Dona Drake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Rita Shaw" redirects here. For the American character actress, see Reta Shaw.
"Rita Ray" redirects here. For Scottish lawyer and judge, see Rita Rae, Lady Rae.

Dona Drake
Drake in Kansas City Confidential (1952)
Born
Eunice Westmoreland

(1914-11-15)November 15, 1914
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedJune 20, 1989(1989-06-20) (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
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active1933–1977
Spouse
​
(m. 1944)​
Children1

Dona Drake (/DO-nə DRAYK/ November 15, 1914 – June 20, 1989) was an American singer, dancer, and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was typically being cast in 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 1940s, also known as "Dona Drake and her Girl Band",[citation needed] among other names for her musical and dance acts.

Early life[edit]

Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida[2] on November 15, 1914 to Joseph Andrew Westmoreland, Sr. (1882-1960) and Novella (née Smith; 1889-1946). She had four siblings.

Ethnicity[edit]

The 1910 United States census, taken in Florida, lists her father as black and her mother, taken in Alabama, as black.[3][4] The 1920 United States census, taken in Florida, records her and her parents as being mulatto.[5] The 1930 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her and her parents as being negro.[6][7] The 1950 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her father and brother as white and Drake (under the name Dona Travilla), taken in California, as white.[8][9] Drake was likely African American with some white heritage from her father's side. Drake often presented herself as Hispanic and reportedly spoke Spanish but had no documented Hispanic, Spanish, or Latin American heritage.[10] Her father was from Arkansas and her mother was from Alabama.

Career[edit]

Entering show business in the 1930s, she used the names Una Velon (pronounced YOO-nə; also spelled Una Villon),[2][11] Rita Rio and Rita Shaw. The newspapers of the day ascribed her billed-name changes to “Rita Shaw,” and then to “Dona Drake,” as Paramount’s.[12][13][14]

Una Villon[edit]

She began performing in 1932, working under the name Una Villon as a chorus girl and in nightclubs.[2] As Una Villon, she appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities in 1933, prompting Paul Harrison to write in a review printed in The Indiana Gazette: "Most noteworthy newcomer is Miss Una Villon who sings, dances and looks like a 16-year-old incarnation of Ann Pennington. Only a couple of days before the premiere she was hired away from a Broadway night club and already has proved her right to a place in the big-time spotlight."[11]

In 1934, 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."[15]

Rita Rio and Rita Shaw[edit]

She began using the name Rita Rio in 1935, when she was featured at the Paradise cabaret on Broadway. Besides singing and dancing, she sometimes played piano, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone and drums and occasionally led the orchestra.[1] In 1936, she and another woman formed an orchestra. After the group had financial problems in 1940, she went to Hollywood, where she had screen tests using the name Rita Shaw.[16]

She settled on the stage name Dona Drake in the early 1940s. Studio publicity during her heyday incorrectly stated that Drake was of Mexican origin and was born Rita Novella (borrowing her mother's first name as a new last).[6]

Her striking, angular features and dark curly hair led her to being cast as an ethnic character, such as a Latina, Middle Easterner, American Indian, or Gypsy. She is perhaps best known for playing the American Indian maid of Bette Davis in Beyond the Forest. She also appeared as the Arab girl Mihirmah, opposite Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in Road to Morocco in 1942. In 1944 she appeared as a lead role as a big band singer in a B-movie titled Hot Rhythm, which also featured Irene Ryan (Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies) as a ditsy secretary.

Drake had a notable "non-ethnic", non-musical role as the second female lead in the 1949 comedy The Girl from Jones Beach, playing opposite Eddie Bracken. The year before, she gave a memorable comic performance as the fortune-hunting sister in So This Is New York.

In the early 1940s, Drake toured the United States with an all-girl orchestra called "The Girl Friends",[citation needed] which included fellow Hollywood actresses Marie Wilson, Toby Wing, and Faith Bacon.

Personal life[edit]

In 1936, Drake was questioned by the FBI about the murder of her then-boyfriend and known mobster, Louis Amberg. She claimed to only know him as "Mr. Cohen" and had no idea what he did for a living.[2]

Drake married Oscar and Emmy award-winning fashion designer William Travilla on August 19, 1944.[17] They had one daughter: Nia Novella Travilla (August 16, 1951 – October 1, 2002), who had no children. They remained a couple until her death.[6] Travilla appeared on the March 24, 1960, episode of You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx, and introduced his elegantly dressed wife to the audience.[18]

