Jessica Dragonette
Encyclopedia
Jessica Dragonette was a singer who became popular on American radio and was active in the World War II
effort.
. There is some uncertainty as to the exact date of birth; her birth records were reportedly destroyed in a fire. The Social Security Death Index cites 1900 as her year of birth. An orphan, she was raised in a convent
, Georgian Court College, in Lakewood, New Jersey, where she graduated in 1923, according to the list of the college's alumni; if she was 18 then this would place her birth date as actually in 1905.
She began singing on radio in 1926, and during her 22-year radio career, she helped to popularize operettas and semi-classical music. An admiring press dubbed her the "Princess of Song", a nickname she later would use to publicize concert events. She was the star of the "Philco Hour" on NBC from 1927 to 1930. (Dunning, 543) She then became the star of the Cities Service Concerts
program, which she joined in 1930. By 1935, a listeners' poll voted her radio's most popular female vocalist. (Fraser, B15) Dragonette sang in a segment of the film The Big Broadcast of 1936
, on the condition that she have authority over the final cut on her performance. In the end she chose to have her part removed. In 1939, she provided the singing voice of "Princess Glory" in the full color animated motion picture Gulliver's Travels
.
In 1940 she was painted by the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
(1862–1947), and the portrait now hangs at Georgian Court College, where Jessica went to school. Müller-Ury became a close friend of the singer, and painted her several times, his last being in 1946 in which she wears a gold fez. Muller-Ury also painted a portrait of Nadea Dragonette Loftus in 1942.
During World War II
she performed for charities benefiting the U.S. armed services, earning her an honorary commission as a Colonel. She performed frequently for the troops and sold a record number of war bonds. She once remarked that The Star Spangled Banner never had more meaning for her than it did during the war.
On June 28, 1947, she married Nicholas Meredith Turner (born October 28, 1915) at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
. Both Jessica and Nicholas were devout Roman Catholic
s. The ceremony was performed by their friend, Cardinal Francis Spellman. Their union was childless.
In the mid-1950s, David Gottlieb, the president of the leading pinball game manufacturer, hired Jessica Dragonette to appear at coin machine functions promoting a pinball game called Dragonette. However, the game had nothing to do with Ms. Dragonette. It was spoof of a leading TV show of the period, Dragnet
.
She died on March 18, 1980 and was survived by her husband and a sister, Rosalinda "Nadea" Loftus (Mrs. Joseph Loftus) (1892–1982). Nicholas Turner died in New York City on March 8, 2010. Jessica Dragonette is interred in Section 35, Plot 7 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
, Hawthorne
, NY.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
effort.
Early life and career
Dragonette was born around 1900 in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There is some uncertainty as to the exact date of birth; her birth records were reportedly destroyed in a fire. The Social Security Death Index cites 1900 as her year of birth. An orphan, she was raised in a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, Georgian Court College, in Lakewood, New Jersey, where she graduated in 1923, according to the list of the college's alumni; if she was 18 then this would place her birth date as actually in 1905.
She began singing on radio in 1926, and during her 22-year radio career, she helped to popularize operettas and semi-classical music. An admiring press dubbed her the "Princess of Song", a nickname she later would use to publicize concert events. She was the star of the "Philco Hour" on NBC from 1927 to 1930. (Dunning, 543) She then became the star of the Cities Service Concerts
Cities Service Concerts
The Cities Service Concerts were musical broadcasts which had a long three-decade run on radio from 1925 to 1956, encompassing a variety of vocalists and musicians.The concerts began with trial broadcasts in the New York area during 1925 and 1926...
program, which she joined in 1930. By 1935, a listeners' poll voted her radio's most popular female vocalist. (Fraser, B15) Dragonette sang in a segment of the film The Big Broadcast of 1936
The Big Broadcast of 1936
The Big Broadcast of 1936 is a Paramount Pictures production, directed by Norman Taurog, and is the second in the series of Big Broadcast movies...
, on the condition that she have authority over the final cut on her performance. In the end she chose to have her part removed. In 1939, she provided the singing voice of "Princess Glory" in the full color animated motion picture Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships, better known simply as Gulliver's Travels , is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of...
.
In 1940 she was painted by the Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Muller-Ury was a Swiss-born American portrait painter and impressionistic painter of roses and still life.-Heritage and early life in Switzerland:...
(1862–1947), and the portrait now hangs at Georgian Court College, where Jessica went to school. Müller-Ury became a close friend of the singer, and painted her several times, his last being in 1946 in which she wears a gold fez. Muller-Ury also painted a portrait of Nadea Dragonette Loftus in 1942.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she performed for charities benefiting the U.S. armed services, earning her an honorary commission as a Colonel. She performed frequently for the troops and sold a record number of war bonds. She once remarked that The Star Spangled Banner never had more meaning for her than it did during the war.
On June 28, 1947, she married Nicholas Meredith Turner (born October 28, 1915) at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
. Both Jessica and Nicholas were devout Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
s. The ceremony was performed by their friend, Cardinal Francis Spellman. Their union was childless.
In the mid-1950s, David Gottlieb, the president of the leading pinball game manufacturer, hired Jessica Dragonette to appear at coin machine functions promoting a pinball game called Dragonette. However, the game had nothing to do with Ms. Dragonette. It was spoof of a leading TV show of the period, Dragnet
Dragnet
Dragnet may refer to:* A type of fishing net*Dragnet , a coordinated search, named for the fishing net-Dragnet media series:...
.
She died on March 18, 1980 and was survived by her husband and a sister, Rosalinda "Nadea" Loftus (Mrs. Joseph Loftus) (1892–1982). Nicholas Turner died in New York City on March 8, 2010. Jessica Dragonette is interred in Section 35, Plot 7 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
The Gate of Heaven Cemetery, approximately 25 miles north of New York City, was established in 1917 at 10 West Stevens Ave. in Hawthorne, Westchester County, New York, United States, as a Roman Catholic burial site...
, Hawthorne
Hawthorne
-People:* Charles Webster Hawthorne , American painter* Donald Hawthorne , American yeast geneticist* Frank Hawthorne , Canadian mineralogist and crystallographer* M. Frederick Hawthorne, American chemist...
, NY.
Honors
- Pro Pontifice et Ecclesia Cross, Pope Pius XII
- Voted best female singer of the country 1942 and 1943
External links
- "Sweetheart of the Air" fansite
- Detailed biography
- Faith is a Song, Dragonette's autobiography