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Madelon Baker
Born
Georgia Madelon Baker

1910 or 1911
Marion, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 1999 (aged 88)
Laguna Hills, California, U.S.
Other namesMadelon Grayson, Madelon Mitchel, C. Madelon Baker
EducationWayne State University, Northwestern University
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • music publisher
  • actress
  • singer
  • model
Spouses
  • Carl Grayson (né Graub)
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1933; div. 1940)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1942; div. 1952)​
  • Jackson Correll Baker
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1956; died 1975)​

Georgia Madelon Baker[1] (1910 or 1911 – February 26, 1999)[2][3] was a record producer, music publisher, actress and singer, known for her role in launching singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's career, and her work with Gospel, R&B and doo wop artists such as Cassietta George, Ron Kenoly and the Paradons. As an actress, she performed in the world premiere of the John Cage/Kenneth Patchen radio play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, and had substantial roles in both the short-lived Gasoline Alley film series and the much-ballyhooed 1955 short subject, The Great Adventure, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rotary International.

Early life

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A native of Marion, Illinois, Baker was the youngest of five daughters born to Fannie Elizabeth Bateman and George Christie Baker,[4][5] a coal miner who died in 1924 at age 54.[6] Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Highland Park, Michigan and Baker began modeling.[7][8] She later attended Wayne State University before transferring to Northwestern.[4]

Career

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By the following decade, Baker was appearing on radio in such series as The Lone Ranger and The Romance of Helen Trent, as well as becoming one of the featured vocalists for bandleaders Henry Busse and Johnny Hamp,[8] as well as her then-husband Carl Grayson (né Graub).[9][a]

On May 31, 1942, on WBBM in Chicago, under the direction of her soon-to-be husband Les Mitchel, Baker—as Madelon Grayson—co-starred with Les Tremayne, Forrest Lewis, Jonathan Hole, Frank Dane, and John Larkin in Columbia Workshop's world premiere presentation of poet Kenneth Patchen's radio play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, accompanied by a five-member percussion ensemble performing John Cage's score, conducted by the composer.[22] Later that year, Baker and fellow WBBM staffer Jane Webb were among a host of local radio people donating their time and talents to the new serviceman's canteen which opened on Christmas Day under the auspices of the Women's Army Corps.[23]

Baker was fashion coordinator for Marshall Field's in Chicago from 1942 to 1944,[4] at which point she and Mitchel moved to Los Angeles.[24] From 1944 through 1951, she was employed in varying capacities at Les Mitchel Productions; she served variously as producer,[4] secretary-treasurer (as G. Madelon Mitchel)[25][26] and, on at least one occasion, performer.[27]

In 1955, Baker—as Madelon Mitchell—co-starred with Edward Arnold, Jim Backus, Lyle Talbot, and Sujata Rubener in The Great Adventure, a 29-minute docu-drama commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rotary International, which had its world premiere simultaneously in 80 countries on February 23.[28][29] Debuting on December 1st of that year and continuing for at least three months, Baker, still billed as Mitchell, hosted a cooking show entitled Camera Kitchen on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles.[30][31] Among her guests were Barbara Ellen Davenport (wife of college football star Bob Davenport),[32][33] pioneer TV cook Monty Margetts,[34][35] and fashion consultant Caroline Leonetti.[36]

In 1959, Baker, together with her husband Jackson Baker, began Audio Arts Inc.,[4] a recording studio specializing in R&B and Gospel, performed by artists such as Cassietta George[3][37] and Ron Kenoly.[38] One notable exception was their much-heralded discovery, singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb,[21][3][39][40] whose first single they recorded and released,[41] and approximately 50 of whose songs—including "Didn't We," "Where's the Playground Susie" and "Galveston"[42]—were published by the Bakers' company, Ja-Ma Music.[43][44][8] Another Audio Arts coup was its discovery of the Paradons, resulting in the studio's first hit record (which proved to be the band's only hit), "Diamonds and Pearls".[45]

