[Mae West]. 1959 Olympia SF (Serial Number 95-164099)....

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Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for:

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[Mae West]. 1959 Olympia SF (Serial Number 95-164099). 12 1/4" (L) x 12" (W) x 3 1/4" (H). Black ribbon. Normal wear from use.

One of the most controversial actresses of her era, Mae West rose to prominence through her sultry performances and witty double entendres. Born Mary Jane West, the performer made her first Broadway appearance at age eighteen in the 1911 revue A La Broadway. Though the show flopped, a favorable New York Times review of West launched her career in vaudeville. Soon after, West began writing and starring in risqué plays including Sex (1926) and The Drag (1927), the latter of which prominently featured homosexuality. Though West tried out the play in Connecticut and New Jersey, efforts to debut The Drag on Broadway were quashed by the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice.

Throughout her career, West took advantage of her sexuality both on- and off-screen. As an actress, West became known for her portrayal of women with questionable virtue and quick one-liners. Her legendary line "Come up and see me sometime" became so well known that for decades the phrase defined her in worldwide media. Her collaborations with the likes of Cary Grant and W.C. Fields are legendary. In her personal life, West was an avid proponent of gay rights and women's liberation. She was often censored and jailed for her opinions.

According to John West, Mae's nephew, the actress used this typewriter in her famous Ravenswood apartment in Los Angeles. West lived there for forty-eight years and was often photographed in the apartment. Accompanied by related ephemera.

Provenance: From The Soboroff Typewriter Collection

Auction Info

2023 December 15 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6280 (go to Auction Home page)

Auction Dates

December, 2023

15th Friday

Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7

Lot Tracking Activity: N/A

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Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for: $1,093.75

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