The Triolettes
Encyclopedia
The Triolettes was a band that played in the Buffalo, New York
area for several years in the early 1930s. The band consisted of Marjorie Sullivan, Eunice Miller and Loretta Clemens. They were a smooth singing trio who did their own arrangements. Marjorie and Loretta were staff members of radio station WBEN
. Loretta Clemens was a staff pianist for WBEN. One of the announcers at the station heard her voice and told her that she would be a good singer. She did not believe him. However, one day while she was practicing some new songs on the piano, she was singing along to the music. The station manager had told the operator of the control room to turn on the microphone if she ever started to sing. When the station manager heard her sing, her old contract was torn up and a new contract was written that required her to sing.
In the early 1930s The Triolettes played on local stations CFRB and WBEN (in Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada). Their debut performance included the songs “Without that Man,” words and music by Walter Donaldson
, published in 1932, “I Need Lovin’,” composed by Henry Creamer
and Jimmy Johnson, published in 1926 by Jerome H. Remick
& Co., and “Now That You’re Gone” composed by Gus Kahn
and Ted Fiorito
, published in 1931 by Jerome H. Remick & Co. The Triolettes harmonized, sang and played piano and banjos. They first played on a weekly radio program called The Banjo Twins, which included Jack Clemens, Loretta’s brother. Jack Clemens died in 1970.
Loretta Clemens Tupper
(Born 6 May 1906, Marblehead, Ohio
- Died 17 September 1990, The Bronx, NY) was later famous for her acting career, she played the old lady in the Fruit of the Loom
commercials and a character on the TV show Sesame Street
called Mrs. Trump. Loretta and her brother Jack Clemens played music in a band called Loretta and Jack. They recorded a number of songs including Stop,You're Breaking My Heart from the album Jazz Guitar Varieties, Black and Blue from the album Jazz Guitar Varieties and Just A Little Girl written by S. B. Fishburne.
Jack and Loretta Clemens also starred in a musical comedy radio series on NBC
called The Gibson Family which was on the radio from 1934 to 1935. Jack and Loretta Clemens played themselves in the 1937 film Vitaphone Frolics. According to "On the air: the encyclopedia of old-time radio," by John Dunning, Jack and Loretta Clemens were a brother and sister Piano-patter song
duo.
Loretta Clemens married violinist Frederick H. Tupper (Born 5 October 1904 - Died 31 May 1974).
Eunice Miller Obrist (Born 8 May 1910, Syracuse, New York
- Died 3 July 2006, Syracuse, New York) also performed in the Syracuse, New York area with her sister, Ursula Miller Barker (Born 22 May 1913, Syracuse, New York - Died 13 November 2003, Syracuse, New York). They were in a band called The Crooning Banjo Sisters. The Crooning Banjo Sisters played on Syracuse, New York radio stations WFBL
and WSYR
. Eunice Miller's husband was Edward Charles Obrist Sr., (Born 13 July 1909, Syracuse, New York - Died 3 September 1987, Clay, New York
). He was a Radio Announcer and Production Manager at WBEN in the 1930s and they were married in 1932.
Marjorie Sullivan was a Mezzo Soprano.
The following dates were scheduled live on-air performances for The Triolettes on WBEN and CFRB:
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday September 21, 1931 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday September 21, 1931 pg. 19)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Monday June 20, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Monday June 20, 1932 pg. 15)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday July 16, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday July 16, 1932 pg. 16)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday August 24, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday August 24, 1932 pg. 15)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday September 14, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday September 14, 1932 pg. 17)
The Triolettes - Saturday December 10, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) at 8:30-8:45 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday December 10, 1932 pg. 11)
The Triolettes - Saturday December 31, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) at 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday December 31, 1932 pg. 13)
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
area for several years in the early 1930s. The band consisted of Marjorie Sullivan, Eunice Miller and Loretta Clemens. They were a smooth singing trio who did their own arrangements. Marjorie and Loretta were staff members of radio station WBEN
WBEN
WBEN may refer to:* WBEN , a radio station licensed to Buffalo, New York, United States* WBEN-FM, a radio station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
. Loretta Clemens was a staff pianist for WBEN. One of the announcers at the station heard her voice and told her that she would be a good singer. She did not believe him. However, one day while she was practicing some new songs on the piano, she was singing along to the music. The station manager had told the operator of the control room to turn on the microphone if she ever started to sing. When the station manager heard her sing, her old contract was torn up and a new contract was written that required her to sing.
In the early 1930s The Triolettes played on local stations CFRB and WBEN (in Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada). Their debut performance included the songs “Without that Man,” words and music by Walter Donaldson
Walter Donaldson
Walter Donaldson was a prolific United States popular songwriter, composing many hit songs of the 1910s and 1920s.-History:...
, published in 1932, “I Need Lovin’,” composed by Henry Creamer
Henry Creamer
Henry Creamer was an American popular song lyricist. He was born in Richmond, Virginia and died in New York. He co-wrote many popular songs in the years from 1900 to 1929, often collaborating with Turner Layton, with whom he also appeared in vaudeville.Creamer was a co-founder with James Reese...
and Jimmy Johnson, published in 1926 by Jerome H. Remick
Jerome H. Remick
__notoc__Jerome Hosmer Remick , was a Detroit music publisher, philanthropist and businessman from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.-Life and career:...
& Co., and “Now That You’re Gone” composed by Gus Kahn
Gus Kahn
Gustav Gerson Kahn was a musician, songwriter and lyricist.-Biography:Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1886. The family emigrated from there to the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1890...
and Ted Fiorito
Ted Fiorito
Theodore Salvatore Fiorito , known professionally as Ted Fio Rito, was an American composer, orchestra leader and keyboardist who was popular on national radio broadcasts in the 1920s and 30s...
