Felix Knight
Felix Knight | |
---|---|
Born | William Felix Knight November 1, 1908 Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
Died | June 18, 1998 The Bronx, New York, U.S. | (aged 89)
Occupation(s) | Actor, tenor, vocal teacher |
Years active | 1929–1998 |
Known for | Tom-Tom in Babes in Toyland |
Spouses | Alice Moore
(m. 1935; div. 1939)Ethel Blume (m. 1940) |
Children | 1 |
William Felix Knight (stage name: Felix Knight, November 1, 1908 – June 18, 1998), was an American tenor, actor, and vocal teacher, best known for his role as Tom-Tom in the 1934 Laurel and Hardy holiday musical film Babes in Toyland.[1][2]
Early life
William Felix Knight was born in Macon, Georgia, the son of a cotton farmer who died in a hunting accident when Knight was five. Seven years later, he moved with his family to Pensacola, Florida, where he began to play the guitar. By his mid-teens, Knight was singing at dances and nightspots. By 1925, he was featured on a local radio station, and a movie company manager on location at the time to make a feature film urged Knight to travel to and try his luck in California.
Beginning of fame (1929–1934)
Knight found a vocal teacher in California, but was unable to earn a movie contract. To compensate, Knight did local singing jobs and church work, eventually gaining financial support from the Harkness Scholarship Foundation to aid in paying for his vocal lessons. By 1929, Knight was singing in a Santa Barbara, California Columbia network (later CBS) station, and additionally, had a national show, WCC Presents Felix Knight. Knight entered the Arwater Kent Foundation Scholarship Auditions of the Air, and made it to Manhattan prior to placing second in the judging.
Upon returning to California, Knight sang at the
Peak of fame (1934–1937)
Knight's biggest and best-known role was as the love interest of
Life in New York and later life (1937–1960s)
Knight moved to New York City in 1937. There, he made radio recordings for Thesaurus Transcriptions with
In 1940, Knight again recorded for Victor Records, and continued to be heard on radio in musical programs such as The Ford Sunday Evening Hour, and Music Hall of the Air (Radio City Music Hall), and the game program So You Think You Know Music. Knight also served in World War II, and was present at Guadalcanal.[8]
1946 was an eventful and prosperous year for Knight. Not only did he continue to be very active in radio, but he also signed with
Knight had his own television series, Felix Knight Sings, in the early 1950s, airing every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. His other television work included appearances on NBC Television Concert Hall in 1948, singing Rodolfo's aria from La bohème on Your Show of Shows in April 1950, and performing Christmas hymns on a holiday edition of Juvenile Jury in December 1951. During this time, Knight also created more records for RCA Victor including the tenor roles in excerpts from Victor Herbert operettas with soprano Doretta Morrow.
After leaving the Met, Knight appeared for two months at the Capitol Theatre, then spent the next several years giving concerts (appearing with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, among others), performing in summer stock, and working supper- and nightclubs. In 1960, he and Mimi Benzell did an album from the musicals Can-Can and Kiss Me, Kate for Design Records. On television, Knight was an occasional guest on late-night talk programs such as The Jack Paar Show in September 1961.
Toward the end of the 1960s, Knight had grown fatigued of constant traveling and launched yet another music career, this time, as a vocal teacher. His students included both Broadway and opera singers, and he continued to teach for the remainder of his life. Knight was a member of the Founding Tent of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel and Hardy international society, and he attended several of their conventions.
Personal life
Marriage and children
While on the set of Babes in Toyland, Knight fell in love with fellow co-star Alice Moore, who played the Queen of Hearts. They eloped to Yuma, Arizona and married there on October 17, 1935. They divorced on March 14, 1939.[9]
In 1940, Knight married Ethel Blume, a radio actress who appeared on The Adventures of Helen, The Aldrich Family, Easy Aces, John's Other Wife, and Joyce Jordan, M.D. The two had one child, William Felix Knight II, who at one point would star in an episode of Juvenile Jury in 1954.[10]
Death
Knight died on June 18, 1998, at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York City. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. Not long before his death, Knight told writer Laura Wagner (Classic Images, June 1998): "I did my best, I tried to be a nice guy. I helped people whenever I could, and I never complained. ... For a country boy from a cotton patch in Macon, Georgia—I think I did pretty good."