Drake died of pneumonia and respiratory failure in Los Angeles, California on June 20, 1989, at the age of 74. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1935 Moonlight and Melody Rita Short, credited as Rita Rio
1936 Strike Me Pink Mademoiselle Fifi credited as Rita Rio
1938 Sweet Shoe Rita Rio Short, credited as Rita Rio
1938 Beautiful, But Dummies Model Short, credited as Rita Ray
1939 Gals and Gallons Orchestra Leader credited as Rita Rio
1939 Rita Rio and Her Orchestra Rita Rio Short, played self in this 10-minute short
1941 Fresh as a Freshman Chicquita Short
1941 Aloma of the South Seas Nea first film credit as Dona Drake[6]
1941 Louisiana Purchase Beatrice
1941 I Look at You Rita Rio Short, With Alan Ladd.
1942 Road to Morocco Mihirmah credited as Dona Drake
1942 Star Spangled Rhythm Herself performs song "On the Swing Shift" with Marjorie Reynolds and Betty Jane Rhodes
1943 Salute for Three Dona Drake and Her Girl Band credited as Dona Drake
1943 Let's Face It Muriel
1944 Hot Rhythm Mary Adams
1945 Hollywood Victory Caravan Herself Victory Bonds Short, performs song "Plain Jane Doe" with Betty Hutton
1946 Without Reservations Dolores Ortega
1946 Dangerous Millions Elena Valdez
1948 Another Part of the Forest Laurette Sincee
1948 So This Is New York Kate Goff
1949 The Doolins of Oklahoma Cattle Annie
1949 The Girl from Jones Beach Connie Martin
1949 Beyond the Forest Jenny
1950 Fortunes of Captain Blood Pepita Maria Rosados
1951 Valentino Maria Torres
1952 Kansas City Confidential Teresa
1953 The Bandits of Corsica Zelda
1953 Son of Belle Starr Dolores
1953 Down Laredo Way Narita
1953 Adventures of Superman Joyce Episode 35: "The Dog Who Knew Superman" 9th episode of 1953; aired 14 November
1954 Superman Flies Again Joyce theatrical re-release of 3 episodes of the television series included episode 35[19]
1954 Princess of the Nile Mirva
1954 The Lone Wolf Lee Episode: "Deadline"
1954 City Detective Francesca Episode: "The Gift Shop"
1955 Soldiers of Fortune Cheu Episode: "The Runaway King"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Lowrance, Dee (September 13, 1942). "Triple Threat Trio From the Torrid Zone". The Montana Standard. Montana, Butte. Every Week Magazine. p. 28. Retrieved August 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d Wagner, Laura (Spring 2015). "Dona Drake: "Mexican" Tornado". Films of the Golden Age (80): 68–69.
  3. ^ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVK9-T7V  : Fri Oct 06 00:00:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Scott and Estella Scott, 1910.
  4. ^ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ2-FTY  : Fri Oct 06 13:00:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Alex Smith and Harrison Smith, 1910.
  5. ^ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNY6-39P  : Sat Dec 23 01:54:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Joe S Westmoreland and Nevella Westmoreland, 1920.
  6. ^ a b c d "Dona Drake - The Private Life and Times of Dona Drake. Dona Drake Pictures". Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  7. ^ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHW2-HPC  : Fri Oct 06 11:59:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmoreland and Novella Westmoreland, 1930.
  8. ^ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1Q-2MV7  : Fri Oct 06 03:46:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmorland, Jr and Joseph Westmurland, 10 April 1950.
  9. ^ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-W5NJ  : Wed Oct 04 21:02:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Bill Travilla and Dona Travilla, 10 April 1950.
  10. ^ "Little Known Black History Fact: Dona Drake". Marie "Chilli" Moreau. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Harrison, Paul (September 28, 1933). "There's Murder in the Airs at Carroll's New "Vanities"". The Indiana Gazette. Pennsylvania, Indiana. p. 13. Retrieved August 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ ”Surprised Actress Awarded New Name.” The Daily Notes (Canonsburg, PA), 27 June 1941, 14.
  13. ^ ”Dona Drake Now Has Fifth Name.” Oakland Tribune, 6 July 1941, 27.
  14. ^ Harison, Paul. “This Little Drank No Ugly Duckling” (NEA article). Sandusky (OH) Register-Star-News, 4 July 1941, 4
  15. ^ Winchell, Walter (May 24, 1934). "Walter Winchell". The Scranton Republican. Pennsylvania, Scranton. p. 13.
  16. ^ Harrison, Paul (July 4, 1941). "This Little Drake No Ugly Duckling". The Sandusky Register. Ohio, Sandusky. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 4.
  17. ^ "Dona Drake, Actress, Wed". The New York Times. September 10, 1944. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  18. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "You Bet Your Life #59-27 Fashion analysis by William Travilla ('Face', Mar 24, 1960)". YouTube.
  19. ^ "Superman Flies Again > Cast - AllMovie". Retrieved October 16, 2010.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dona Drake.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dona_Drake&oldid=1219512731"