JAKARTA - On April 9, 1927, legendary Broadway actress Mae West went backstage for a sex drama. There he meets a group of police officers who have gathered the cast and are ready to drag them before the law.
The cops are from the New York City Police Department's Deputy Office. Mae West and the rest of the Sex cast were then put in the police black van.
Mae West is a smart talker. He's astute as well as smart. Mae West is famous for some of the most suggestive million sharp sentences in film history.
As a screenwriter and screenwriter, Mae West wrote many of those dialogues herself. Mae West appeared in the show world before a career in Hollywood.
As her career struggles, she takes a bold step by writing a play, in which she plays a sex worker. Mae West probably knew Sex was going to be controversial.
At that time the performance culture of the United States (USA) was closely watched and censored. Nevertheless, the show doesn't really show much about sex and tells more about the power dynamics between men and women.
Despite the record from critics, the drama became a sensation that attracted many viewers. Sex's plot flows around a prostitute named Margy, including her love affair with a British naval officer and client, Gregg.
Sex also raises a bizarre affair involving a US millionaire. The story certainly caused a sensation. Conservative critics lamented the show. It gives a negative assessment almost universally.
The New York Times called Sex "a poor and incompetent show, cheaply produced and poorly performed." But, precisely thanks to that criticism the public flocked to fulfill their curiosity towards Sex.
Mae West TrialWhen Mae West was in court after the backstage raid, the judge asked if she was indeed Mae West. The star replied with his wit: Didn't you read the paper?
The courthouse turned into a press circus. Hundreds of people gathered outside the courthouse in hopes of getting autographs from Mae West.
On 19 April 1927, he was charged with adultery and conduct designed to damage the morale of young people. He was sentenced to ten days in a workhouse.
Mae West served her sentence on Welfare Island --now Roosevelt Island in New York, where she allegedly had dinner with the warden. Mae West was released two days early for behaving well.
For Mae West, the time spent in prison is comparable to every publicity she does. Media attention boosted his career significantly. Mae West says the only thing that bothers her is having to wear cotton underwear.
"Mae West knew that when she stepped on stage, she stepped not only as a character but as Mae West, a famous porngrapher who spent eight days in jail for lewd appearances," said cultural historian Marybeth Hamilton, interviewed in the film Mae West: Dirty Blonde.
"He was a very, very astute reader of his audience and a very astute reader of his own publicity." added Marybeth Hamilton.
After his release, Mae West immediately returned to work. He wrote The Drag, which discusses homosexuality and cross-dressing. However, the show never made it to Broadway because it was not approved by the New Yorkers.
The following year, a show called Diamond Lil was presented. Although controversial, the play made it to Broadway and its success propelled Mae West to hollywood stardom.
The beginning of Mae West's life
Originally named Mary Jane West, Mae West was born August 17, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York. Family members called her Mae from an early age.
Mae West is an aspiring German immigrant and actress. But her parents' disapproval of career choices led her dream to a more realistic profession as a garment worker.
But Mae West secretly leaves her tailor job. She began her career as a fashion model. After all, Mae West never really gave up on having a career in show business.
Mae West's father was a fighter known around the Brooklyn area as Battlin' Jack' West. Not because of his success in the ring. But because of his reputation in street fights.
Outside of official boxing matches, Jack fights in underground street fights or shows boxing prowess in paid fights at Coney Island Amusement Park. Then Jack works as a "special constable" tasked with protecting local businesses and crime bosses, before he decides to become a private detective.
Mae West fell badly while getting out of bed. That day in August 1980, Mae West was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Health tests confirmed Mae West suffered a stroke.
On September 18, 1980, Mae West suffered a second stroke that left her right body paralyzed. He later suffered from pneumonia. His condition shows some signs of stabilizing.
But the overall prognosis was good, and she went home for healing. On November 22, 1980, Mae West died at the age of 88. He was buried in Brooklyn, New York.
*Read more information about THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD or read other interesting writings from Putri Ainur Islam.
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