Madelon Baker
Madelon Baker | |
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Born | Georgia Madelon Baker 1910 or 1911 Laguna Hills, California, U.S. |
Other names | Madelon Grayson, Madelon Mitchel, C. Madelon Baker |
Education | Wayne State University, Northwestern University |
Occupations |
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Spouses |
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Georgia Madelon Baker
Early life
A native of Marion, Illinois, Baker was the youngest of five daughters born to Fannie Elizabeth Bateman and George Christie Baker,[4][5] a coal miner who died in 1924 at age 54.[6] Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Highland Park, Michigan and Baker began modeling.[7][8] She later attended Wayne State University before transferring to Northwestern.[4]
Career
By the following decade, Baker was appearing on radio in such series as
On May 31, 1942, on
Baker was fashion coordinator for Marshall Field's in Chicago from 1942 to 1944,[4] at which point she and Mitchel moved to Los Angeles.[24] From 1944 through 1951, she was employed in varying capacities at Les Mitchel Productions; she served variously as producer,[4] secretary-treasurer (as G. Madelon Mitchel)[25][26] and, on at least one occasion, performer.[27]
In 1955, Baker—as Madelon Mitchell—co-starred with
In 1959, Baker, together with her husband Jackson Baker, began Audio Arts Inc.,
Personal life and death
Baker was married at least three times. The first two marriages ended in divorce: with violinist/vocalist Carl Graub (aka Grayson) from 1933 to 1940,[46][19][47][20] and with producer Lester Mandiville "Les" Mitchel from 1942 to 1952.[1][48][49] By contrast, Baker's final marriage, to her Audio Arts partner/co-founder—and partial namesake—Jackson Correll Baker, lasted from 1956 until his death in 1975.[4][50][51]
On February 26, 1999, Baker died of a stroke in
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1940 | Girls of the Road | Annie[52] | As Madelon Grayson |
The Secret Seven | Moll[53] | uncredited | |
Glamour for Sale | Irene[53] | ||
1950 | Charlie's Haunt | Eve Tannen[54][55] | |
1951 | Gasoline Alley | Phyllis Wallet[56] | As Madelon Mitchel |
Two Dollar Bettor
|
Grace Shepard[57] | ||
Corky of Gasoline Alley | Phyllis Wallet[58] | ||
1953 | Never Wave at a WAC | Captain McGrady[59] | Uncredited |
1955 | The Great Adventure | Mrs. Grayson[28] | As Madelon Mitchell |
Ain't Misbehavin' | Mrs. Warden[57] | Uncredited | |
1956 | I've Lived Before | Daisy - Miss Stone's Maid[60] | |
1957 | The Deadly Mantis | Mother[citation needed] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1952 | Personal Appearance Theater | Episode: "The Haircut" (as Madelon Mitchel)[61] | |
1955 – 1956 | Camera Kitchen | Self - host | 13 episodes (as Madelon Mitchel)[30][31] |
1956 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Doctor's Receptionist | Season 2 Episode 14: "John Brown's Body"[62] |
1976 | Faith for Today | Nurse | 1 episode[63] |
1983 | Odyssey | Self | 1 episode[64] |
Notes
- ^ Oddly enough, Baker was just one of two Madelon Bakers performing with big bands during this period; moreover, both resided within the Detroit urban area. Baker's namesake/neighbor—full name Madelon Cressence Baker—resided in Detroit proper and, unlike her Illinois-born counterpart, had done so her entire life; notable credits include gigs with Johnny DiCicco, Bob Chester and her husband, saxophonist/bandleader Bob Carney.[10][11][12][13][14] Also helping to distinguish between the two is the fact that during her career, Madelon C. Baker is consistently referred to in Detroit newspapers as "blond Madelon Baker," an assertion corroborated by a good number of images also found in those papers,[15][16][17] all of which clearly differentiate her from her red-haired, Illinois-born contemporary.[18][19][9][20][21]
References
- ^ a b Armstrong, Alice Katt (1950). Who's Who in Los Angeles County.
- ^ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZF-3JC : Thu Dec 07 23:07:32 UTC 2023), Entry for George C Baker and Fannie E Baker, 1920.
