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.
Hollywood
Humphrey Bogart, Photographer?
According to the 1940’s movie magazine ‘Screenland,’ movie star Humphrey Bogart’s hobbies included sailing, golfing and yet another less publicized activity: Photography.
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Mayo with Peter the Cat by Humphrey Bogart
Bogie took the above photo of his wife Mayo Methot holding their cat, Peter.
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Mayo Meets the Presidents
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
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.
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Little Known Facts About Humphrey Bogart’s Wife, Mayo Methot
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 – 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’s Portland, Oregon Crypt, Photo © Roy Widing
A ‘Battling Bogart’ Christmas
Humphrey Bogart & wife Mayo Methot make the holiday news in this 1944 article.
Mayo Methot Biography Interview
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!
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!
Mayo Methot Book Podcast Interview
Check out this recent interview about the book ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby’ on the ‘True Stories of Tinseltown’ podcast. Here’s the link for your listening pleasure.
David Niven Talks Humphrey Bogart & Mayo Methot
Actor David Niven became a close friend of Humphrey Bogart. Click here or on the image below for his candid account of the feisty dynamic between Bogie & Mayo.
Actor David Niven
Mayo Methot’s Secret Romance
News of Mayo Methot’s budding romance with a mystery beau hit newspapers in June, 1947. At this point, Mayo had been single for two years after her divorce from Humphrey Bogart.
Yet who was this mystery man? Find out by ordering the biography of Mayo Methot, ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby’ here.
Remembering Mayo Methot
Initially designated to honor the deceased who served in our military, Memorial Day for some is also connected to the memory of civilians.
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.
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.
Mayo Methot & Humphrey Bogart Advertisement
Mayo Methot and husband Humphrey Bogart were featured in an advertisement running 79 years ago this week, in April, 1941.
1941 was a very big year for Bogart, when he starred in the films High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon. The advertisement for Beech-Nut brand coffee informs readers that Mayo “…can make Humphrey happy” with their mountain-grown product.
Humphrey Bogart & Mayo Methot: Smooth Sailing
The below 1943 news column by journalist Jimmy Fidler provides an often overlooked perspective about the relationship between Humphrey Bogart and his wife, Mayo Methot. Fidler suggests their much-reported tempestuous relationship was calmer at sea in the absence of others, especially away from the white hot media spotlight.
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The couple’s mutual nautical interests were aided by the fact that Bogart was a Navy veteran and Mayo’s father a sea captain.
Mayo & Bogie, Happy at Sea
While aboard their boat the ‘Sluggy,’ the case can be made that these two professional actors didn’t have an audience egging them on, so it was easier to simply enjoy each other’s company. Get the real story behind film icon Humphrey Bogart’s seven year marriage to stage and screen actress Mayo Methot here in the new book ‘Sluggy: Bogie’s Other Baby.’
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Mayo Methot’s Final Resting Place
The book ‘Only In Oregon’ features a section on Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial, the mausoleum where Mayo Methot is interred.
Humphrey Bogart: “Mayo’s A Fine Girl”
In the news 75 years ago, as Humphrey Bogart announces divorce plans from Mayo Methot: “Mayo’s a fine girl…”
Mayo Methot 