His wife, Ethel Blume, died in Brookline, Massachusetts on January 16, 2014, two days after her 95th birthday.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1934 | Caravan | Gypsy Singer | Uncredited, Also appeared in the French-language version |
Down to Their Last Yacht | Island Singer | Uncredited, Screen debut, sang "Malakamokolu" | |
Caravan | Chanteur | Uncredited | |
Babes in Toyland | Tom-Tom | Best-known role, first collaboration with Laurel and Hardy and Hal Roach | |
1935 | Springtime in Holland | Dutch milk seller | Short, sang "The Girl on the Little Blue Plate" and "By the Zuider Zee" |
1936 | Carnival Day | Bobby | Short, sang "The Rose in Her Hair" and "Steppin' Along" |
The Bohemian Girl | Gypsy Singer | Second collaboration with Laurel and Hardy and Hal Roach, sang "Then You'll Remember Me" | |
1937 | Pick a Star | Nightclub Singer | Uncredited, Third collaboration with Laurel and Hardy (final film role) |
1937 | Musical Movieland | Young Dutchman | Short, Uncredited, (archived footage) |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1929 | WCC Presents Felix Knight | Himself | National show |
1948 | NBC Television Concert Hall | Himself | Multiple appearances |
1950s | Felix Knight Sings | Host | Own television series, aired on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons |
1950 | Your Show of Shows | Himself – Guest Vocalist | Aired in April, sang Rodolfo's aria from La bohème |
1951 | Cavalcade of Stars | Himself – Guest Vocalist | Season 2 episode 45, aired July 13 |
Juvenile Jury | Himself – Guest Vocalist | Aired in December, special holiday edition, performed Christmas hymns | |
1961 | The Jack Paar Show | Himself | Aired in September |
1962 | The Tonight Show | Himself | Aired August 16 |
1985 | Due Teste Senza Cervello | Himself [11] | Documentary by it:Giancarlo Governi, English translation: "Two Minds Without a Single Thought", featured in portion showing the New York Founding Tent of Sons of the Desert meeting from November 1, 1984 (Knight's 76th birthday) |
1986 | The Laurel and Hardy Show | Singer | Archived footage |
1987 | The Revenge of the Sons of the Desert | Himself | Video documentary short |
Stage
Year | Title | Role[12] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1940–1941 | It Happens on Ice | Featured singer | Broadway debut, 279 performances |
1942 | The Merry Widow | Camile de Jolidon | 39 performances at Carnegie Hall |
Once Over Lightly | Almaviva | Last Broadway role, six performances with Igor Gorin and Grace Pavini, based on The Barber of Seville | |
1946 | Il barbiere di Siviglia | Count Almaviva | Met debut, two performances: November 30 and December 27 |
Lakmé | Gérald | Two performances: January 18 and May 1, latter performance in Dallas, Texas | |
1947 | The Warrior | Philistine Lord | Two performances: January 11 and 31 |
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg | Zorn | In English, performance on February 26 | |
Die Entführung aus dem Serail | Belmonte | In English, performance on March 3 | |
Parsifal | First Knight | Performance on March 13 | |
Die Zauberflöte
|
Priest | Three performances: November 14, December 3, and December 20 | |
Lucia di Lammermoor | Arturo | Two performances: December 16 and 29 | |
Il barbiere di Siviglia | Count Almaviva | Performance on December 21 | |
1948 | Il barbiere di Siviglia | Count Almaviva | Six performances: January 7, January 20 (at the American Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), January 29, February 16, February 28, and December 28 |
Lucia di Lammermoor | Arturo | Three performances: January 17, February 21, March 21, the latter at the Boston Opera House | |
Die Zauberflöte | Priest | Three performances: January 22, February 9, and March 24 | |
Gala Performance | Almaviva in The Barber of Seville: Act II | Met Concert at the Metropolitan Opera House | |
Parsifal | First Knight | Two performances: March 10 and 26 | |
1949 | Lucia di Lammermoor | Arturo | Four performances: January 1, February 22, February 25, and December 27 |
Il barbiere di Siviglia | Count Almaviva | Five performances: March 11, April 2 (at the Boston Opera House), April 9 (at the Northrup Auditorium in Minneapolis, Minnesota )
