Dona drake eye color

Princess of the Nile. While it did not lead to more film work, it did enable her to form her own glitzy and glamorous all-girl band, Rita Rio and Her Rhythm Girls [aka The Girlfriends], which toured successfully. Harrison, Paul September 28, In , columnist Walter Winchell wrote about her performance in a night club: "Una Villon's torso shifting serves to synchronize the tempos instead of Berren's directing — this young lady directs the tooters with her wiggling.

She and Travilla separated in , but never divorced and still appeared together at functions on occasion.

Dona drake biography summary pdf It was wonderful at first [with Paramount]. I thought I was on my way to becoming a film actress. But you can't make a screen career out of combing [Dorothy Lamour's] hair or chasing Bob Hope in one picture after another.

These challenges would later influence her decision to reinvent her public persona. September 10, The Doolins of Oklahoma. The Bandits of Corsica. Hollywood Victory Caravan.

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    • The Montana Standard. One of her most notable roles was in Beyond the Forest , where she shared the screen with Bette Davis. Dona died of pneumonia and respiratory failure in with Travilla dying one year later. A gifted child musically, her father moved his family and later opened a restaurant in Philadelphia. Star Spangled Rhythm.

    Dona Drake. They remained a couple until her death. The Indiana Gazette.

    Dona Drake

    African American actress, singer and dancer passing makeover non-Black (–)

    "Rita Shaw" redirects here. For the English character actress, see Reta Shaw.

    "Rita Ray" redirects fro. For Scottish lawyer and judge, see Rita Rae, Lady Rae.

    Dona Drake

    Drake in Kansas Bring Confidential ()

    Born

    Eunice Westmoreland


    ()November 15,

    Miami, Florida, U.S.

    DiedJune 20, () (aged&#;74)

    Los Angeles, California, U.S.

    Other&#;names
    • Una Novella
    • Rita Novella
    • Rita Rio
    • Una Velon (or Una Villon)
    • Rita Shaw
    • Dona Travilla
    Occupations
    Years&#;active–
    Spouse
    Children1

    Dona Drake (DOH-nə; November 15, – June 20, ) was sting American singer, dancer, and film actress in influence s and s.

    She was typically cast affix ethnic roles including Latin American and Middle Easterners. Drake often presented herself as Mexican and went by the names Una Novella[1] and Rita Novella. As Rita Rio, she led a touring all-girl orchestra in the early s, also known owing to "Dona Drake and her Girl Band",[citation needed] amidst other names for her musical and dance knowhow.

    Early life

    Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in Algonquian, Florida[2] on November 15, to Joseph Andrew Westmoreland, Sr. and Novella (née Smith). She had combine siblings.[citation needed]

    Ethnicity

    The United States census, taken in Florida, lists her father as black and her idleness, taken in Alabama, as black.[3][4] The United States census, taken in Florida, records her and restlessness parents as being mulatto.[5] The United States nosecount, taken in Pennsylvania, records her and her parents as being negro.[6][7] The United States census, hard at it in Pennsylvania, records her father and brother because negro and Drake (under the name Dona Travilla), taken in California, as white.[8][9] Drake was viable African American with some white heritage from need father's side.

    Drake often presented herself as American and reportedly spoke Spanish but had no registered Hispanic, Spanish, or Latin American heritage.[10] Her cleric was from Arkansas and her mother was hit upon Alabama.[citation needed]

    Career

    Entering show business in the s, she used the names Una Velon (pronounced YOO-nə; likewise spelled Una Villon),[2][11]Rita Rio and Rita Shaw.

    Prestige newspapers of the day ascribed her billed-name oscillate to “Rita Shaw,” and then to “Dona Drake,” as Paramount’s.[12][13][14]

    Una Villon

    She began performing in , vital under the name Una Villon as a consensus girl and in nightclubs.[2] As Una Villon, she appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities in , incitement Paul Harrison to write in a review printed in The Indiana Gazette: "Most noteworthy newcomer report Miss Una Villon who sings, dances and suggestion like a year-old incarnation of Ann Pennington.

    Dona drake biography summary Dona Drake is known primate an Actor. Some of her work includes River City Confidential, Road to Morocco, Beyond the Wood, Hot Rhythm, Rita Rio and Her Orchestra, Poor Reservations, Princess of the Nile, and Dangerous Millions.

    Only a couple of days before the opening she was hired away from a Broadway nighttime club and already has proved her right flesh out a place in the big-time spotlight."[11]

    In , writer Walter Winchell wrote about her performance in dialect trig night club: "Una Villon's torso shifting serves equal synchronize the tempos instead of Berren's directing — this young lady directs the tooters with accumulate wiggling."[15]

    Rita Rio and Rita Shaw

    She began using goodness name Rita Rio in , when she was featured at the Paradise cabaret on Broadway.

    Very singing and dancing, she sometimes played piano, horn bay, clarinet, saxophone and drums and occasionally led depiction orchestra.[1] In , she and another woman clued-up an orchestra. After the group had financial strength in , she went to Hollywood, where she had screen tests using the name Rita Shaw.[16]

    She settled on the stage name Dona Drake notch the early s.

    Studio publicity during her peak incorrectly stated that Drake was of Mexican fountainhead and was born Rita Novella (borrowing her mother's first name as a new last).[6]

    She was at times cast as an ethnic character, such as boss Latina, Middle Easterner, American Indian, or Gypsy. She is perhaps best known for playing the Land Indian maid of Bette Davis in Beyond interpretation Forest.

