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Anita Gordon

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Anita Gordon
Gordon on the cover of the January 1948 issue of Radio Mirror
Born(1929-12-21)December 21, 1929
Corsicana, TX
DiedMay 10, 2015(2015-05-10) (aged 85)
Newhall, California
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Singer
actress
Spouse(s)Dale Sheets (1948 - ?)
El Chan

Anita Gordon (December 21, 1929[1] - May 10, 2015[2]) was an American singer who performed on radio and television and sang on films and records.

Early years

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Gordon was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Gordon of Corsicana, Texas.[3] Her father was a butcher, and her mother was a housewife. They were choir director and organist, respectively, at their church in Corsicana.[4] By age 6, Gordon's family had moved to Hollywood in October 1935,[5] where she had a role in The Pilgrimage Play.[6] She had a sister, Charlie Marie, and her uncle, Leonard Gordon, was a vocal coach in Hollywood.[7] Gordon's secondary education came at Mrs. Laskey's School for Professionals.[4]

Career

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In 1945, Gordon signed a film contract with 20th Century Fox, a radio contract with Edgar Bergen, and a recording contract with Columbia.[8] Gordon performed off-camera for films, including voicing the "I don't talk to strangers" on the Buddy Clark hit "Linda" (1946), singing the part of the Golden Harp in Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and dubbing the singing voices of Pamela Tiffin in State Fair (1962)[9] and Jean Seberg in Paint Your Wagon (1969).[10]

On radio, Gordon was a vocalist on The Chase and Sanborn Hour.[11] Her work on television in Los Angeles included singing, along with Bob Graham, on Starlight Time, on KNBH in 1949,[12] frequently performing on KTTV's Hollywood Studio Party,[13] and singing on Bandstand Revue on KTLA-TV.[14] Network TV programs on which Gordon appeared included Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, The Millionaire, Sugarfoot,[15] The Bob Newhart Show[16] and The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show.[17] In 1951, Ken Murray signed her to share singing duties with Patti Page on his New York-based TV show.[13]

Gordon sang with Ray Noble's orchestra on a Columbia recording of "It's a Most Unusual Day", and she was heard (uncredited) on Buddy Clark's recordings of "I'll Dance At Your Wedding" and "Linda".[18] In 1955, Gordon recorded "His Hands" for Decca Records.[19] In 1953, she made personal appearances with Noble's orchestra, singing with Larry Neill on a tour that included two weeks in Houston and four weeks in New Orleans.[20]

In 1954, Gordon starred in ' Round Up of Rhythm ', a film short in which she, and Disc Jockey Bill Delzell, played the Bill Haley and the Comets's records ' Straight Jacket ' and 'Shake Rattle and Roll', which the group are seen playing.

Personal life

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In June 1948, Gordon married CBS executive Dale Sheets,[21] and they had three daughters. In the 1970s, she married El Chan, an airline executive.[1]

Death

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On May 10, 2015, Gordon died at her Newhall, California, home at age 85 after several years of declining health.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Anita Gordon Chan". Dignity Memorial. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b Kukaua, Kelsey (May 16, 2015). "Actress Anita Gordon dies in Newhall home". The Santa Clara Valley Signal. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Former Corsicana Child Is Making Good in Hollywood". Corsicana Daily Sun. Texas, Corsicana. April 29, 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Swanson, Pauline (January 1948). "It's a Young World". Radio Mirror. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Anita Gordon Chan: Child Radio Star, Ghost Singer for Leading Ladies in Film". scvhistory.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "Anita Gordon holding a bouquet of roses, Los Angeles, 1935". UCLA Library Digital Collections. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  7. ^ Pate, Katheryn (July 2, 1946). "Radio and screen star Anita Gordon, visiting home here, still unchanged by her fame". Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light. p. 12. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "The Slipper Fits Another Cinderella". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. September 28, 1945. p. 21. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  9. ^ Smith, Dave (2012-07-03). Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered. Disney Electronic Content. ISBN 978-1-4231-7857-6. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Sterritt, David (2014-11-25). The Cinema of Clint Eastwood: Chronicles of America. Columbia University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-231-17201-1. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3.
  12. ^ "Hollywood's Looking at —". Radio Mirror. May 1949. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Ames, Walter (September 3, 1951). "Defense Bond Drive Opened by Networks Tonight; Anita Gordon Signed by Murray". Los Angeles Times. p. Part I - 18. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Whirling Lady". Motion Picture Daily. November 7, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Anita Gordon Named Honorary Mayor". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 4, 1958. p. 43. Retrieved June 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Television Hi-Lites". The Sandusky Register. April 11, 1962. p. 26. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Andy Devine Will Guest Star Monday On Ernie Ford Show". Jefferson City Post-Tribune. May 4, 1962. p. 15. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Ellington, Duke (September 1948). "Facing the Music". Radio Mirror. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Witte, Lawrence (April 22, 1955). "TV-Radio News Bits". The Evening Independent. Ohio, Massillon. p. 8. Retrieved June 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Ray Noble starts 1st tour in decade". Variety. May 20, 1953. p. 39. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Campbell, Bob (July 1, 1948). "Anita, Corsicana Both Happy She Is Home For Centennial". Corsicana Daily Sun. Texas, Corsicana. p. 1. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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