Virginia Verrill

Catherine Virginia Verrill ( November 20, 1916 - January 18, 1999) was a singer in the era of old-time radio and big bands. Her work included providing the off-screen singing voices for some female film stars.[1]

Virginia Verrill
Verrill in 1935
BornNovember 20, 1916
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1999(1999-01-18) (aged 82)
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSinger
Spouse(s)James K. Breyley (1913-1988) m1940-1960 (divorced) Dr. Louis Duddleston (1915-2003) m 1961
Children2

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,[2] with her debut coming on KMPC in 1932.[4] In 1934, she sang with David Brockman and the KHJ orchestra[5] on California Melodies, which originated at KHJ and was carried on the CBS network.[2] Early in 1935, columnist Walter Winchell reported that Verrill had begun working for CBS.[6] In June 1935, she was singing on the Socony Sketchbook with Johnny Green's orchestra[7] and had "a starring contract" on another show that was planned.[8] That program debuted July 2, 1935, with Verrill as star and Mark Warnow conducting the accompanying orchestra.[9] She had another program, Vocals by Verrill, in 1937.[10]

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
  1. "Virginia Verrill, Unseen Voice Of Hollywood's Singing Stars, 82". The New York Times. January 25, 1999. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  2. Robert, Bernes (May 12, 1935). "The Radio Reporter". California, Oakland. Oakland Tribune. p. 79. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Virginia Verrill; Movie and Radio Singer". Los Angeles Times. January 29, 1999. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. Ranson, Jo (June 12, 1935). "Radio Dial Log". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Radio Features". California, Santa Ana. Santa Ana Register. November 28, 1934. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Winchell, Walter (March 22, 1935). "Walter Winchell on Broadway". Pennsylvania, Reading. Reading Times. p. 28. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "(Socony Sketchbook advertisement)". New Hampshire, Portsmouth. The Portsmouth Herald. June 14, 1935. p. 7. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Who's Who; What's What". California, Oakland. Oakland Tribune. June 7, 1935. p. 32. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Hall, Larry (June 30, 1935). "A.A.U. Meet Rates Top on Weekly Airwave Offerings". Nebraska, Lincoln. The Lincoln Star. p. 20. Retrieved April 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Virginia Verrill on Saturday". Radio Daily. April 30, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. "On the Air". Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. Harrisburg Telegraph. June 24, 1941. p. 11. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Plane Engine Building Is Broadcast Topic". California, Fresno. The Fresno Bee The Republican. September 5, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 155.
  14. "KHJ Sunday Programs". California, Santa Ana. Santa Ana Register. August 11, 1934. p. 11. Retrieved April 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "(Dance advertisement)". California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. October 19, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved April 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Singer Resents Being Told She Looks Like Myrna Loy". Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Press. January 28, 1937. p. 27. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  17. Wilson, Earl (April 14, 1981). "Donna doesn't feel exploited". Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Sentinel. p. Page 2-Part 3. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  18. "Hollywood Descendant Makes Film Debut". Pennsylvania, Pottstown. Pottstown Mercury. October 16, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 1, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Durling, E.V. (September 25, 1942). "On the Side". Pennsylvania, Shamokin. Shamokin News-Dispatch. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Crystal Lake Church is Setting for Breyley-Duddleston Nuptials." Woodstock (IL) Daily Sentinel, 11 July 1961.
  21. "MCA Inks Welk to 3-Year Pact." Billboard, 18 February 1950.
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