Biography

Discovered: Humphrey Bogart’s Secret ‘Casablanca’ Hideaway

/ Roy Widing

Photo copyright, Roy Widing

Here’s a little known fact: After more than half a century, Humphrey Bogart & wife Mayo Methot’s Oregon love nest is STILL known as ‘Casablanca.’

Located minutes from the former Eastmoreland district home of Mayo’s mom, the 1920’s-era residence features a picturesque waterfront view off a quiet street in a tony neighborhood just outside Portland.

Some reports have Bogie & Mayo staying at the home on several successive summers, with others suggesting the newlyweds vacationed at ‘Casablanca’ in August, 1938 on their trip from California to visit Mayo’s mother living nearby.

Photo copyright, Roy Widing

Click here for more on the debut biography ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby:’

Mayo Methot

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Humphrey Bogart’s Life With Mayo Methot

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A recently published video references the relationship of film icon Humphrey Bogart with his wife of nearly seven years, Mayo Methot. Also mentioned is the biography on Mayo’s life, titled ‘Sluggy, Bogie’s Other Baby.’ Click here or on the above image, then forward to the 5:30 mark for details.

Mayo Meets the Presidents

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Mayo Methot, Woodrow Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, President, Ronald Reagan

Mayo Methot – Courtesy Oregon Historical Society

Meeting a US President is the kind of rare occasion few people ever experience. Theatre and film star Mayo Methot met at least two presidents, one while he was in office and the other before he was elected. Like Mayo Methot herself, the backstory for each meeting is unique.

President Woodrow Wilson

Meeting Woodrow Wilson
As a pre-teen, Mayo’s fame grew upon joining a Portland advertising group’s 1913 east coast junket. Back then, west coast ad agencies were less known than their east coast competitors. So a publicity effort was devised to get advertisers and agencies to work more with west coast ad firms. Young Mayo was selected as a mascot of sorts to travel with the group. The plan was to introduce her to audiences across the nation as ‘The Portland Rosebud,’ with a final stop being the White House. It worked marvelously. A newspaper trail of the group’s travels confirms positive press wherever the Oregon-based group visited. 

Newspaper Clipping

The trip culminated with nine-year-old Mayo Methot presenting President Woodrow Wilson with roses and a letter from Oregon Governor Oswald West inviting President Wilson to visit his state.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

Meeting Ronald Reagan
Mayo’s documented foray into meeting future leader Ronald Reagan occurred during her marriage to Humphrey Bogart. Mayo’s meeting with the future president was aided by their mutual work as actors. A photo of their meeting here has her seated with husband Bogie, along with actress Jane Wyman and husband Ronald Reagan. 

Sluggy, Bogie's Other Baby, Humphrey Bogart, Mayo Methot, Hollywood

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Order the debut biography of Broadway and Hollywood star Mayo Methot here, or click on the above book image.

Little Known Facts About Humphrey Bogart’s Wife, Mayo Methot

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Fans of Humphrey Bogart are well aware of his multiple marriages. Of them all, Bogie’s most tempestuous were his seven years as husband to actress Mayo Methot. Nicknamed ‘Sluggy,’ Mayo’s public disagreements with her movie ‘tough guy’ spouse made the ‘Battling Bogarts’ a constant source of celebrity news. Here are three tidbits you probably didn’t know about Bogie’s famously feisty partner.

1. When Mayo was just a teenager, her sea captain father broke the jaw of a young boy who blew kisses to her. This taught Mayo to take matters into her own hands…later with her Hollywood husband.

2. Early in their relationship, Mayo was an accomplished Broadway star and ‘Bogie’ was a struggling movie novice. Their roles changed over time and as Bogart acquired bigger parts, Mayo relinquished both her stage and screen career.

Mayo Methot

Mayo Methot – 1930, The Ben Solowey Collection

3. After her death in 1951, Humphrey Bogart had flowers regularly sent to Mayo’s Oregon crypt. They stopped arriving in 1957, the year of Bogart’s own passing.

Mayo Methot

Mayo’s  Portland, Oregon Crypt, Photo © Roy Widing

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart

Learn more about Mayo Methot – Star of stage, screen and wife of Humphrey Bogart in her debut biography here.

