The Times That Hollywood Actress Mae West Was Arrested And Imprisoned For Obscenity
- dthholland
- Apr 19, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 17, 2024
Born on August 17, 1893, Mary Jane “Mae” West was a pioneer in the realms of entertainment and free speech. From her earliest years, West possessed a unique ability to captivate audiences. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, she began performing in local theatre groups when she was just seven years old, honing her skills in front of enthusiastic crowds. By the age of 14, she joined a vaudeville tour, performing across the country. Vaudeville was a lively mix of variety acts, including songs, dances, and comedy routines, where West cut her teeth as an entertainer.
Breaking into Broadway and Stirring Controversy
By 18, Mae West made her Broadway debut, launching a career that would span over 15 years. She continued to sing and dance in both Broadway and vaudeville shows, but her talents weren’t confined to the stage. In 1926, West made the bold decision to write, produce, and star in her own plays. Her first self-penned production, Sex, was both a sensation and a scandal. Playing a prostitute, West pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable on stage. The provocative title, accompanied by garish posters proclaiming “Sex with Mae West,” sparked outrage among moral guardians, political figures, and sections of the public. After a flood of complaints, West was arrested, and the police shut down the show. She was ultimately sentenced to 10 days in jail for "corrupting the morals of youth."
Not one to back down, West followed up with another provocative play, The Pleasure Man, tackling homosexuality—a taboo subject for the time. Despite her innovative work, the play was shut down after just one performance, and West faced another obscenity charge. Though the jury couldn’t reach a verdict, West’s battle with censorship intensified. Her next play, The Constant Sinner, met a similar fate, closing after just two performances under pressure from the District Attorney.
Hollywood Beckons: A New Chapter
Despite repeated censorship battles on Broadway, West’s daring work attracted the attention of Hollywood. At the age of 38—when most actresses were winding down their careers—Paramount Pictures offered her a contract worth $5,000 a week, a sum equivalent to about $80,000 today. In a groundbreaking move, West secured the right to rewrite her lines, allowing her to preserve her trademark wit and persona on screen.
Her first film appearance came in Night After Night (1932), where she famously responded to a hat-check girl who commented on her beautiful diamonds: “Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.” This playful blend of sexuality and wit would become her signature style.
The following year, West starred in She Done Him Wrong (1933), opposite a young Cary Grant in his film debut. The line “Come up and see me sometime” from this film became one of her most enduring catchphrases. Her bold portrayal of a woman comfortable with her sexuality helped make the film a massive hit. Nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award, it grossed over $2 million (approximately $140 million today) and played a key role in saving Paramount from bankruptcy.
The Battle Against Censorship
Mae West’s rise to fame came during an era of strict censorship in Hollywood. The early 20th century was governed by a complex web of local censorship boards, and later, the Hays Code—a set of moral guidelines that sought to sanitise the film industry. Prior to the Hays Code’s full implementation in the 1930s, local boards exercised significant control over film content, resulting in inconsistencies across different regions. What was deemed acceptable in one city could be censored in another.
Despite these obstacles, West thrived, using her clever writing to skirt the boundaries of censorship. While her scripts often contained risqué material, she employed wit and innuendo to soften the impact. By leaving some of the suggestiveness to the audience’s imagination, West was able to convey powerful messages while often staying just within the limits of the censors’ scrutiny. Her ability to present taboo subjects through comedy became her signature weapon in the ongoing struggle against censorship.
Her arrest for Sex in 1926 was a turning point. West was charged with obscenity and sentenced to 10 days in jail for “corrupting the morals of youth.” However, her time behind bars only added to her mystique, and she remained defiant. In 1929, West wrote:
“What few people realise is that my work has a deliberate plan and purpose… It is usually long after the death of pioneers that their work is respected and the truths they stood for recognised. Because of narrow-minded censors and silly taboos the people are unable to learn truths they are starving for… thousands of women have asked me the most personal questions about their husbands and love life… They know nothing about sex at all, for the subject is hidden from children, kept out of our books and schools and education.”
This bold statement revealed the extent of her frustration with censorship and the moral restrictions of the time. West understood that by discussing topics like sex, relationships, and gender openly, she could help educate people—particularly women—about issues that were often swept under the rug. Her refusal to be silenced contributed to the gradual relaxation of censorship standards in the entertainment industry.
A Lasting Legacy
Mae West’s legacy as a provocateur and pioneer of free speech extended far beyond her lifetime. By the time the Hays Code era gave way to the MPAA film rating system in the 1960s, West’s earlier battles had helped pave the way for greater freedom of expression in cinema. Her influence can still be felt today, as films and television shows now tackle a wide range of topics that were once considered off-limits.
Even late in her life, West’s reputation as a cultural icon remained strong. When The Beatles asked permission to feature her likeness on the cover of their Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album in 1967, West quipped, “What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?” Yet she graciously agreed to the request, forever solidifying her place in pop culture history.
Mae West was a woman ahead of her time—a trailblazer who dared to challenge societal norms and confront censorship with wit and humour. Her influence on free speech, especially in the realm of sex and gender, cannot be overstated. Though she passed away on November 22, 1980, at the age of 87, her legacy endures. If you believe in freedom of speech, you owe a debt of gratitude to Mae West. Through her work, she pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable, and in doing so, she helped shape a world where artists could express themselves more freely.
While you're here, enjoy a few Mae West quotes.
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• “When I’m good, I’m very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.”
• “I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.”
• “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”
• “It’s not the men in my life that count, it’s the life in my men.”
• “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
• “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.”
• “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
• “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.”
• “A hard man is good to find.”
• “I always say, keep a diary and someday it’ll keep you.”
• “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”
• “Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.”
• “An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.”
• “I’m no angel, but I’ve spread my wings a bit.”
• “Give a man a free hand and he’ll run it all over you.”
• “Don’t keep a man guessing too long—he’s sure to find the answer somewhere else.”
• “It’s better to be looked over than overlooked.”
• “Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.”
• “He who hesitates is a damned fool.”
• “Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache.”
• “Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.”
• “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.”
• “A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.”
• “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
• “I’m no model lady. A model’s just an imitation of the real thing.”
• “You’re never too old to become younger.”
• “When women go wrong, men go right after them.”
• “I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.”
• “To err is human, but it feels divine.”
• “Too much of a good thing can be taxing.”
• “A man in the house is worth two in the street.”
• “I speak two languages—Body and English.”
• “It ain’t no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don’t break any.”
• “I never loved another person the way I loved myself.”
• “His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”