Personal life and death

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Baker was married at least three times. The first two marriages ended in divorce: with violinist/vocalist Carl Graub (aka Grayson) from 1933 to 1940,[46][19][47][20] and with producer Lester Mandiville "Les" Mitchel from 1942 to 1952.[1][48][49] By contrast, Baker's final marriage, to her Audio Arts partner/co-founder—and partial namesake—Jackson Correll Baker, lasted from 1956 until his death in 1975.[4][50][51]

On February 26, 1999, Baker died of a stroke in Laguna Hills, California.[3]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1940 Girls of the Road Annie[52] As Madelon Grayson
The Secret Seven Moll[53] uncredited
Glamour for Sale Irene[53]
1950 Charlie's Haunt Eve Tannen[54][55]
1951 Gasoline Alley Phyllis Wallet[56] As Madelon Mitchel
Two Dollar Bettor Grace Shepard[57]
Corky of Gasoline Alley Phyllis Wallet[58]
1953 Never Wave at a WAC Captain McGrady[59] Uncredited
1955 The Great Adventure Mrs. Grayson[28] As Madelon Mitchell
Ain't Misbehavin' Mrs. Warden[57] Uncredited
1956 I've Lived Before Daisy - Miss Stone's Maid[60]
1957 The Deadly Mantis Mother[citation needed]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 Personal Appearance Theater Episode: "The Haircut" (as Madelon Mitchel)[61]
1955 – 1956 Camera Kitchen Self - host 13 episodes (as Madelon Mitchel)[30][31]
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Doctor's Receptionist Season 2 Episode 14: "John Brown's Body"[62]
1976 Faith for Today Nurse 1 episode[63]
1983 Odyssey Self 1 episode[64]