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart 

Mayo Methot Biography Interview

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Author Roy Widing was recently interviewed on the ‘True Stories of Tinseltown’ podcast about his latest book. ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby,’ the debut biography of actress Mayo Methot.

Mayo Methot starred on Broadway, in Hollywood and was married to Hollywood leading man Humphrey Bogart during his most productive years. That’s when he starred in films like ‘Casablanca’ and ‘The Maltese Falcon.

Click here for selected excerpts from this insightful interview.

Make It A Humphrey Bogart Christmas!

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It’s not too early to start Holiday shopping. For any Hollywood or Humphrey Bogart fans on your list, order a copy of the debut biography ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby.’ In addition to her accomplished film career and starring on the Broadway stage, actress Mayo Methot was married to Humphrey Bogart for seven years during a high point in his career. Part of what makes this story so compelling and high profile is her famous husband’s stellar stature, both then and now. Humphrey Bogart is the greatest screen legend of all time, according to the American Film Institute. A few of Bogie’s timeless performances during their highly controversial marriage include ‘Casablanca’ and ‘The Maltese Falcon.’

With her colorful, high-profile behavior and marriage to Hollywood’s biggest star during his career high point, Mayo Methot’s life is replete with talent, drama, celebrity, high stakes and controversy—all ingredients for a fascinating book. ‘Sluggy’ intersects with interesting and conflicted celebrities during a special time known as Hollywood’s ‘Golden Age.’ Order your copy here today!

Remembering Mayo Methot

/ Roy Widing

Initially designated to honor the deceased who served in our military, Memorial Day for some is also connected to the memory of civilians.

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Memorializing is one way to honor others who are no longer with us. After her death at the age of 47 in 1951, actress Mayo Methot’s former husband, Humphrey Bogart, reportedly sent flowers to her crypt until he died in 1957. 

Mayo Methot, Sluggy, Humphrey Bogart

Due to this year’s Coronavirus concerns, few are expected to visit the Portland, Oregon mausoleum where Mayo is interred. Yet the memory of Mayo Methot lives on for many who appreciate her noteworthy legacy, since this small town girl ‘made it’ by achieving the most unlikely trifecta of all.

That’s because Mayo (1). Starred on Broadway, (2). Performed for years before the klieg lights of  Hollywood and (3). Married arguably the biggest screen icon of all time, Humphrey Bogart, named the greatest male star by the American Film Institute.

Curious To Know More?
This year instead of placing flowers for Mayo, consider catching up on the life of this one-of-a-kind personality who achieved so much in her short life. Check out the debut biography about Mayo Methot here.

Sluggy, Bogie's Other Baby, Humphrey Bogart, Mayo Methot, Hollywood

The Wartime Hairstyle of Mayo Methot

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This 1944 news column helps to explain Mayo Methot’s headgear while touring with husband Humphrey Bogart during WWII:

The simple act of hair washing wasn’t practical during that wartime visit, so ladies, including Mayo, got creative.

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart, Snood, Hollywood, Fashion, Wartime Fashion

Mayo Methot & Humphrey Bogart in 1944

Get the real scoop of this dynamic and controversial Hollywood couple. Order your copy of ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby’ by clicking here or on the image below.

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart, Sluggy

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Mayo Methot – Life After Humphrey Bogart

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This week—seventy six years ago, in November, 1946—Ohio’s Evening Independent newspaper documented an employment offer for stage & screen star Mayo Methot.  

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart

1946 News Article

The opportunity arrived more than a year after Humphrey Bogart and Mayo Methot divorced. Yet it wasn’t the only offer Mayo received. That’s because a year earlier, Mayo received a different letter from an experienced Broadway producer & director:

“…I want to bring you back to the theatre, either as a player or a co-producer. I have the play which I intend to open in N.Y…”

Learn more about the mysterious post-Bogart life of Mayo Methot in her debut biography, ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby,’ now available here or click the image below.

Mayo Methot, Humphrey Bogart

Makes a Great Christmas Gift!