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Why Hollywood Legend Mae West Once Spent 8 Days In Jail For Sex
The movie star was a master of self promotion and the power of woman, even using legal trouble to help advance her career
The more than 100-year history of Hollywood is filled with starlets and sex symbols who became world famous because of their looks, talent and sultry personalities. One of the most memorable was actress Mae West, whose casual sexuality and lack of inhibition helped drive her to a remarkable career. Unsurprisingly, she sometimes encountered scandal, including the time very early in her career when she spent eight days in jail because of sex.
Born in 1893, West began performing on stage as a young girl, first in church and then in amateur shows. Showing obvious talent, in those early days, she often used the stage name of Jane Mast.
She was on Broadway by the time she was 18, but it took years to get her first starring role. That came in 1926 when she launched a play called Sex, which she not only played the lead, but also wrote, directed and produced. It didn’t get great reviews, but the bawdy subject matter helped ticket sales surge. It wasn’t long before city officials began receiving complaints from concerned citizens and religious groups.
