Historic Whores with Old Pros: Mae West, Unapologetic Sex Symbol

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” —Mae West (1893 – 1980)

Mae West was an actress, writer, comic, and unapologetic sex symbol for the masses. She started self producing shows and enchanting audiences from a stage in her own backyard at the age of 5. She dominated every facet of the performing arts for eight decades, from Vaudeville to Broadway, Hollywood to the Vegas Strip. Mae West left an indelible mark on this nation’s imagination, carving out a space for sex workers through the characters she wrote and performed.

Born Mary Jane West in 1893, she was the oldest of three children born to John and Matilda West in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was a well-known prize fighter called “Battling Jack,” later becoming a private investigator. Her mother was a Bavarian immigrant who started sending her eldest, and favorite, child to singing and dancing lessons as soon as Mae could walk.

Mae West made her vaudeville debut at seven years old. She began singing and tap dancing at the Brooklyn Elk’s Club, and by age nine, she debuted at the Brooklyn Royal Theater as “Baby Mae,” with her rendition of the song, “Movin Day.” Legend has it that Baby Mae demanded, and received, a spotlight before she would begin her number. The audience reportedly roared with applause.

Mae West spent her teenage years performing with a Brooklyn stock company, and at age 18, she stepped onto Broadway. In 1918, she stole the show in Sometime, a Broadway revue, with a dance known as the ‘Shimmy.’ Her style of song and dance was undoubtedly influenced by Black vaudeville performers like Bert Williams. Historian Jill watts argues that Mae West always gave credit to and acknowledged Black culture and its influence on her work.

Hitting somewhat of a lull in her career, Mae’s mother encouraged her to write her own plays. In 1926, Mae’s first and perhaps most controversial play, Sex, debuted at Daly’s Theatre in Manhattan. Mae West starred in her show as Margy LaMont, a sex worker who wanted more in life. Newspapers refused to promote the show, but each performance — more than 300 shows — sold out. The play’s success raged on until the moral reformers had Mae West arrested in 1927 on charges of moral corruption and sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Mae West only served eight days and, upon release, began working on her second play, The Drag, which centered on ballroom culture in New York City. Her third play, Pleasure Man, led to her second moral corruption arrest, but this time she was acquitted. Her fourth play, Diamond Lil, exploded. Wholly financed by the sale of her diamond collection, she was able to take this play on a national tour. Mae West was now ready for the silver screen, and in the 1930s, Hollywood called.

In 1932, Mae West starred in Night After Night with a weekly salary of $5,000. Paramount studios purchased Diamond Lil, changed the title to She Done Him Wrong, and toned down some of the sex work themes. Mae West snagged Cary Grant for the leading part, which proved to be a breakout role for him. She Done Him Wrong remains the shortest film ever nominated for an Oscar.

For the next fifty years, Mae West remained in the public eye, fighting against censorship and for women’s rights. Her final film, Sextette, featured big stars including Alice Cooper and Ringo Starr. The film received poor reviews, but served as her last battle in a long war against censorship.

Mae West continued to turn heads until she died in 1980. She is buried in her family mausoleum in Brooklyn Forest Lawn Cemetery. Mae West is remembered by generations of comics, actresses, and sex workers. The character she created became an icon who continues to inspire people to live their sexiest life today, without shame.