Virginia Verrill

Virginia Verrill
Verrill in 1935
Born	November 20, 1916 Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Died	January 18, 1999(1999-01-18) (aged 82) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Singer
Spouse	James K. Breyley (1913-1988) m1940-1960 (divorced) Dr. Louis Duddleston (1915-2003) m 1961
Children	2

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]

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

External links

• Virginia Verrill sings It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget) with the Isham Jones Orchestra

This page was last edited on 10 May 2023, at 19:35