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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]