Notes

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  1. ^ Oddly enough, Baker was just one of two Madelon Bakers performing with big bands during this period; moreover, both resided within the Detroit urban area. Baker's namesake/neighbor—full name Madelon Cressence Baker—resided in Detroit proper and, unlike her Illinois-born counterpart, had done so her entire life; notable credits include gigs with Johnny DiCicco, Bob Chester and her husband, saxophonist/bandleader Bob Carney.[10][11][12][13][14] Also helping to distinguish between the two is the fact that during her career, Madelon C. Baker is consistently referred to in Detroit newspapers as "blond Madelon Baker," an assertion corroborated by a good number of images also found in those papers,[15][16][17] all of which clearly differentiate her from her red-haired, Illinois-born contemporary.[18][19][9][20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Armstrong, Alice Katt (1950). Who's Who in Los Angeles County.
  2. ^ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZF-3JC : Thu Dec 07 23:07:32 UTC 2023), Entry for George C Baker and Fannie E Baker, 1920.
  3. ^ a b c d "Lifeline: Deaths". Billboard. March 13, 1999. p. 90.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Who's Who in the West. 14th Edition. Chicago : Marquis Who's Who. 1974. p. 29. ISBN 0837909147.
  5. ^ "George Christie Baker". Family Search.
  6. ^ "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQZK-6ZB : 25 April 2022), George C. Baker, 1924.
  7. ^ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X739-RBG : Thu Oct 05 20:18:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Fannie Baker and Jewell Baker, 1930.
  8. ^ a b c Savoy, Maggie (October 4, 1970). "She's Superworker in Ultracompetitive Line". The Los Angeles Times. Sec. E, p. 1, 12.
  9. ^ a b "Vocalist". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 1, 1934. p. 46.
  10. ^ "Madelon Carney; Singer During Big Band Years". Detroit Free Press. January 24, 2005. p. 15.
  11. ^ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQ6-FGRW : 10 February 2023), Madelon Cressence Baker, .
  12. ^ "Singers at Penobscot". Detroit Free Press. February, 19, 1944. p. 9.
  13. ^ "New Dance Routine Offer for Patrons at Fountain Room". The Shreveport Journal. November 21, 1935. p. 9.
  14. ^ "Music-Cocktail: Det. Spot Follows Trend, Adds Hoof and Mouth Set Up". The Billboard. November 3, 1945. p. 33.
  15. ^ "Featured Night Club Vocalists". Detroit Evening Times. April 4, 1941. p. 21.
  16. ^ "DEL DELBRIDGE plays piano accompaniment...". Detroit Evening Times. December 6, 1942. p. 18.
  17. ^ Robinson, Elsie (October 22, 1944). "Young America Speaks". Detroit Evening Times.
  18. ^ "Film Find to Sing at Westwood". Detroit Evening Times. June 25, 1941. p. 17. Retrieved. December 21, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "A Fair Bride for Fair". The Pottstown Mercury. June 7, 1933. p. 6.
  20. ^ a b "Film Career Wrecks Romance; Divorce Awarded to Actress". The Los Angeles Times. March 16, 1940. p. 17.
  21. ^ a b "The Unique Madelon Baker". Record World. August 22, 1970. Sec. II, p. 34.
  22. ^ Fetterman, William (1996). John Cage's Theatre Pieces : Notations and Performances. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Harwood Academic Publishers. p. 8. ISBN 3-7186-5643-4.
  23. ^ "Chicago Radio People Open Service Canteen". The Billboard. January 9, 1943. p. 7.
  24. ^ Ferris, Earle (July 6, 1944). "Who's News?". Gonzalez Tribune. p. 1.
  25. ^ Alicoate, Jack, ed. (1947). The Radio Annual. New York: Radio Daily. p. 755. LCCN 39-16496.
  26. ^ Alicoate, Jack, ed. (1951). The Radio Annual. New York: Radio Daily. p. 770. OCLC 1051754396
  27. ^ 21 Momen (May 28, 2023). "Gloria Grahame in Jane Speed's "Farewell to Birdie McKeever" – Skippy Hollywood Theatre (8/31/50)". YouTube.
  28. ^ a b "Unique Event in Motion Picture History". The Times of India. February 23, 1955. p. 14. ProQuest 609655855. A scene from the Rotary film, 'The Great Adventure,' in which Dr. Grayson and his wife (Madelon Mitchell) are seen entertaining a group of Rotary foundation fellows from six different different countries, including India.
  29. ^ "Story of the Great Adventure". The Sydney Morning Herald. February 23, 1955. p. 25
  30. ^ a b "Thursday Television; Video-Radio Briefs; Open Road Does L.A. Auto Show". The Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1955. p. 36.
  31. ^ a b "Television Schedule". Sant Ana Register. March 1, 1956. p. 14.
  32. ^ "Video-Radio Briefs: 'Bail Out' Features Spectacular Films". The Los Angeles Times. December 29, 1955. pt. I, pg. 26.
