Myrtle Watkins
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Myrtle Paquita Zarate | |
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Born | Myrtle Dillard June 23, 1908 |
Died | November 10, 1968 | (aged 60)
Nationality | American, Mexican, Malaysian |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1925–68 |
Spouses | Cephus Watkins (m. 1927–1928)Edward Thompson
(m. 1929–1930)Lall Singh (m. 1936–1939)Samuel Zarate (m. 1944–1968) |
Musical career | |
Genres | Traditional Pop |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Labels | Columbia, ZARPAC Records, Northwestern |
Myrtle Watkins (June 23, 1908 – November 10, 1968) was an
Early life
Myrtle Watkins was born Myrtle Dillard in Birmingham, Alabama, in June 1908, as the fifth child of Betty S. and Jasper L. Dillard. A 1910 Alabama Census confirms this information. Her father ran a grocery store (J. L. Dillard's Fish Co.) in Birmingham. Myrtle appears in Baltimore mid-1925, 17 years old as a dancer with her partner Yank Brunson. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper described her as a local entertainer. Eventually, in late 1925, she joined Eddie Lemon's Stock Company, appearing at the Regent Theater's Who Dat? revue.
Early in 1926, after Eddie Lemon left for Philadelphia, she remained at the Regent as part of the cast of Lew Peyton's Brownskin Vamps,[1] where she appeared in her own solo number dancing the Charleston. During this time, Myrtle met and married local mechanic, Cephus Watkins; however, the marriage ended shortly afterwards. The following month, she was entertaining at the 'all-white' Folly Cabaret[2] in East Baltimore, her Charleston had caught on immensely with its patrons. Weeks later, she departed for Boston with the Rarin' to Go revue. In 1928, she toured around the Boston area with the Bostonian Harmony Lads singing light blues, where she wrote in the Afro-American that she missed Baltimore.[3]
Career
Arrival in Europe
During the winter of 1928, she joined the cast of the 2nd version of Lew Leslie's Blackbirds
In April 1930, the United States Census takers arrived at the Thompson residence on 7th Avenue, where Mrs. Myrtle Thompson mentioned that she was employed as an entertainer with origins in Alabama. Weeks later, while engaged at Harlem's Lennox Club, Afro-American songwriter, Eugene Newton, whom had previously opened a Parisian nightclub in 1929, had plans of opening a new cabaret in the French capital, and organized Newton's Chocolate Revue as his main act. While Eddie Thompson was away touring across America, Myrtle returned to France the revue, arriving around April 26, the show was promptly reorganized with the help of Eugene Bullard and S.H. Dudley Jr. before preparing for its opening a week later. On May 1, the Comedy Club Revue, opened at Gene Newton's Le Comedy Club, where the production ran for several weeks before the establishment was shut down by French authorities. On the 24th, the cast moved over to Eugene Bullard's Embassy Club as, Revue Noire: Hot Stuff, featuring headliners Louis Cole, Elisabeth Welch, Lillian Brown and comic Snow Fisher.[5]
On May 31, Louis Cole,
Spain (1930–33)
Myrtle probably arrived in Spain that winter, as she opened in
On October 2, Myrtle appeared at the
From February 28 until March 16, 1932, she performed with Afro-American bandleader Levi Wine's Revista Americana, which included popular Spanish cabaret artist, Bella Dorita, at the Ba-Ta-Clan in Valencia. Returning to Madrid a week later and establishing a residence at the Hotel Florida, on March 24 (or April 4), she opened at Lido de Madrid with Louis Douglas's company, where they were engaged throughout the month. Afterhours, Myrtle would drive over to the Teatro Fuencarral, where she also appeared in Folkoricos Arrevistados, alongside Argentinean actress Perlita Greco and Rosarillo de Triana. Early May, while Louis Douglas recovered in a local hospital with stomach pains, together with dancer, Scrappy Jones, he reorganized the company from his bed. On May 21, Modern Melodies opened at the Avenida Cinema dancing in front of the band in a costume with red feathers swinging on her backside. One visiting journalist for the Afro-American described her as the Josephine Baker of Spain: "Miss Watkins is a very good dancer, with plenty of pep, and a pretty shapely figure. She is making conquests in high society and on her string is the marquis of one of Spain's bluest blue bloods. She lives at the Hotel Florida, one of the best hotels in the city, has a fine roadster, records for Spanish gramophone and radio, and entertains at one of the leading cabarets." The revue closed on June 16, and Louis Douglas took the company over to another theater. It is unknown if Myrtle joined them. On July 14, Myrtle and Josephine Wynn traveled to the city of Zaragoza to appear for three weeks at the Florida Bar. On October 4, Spanish newspapers reported that an upcoming film, titled Movietone 1933, was under preparation at a Madrid film studio. The film was to feature Perlita Greco, Myrtle, Scrappy Jones and several other Spanish actors. However it's unknown whether the film actually materialized. On the 13th, Myrtle was in the city of Huesca, appearing at the Cine Odeon with Cuban saxophonist, El Negro Aquilino and his band. In December, Louis Douglas and his troupe departed for what would be a failed Italian Tour. It's not known whether Myrtle actually accompanied him, as she disappears for several months. She may have probably spent this time appearing in various Spanish provinces.
