[Ads-l] "prostitute/whore with a heart of gold"

[Joel Berson]

Perhaps "Mae West" was understood to be a euphemism for "prostitute."Joel
      From: Bill Mullins <amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM>
 To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 
 Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 12:59 AM
 Subject: [ADS-L] "prostitute/whore with a heart of gold"
   
_Picture-Play Magazine_  July 1925 p. 105"However, Hope unties her blindfold and twangs her little lyre, for I understand her next picture will allow her to play a – it must be said – vamp with a heart of gold."
_Variety_ 1/12/1932 p 50 col 5"Mary Nolan is more restrained as a racketeering lady with a heart of gold."
_Modern Screen_ June 1933 p 87"Sizzling story of the good old days of New York with Mae West as the wicked woman a heart of gold."
_Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin_ 3/13/1937 p 10"It deals in a dull and ponderous manner with one of those "ladies of the evening" with a heart of gold, who allows herself to be talked into posting for a famous artist, and under his guidance learns to loathe the life she has been living."  [quoted from NY World Telegram]

"Chorus girl with a heart of gold" shows up regularly starting in the late 1920s.  Was "chorus girl" understood to be a euphemism for prostitute?                         
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org