Virginia Verrill
Catherine Virginia Verrill (November 20, 1916 – January 18, 1999) was a singer in the era of
Early years
Verrill was born Catherine Virginia Verrill in Santa Monica, California. Her mother, Aimee McLean Verrill, was active in vaudeville.[2] At 5 months of age, Verrill appeared with her mother in her act.[3]
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.[2] (Another source says that she graduated from Hollywood High School.)[4]
Radio
By the time she was 13, Verrill was singing on local stations,
Verrill performed regularly on the variety shows College Humor Program,[11] Uncle Walter's Dog House,[12] Home Town, Unincorporated,[13] The Jack Haley Show,[13]: 170 and Maxwell House Show Boat.[13]: 303
She was also heard on broadcasts with Orville Knapp's Orchestra.[14]
Personal appearances
In 1934, Verrill sang with Marvin George and his Hermosa Hut Orchestra.[15] She also "was featured at the Colony Club and other famous Hollywood rendezvous."[2]
Film
When she was 13,[16] Verrill won an audition over 300 others to sing the title song in Barbara Stanwyck's Ten Cents a Dance," (1931).[3] By the time she was 18 years old, she had "frequently played voice double for Hollywood picture stars."[2] Her dubbing included singing for Jean Harlow in both Reckless (1935)[6] and Suzy (1936).[17]
On-screen, she was seen in Hide-Out (1934)[18] and Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938.[1]
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."[19]
At the time of her death, Verrill was married to Dr. Louis C. Duddleston.[1] 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.[20] Her first husband was a Music Corporation of America's chief band-booking executive in Chicago.[21]
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.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Virginia Verrill, Unseen Voice Of Hollywood's Singing Stars, 82". The New York Times. January 25, 1999. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^
- ^ a b "Virginia Verrill; Movie and Radio Singer". Los Angeles Times. January 29, 1999. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^
- ^
- ^ "Virginia Verrill on Saturday". Radio Daily. April 30, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 155.
- ^ "Singer Resents Being Told She Looks Like Myrna Loy". Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Press. January 28, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Earl (April 14, 1981). "Donna doesn't feel exploited". Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Sentinel. p. Page 2-Part 3. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Crystal Lake Church is Setting for Breyley-Duddleston Nuptials." Woodstock (IL) Daily Sentinel, 11 July 1961.
- ^ "MCA Inks Welk to 3-Year Pact." Billboard, 18 February 1950.