Viola Klaiss
{{short description|American organist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Viola Klaiss
| image = ViolaKlaiss1927.png
| alt = A white woman with short dark hair, in profile, wearing a corsage
| caption = Viola Klaiss, from a 1927 publication
| other_names = Viola Spotts
| birth_name = Viola Frances Klaiss
| birth_date = August 31, 1891
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| death_date = August 5, 1978
| death_place = West Palm Beach, Florida
| occupation = Organist, pianist
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| spouse(s) =
| relatives =
}}
Viola Frances Klaiss Spotts (August 31, 1891 – August 5, 1978) was an American organist. She was a theatre organist in Philadelphia, and made several recordings in the 1920s. She was also "leader of an all-female orchestra".[https://books.google.com/books?id=QSQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Viola%20Klaiss&pg=PT135 "Deaths"] Billboard (August 26, 1978): 107.
Early life and education
Klaiss was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of Martin M. Klaiss{{Cite news |date=1953-04-12 |title=Concert Slated for Legion Home |pages=16 |work=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123683838/concert-slated-for-legion-home/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} and Anna Blanche Rayford Klaiss. Her father was a piano tuner and musician from Germany, and her older brother William Klaiss was a theatre organist. She appeared in concerts from childhood with the Klaiss Family Orchestra.{{Cite journal |date=April 17, 1924 |title=Klaiss Orchestra in Concert |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1924-04-17_88_16/page/64/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=88 |issue=16 |pages=64 |via=Internet Archive}} She trained at the Leefson-Hille Conservatory in Philadelphia with {{Interlanguage link|Maurits Leefson|lt=Maurits Leefson|nl|Maurits Leefson}}, and with organists Ralph Kinder and Walter Baker.{{Cite news |date=1960-12-20 |title=Miss Viola Klaiss Holds Organ Recital |pages=10 |work=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123679138/miss-viola-klaiss-holds-organ-recital/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite journal |date=June 1927 |title=Distinction for Miss Klaiss |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_diapason_1927-06-01_18_7/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=The Diapason |volume=18 |issue=7 |pages=6 |via=Internet Archive}}
Career
Klaiss was a theatre organist in Philadelphia.{{Cite journal |date=December 20, 1923 |title=Viola Klaiss an Ambitious Organist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0lBEuukKHRYC&dq=Viola+Klaiss&pg=RA24-PA16 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=87 |issue=25 |pages=16}}{{Cite journal |date=January 6, 1927 |title=Viola Klaiss Praised as Organist |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1927-01-06_94_1/page/8/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=94 |issue=1 |pages=8 |via=Internet Archive}} "Miss Klaiss has become a recognized attraction in the theatre," reported Musical Courier in 1927, "and she attributes her success not only to what and how she plays, but to how she attires herself as well."{{Cite journal |date=August 11, 1927 |title=Viola Klaiss Featured in Philadelphia |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1927-08-11_95_6/page/14/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=95 |issue=6 |pages=15 |via=Internet Archive}} She made several recordings for Victor in 1928, including recordings with singers Gene Austin and Nina Koshetz.{{Cite web |title=Viola Klaiss |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/205433/Klaiss_Viola |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}} She wrote for professional journals,{{Cite journal |date=December 13, 1923 |title=Praising the Other Fellow |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0lBEuukKHRYC&dq=Viola+Klaiss&pg=RA23-PA63 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=87 |issue=24 |pages=63}} and taught organ, piano, and music theory.[http://www.markhermanproductions.com/uploads/7/3/6/6/7366751/atos_1976_philadelphia_pa.pdf "The Stars of the Show: Vi Egger"] American Theatre Organ Society, 21st National Convention (July 16-21, 1976): 5.{{Cite journal |date=March 6, 1924 |title=Viola Klaiss Pupil Made Associate Organist |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1924-03-06_88_10/page/12/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=88 |issue=10 |pages=13 |via=Internet Archive}} After the silent film era, Klaiss led an "all-girl orchestra", the Musigals.{{Cite news |date=June 4, 1937 |title=All-Girl Orchestra at the Cafe Royal |pages=4 |work=Virginia Beach News |url=https://archive.org/details/Virginia_Beach_News_1937-06/page/n3/mode/1up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite news |date=1941-04-05 |title=Hamilton Hotel (advertisement) |pages=2 |work=The Daily Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123683747/hamilton-hotel-advertisement/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} She played at USO shows for the troops in Europe during and after World War II,{{Cite news |date=1948-09-23 |title=Viola Klaiss |pages=10 |work=Press of Atlantic City |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123683218/viola-klaiss/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} on radio programs,{{Cite news |date=1940-07-05 |title=Radio Features Today (listings) |pages=7 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123684107/radio-features-today-listings/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} and at hotels and clubs on the New Jersey shore.{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1947 |title=Mirth Maids & Melody is Holiday Show |pages=1 |work=The Oak Leaf |url=https://archive.org/details/TheOakLeaf1947July4December31/TheOakLeaf1947July4-december31_ocr/page/n71/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |via=Internet Archive}} She composed songs, including "After All These Years" (1940).{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tCVjAAAAIAAJ |title=Catalog of Copyright Entries Musical compositions |date=1941 |publisher=Library of Congress, Copyright Office. |others=University of California |pages=135 |language=English}}
Klaiss was the founding president of the Philadelphia Club of Women Organists in 1926.{{Cite journal |date=August 1926 |title=Philadelphia Women Succeed with Club |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_diapason_1926-08-01_17_9/page/n5/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=The Diapason |volume=17 |issue=9 |pages=6 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite journal |date=January 28, 1926 |title=Viola Klaiss Appointed President |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_music-magazine-and-musical-courier_1926-01-28_92_4/page/6/mode/2up?q=%22Viola+Klaiss%22 |journal=Musical Courier |volume=92 |issue=4 |pages=6 |via=Internet Archive}} In her later years, she was based in Florida, where she continued as a church organist{{Cite news |date=1958-12-22 |title=Jupiter Churches |pages=9 |work=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123683651/jupiter-churches/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1960-12-27 |title=Miss Klaiss Entertains at Concert |pages=17 |work=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123684228/miss-klaiss-entertains-at-concert/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}} and gave recitals and concerts in the 1950s and 1960s.{{Cite news |date=1953-04-17 |title=Klaiss Recital Slated Tonight |pages=6 |work=The Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123679060/klaiss-recital-slated-tonight/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1961-03-18 |title=Viola Klaiss to Perform in Concert |pages=5 |work=Fort Lauderdale News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123683357/viola-klaiss-to-perform-in-concert/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Personal life
Klaiss married singer Samuel Calvin Spotts in 1920. Her husband died in 1941,{{Cite news |date=1941-11-07 |title=Samuel C. Spotts (death notice) |pages=43 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123652262/samuel-c-spotts-death-notice/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |via=Newspapers.com}} and she died in 1978, at the age of 87, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGBRfnhuwWM Gene Austin, "Ramona" (1928)], a recording featuring Klaiss on pipe organ; on YouTube
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Category:Musicians from Philadelphia