- ^ a b c d "Lifeline: Deaths". Billboard. March 13, 1999. p. 90.
- ^ ISBN 0837909147.
- ^ "George Christie Baker". Family Search.
- ^ "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQZK-6ZB : 25 April 2022), George C. Baker, 1924.
- ^ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X739-RBG : Thu Oct 05 20:18:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Fannie Baker and Jewell Baker, 1930.
- ^ a b c Savoy, Maggie (October 4, 1970). "She's Superworker in Ultracompetitive Line". The Los Angeles Times. Sec. E, p. 1, 12.
- ^ a b "Vocalist". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 1, 1934. p. 46.
- ^ "Madelon Carney; Singer During Big Band Years". Detroit Free Press. January 24, 2005. p. 15.
- ^ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQ6-FGRW : 10 February 2023), Madelon Cressence Baker, .
- ^ "Singers at Penobscot". Detroit Free Press. February, 19, 1944. p. 9.
- ^ "New Dance Routine Offer for Patrons at Fountain Room". The Shreveport Journal. November 21, 1935. p. 9.
- ^ "Music-Cocktail: Det. Spot Follows Trend, Adds Hoof and Mouth Set Up". The Billboard. November 3, 1945. p. 33.
- ^ "Featured Night Club Vocalists". Detroit Evening Times. April 4, 1941. p. 21.
- ^ "DEL DELBRIDGE plays piano accompaniment...". Detroit Evening Times. December 6, 1942. p. 18.
- ^ Robinson, Elsie (October 22, 1944). "Young America Speaks". Detroit Evening Times.
- ^ "Film Find to Sing at Westwood". Detroit Evening Times. June 25, 1941. p. 17. Retrieved. December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "A Fair Bride for Fair". The Pottstown Mercury. June 7, 1933. p. 6.
- ^ a b "Film Career Wrecks Romance; Divorce Awarded to Actress". The Los Angeles Times. March 16, 1940. p. 17.
- ^ a b "The Unique Madelon Baker". Record World. August 22, 1970. Sec. II, p. 34.
- ISBN 3-7186-5643-4.
- ^ "Chicago Radio People Open Service Canteen". The Billboard. January 9, 1943. p. 7.
- ^ Ferris, Earle (July 6, 1944). "Who's News?". Gonzalez Tribune. p. 1.
- LCCN 39-16496.
- OCLC 1051754396
- ^ 21 Momen (May 28, 2023). "Gloria Grahame in Jane Speed's "Farewell to Birdie McKeever" – Skippy Hollywood Theatre (8/31/50)". YouTube.
- ^ ProQuest 609655855.
A scene from the Rotary film, 'The Great Adventure,' in which Dr. Grayson and his wife (Madelon Mitchell) are seen entertaining a group of Rotary foundation fellows from six different different countries, including India.
- ^ "Story of the Great Adventure". The Sydney Morning Herald. February 23, 1955. p. 25
- ^ a b "Thursday Television; Video-Radio Briefs; Open Road Does L.A. Auto Show". The Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1955. p. 36.
- ^ a b "Television Schedule". Sant Ana Register. March 1, 1956. p. 14.
- ^ "Video-Radio Briefs: 'Bail Out' Features Spectacular Films". The Los Angeles Times. December 29, 1955. pt. I, pg. 26.
- ^ Zimmerman, Paul (December 18, 1955). "Sportscripts: Calendar Does Bruins Favor". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Television Programs". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 28, 1955. p. 12.
- ^ "Monty Margetts McDonald, Pioneer TV Cook in Los Angeles". The Modesto Bee. March 13, 1997. p. 40.
- ^ "Video-Radio Briefs: Films of Pre-Flood North on Open Road". The Los Angeles Times January 19, 1956. pt. III, pg. 11.
- ^ "Billboard's Recommended LPs: Soul". Billboard. January 7, 1978. p. 96.
- ^ "Audio Arts!". Discogs.
- ^ "Madelon Baker". Discogs.
- ProQuest 511100427.