On January 10, 1933, Myrtle resurfaced in
European tour (1934–36)
On March 11, 1934, Ada Bricktop Smith postponed the opening of her new Parisian nightclub, Monico's, until Myrtle arrived, advertised her as "the world’s most fascinating entertainer".[12] After three months, on June 2, she moved on to the Basque Bar with entertainer Evelyn Dove. On July 2, Myrtle debuted in London's Granada Theater ‘all-colored’ revue, Black Scandals. The show ran for a successful week. The films shown that week on the manager's weekly report states that both films were rather weak, and had it not been for the stage show, the takings would have been down. On July 14, for the remainder of the month, newspapers reported that Myrtle returned home to Spain to handle affairs. On August 25, she was in The Netherlands, dancing in The Hague at the popular Palais de Danse cabaret with French singer, Marie Dubas. On November 3, Myrtle was appearing at London's Cafe Anglais with Louis Simmonds' Orchestra.
On January 31, 1935, she returned to Paris, appearing at the popular Cuban-themed Melody-Bar with the Afro-American tenor,
All three brothers studied at the prestigious Victoria Institute in
By March 1936, after recovery, with the permission of Maharajah Bhupindar Singh, Lall took a short break from cricket and returned to Europe with Myrtle, now working as her theatrical agent. Soon after, the couple quickly wed and Myrtle began wearing a sari and practicing Sikhism alongside her new husband. Around this time, her former husband in Harlem died of Stomach Cancer. Throughout the spring, Myrtle appeared in Egypt and Greece. In June, she arrived in Turkey, performing at Istanbul's Taksim Bahcesi club (June 3–19), located on Taksim Square. After travelling across Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia, Myrtle arrived in Czechoslovakia to perform at Prague's Savarin Cabaret (October 1–2) before moving on to Hungary. On November 1, Amerika Revu Kultura opened at Budapest's famous Arizona Csodabár, one of the most celebrated nightclubs in the Hungarian capital. While guests danced on the rotating dance floor and chorus girls were perched on mechanical chandeliers that descended from the ceiling, Myrtle was one of the leading "African" stars of this multicultural show. After the revue closed, Myrtle went over to the Negresco Café for the remainder of the winter (December 2 – January 5).
Transition into Paquita (1937–40)
Unable to return home to Spain, due to the outbreak of the
India (1941–43)
Paquita and Zarate were again in danger as the Germans turned their attentions on France early 1940, they departed for a Middle Eastern tour; they travelled across Egypt and
Mexico and return to the United States (1944–49)
Decided it might be time to move on, Paquita and Zarate now newly engaged, boarded the USS Hermitage, accompanied with Polish refugees, for California, arriving in San Pedro during the summer of 1943. California was stirring with chaos as the
Later career and death (1952–68)
In 1952, Zarate filed for American neutrality so could establish himself more in the United States. Zarate also took up contracts from numerous recording companies, particularly Northwestern. Zarate and Paquita's records sold well across the Western United States. Later on, Zarate opened his own music recording company, ZARPAC, based in their Los Angeles home, which also contained a recording studio. They recorded more than before, nearly a dozen recordings a year and appeared on American radio and television. They became known in performing foreign songs and also experimented in different genres, such as Calypso, which had become popular during the early-1950s. Sometime around 1953, while performing in Chicago, a strong wind damaged their home in Evanston, Wyoming. Cancelling their appearance, they traveled to California and bought a house in Sun Valley, confining their travels to the West Coast. In 1958, they released a religious album, each song dedicated to different religions across the world such as Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.[18] In 1959, they performed in a year-long spectacle at the Lamplighter Lounge in Corvallis, Oregon.
