History Creator / MaeWest

Starting off -- like most stars in her time -- in vaudeville, she rapidly became notorious for her sexually risqué singing style. Her Broadway play, ''Sex'' (1927), caused so much scandal that the police arrested her and the entire cast. She barely spent a few days in jail while the press elevated her to national fame. Her next play, ''The Drag'' (1928) was never staged because the Society for the Prevention of Vice took offense of its homosexual themes.

By the time she became a movie star she was already 38 years old, but became an overnight success. Classic films like ''Night After Night'' (1932), ''Film/SheDoneHimWrong'' (1933), ''I'm No Angel'' (1933), ''Klondike Annie'' (1936) and ''Film/MyLittleChickadee'' (1940) featured West intimidating her co-actors with her witty and sexually risqué wisecracks and double entendres. She played the same part when appearing on radio shows. Creator/SalvadorDali designed a wood and satin sofa after her lips and during World War II Allied aircrew units called their inflatable life preserver jackets "Mae West", due to its resemblance to her bosom. Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaperelli formed the bottle for her perfume, "Shocking", after Mae's curvaceous dress form; a reference to her own reaction at seeing the form after it was delivered for custom dressmaking. She is even featured on the cover of Music/TheBeatles ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' album.

Mae West (August 17, 1893 -- November 22, 1980) was one of the most iconic and unlikely sex symbols of the early 20th century. Famous for her hourglass figure, sensual voice and cheeky DoubleEntendre she also became one of the most controversial film actors of all time.

By the time she became a movie star she was already 38 years old, but became an overnight success. Classic films like ''Night After Night'' (1932), ''Film/SheDoneHimWrong'' (1933), ''I'm No Angel'' (1933), ''Klondike Annie'' (1936) and ''My Little Chickadee'' (1940) featured West intimidating her co-actors with her witty and sexually risqué wisecracks and double entendres. She played the same part when appearing on radio shows. Creator/SalvadorDali designed a wood and satin sofa after her lips and during World War II Allied aircrew units called their inflatable life preserver jackets "Mae West", due to its resemblance to her bosom. Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaperelli formed the bottle for her perfume, "Shocking", after Mae's curvaceous dress form; a reference to her own reaction at seeing the form after it was delivered for custom dressmaking. She is even featured on the cover of Music/TheBeatles ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' album.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* GoKartingWithBowser: She was once arrested on obscenity charges and spend 10 days in jail. She proved so charming she [[RefugeInAudacity ended up having dinner with the warden]].

* CatchPhrase: "Why don't you come up some time and see me?", which is actually a MemeticMutation. The line's fame grew to eclipse who it was being delivered to (West's arguably more-famous costar Creator/CaryGrant) as well as its stinging second half: "Come on Wednesday; that's amateur night."

[[caption-width-right:338:Sure TVTropesWillRuinYourLife, but give her a chance first.]]

* AuthorsOfQuote: Many of which became synonymous with her personality.

* [[FairForItsDay Fair For Her Day]]: She supported gay rights in ''[[TheRoaringTwenties the 1920s]]''

%%* MsFanservice

-> ''"When I'm good, I'm good. When I'm bad, I'm better."''

Not to be confused with Creator/DebiMaeWest.

* OrAreYouJustHappyToSeeMe: ''"Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"'', supposedly said by Mae West at the railway station in Los Angeles upon her return from Chicago, when a Los Angeles police officer was assigned to escort her home in 1936. She delivered the line on film to George Hamilton in her last movie, ''{{Sextette}}'' (1978).

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: She made a career out of this (see her quote on "NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity") at a time when people thought the movies were too indecent and the stars were vice-ridden (not much has changed and it might be a shock to no one, but try to look at it through the POV of someone who lived during that time). Her stage shows were far more explicit (one was even bluntly named ''Sex'') and she later admitted having to be more subtle made her material much funnier.

* NiceGirl: according to Polly Stenham (a report who knew her) she was "compassionate as well as funny"

Mae West (August 17th 1893 -- November 22nd 1980) was one of the most iconic and unlikely sex symbols of the early 20th century. Famous for her hourglass figure, sensual voice and cheeky DoubleEntendre she also became one of the most controversial film actors of all time.

By the time she became a movie star she was already 38 years old, but became an overnight success. Classic films like ''Night After Night'' (1932), ''Film/SheDoneHimWrong'' (1933), ''I'm No Angel'' (1933), ''Klondike Annie'' (1936) and ''My Little Chickadee'' (1940) featured West intimidating her co-actors with her witty and sexually risqué wisecracks and double entendres. She played the same part when appearing on radio shows. Creator/SalvadorDali designed a wood and satin sofa after her lips and during World War II Allied aircrew units called their life preserver jackets "Mae West", due to its resemblance to her bosom. Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaperelli formed the bottle for her perfume, "Shocking", after Mae's curvaceous dress form; a reference to her own reaction at seeing the form after it was delivered for custom dressmaking. She is even featured on the cover of Music/TheBeatles ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' album.

* CatchPhrase: "Why don't you come up some time and see me?", which is actually a MemeticMutation.