Miraculous Mae West

By: Cara Lunceford

Early Life• Born on August 17,

1893 in Brooklyn• Parents- Jakob and

Matilda Doelger• 2nd born of 4 children• Was considered an

‘average student’

Early Life• Was only a third-

grade graduate• At the age of 7, she

began performing• Said personality is

the most important thing to an actress’s success

• Married Frank Wallace on April 11, 1911

Beginning of Career and Films

• Became professional at 14 when she performed for Hal Clarendon Stock Company

• Secured a contract with Paramount Pictures in Hollywood in 1932

• 1st appearance in Night after Night

• Wrote the play Sex & was arrested

Beginning of Career and Films

• Prosecuted for ‘moral charges’• Known for her double meaning and sexy

quotes in films• Quote known for- “Come up and see me

some time.”• Had to avoid film censors trying to ban her

material

Awards and Recognitions

• Known as “Queen of the World” and “The Statue of Libido”

• Had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Her film She Done Him Wrong won an Academy Award

• Known as “The Baby Vamp”

Later Life• Holds a press conference to remove

Mickey Hargitay from her nightclub• George Raft declines role opposite her in It

Ain’t No Sin-because of too many close up shots

• She has to acknowledge her husband in a court suit filed by him

Later Life• Mae West and Frank

Wallace divorce on July 23, 1942

• Was not able to re-create the success of her early years

• Became ill after a 2nd stroke in September of 1980

• Died on November 22, 1980