''Personal Appearance'' (1934) is a stage

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

by the American playwright and screenwriter

Lawrence Riley Lawrence Riley (1896–1974) was a successful United States, American playwright and screenwriter. He gained fame in 1934 in literature, 1934 as the author of the Broadway theatre, Broadway hit ''Personal Appearance'', which was turned by Mae West ...

(1896–1974), which was a

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

smash and the basis for the classic

Mae West Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy ...

film ''

Go West, Young Man Go west, young man may refer to: * "Go West, young man", a quote often attributed to American author Horace Greeley concerning America's expansion westward Film and television * ''Go West, Young Man'' (1918 film), an American comedy western film ...

'' ( 1936). ''Personal Appearance'' was produced by the legendary

Brock Pemberton Brock Pemberton (December 14, 1885 – March 11, 1950) was an American theatrical producer, director and founder of the Tony Awards. He was the professional partner of Antoinette Perry, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, and he was also a m ...

(founder of the

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

) and staged by

Antoinette Perry Mary Antoinette "Tony" Perry (June 27, 1888June 28, 1946) was an American actress and director, and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing. She is the eponym of the Tony Awards. Early life Born in Denver, Colorado, she spent her childhood asp ...

(in whose memory Pemberton named the

Tonys The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

). It opened in 1934 at New York's Henry Miller Theatre starring the famed stage and screen actress

Gladys George Gladys George (born Gladys Clare Evans; September 13, 1904 – December 8, 1954) was an American actress of stage and screen. Though nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in '' Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' (1936), she spent most ...

(now remembered especially for her role as Miles Archer's spouse in the film '' The Maltese Falcon).'' Her comic performance contributed to making ''Personal Appearance'' a Broadway hit that lasted for 501 performances. It launched Riley's career as a playwright and remains his most famous play. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' characterized ''Personal Appearance'' in an October 18, 1934, review's headline as a "Satire of the Hollywood Dementia." The play is set in the

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

backcountry, where Riley was originally from and where he long resided. It is the story of a movie star and

diva Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is cl ...

, Carole Arden, who is on a tour giving personal appearances to promote her latest film, ''Drifting Lady''. Her car breaks down, which leads to her encounter with a young and handsome gas station attendant, Chester Norton, played by

Philip Ober Philip Nott Ober (March 23, 1902 – September 13, 1982) was an American screen and stage actor. He later retired from acting to work as a diplomat. Ober is best remembered for his roles in the films ''From Here to Eternity'' (1953) and ''North ...

. His fiancée's parents put Arden up for the night and Arden falls for Norton. But her down-to-earth press agent, Gene Tuttle, played by

Otto Hulett Otto Hulett (February 27, 1898 – September 1, 1983) was an American film, television and stage actor. Hulett was born in Chicago, Illinois. As an actor, he was best known for his roles in '' The Mob'' (1951), '' Saturday's Hero'' (1951), an ...

, foils her plans to bring Norton to Hollywood with her. This frothy and satirical entertainment epitomizes Pemberton's productions at the time: He was among those who advocated such escapist fare as needed psychological relief during the Great Depression. This was in opposition to socially relevant stage productions, such as Marc Blitzstein's musical ''

The Cradle Will Rock ''The Cradle Will Rock'' is a 1937 play in music by Marc Blitzstein. Originally a part of the Federal Theatre Project, it was directed by Orson Welles and produced by John Houseman. A Brechtian allegory of corruption and corporate greed, it ...

'' (1937). ''Personal Appearances huge success only reinforced Pemberton in his opinion. In 1935,

Samuel French Samuel French (1821–1898) was an American entrepreneur who, together with British actor, playwright and theatrical manager Thomas Hailes Lacy, pioneered in the field of theatrical publishing and the licensing of plays. Biography French foun ...

(the English-speaking world's leading theatrical publisher) produced both a hardcover and a softcover edition of ''Personal Appearance: a New Comedy in Three Acts'' in Los Angeles and New York. ''Personal Appearance'' was adapted for the screen by Mae West as ''Go West, Young Man''. It was directed by

Henry Hathaway Henry Hathaway (March 13, 1898 – February 11, 1985) was an American film director and producer. He is best known as a director of Westerns, especially starring Randolph Scott and John Wayne. He directed Gary Cooper in seven films. Backgrou ...

and released by

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

in 1936. In it, West reprises George's role but with a more callous and cynical slant. It was one of the rare instances, perhaps the first, in which West starred in a role not originally conceived for her. After launching Randolph Scott's career as a cowboy star four years earlier in ''Heritage of the Desert'', Hathaway cast him uncharacteristically as West's love interest in ''Go West, Young Man''. The film's success led to Riley's second successful career as a screenwriter—a somewhat ironical outcome, given ''Personal Appearances criticism of Hollywood.

References

"The Play: Satire of the Hollywood Dementia in ''Personal Appearance'' by Lawrence Riley"
* {{ibdb title, 11923

1934 plays Comedy plays