carnzee
Broadway Star Joined: 9/2/11
#1MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 10:11amI have never heard of anyone named " Mame" outside of the book/play/musical. Does anyone know why Patrick Dennis named his heroine that?
#2MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 10:19am
"The author’s choice of the name Mame Dennis for his heroine was purposeful. Tanner [= Patrick Dennis] was looking for a name that would suggest “mamma” in a super-cosmopolitan way; to balance the Christian name he had settled on he chose Dennis from the Manhattan telephone directory because of its elegant ring. He liked it so well (and hated his own ostentatious name so violently) that he legally adopted it and used it as his pen name throughout his prodigious career."
from Stephen Citron, Jerry Herman: Poet of the Showtune, p. 122
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#3MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 12:12pm
Mamie is a feminine given name and nickname (often of Mary)
Mamie Eisenhower, Mamie Van Doren, Mamie Gummer.
The story of Mama/Mame reminded me of how Webster called Katherine Papadopolis Ma'am cos it was close to Mom.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#4MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 4:21pmI taught a girl named Mame during my first year in the classroom..she had never even heard of AUNTIE MAME until I loaned her my copy of the novel. She loved it!
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#5MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 4:45pm
Rita Hayworth sang "Put The Blame on Mame" in GILDA (1946).
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 7:13pm
noradesmond said: "Rita Hayworth sang "Put The Blame on Mame" in GILDA (1946)."
Exactly. Big hit in the 1940s, covered by many artists. There was also "Mamie is Mimi" by Jule Styne and Leo Robin in GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES in 1949.
Fashions in names change over time. When I was a kid in school, there wasn't a Courtney in sight, nor a Trevor, Trey, nor Liam. William is back in style after going into exile for several decades; but when I was in fourth grade, I asked to be called "William" because I was one of four "Bills" in a class of 30.
#8MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 8:32pm
noradesmond wrote: Rita Hayworth sang "Put The Blame on Mame" in GILDA (1946).
Just last night, while going down an Internet rabbit-hole (who hasn't been there lately?), I found out that Anita Ellis dubbed Rita Hayworth's singing voice in GILDA. I never knew that before...
Anita Ellis was also the sister of Larry Kert.
#9MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/16/20 at 9:19pm
GavestonPS said: "noradesmond said: "Rita Hayworth sang "Put The Blame on Mame" in GILDA (1946)."
Exactly. Big hit in the 1940s, covered by many artists. There was also "Mamie is Mimi" by Jule Styne and Leo Robinin GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES in 1949.
Fashions in names change over time. When I was a kid in school, there wasn't a Courtney in sight, nor a Trevor, Trey, nor Liam. William is back in style after going into exile for several decades; but when I was in fourth grade, I asked to be called "William" because I was one of four "Bills" in a class of 30."
Ha! I thought, growing up and wanting to be a star, that I'd have to change my name because you never hear of famous Christophers (my real name). Little did I realize that was the name given to half my generation, and there would be famous Christophers and Chrises and Tophers galore.
Mamie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
#10MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/17/20 at 5:30am
"Mamie is a feminine given name and nickname (often of Mary)"
Exactly. I was named after a great aunt and a great, great aunt back in Ireland. Both were formally named Mary, but were known by all as Mame or Mamie. We always assumed that was their given names until we found an old family bible with their proper names listed inside. I've always heard it was because it's very hard for a baby or very young child to pronounce Mary, but Mamie rolls right off the tongue.
www.thebreastcancersite.com
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
Updated On: 6/17/20 at 05:30 AM
A click for life.
mamie4 5/14/03
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#11MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/17/20 at 6:24am
Just last night, while going down an Internet rabbit-hole (who hasn't been there lately?), I found out that Anita Ellis dubbed Rita Hayworth's singing voice in GILDA. I never knew that before...
Anita Ellis only dubbed Rita’s club performance version of “Put the Blame on Mame” number. The acoustic version seen earlier in the film, that is Rita’s own singing voice and guitar playing. _04.jpg)
#13MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/17/20 at 10:12pm
joevitus said: "Little did I realize that was the name given to half my generation, and there would be famous Christophers and Chrises and Tophers galore."
I am such an idiot! Until this very instant, I hadn't a clue that "Topher" was short for Christopher.
And I watched all seasons of THAT 70'S SHOW!
#14MAME'S NAME?
Posted: 6/17/20 at 10:17pm
Joey Ledonio said: "
Are Courtney, Trevor, or Liam people of color? Did you grow up near anyPOCs or do you just enjoy seeing their work on stage and screen and in your grocery stores and clothing options? Maybe Trey is a POC"
Are you having a nervous breakdown?
This isn't a thread about race, Joey, and my post wasn't derived from people of different ethnicities choosing different names. I simply picked a bunch of names that have been popular in (mixed-race) classes I taught in the 1990s and 2000s, without regard for skin color. Jesus!
If YOU want to talk about names specific to POC, feel free. I haven't conducted a study and have no opinion on the subject.