stopped working. Roger Ebert wrote, “Although her public image was often copied, it was an original when she created it. It basically took its form in her 1928 play ‘Diamond Lil.’ ‘I’m her, and she’s me,’ Miss West said, and made it a point to wear diamonds during public appearances. That’s how her autobiography got its title. Entering a nightclub dripping with diamonds, she heard a hat check girl exclaim, ‘Goodness! What diamonds.’ Her immortal reply: ‘Goodness had nothing to do with it’.”
Quick Takes:
Beverley Owen, the Original Marilyn on ‘The Munsters,’ Dies at 81. She played the role for the first 13 episodes. Pat Priest took over the role in for the rest of the series run . Marilyn was the one “normal” person in the family.. Or was she the only abnormal one? Guess it’s all how you look at it.
“What I Gave My Kid Instead of a Smart Phone ” via @Medium
Virgin’s Richard Branson on what Dr. Seuss can teach our kids / grandkids.
Meet Randy Thomas: The Oscar Host you didn’t see. Fred Jacobs writes about a “Hostless” Academy Awards. But was that really true? My wife said, “I really liked the woman announcer. She brought continuity without having to be funny. I didn’t miss the on-stage host.” Your thoughts?
Miss the Oscars? Here’s a complete list of who won.
Today In History:
1940, The first hockey telecast takes place on W2XBS, New York (Rangers vs Canadians).
1950 “Your Show of Shows” with Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca premieres on NBC Writers include Mel Brooks, Neil Simon & Woody Allen.
1956, Elvis Presley had his first national hit when ‘I Forgot To Remember To Forget‘ went to No.1 on the Billboard Country & Western chart.
1957, Buddy Holly recorded a new version of ‘That’ll Be The Day‘, at Norman Petty Recording Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. The title being taken from a phrase used by John Wayne in the film ‘The Searchers.’
1964, The Beatles finished recording their next single ‘Can’t Buy Me Love‘, at Abbey Road studios, London, (they had first recorded the song on 29 January 1964 at Path Marconi Studios in Paris). They also recorded the B-side, ‘You Can’t Do That‘ and another new song ‘I Should Have Known Better‘.
1964, Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay] TKOs Sonny Liston in 7 for his first world heavyweight championship title.
1995, At a private party for 1,200 select guests on the closing night of the Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament, Frank Sinatra sang before a live audience for the very last time. His closing song was ‘The Best is Yet to Come’.
Happy Birthday To:
(1913) Jim Backus, Actor (voice of Mr. Magoo) (d. 1989)
(1917) Anthony Burgess, essayist & short story writer (A Clockwork Orange) (d. 1993)
(1938) Diane Baker, Actress, in Hollywood Calif
(1943) George Harrison (d. 2001)
Much More Music:
1966, “Shake Me Wake Me” – Four Tops released this one in February and “Shake Me Wake Me” was nearing the top of it’s chart run this week in 1966. The On Top LP took advantage of the writing and production of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland and became one of the Tops most successful albums. (Video)
1968, “The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde” – Georgie Fame. Released as a single in after Fame saw the controversial Hollywood Film, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, the tune reached number one in the UK on in January, going Top 10 in the US in March. Extra credit if you remembered Georgie’s other hit, “Yeh, Yeh” from 1964. (Video)
1969, “Time of the Season” – Zombies – The Zombie cannon consists of three significant hits: 1964’s “She’s Not There“, Tell Her No” in 1965 and “Time of the Season” in 1968. Written by keyboard player Rod Argent (The “Hold Your Head Up” guy) and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in August 0f ’67. Columbia A&R man and former BS&T member, Al Kooper, convinced Argent to prioritize “Time of the Season” over the anti-war “Butcher’s Tale” which the band favored. (Video)
1972, “Living in the Past” – Jethro Tull. Another story about a tune that was released on the 1969 album Stand Up, but failed get traction until tour audiences fell in love with it. “Living in the Past” became a thing 3 years later, in 1972 when it became the title track of that year’s top 10 LP. (Video)
Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ~Mae West
One for the Road: “Weeds“, Brewer & Shipley’s second LP, was released in 1969. It was recorded at Golden State Studios in San Francisco and produced by Nick Gravenites under his the pseudonym “Nicky Gravy”. Weeds was a moderate success, the final track, Jim Pepper‘s “Witchi-Tai-To”, got a lot of FM radio play. Today’s trivia question: What was the name of the band that first released “Witchi-Tai-To”? Here’s the Answer. (Video)