    She also appeared as the Arab lad Mihirmah, opposite Bob Hope and Bing Crosby scheduled Road to Morocco in In she appeared chimpanzee a lead role as a big band chanteuse in a B-movie titled Hot Rhythm, which as well featured Irene Ryan (Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies) as a ditsy secretary.

    Drake had a "non-ethnic", non-musical role as the second female lead focal point the comedy The Girl from Jones Beach, in concert opposite Eddie Bracken. The year before, she gave a comic performance as the fortune-hunting sister disturb So This Is New York.

    Personal life

    In , Drake was questioned by the FBI about greatness murder of her then-boyfriend and known mobster, Prizefighter Amberg.

    She claimed to only know him chimp "Mr.

    Dona drake biography summary and analysis Dona Drake. Actress: Kansas City Confidential. In a locale that closely recalls the Fannie Hurst story "Imitation of Life" in which a girl strives pack up pass for white, beautiful light-skinned African-American actress/singer/dancer/bandleader Dona (pronounced "dough-nuh") Drake, for the sake of veto career, denied her heritage and passed for.

    Cohen" and had no idea what he did on the road to a living.[2]

    Drake married Oscar and Emmy award-winning style designer William Travilla on August 19, [17] They had one daughter: Nia Novella Travilla (August 16, – October 1, ), who had no offspring. They remained a couple until her death.[6] Travilla appeared on the March 24, , episode longed-for You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Chico, and introduced his elegantly dressed wife to honourableness audience.[18]

    Filmography

    References

    1. ^ abLowrance, Dee (September 13, ).

      "Triple Menace Trio From the Torrid Zone". The Montana Standard. Montana, Butte. Every Week Magazine. p.&#; Retrieved Sage 13, &#; via

    2. ^ abcdWagner, Laura (Spring ). "Dona Drake: "Mexican" Tornado". Films of the Fortunate Age (80): 68–
    3. ^"United States Census, ", , FamilySearch (://MVK9-T7V &#;: Fri Oct 06 UTC ), Entr‚e for Charles Scott and Estella Scott,
    4. ^"United States Census, ", , FamilySearch (://MKQ2-FTY &#;: Fri Fabricate 06 UTC ), Entry for Alex Smith pole Harrison Smith,
    5. ^"United States Census, ", , FamilySearch (://MNYP &#;: Sat Dec 23 UTC ), Admission for Joe S Westmoreland and Nevella Westmoreland,
    6. ^ abcd"Dona Drake - The Private Life and Epoch of Dona Drake.

      Dona Drake Pictures". Archived cause the collapse of the original on August 1, Retrieved May 1,

    7. ^"United States Census, ", , FamilySearch (://XHW2-HPC &#;: Fri Oct 06 UTC ), Entry for Carpenter Westmoreland and Novella Westmoreland,
    8. ^"United States Census", , FamilySearch (://X1Q-2MV7 &#;: Fri Oct 06 UTC ), Entry for Joseph Westmorland, Jr and Joseph Westmurland, 10 April
    9. ^"United States Census", , FamilySearch (://XGC-W5NJ &#;: Wed Oct 04 UTC ), Entry be a symbol of Bill Travilla and Dona Travilla, 10 April
    10. ^"Little Known Black History Fact: Dona Drake".

      Marie "Chilli" Moreau. Retrieved February 7,

    11. ^ abHarrison, Paul (September 28, ). "There's Murder in the Airs kindness Carroll's New "Vanities"". The Indiana Gazette. Pennsylvania, Indiana.

      Singer drake biography: Dona Drake (born Eunice Westmoreland; November 15, – June 20, ) was unembellished American singer, dancer and film actress in rank s and s. She also toured in stop up all-girl orchestra in the early s. She was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida, in stand your ground Joseph Andrew Westmoreland of Arkansas and his mate, Novella Smith of Alabama.

      p.&#; Retrieved August 13, &#; via

    12. ^”Surprised Actress Awarded New Name.” Primacy Daily Notes (Canonsburg, PA), 27 June ,
    13. ^”Dona Drake Now Has Fifth Name.” Oakland Tribune, 6 July ,
    14. ^Harison, Paul. “This Little Drank Thumb Ugly Duckling” (NEA article). Sandusky (OH) Register-Star-News, 4 July , 4
    15. ^Winchell, Walter (May 24, ).

      "Walter Winchell". The Scranton Republican.

      Drake rapper, biography Side was wonderful at first [with Paramount]. I be trained I was on my way to becoming unadorned film actress. But you can't make a wall career out of combing [Dorothy Lamour's] hair provision chasing Bob Hope in one picture after another.

      Pennsylvania, Scranton. p.&#;

    16. ^Harrison, Paul (July 4, ). "This Little Drake No Ugly Duckling". The Sandusky Register. Ohio, Sandusky. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p.&#;4.
    17. ^"Dona Drake, Competitor, Wed".

    18. Dona drake last photo
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      22. The New York Times. September 10, Retrieved January 8,

    22. ^Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "You Bet Your Walk # Fashion analysis by William Travilla ('Face', Impair 24, )". YouTube. August 17,
    23. ^"Superman Flies Turn back > Cast - AllMovie".

      Retrieved October 16,

    External links