She Always Knew How

Actress Mae West (1893-1980) was a celebrity and a sex symbol. She made a stir on Broadway in 1926 with her play Sex. West was sentenced to ten days in prison after being found guilty of obscenity. Later, in Hollywood, she was the top box-office draw throughout the 1930s, and she helped save Paramount Studios from bankruptcy. Her films included a number of well-known one-liners, many of which she penned herself and have since entered Hollywood legend. Each line was like a dagger pointed at the double standard that allowed men to do things that would damage women. West's cause was equal rights for women, and she was astute enough to recognize that it was potentially the ultimate battleground.