Virginia Verrill
{{Short description|American singer (1916–1999)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Virginia Verrill
| image = Virginia Verrill 1935.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Verrill in 1935
| birth_name =
| birth_date = November 20, 1916
| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|01|18|1916|11|20|mf=yes}}
| death_place = Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation = Singer
| alma_mater =
| spouse = James K. Breyley (1913-1988) m1940-1960 (divorced) Dr. Louis Duddleston (1915-2003) m 1961
| children = 2
| parents =
| known_for =
}}
Catherine Virginia Verrill (November 20, 1916 – January 18, 1999) was a singer in the era of old-time radio and big bands. Her work included providing the off-screen singing voices for some female film stars.{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill, Unseen Voice Of Hollywood's Singing Stars, 82|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/25/arts/virginia-verrill-unseen-voice-of-hollywood-s-singing-stars-82.html|access-date=2 April 2016|agency=The New York Times|date=January 25, 1999}}
Early years
Verrill was born Catherine Virginia Verrill in Santa Monica, California. Her mother, Aimee McLean Verrill, was active in vaudeville. At 5 months of age, Verrill appeared with her mother in her act.
Verrill's family was friends with orchestra leader Paul Whiteman, who had Virginia sing on his bandstand when she was 3 years old. She attended Hollywood's John Marshall High School. (Another source says that she graduated from Hollywood High School.)
Radio
By the time she was 13, Verrill was singing on local stations, with her debut coming on KMPC in 1932.{{cite news|last1=Ranson|first1=Jo|title=Radio Dial Log|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816195/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=June 12, 1935|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} In 1934, she sang with David Brockman and the KHJ orchestra{{cite news|title=Radio Features|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4814956/santa_ana_register/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=November 28, 1934|location=California, Santa Ana|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} on California Melodies, which originated at KHJ and was carried on the CBS network. Early in 1935, columnist Walter Winchell reported that Verrill had begun working for CBS.{{cite news|last1=Winchell|first1=Walter|title=Walter Winchell on Broadway|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4815116/reading_times/|agency=Reading Times|date=March 22, 1935|location=Pennsylvania, Reading|page=28|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} In June 1935, she was singing on the Socony Sketchbook with Johnny Green's orchestra{{cite news|title=(Socony Sketchbook advertisement)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816294/the_portsmouth_herald/|agency=The Portsmouth Herald|date=June 14, 1935|location=New Hampshire, Portsmouth|page=7|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} and had "a starring contract" on another show that was planned.{{cite news|title=Who's Who; What's What|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816132/oakland_tribune/|agency=Oakland Tribune|date=June 7, 1935|location=California, Oakland|page=32|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} That program debuted July 2, 1935, with Verrill as star and Mark Warnow conducting the accompanying orchestra.{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=Larry|title=A.A.U. Meet Rates Top on Weekly Airwave Offerings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4825988/the_lincoln_star/|agency=The Lincoln Star|date=June 30, 1935|location=Nebraska, Lincoln|page=20|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 3, 2016}} {{Open access}} She had another program, Vocals by Verrill, in 1937.{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill on Saturday|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiodailyaprjun01unse#page/n167/mode/1up|access-date=5 April 2016|agency=Radio Daily|date=April 30, 1937|page=3}}
Verrill performed regularly on the variety shows College Humor Program,{{cite news|title=On the Air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826689/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=June 24, 1941|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} Uncle Walter's Dog House,{{cite news|title=Plane Engine Building Is Broadcast Topic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826602/the_fresno_bee_the_republican/|agency=The Fresno Bee The Republican|date=September 5, 1941|location=California, Fresno|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} Home Town, Unincorporated,Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4513-4}}. P. 155. The Jack Haley Show,{{r|rp|page1=170}} and Maxwell House Show Boat.{{r|rp|page1=303}}
She was also heard on broadcasts with Orville Knapp's Orchestra.{{cite news|title=KHJ Sunday Programs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805495/santa_ana_register/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=August 11, 1934|location=California, Santa Ana|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}}
Personal appearances
In 1934, Verrill sang with Marvin George and his Hermosa Hut Orchestra.{{cite news|title=(Dance advertisement)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805644/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|agency=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=October 19, 1934|location=California, San Bernardino|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}} She also "was featured at the Colony Club and other famous Hollywood rendezvous."
Film
When she was 13,{{cite news|title=Singer Resents Being Told She Looks Like Myrna Loy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19370128&id=HOUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637,948554&hl=en|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=The Pittsburgh Press|date=January 28, 1937|location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh|page=27}} Verrill won an audition over 300 others to sing the title song in Barbara Stanwyck's Ten Cents a Dance," (1931).{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill; Movie and Radio Singer|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-29-mn-2899-story.html|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=January 29, 1999}} By the time she was 18 years old, she had "frequently played voice double for Hollywood picture stars."{{cite news|last1=Robert|first1=Bernes|title=The Radio Reporter|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4815224/oakland_tribune/|agency=Oakland Tribune|date=May 12, 1935|location=California, Oakland|page=79|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}} Her dubbing included singing for Jean Harlow in both Reckless (1935) and Suzy (1936).{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Earl|title=Donna doesn't feel exploited|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19810414&id=n4NRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7100,2927604&hl=en|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=April 14, 1981|location=Wisconsin, Milwaukee|page=Page 2-Part 3}}
On-screen, she was seen in Hide-Out (1934){{cite news|title=Hollywood Descendant Makes Film Debut|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805622/pottstown_mercury/|agency=Pottstown Mercury|date=October 16, 1934|location=Pennsylvania, Pottstown|page=3|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}} and Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938.
Personal life
By 1942, Verrill had left show business. A newspaper column printed September 25 of that year reported, "Virginia, at the age of 25, has retired from the stage and screen and is now a happy housewife and mother and is reported to be the best pie crust baker on the block."{{cite news|last1=Durling|first1=E.V.|title=On the Side|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826499/shamokin_newsdispatch/|agency=Shamokin News-Dispatch|date=September 25, 1942|location=Pennsylvania, Shamokin|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}
At the time of her death, Verrill was married to Dr. Louis C. Duddleston. The two had wed on June 17, 1961, in Crystal Lake, Illinois; he was a dentist then living in nearby Woodstock who had previously taught at Northwestern University."Crystal Lake Church is Setting for Breyley-Duddleston Nuptials." Woodstock (IL) Daily Sentinel, 11 July 1961. Her first husband was a Music Corporation of America's chief band-booking executive in Chicago."MCA Inks Welk to 3-Year Pact." Billboard, 18 February 1950.
Death
Verrill died January 18, 1999, at age 82, in the Mayview Nursing Home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Survivors included her husband, a son, a daughter, and seven grandchildren.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0y1xdXr0So Virginia Verrill sings It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget) with the Isham Jones Orchestra]
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Category:American film actresses
Category:American radio actresses
Category:20th-century American actresses