Mae West sings Opera

[Jewassicpark1]

Mae's mother's maiden name was Doelger. She was Irish on her Father's side, but German and Russian Jewish on her Mother's side.

[RealityCalling]

@bajaboyextra What her mother was is debatable. But she was German.

[bajaboyextra]

@RealityCalling When Mae told my '30s movie magazine her mother was a French corset model, she may have meant to say she modeled french corsets. Or maybe the deception was deliberate.

[bajaboyextra]

Mae told Beverly Sills that it was actually easier for her to sing in a high voice. Her father was an Irish boxer and her mother a French model. When she was 15, about 1907, she made $114 a week dancing in vaudeville.

[bajaboyextra]

Mae told Beverly Sills that it was actually easier for her to sing in a high voice. Her father was an Irish boxer and her mother a French model.

[rupepill]

Interesting to see and hear that Miss West was in good vocal company - her Samson here is the Metropolitan Opera tenor Armand Tokatyan.

[rupepill]

Delilah goes West, or the vice gets versa.

[gvt2u]

Mae West's success was not just because of her skills as a comedienne. She was a terrific actress. I wish that she had done real meaty acting roles when she got older, like character parts. I know that would have been impossible for her ego, but I bet she would have been great.

[61550LizziE]

Thanks for the input. Yes, I agree, there was and will only be ONE Mae West. And her comedic timing was impeccable.  I just saw some Madonna in her costume and feminine bawdiness, and heard some of Streisand in her voice. She's marvelous.

[LizziE61550]

Wow! I'm impressed! She must have set the bar for Madonna and perhaps even Barbra Streisand! She can also sing French with a pretty good accent!

[supremes70sstyle]

miss west was NOT trained for "grand opera" - her background before films & broadway was burlesque. mae was the consummate professional, & studied this aria with great determination. there will never be another like her..!!!!

[rupepill]

@supremes70sstyle You are right altogether. It was typical of Miss West's professional approach that she managed to perform this piece as she did - a very fine effort indeed.

[acuison1]

yeah, she is one of a kind. i've never seen anyone shatter a piece of beautiful music in so many pieces.

[dornroslein]

I remember when I first saw this movie and was so surprised to hear how good she was! And she keeps up her characteristic mixture of sexiness and comedy throughout! She never stops the wiggle and the eye rolling. I love her "Come here, Sammy!" The look on her face when she plays with his hair. She is the essence of Delilah! Mae West was one of a kind.

[barrymore]

She WAS trained for grand opera

[ASOBEtrainer]

I didn't know that.. I wish I knew someone that really knew her.. sometimes I feel as though I did, that's how much of an influence she has had on me. I feel she was not only a great woman, but a good one.

[rupepill]

@barrymore Trained for Grand Opera or for Grand ole Opry?

[RealityCalling]

@barrymore And you got that from?

[pigandbug]

ty so much for these!!