, published in 1931 by Jerome H. Remick & Co. The Triolettes harmonized, sang and played piano and banjos. They first played on a weekly radio program called The Banjo Twins, which included Jack Clemens, Loretta’s brother. Jack Clemens died in 1970.
Loretta Clemens Tupper
Loretta Clemens Tupper
Loretta Clemens Tupper was born 6 May 1906, in Marblehead, Ohio and died 17 September 1990, in The Bronx, New York. She was a singer and an actor. She was famous for playing the old lady in the Fruit of the Loom commercials from the 1980s. She was a character on the PBS Television show Sesame...
(Born 6 May 1906, Marblehead, Ohio
Marblehead, Ohio
Marblehead is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 762 at the 2000 census.It sits at the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula, which divides Lake Erie proper from Sandusky Bay...
- Died 17 September 1990, The Bronx, NY) was later famous for her acting career, she played the old lady in the Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom is an American company which manufactures clothing, particularly underwear. The company's world headquarters is in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.-Company profile:...
commercials and a character on the TV show Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
called Mrs. Trump. Loretta and her brother Jack Clemens played music in a band called Loretta and Jack. They recorded a number of songs including Stop,You're Breaking My Heart from the album Jazz Guitar Varieties, Black and Blue from the album Jazz Guitar Varieties and Just A Little Girl written by S. B. Fishburne.
Jack and Loretta Clemens also starred in a musical comedy radio series on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
called The Gibson Family which was on the radio from 1934 to 1935. Jack and Loretta Clemens played themselves in the 1937 film Vitaphone Frolics. According to "On the air: the encyclopedia of old-time radio," by John Dunning, Jack and Loretta Clemens were a brother and sister Piano-patter song
Patter song
The patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note...
duo.
Loretta Clemens married violinist Frederick H. Tupper (Born 5 October 1904 - Died 31 May 1974).
Eunice Miller Obrist (Born 8 May 1910, Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
- Died 3 July 2006, Syracuse, New York) also performed in the Syracuse, New York area with her sister, Ursula Miller Barker (Born 22 May 1913, Syracuse, New York - Died 13 November 2003, Syracuse, New York). They were in a band called The Crooning Banjo Sisters. The Crooning Banjo Sisters played on Syracuse, New York radio stations WFBL
WFBL
WFBL, located at 1390 kHz on the AM dial, is a talk and news radio station owned by Buckley Broadcasting and serving the city of Syracuse, New York....
and WSYR
WSYR (AM)
WSYR is a 5,000 watt radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. Owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, it broadcasts a talk radio format under the moniker "Newsradio 106.9 WSYR." It was previously billed as "Newsradio 570 WSYR" until it became a simulcast with WPHR-FM in January...
. Eunice Miller's husband was Edward Charles Obrist Sr., (Born 13 July 1909, Syracuse, New York - Died 3 September 1987, Clay, New York
Clay, New York
Clay is a town in Onondaga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 58,805, making it Syracuse's largest suburb. The town was named after Henry Clay, statesman....
). He was a Radio Announcer and Production Manager at WBEN in the 1930s and they were married in 1932.
Marjorie Sullivan was a Mezzo Soprano.
The following dates were scheduled live on-air performances for The Triolettes on WBEN and CFRB:
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday September 21, 1931 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday September 21, 1931 pg. 19)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Monday June 20, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Monday June 20, 1932 pg. 15)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday July 16, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday July 16, 1932 pg. 16)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday August 24, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 8:30-9:00 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday August 24, 1932 pg. 15)
The Triolettes – (and Queer Quirks) Wednesday September 14, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) - 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Wednesday September 14, 1932 pg. 17)
The Triolettes - Saturday December 10, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) at 8:30-8:45 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday December 10, 1932 pg. 11)
The Triolettes - Saturday December 31, 1932 on radio station CFRB (Toronto, Canada) at 9:00-9:30 (The Niagara Falls Gazette, Saturday December 31, 1932 pg. 13)
External links
- http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Loretta_Tupper Loretta Tupper Clemens Muppet Wiki
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0876808/bio Loretta Tupper Clemens IMDB
- http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/22/obituaries/loretta-tupper-84-a-radio-entertainer.html Loretta Tupper Clemens NY Times Obituary
- http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1930%27s/The%20Gibson%20Family.htm The Gibson Family
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=obrist&GSfn=eunice&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=62817194&df=all& Find a Grave for Eunice Miller Obrist
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Obrist&GSfn=edward&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=62817260&df=all& Find a Grave for Edward Charles Obrist
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=barker&GSfn=ursula&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=62817315&df=all& Find a Grave for Ursula Miller Barker
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=barker&GSfn=charles&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1970&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=62817362&df=all& Find a Grave for Charles H. Barker
- http://www.wben.com/ WBEN
- http://www.newstalk1010.com/ CFRB
- http://niagara-gazette.com/ The Niagara Falls Gazette
- http://mcproductions.shawbiz.ca/jazzbluescompilations.html MC Productions Vintage Recording Page
- http://amazon.imdb.com/title/tt1584764/ Vitaphone Frolics, a 1937 film with Jack and Loretta Clemens Playing themselves.
- http://books.google.com/books?id=EwtRbXNca0oC&pg=PA352&lpg=PA352&dq=%22jack+and+loretta+clemens%22&source=bl&ots=H4AI8Uz_zy&sig=0M0qsnAWkNS-jcd1jOn38Fkw5ZE&hl=en&ei=qLieTI23MIG8lQemrMHoCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22jack%20and%20loretta%20clemens%22&f=false On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-time Radio by John Dunning
- http://www.otrcat.com/old-time-radio-theme-music-j.html Just a Little Girl - Old Time Radio Theme Music