| |
1950 | Lucia di Lammermoor | Arturo | Last performance at the Met |
Radio
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1938 | Gems From Gershwin | Performer | Originally broadcast July 10 as a memorial honoring George Gershwin on the eve of the first anniversary of his death, also included Jane Froman, Sonny Schuyler, and the Victor Salon Group, conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret, broadcast was medley of Gershwin tunes from Porgy and Bess |
1945 | The Andre Kostelanetz Show | Performer | Originally broadcast May 21, also included Eleanor Steber, conducted by Noël Coward, sang "Someday I'll Find You" alongside Steber |
1990 | The Nutty Nut News Network | Himself [13] | Audio interview with Knight recorded at the Sons 7th International Convention in Clearwater, Florida |
Soundtrack
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1934 | Babes in Toyland | Performer (uncredited) | "Never Mind, Bo Peep", "Castle In Spain", "Go To Sleep" |
1935 | Springtime in Holland | Performer (uncredited) | "Beside the Zuider Zee"; short |
1936 | Carnival Day | Performer (uncredited) | "The Rose in Her Hair"; short |
The Bohemian Girl | Performer (uncredited) | "Then You'll Remember Me" | |
1937 | Pick a Star | Performer (uncredited) | "I've Got It Bad" |
1938 | Love Walked In | Performer | Recorded on February 11 by 78rpm album "Leo Reisman Rhythms"
|
Spring Is Here | Performer | Recorded on May 5 by Leo Reisman, released on Victor 25842 and included in the 78rpm album "Spring Is Here" | |
1942 | The Merry Widow | Camile de Jolidon | Alongside Kitty Carlisle, Wilbur Evans, and Lisette Verea, released February 1, 2011 |
1944 | Musical Movieland | Performer (uncredited) | "Beside the Zuider Zee"; short |
1945 | The Red Mill | Performer | Through Decca Records, performed alongside Eileen Farrell, and Wilbur Evans, with a chorus and orchestra conducted by Jay Blackton |
1946 | A Little Bit of Heaven – A collection of Irish songs sung and played in waltz time | Performer | Through Decca Records, music played by Russ Morgan and his orchestra, with a mixed chorus directed by Jeffry Alexander |
1949 | The Desert Song | Performer | Alongside Kitty Carlisle and Wilbur Evans |
1953 | Mademoiselle Modiste / Naughty Marietta
|
Performer | Alongside Doretta Morrow |
1955 | Vintage Vocal Jazz / Swing Nº 61 – EPs Collectors, "Giannina Mia" | Performer | "A Dream" and "Giannina Mía" |
1960 | Can-Can / Kiss Me, Kate | Performer | Alongside Mimi Benzell |
References
- ISBN 978-0-415-94333-8.
- ^ "Felix Knight | Actor, Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Music and Musicians: Words and Music". The Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1937. p. 5.
- ^ Felix Knight croons "Malakamokalu" in DOWN TO THEIR LAST YACHT (1934). Charles Lieurance. February 15, 2014. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Felix Knight - Beside the Zuider Zee The Girl on the Little Blue Plate. Andrea Lombardo. November 7, 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Felix Knight - Rose in Her Hair. Andrea Lombardo. June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Then You'll Remember Me - Felix Knight - The Bohemian Girl - Laurel, Hardy. varadero1839. January 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Felix Knight. (2015). Lordheath.com. Retrieved November 4, 2016, from http://www.lordheath.com/menu1_422.html.
- ^ Felix Knight. (2015). Lordheath.com. Retrieved November 4, 2016, from http://www.lordheath.com/menu1_422.html.
- ^ JUVENILE JURY with JACK BARRY 1954- CLASSIC TV SHOWS & COMMERCIALS on DVD at TVDAYS.com. tvdays. November 1, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Laurel and Hardy: "Two Minds without a single Thought": Sons of the Desert NY Tent meeting from 1984. Benedetto Gemma. November 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ Felix Knight, Internet Broadway Database, accessed April 23, 2016
- ^ MacGillivray, Scott. "A Nutty Nut Network News Exclusive: Felix Knight Interview 1990". (1990). Nuttynutnewsnetwork.co.uk. Retrieved October 6, 2016, from http://nuttynutnewsnetwork.co.uk/felixknight.html.
External links
- Felix Knight at IMDb