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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. In 1936, she and another woman formed an orchestra. After the group
236:; 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
373:
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).
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on August 19, 1944. They had one daughter: Nia
Novella Travilla (August 16, 1951 – October 1, 2002), who had no children. They remained a couple until her death. Travilla appeared on the March 24, 1960, episode of
361:
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."
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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
354:. 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."
296:, taken in Pennsylvania, records her father and brother as white and Drake (under the name Dona Travilla), taken in California, as white. Drake was likely
248:, she led a touring all-girl orchestra in the early 1940s, also known as "Dona Drake and her Girl Band", among other names for her musical and dance acts.
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She began performing in 1932, working under the name Una Villon as a chorus girl and in nightclubs. As Una Villon, she appeared in
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but had no documented
Hispanic, Spanish, or Latin American heritage. Her father was from Arkansas and her mother was from Alabama.
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336:. The newspapers of the day ascribed her billed-name changes to “Rita Shaw,” and then to “Dona Drake,” as Paramount’s.
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Harison, Paul. “This Little Drank No Ugly
Duckling” (NEA article). Sandusky (OH) Register-Star-News, 4 July 1941, 4
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Drake appears briefly (11 minutes into program) with husband
William Travilla on the March 24, 1960 episode of
1293: : Fri Oct 06 03:46:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmorland, Jr and Joseph Westmurland, 10 April 1950.
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had financial problems in 1940, she went to
Hollywood, where she had screen tests using the name Rita Shaw.
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on
November 15, 1914 to Joseph Andrew Westmoreland, Sr. and Novella (née Smith). She had four siblings.
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She was sometimes cast as an ethnic character, such as a Latina, Middle
Easterner, American Indian, or
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1276: : Fri Oct 06 11:59:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmoreland and Novella Westmoreland, 1930.
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1226: : Sat Dec 23 01:54:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Joe S Westmoreland and Nevella Westmoreland, 1920.
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In 1936, Drake was questioned by the FBI about the murder of her then-boyfriend and known mobster,
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1310: : Wed Oct 04 21:02:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Bill Travilla and Dona Travilla, 10 April 1950.
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1385:”Surprised Actress Awarded New Name.” The Daily Notes (Canonsburg, PA), 27 June 1941, 14.
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450:. She claimed to only know him as "Mr. Cohen" and had no idea what he did for a living.
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Drake had a "non-ethnic", non-musical role as the second female lead in the 1949 comedy
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1192: : Fri Oct 06 00:00:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Scott and Estella Scott, 1910.
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1487:"You Bet Your Life #59-27 Fashion analysis by William Travilla ('Face', Mar 24, 1960)"
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in 1942. In 1944 she appeared as a lead role as a big band singer in a B-movie titled
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1209: : Fri Oct 06 13:00:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Alex Smith and Harrison Smith, 1910.
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theatrical re-release of 3 episodes of the television series included episode 35
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1244:"Dona Drake - The Private Life and Times of Dona Drake. Dona Drake Pictures"
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African American actress, singer and dancer passing as non-Black (1914–1989)
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381:. She is perhaps best known for playing the American Indian maid of
16:"Rita Shaw" redirects here. For the American character actress, see
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1394:”Dona Drake Now Has Fifth Name.” Oakland Tribune, 6 July 1941, 27.
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heritage from her father's side. Drake often presented herself as
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1440:. Ohio, Sandusky. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 4.
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Wagner, Laura (Spring 2015). "Dona Drake: "Mexican" Tornado".
288:, taken in Pennsylvania, records her and her parents as being
23:"Rita Ray" redirects here. For Scottish lawyer and judge, see
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Drake married Oscar and Emmy award-winning fashion designer
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Victory Bonds Short, performs song "Plain Jane Doe" with
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1350:"There's Murder in the Airs at Carroll's New "Vanities""
391:. She also appeared as the Arab girl Mihirmah, opposite
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Entering show business in the 1930s, she used the names
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-W5NJ
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1Q-2MV7
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHW2-HPC
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNY6-39P
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ2-FTY
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https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVK9-T7V
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1133:. Montana, Butte. Every Week Magazine. p. 28
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1321:"Little Known Black History Fact: Dona Drake"
1507:"Superman Flies Again > Cast - AllMovie"
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1014:9th episode of 1953; aired 14 November
256:Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in
1421:. Pennsylvania, Scranton. p. 13.
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1172:Films of the Golden Age
851:The Doolins of Oklahoma
718:credited as Dona Drake
678:credited as Dona Drake
615:Aloma of the South Seas
416:The Beverly Hillbillies
347:Earl Carroll's Vanities
1004:Adventures of Superman
953:The Bandits of Corsica
700:and Betty Jane Rhodes
550:Beautiful, But Dummies
409:, which also featured
365:Rita Rio and Rita Shaw
1438:The Sandusky Register
1325:Marie "Chilli" Moreau
907:Pepita Maria Rosados
573:credited as Rita Rio
525:credited as Rita Rio
308:and reportedly spoke
1629:Dancers from Florida
1458:. September 10, 1944
1131:The Montana Standard
1066:Episode: "Deadline"
1041:Princess of the Nile
1024:Superman Flies Again
783:Without Reservations
688:Star Spangled Rhythm
500:Moonlight and Melody
477:Film and television
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1094:Soldiers of Fortune
834:So This Is New York
598:Fresh as a Freshman
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435:So This Is New York
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357:In 1934, columnist
67:Eunice Westmoreland
1580:TCM Movie Database
1456:The New York Times
970:Son of Belle Starr
800:Dangerous Millions
633:Louisiana Purchase
522:Mademoiselle Fifi
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1593:You Bet Your Life
1415:"Walter Winchell"
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570:Orchestra Leader
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94:(1989-06-20)
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1639:1989 deaths
1634:1914 births
1512:October 16,
1330:February 7,
750:Mary Adams
472:Filmography
397:Bing Crosby
383:Bette Davis
238:Una Novella
137:Occupations
114:Una Novella
100:Los Angeles
1608:Categories
1576:Dona Drake
1562:Dona Drake
1547:Dona Drake
1462:January 8,
1360:August 13,
1137:August 13,
1109:References
1081:Francesca
839:Kate Goff
745:Hot Rhythm
602:Chicquita
534:Sweet Shoe
411:Irene Ryan
407:Hot Rhythm
340:Una Villon
326:Una Villon
300:with some
252:Early life
200:Dona Drake
73:1914-11-15
39:Dona Drake
919:Valentino
675:Mihirmah
658:Alan Ladd
653:Rita Rio
638:Beatrice
586:Rita Rio
538:Rita Rio
334:Rita Shaw
322:Una Velon
268:Ethnicity
160:1933–1977
126:Rita Shaw
51:Drake in
18:Reta Shaw
1566:AllMovie
1480:and the
975:Dolores
767:Herself
693:Herself
393:Bob Hope
330:Rita Rio
306:Hispanic
246:Rita Rio
190:Children
120:Rita Rio
1599:YouTube
1578:at the
1492:YouTube
992:Narita
941:Teresa
733:Muriel
310:Spanish
282:mulatto
262:Florida
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1028:Joyce
1009:Joyce
958:Zelda
890:Jenny
605:Short
554:Model
491:Notes
485:Title
316:Career
292:. The
284:. The
165:Spouse
149:dancer
146:singer
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1099:Cheu
1089:1955
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488:Role
482:Year
379:Gypsy
302:white
290:negro
258:Miami
244:. As
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81:Miami
1551:IMDb
1514:2010
1464:2022
1362:2016
1332:2024
1256:2014
1139:2016
1063:Lee
620:Nea
395:and
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