{{short description|American singer (1915–1975)}} '''Eleanor French''', also known by her married name '''Eleanor French Booraem''', (6 August 1915— 2 February 1975) was an American singer who had a prominent career in nightclubs and cafes during the 1930s and 1940s. She also made four short films and performed on American radio and television. ==Life and career== Eleanor M. French was born in Michigan on 6 August 1915.<ref>Eleanor Booraem in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014</ref> She was the daughter of Ward French<ref name="obit"/> who in 1950 was elected chairman of the board of directors of Columbia Artists Management.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/10/08/archives/ward-french-elected-named-chairman-by-columbia-concerts-artists.html|title=WARD FRENCH ELECTED; Named Chairman by Columbia Concerts Artists Concern|date=October 8, 1950|page= 95|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Her mother was Virginia French (née Collier).<ref>1930 United States Federal Census for Eleanor M French, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago (Districts 1-250), District 0209, Sheet No. 1B.</ref> She studied singing in New York City with Estelle Liebling.<ref>{{cite thesis|title=Estelle Liebling: An exploration of her pedagogical principles as an extension and elaboration of the Marchesi method, including a survey of her music and editing for coloratura soprano and other voices|first=Alandra|last=Dean Fowler|year=1994|type=PhD|publisher=University of Arizona}}</ref>

French had a prominent career in nightclubs and cafes during the 1930s and 1940s; working mainly in New York City but also in other cities like Chicago<ref name="obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/05/archives/eleanor-french-59-dies-cafe-singer-of-30s-and-40s.html?searchResultPosition=3|work=The New York Times|title=Eleanor French, 59, Dies; Cafe Singer of 30's and 40's|date=February 5, 1975}}</ref> and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Night Clubs: New fork's Night Life In 1938|author=Green, Abel|journal=Variety|volume= 133|issue= 4|date=January 4, 1939|page= 175}}</ref> She sang popular songs of the period, mainly from the Great American Songbook. In New York City she was a headline performer at the Trianon Room, Hotel Ambassador<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - Trianon Room, Hotel Ambassador, New York|author=Colson, George|magazine=Billboard|volume= 50|issue=48|date=November 26, 1938|page=30}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - Trianon Room, Hotel Ambassador, New York|author=Colson, George|magazine=Billboard|volume= 50|issue= 48|date=November 26, 1938|page=30}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - Trianon Room, Ambassador Hotel, New York|author=Denis, Paul|magazine=Billboard|volume= 50|issue= 53|date=December 31, 1938|page= 18}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - Trianon Room, Ambassador Hotel, New York|author=Denis, Paul|magazine=Billboard|volume= 51|issue= 5|date=February 4, 1939|page=20}}</ref> the Rainbow Room,<ref name="Soundies"/> and the Stork Club.<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Vaude-Night-Clubs: Night Club Reviews - STORK CLUB, N. Y.|author=Abel|work=Variety|volume=133|issue= 11|date=February 22, 1939|page= 43}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - Stork Club, New York|author=Denis, Paul|magazine=Billboard|volume=51|issue=10|date=March 11, 1939|page= 20}}</ref> In Chicago she was a headline entertainer at the Drake Hotel.<ref name="obit"/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Short Follow-Up Club Reviews - DRAKE HOTEL, CAMELLIA HOUSE CHICAGO|author=Honigberg|magazine=Billboard|volume= 53|issue= 20|date=May 17, 1941|page= 19}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: Club Talent - Chicago|magazine=Billboard|volume=53|issue= 40|date=October 4, 1941|page= 20}}</ref> According to one reviewer, her voice was best suited for the intimate atmospheres of cafes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vaudeville: New Acts In Cafes - ELEANOR FRENCH|author=Abel| work=Variety|volume=142|issue= 5|date=April 9, 1941|page= 36}}</ref>

French would also occasionally sing on the radio.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Radio Review: Program Reviews - "The Revuers"|author=Franken|magazine=Billboard|volume= 52|issue=20|date=May 18, 1940|page= 8}}</ref> and she starred in four jukebox short films known as "Soundies" which were made to promote songs; a precursor to the music video. These included films of her singing "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", Cy Coben's "Spin the Bottle", "You're Dangerous", and "I'm Just Wild about Harry” (music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake). She also performed on American television in July 1941.<ref name="Soundies">{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIrAEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Eleanor+French%22+%22The+soundies%22&pg=RA1-PT1346|title=The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s|first= Mark|last= Cantor|year= 2023|isbn=9781476646428|publisher=McFarland & Company|chapter=Session 79: Eleanor French}}</ref>

French went on a dinner date with Cary Grant in 1936.<ref name="Soundies"/> On 14 April 1951 she married Hendrik Booraem Jr in Westport, Connecticut.<ref>Eleanor French in the Connecticut, U.S., Marriage Records, 1897-1968</ref> Her husband worked as a television executive.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/02/05/archives/eleanor-french-59-dies-cafe-singer-of-30s-and-40s.html?searchResultPosition=3|work=The New York Times|title=Eleanor French, 59, Dies; Cafe Singer of 30's and 40's|date=February 5, 1975}}</ref>

Eleanor French died at the age of 59 on 2 February 1975 in Manhattan.<ref name="obit"/>

==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9rfYV9yOEU Spin the Bottle] sung by Eleanor French *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmtnxDvBZ0Y I'm Just Wild About Harry] sung by Eleanor French

{{DEFAULTSORT:French, Eleanor}} Category:1915 births Category:1975 deaths Category:20th-century American women singers Category:Singers from Michigan Category:Singers from New York City