|
Memories of Miriam LaVelle
Do you have any useful information to
contribute this website? Please make contact using the email address:
memories@miriamlavelle.com As
appropriate, I'll either add the information to the relevant section of this
site, or publish it below as a personal recollection.
|
|
Lyle Bird from San Antonio, Texas, writes in
with a fascinating little story. Lyle played trumpet as a young guy but gave
up music to join the Navy, seeing active WW2 service and beyond. Fifty years
after putting down his horn, Lyle is back blowing the trumpet and playing
the piano and keyboard. In Lyle's words:
'I was playing trumpet in the house
band at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and Miriam LaVelle was
a dance
act on stage in the 1 week show.
Miriam was travelling with her mother and I
felt a little out of my class with her. We talked several times back stage.
I was working so could not attend my graduation from High School. I invited
her to go to a gathering of my High School graduation class in San Francisco
at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. She was a beautiful girl about 18, and I will
never forget our entrance at the top of the Mark [Hopkins Hotel] with her
beauty, fur coat and I was in Tux and when I went to introduce her I
couldn't remember her name. It was shameful and I will never forget it. I
never had any other contact with her and In fact I was telling my 63 year
old son about it today and surprise - her name came up on the Internet.'
[Submitted 13-01-2010].
Lyle Adds:
'You caused me to think further about Miriam
and I believe she travelled with a show called the "George White Scandals".
It seems so coincidental that after telling my most embarrassing moment
story to my son and typing her name on the ever amazing internet that you
would be there.' [Submitted 19-01-2010].
Billboard records Miriam LaVelle appearing in the May 1944
edition of George White's Scandals at the Oriental theatre in Chicago,
though whether the show travelled around is not known. |
|
Bob Graham from Los Angeles has contacted me with some
fond memories of Miriam LaVelle. Bob was a popular singer, actor and
broadcaster during the 1940s and 50s and appeared in seven films during that
timeframe. He also sang in several of the films. Most notably, though, Bob
played opposite Mitzi Gaynor in the 1953 Hollywood musical, 'The I don't
care girl', in which he features as a singer who has a romantic liaison with
Ms Gaynor. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr Graham and hearing
first-hand about the many dates he shared with Ms LaVelle. Bob describes her
as an attractive lady who was a delight to be with. He refers below to the
Capitol Hotel on Eighth Avenue, New York City, the home of Nicky Blair's
Carnival Room, a circus-themed dinner cabaret featuring trapeze artists,
jugglers, dancers, comedians (Milton Berle had a long run as the top
billing), chorines, and clowns etc. Miriam LaVelle was the featured
acrobatic dancer at this venue and a photo of her can be seen under
Images.
In Bob's own words:
'My name is Bob Graham. I was a singer on the weekly
radio show "Duffy's Tavern" and The "Fanny Brice-Baby Snooks" radio show and
was ,also, under contract to Paramount Pictures. The time was 1945 and 1946.
This is the time I was introduced to Miriam Lavelle. About this time Miriam,
and I, were both in New York. She was working at the Capitol Hotel, with
Milton Berle and I was at Lowe's State Theater. I attended one of her shows
and even though I had known her for sometime, I had never seen her perform.
I soon learned what a great entertainer she was. I lost track of her soon
after and never saw her again. I, too, would like to hear more about her.
I have several pictures, of her, which I will find and
send to you. '
[Submitted 04-03-2010].
I've received these wonderful photos and they can be viewed
on the page I've assigned to Bob's memories.
Click here
to see them. |
|
Lyle Bird from San Antonio, Texas, writes in
with a fascinating little story. Lyle played trumpet as a young guy but gave
up music to join the Navy, seeing active W
Billboard records Miriam LaVelle appearing in the May 1944
edition of George White's Scandals at the Oriental theatre in Chicago,
though whether the show travelled around is not known. |
|
|
|
|
|