Jimmy Webb came into the studio one day to accompany another chap who wanted to record something. [...] Finally he stuck his head in the door of her office and said, 'Honey, you want to hear some of my songs?'
- ^ "The Midnight Mail Featuring Jim Webb* – I Can't Get It / I Can't Quit". Discogs.
- ^ "Jim Webb Ja Ma Master to Bell". Cash Box. May 30, 1970. p. 10.
- ^ "Degatina to Audio Arts". Cash Box. November 29, 1969. p. 28.
- ^ "Madelon Baker Into R&B; Limits Audio Arts". Billboard. February 22, 1969. p. 26.
- ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
- ProQuest 1032028954.
GRAYSON-BAKER—Carl Grayson, of Clayton, O., violinist and soloist with Johnny Hamp's orchestra, was married June 3 in the Blue Ribbon Casino at the Chicago World's Fair to Madelon Baker, of Detroit. Ben Bernie's band played the wedding march. Johnny Hamp was best man. Grayson's name in private life is Carl Graub.
- ^ ”Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21K-Y2HB : Sat Oct 21 11:12:59 UTC 2023), Entry for Carl F Graub and Georgia Madelon Baker, 03 Jun 1933.
- ProQuest 1014949613.
LES MITCHELL [sic], producer of WBBM, Chicago, and Madelon Grayson, radio actress, were married Oct. 10 by Dr. Preston Bradley, radio preacher. O. J. Neuwerth, WBBM producer, was best man.
- ^ "Can't Live With 'Genius,' Says Wife; Gets Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1952. p. 41.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86K-C18 : Thu Oct 19 16:45:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Jackson Correll Baker and Georgia Madelon Mitchel, 28 Apr 1956.
- ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHG-R32 : 26 November 2014), Jackson C Baker, 28 Oct 1975; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
- ^ "Showmen's Reviews of Product: Girls of the Road (Columbia); Sociological Melodrama". Motion Picture Herald.
- ^ a b "Madelon Grayson Filmography". TCM.
- ^ "Inside 'Charlie's Haunt'; An interview with Madelon Baker, who plays a role in our new Bell System movie about safety". Pacific Telephone Magazine. 1958. p. 30.
- ^ St. Louis Flashback (July 22, 2014). "Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Comedy Short 'Charlie's Haunt'". YouTube.
- ^ "Gasoline Alley Wins New Followers As Movie". Orlando Sunday Sentinel-Star. February 18, 1951. p. 37.
- ^ a b "Madelon Mitchel Filmography". TCM.
- ^ "Exhibitor Servisection: Columbia". The Exhibitor. September 12, 1951. Vol. 46, No. 19. p. 3145.
- ^ Carmody, Jay (January 29, 1953). "The Passing Show: Premiere Proves Brilliant, Happily So Is the Film". Washington Evening Star. p. 26.
- ISBN 0899500706.
- ^ Ames, Walter (February 5, 1952). "Ozzie, Harriet Show Heading for Fall Video; Prop Man Sad Over Skelton Gag Failure". The Los Angeles Times. p. 22.
- ^ "Talent Showsheet December 21 - December 30". Ross Reports on Television. December 24-30, 1956. p. E.
- ^ Rensberger, Paula (July 21, 1976). "'Lights, camera, action!' It's just another day at Westwood Hospital; A ready set". Thousand Oaks Star. p. 19.
- ^ "Sunday Morning". Los Angeles Times Television Times. September 11, 1983. p. 8.
Further reading
- Martin, Marjorie (June 10, 1951). "Charming Ogunquit Thrills Vacationists". The Boston Globe. p. A-36.
- "Guidelines for Black Execs Offered at CORE Parley". Billboard. June 6, 1970. p. 4.
- "Audio Arts' Baker on 11-City Trip". Record World. June 20, 1970. p. 23.
- "Webb & Canopy File Suit Vs. Ja-Ma Music". Billboard. October 23, 1971. pp. 8, 72.
- "Ja-Ma Music Files Webb Countersuit". Billboard. December 25, 1971. p. 3.
External links
- Madelon Baker discography at Discogs
- Madelon Baker at IMDb
- The City Wears a Slouch Hat at Internet Archive