  33. ^ Zimmerman, Paul (December 18, 1955). "Sportscripts: Calendar Does Bruins Favor". The Los Angeles Times.
  34. ^ "Television Programs". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 28, 1955. p. 12.
  35. ^ "Monty Margetts McDonald, Pioneer TV Cook in Los Angeles". The Modesto Bee. March 13, 1997. p. 40.
  36. ^ "Video-Radio Briefs: Films of Pre-Flood North on Open Road". The Los Angeles Times January 19, 1956. pt. III, pg. 11.
  37. ^ "Billboard's Recommended LPs: Soul". Billboard. January 7, 1978. p.  96.
  38. ^ "Audio Arts!". Discogs.
  39. ^ "Madelon Baker". Discogs.
  40. ^ Hendrick, Kimmis (May 21, 1970). "Two Gold Discs—the studio 'dances'". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 15. ProQuest 511100427. Jimmy Webb came into the studio one day to accompany another chap who wanted to record something. [...] Finally he stuck his head in the door of her office and said, 'Honey, you want to hear some of my songs?'
  41. ^ "The Midnight Mail Featuring Jim Webb* – I Can't Get It / I Can't Quit". Discogs.
  42. ^ "Jim Webb Ja Ma Master to Bell". Cash Box. May 30, 1970. p. 10.
  43. ^ "Degatina to Audio Arts". Cash Box. November 29, 1969. p. 28.
  44. ^ "Madelon Baker Into R&B; Limits Audio Arts". Billboard. February 22, 1969. p. 26.
  45. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. New York : MUZE : Oxford University Press. p. 407. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4.
  46. ^ "Marriages". The Billboard. June 24, 1933. p. 52. ProQuest 1032028954. GRAYSON-BAKER—Carl Grayson, of Clayton, O., violinist and soloist with Johnny Hamp's orchestra, was married June 3 in the Blue Ribbon Casino at the Chicago World's Fair to Madelon Baker, of Detroit. Ben Bernie's band played the wedding march. Johnny Hamp was best man. Grayson's name in private life is Carl Graub.
  47. ^ ”Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21K-Y2HB : Sat Oct 21 11:12:59 UTC 2023), Entry for Carl F Graub and Georgia Madelon Baker, 03 Jun 1933.
  48. ^ "Behind the Mike". Broadcasting. October 19, 1942. p. 35. ProQuest 1014949613. LES MITCHELL [sic], producer of WBBM, Chicago, and Madelon Grayson, radio actress, were married Oct. 10 by Dr. Preston Bradley, radio preacher. O. J. Neuwerth, WBBM producer, was best man.
  49. ^ "Can't Live With 'Genius,' Says Wife; Gets Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1952. p. 41.
  50. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86K-C18 : Thu Oct 19 16:45:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Jackson Correll Baker and Georgia Madelon Mitchel, 28 Apr 1956.
  51. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHG-R32 : 26 November 2014), Jackson C Baker, 28 Oct 1975; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
  52. ^ "Showmen's Reviews of Product: Girls of the Road (Columbia); Sociological Melodrama". Motion Picture Herald.
  53. ^ a b "Madelon Grayson Filmography". TCM.
  54. ^ "Inside 'Charlie's Haunt'; An interview with Madelon Baker, who plays a role in our new Bell System movie about safety". Pacific Telephone Magazine. 1958. p. 30.
  55. ^ St. Louis Flashback (July 22, 2014). "Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Comedy Short 'Charlie's Haunt'". YouTube.
  56. ^ "Gasoline Alley Wins New Followers As Movie". Orlando Sunday Sentinel-Star. February 18, 1951. p. 37.
  57. ^ a b "Madelon Mitchel Filmography". TCM.
  58. ^ "Exhibitor Servisection: Columbia". The Exhibitor. September 12, 1951. Vol. 46, No. 19. p. 3145.
  59. ^ Carmody, Jay (January 29, 1953). "The Passing Show: Premiere Proves Brilliant, Happily So Is the Film". Washington Evening Star. p. 26.
  60. ^ Lentz, Harris M. (1983). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits : Over 10,000 Actors, Actresses, Directors, Producers, Screenwriters, Cinematographers, Art Directors, and Make-Up, Special Effects, Costume and Other People; Plus Full Cross-References from All Films and TV Shows, Volume 2'. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 934. ISBN 0899500706.
  61. ^ Ames, Walter (February 5, 1952). "Ozzie, Harriet Show Heading for Fall Video; Prop Man Sad Over Skelton Gag Failure". The Los Angeles Times. p. 22.
  62. ^ "Talent Showsheet December 21 - December 30". Ross Reports on Television. December 24-30, 1956. p. E.
  63. ^ Rensberger, Paula (July 21, 1976). "'Lights, camera, action!' It's just another day at Westwood Hospital; A ready set". Thousand Oaks Star. p. 19.
  64. ^ "Sunday Morning". Los Angeles Times Television Times. September 11, 1983. p. 8.

Further reading

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