By 1957, they began frequently touring the central Oregon coast under contract to one of the largest nightclubs in Portland. The owner of a new motel and lounge complex in Depoe Bay, Oregon, wanted them to entertain there on a part-time basis. On their first visit, Zarate saw a 'For-Sale' sign on two concrete oxen standing outside a small green house called "Trails End" on six acres of brushland between Lincoln City and Depoe Bay. He suggested they buy it, but Paquita suggested otherwise, "Yes, here in the middle of nowhere." The sign was still there upon their second visit and Zarate and Paquita bought the property in 1959. They built a new house and had the oxen separated and placed on either end of the driveway that loops off Highway 101. They built a studio, so Zarate could teach violin, guitar, piano, flute and organ – instruments he had mastered over the years. Paquita gave lessons in dance and numerous languages. There was also an adjoining restaurant, The Gingerbread House, providing traditional Mexican and Indian cuisine; children were permitted without charge to encourage more students and guests. A number of students enrolled at the Happy Village Cultural Center.
But the institution was not profitable, especially as Paquita became too involved with the children and it hurt her health, which was already debilitated by diabetes according to Zarate. To continue running things, they made numerous appearances over the years at the popular Amato's Supper Club and at the King Surf Beach Resort's Pagan Hut restaurant. Zarate performed at weddings across Oregon and they both entertained at gatherings hosted by the elite of the west coast. This helped bring money to continue running things back at their small estate. During the spring of 1962, in Wecoma Beach (now Lincoln City) they appeared in an International Music Recital where they presented their varied repertoires of dances and songs in numerous languages and instruments. Their stage appearances became very minimal for many years afterwards, except for the annual appearances in Mexico during the spring and winter. After 1965, they also began appearing annually at the Salishan Bar & Grill. Paquita watched as cars went faster and faster by their home, and it troubled her to think that people were in such a hurry. She wanted to give them a place where they could pull over for a few minutes and "give their souls a chance to catch up with them." Zarate wanted to wait until her health improved, so they could build it together. Myrtle "Paquita" Zarate died on November 10, 1968, of diabetic complications. Zarate immediately built a small white chapel on the property among the pines he planted in her honor, and hardly left except to visit relatives in Mexico during the winter. The Fine Arts School continued running, but doesn't seem to have drawn many students as they had before her death. Samuel Zarate continued performing across the Oregon and Mexico until his death in 1997.
References
- ^ "Regent". The Afro-American.
- ^ "Entertained at Folly". The Afro-American.
- ^ "Myrtle Watkins Writes". The Afro-American.
- ^ Sampson, Henry (2014). Blacks in Blackface: A Sourcebook on Early Black Musical Shows. United Kingdom: The Scarcrow Press, Inc. p. 870.
- ^ Dutton, E.P. (2009). France. E.P. Dutton & Company, 1945. p. 224.
- ISBN 9780520225374.
- ^ "Lido". Heraldo de Madrid.
- ^ "Por Si Destine". Estampa Magazine.
- ^ "Helioterapia". Estampa Magazine.
- ^ "Avril-juin 2014". Bibliographie de Belgique. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
- ^ Coda. Vol. 9, issues 1–6. 1969. p. 4.
- ISBN 9780520225374.
- ^ "Paquita Singh, International Woman of Mystery". Naresh Fernandes.
- ^ Adelaide Hall's 'The Big Apple,' 73 Rue Pigaslle, Paris – original 1938 invitation card, with cabaret featuring Myrtle Watkins: The Big Apple
- ^ Laudan, Stanley (1957). The White Catons. A. Wingate, 1957. p. 12.
- ^ "Paquita Singh, International Woman of Mystery". Naresh Fernandes.
- ^ "Zarate and Paquita". The Eugene Register-Guard.
- ^ Billboard. 1958. p. 46.