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
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