# Martha Mears > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Martha_Mears > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Martha_Mears.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Mears > Source revision: 1328724287 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American actress and singer (1910–1986)}} {{for|the midwife and author|Martha Mears (author)}} {{Infobox person | name = Martha Mears | image = Martha Mears 1934.jpg | alt = | caption = Martha Mears as she was pictured in the July 1934 issue of ''Radio Stars'' magazine | birth_name = Martha Marie Peters | birth_date = July 18, 1910 | birth_place = [Mexico, Missouri](/source/Mexico%2C_Missouri), US | death_date = {{death date and age|1986|12|13|1910|7|18|mf=yes}} | death_place = [Versailles, Missouri](/source/Versailles%2C_Missouri), US | other_names = | occupation = Singer | alma_mater = University of Missouri | spouse = | children = | parents = | known_for = }} '''Martha Mears''' (July 18, 1910 – December 13, 1986){{Citation needed |date=April 2021}} was a radio and film [contralto](/source/contralto){{cite news|title=Martha Mears Future on Radio Assured, Headliners Believe|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7611080/moberly_monitorindex/|work=Moberly Monitor-Index|date=August 13, 1934|location=Missouri, Moberly|page=1|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} singer, active from the 1930s to 1950s. She introduced in films original songs which have become [standards](/source/Great_American_Songbook), including "[Long Ago (and Far Away)](/source/Long_Ago_(and_Far_Away))", and "[My Foolish Heart](/source/My_Foolish_Heart_(song))". ==Early years== Mears was born in [Mexico, Missouri](/source/Mexico%2C_Missouri). Her mother died when Mears was 4 years old, and she went to live with her grandmother. Five years later, she began living with an aunt and uncle in [Moberly, Missouri](/source/Moberly%2C_Missouri). She began taking singing lessons when she was 15. She graduated from Moberly High School,{{cite news|title=Martha Mears, Moberly's Radio Songbird, to Marry Violinist|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7612031/moberly_monitorindex/|work=Moberly Monitor-Index|date=August 31, 1934|location=Missouri, Moberly|page=1|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} [Moberly Junior College](/source/Moberly_Area_Community_College){{cite news|title=Martha Mears Given 2-Year Radio Contract; Makes Debut Wednesday Over NBC Chain|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7611444/moberly_monitorindex/|work=Moberly Monitor-Index|date=January 29, 1934|location=Missouri, Moberly|page=2|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} and then, in 1933, from the [University of Missouri](/source/University_of_Missouri){{cite news|title=Martha Mears Is Soloist with Arden Orchestra|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7611212/logansport_pharostribune/|work=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|date=April 23, 1937|location=Indiana, Logansport|page=5|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} with plans to be a teacher. On a post-graduation trip to New York City, however, her search for a teaching position was unsuccessful. Instead she found a job with [Gus Edwards'](/source/Gus_Edwards_(vaudeville)) ''Stars of Tomorrow'' show. ==Radio== Mears sang on [KFRU](/source/KFRU) in Columbia, Missouri, and on [WIL](/source/KZQZ) in St. Louis, Missouri, before a 1934 interview led to a contract with [NBC](/source/NBC). She sang on such programs as ''Al Pearce and His Gang'',Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4513-4}}. P. 19. ''[The Baker's Broadcast](/source/The_Baker's_Broadcast)'' (also known as ''The Joe Penner Show''),{{r|rp|page1=33}} ''It Happened in Hollywood'',{{r|rp|page1=165}} ''Ten-Two-Four Ranch'',{{r|rp|page1=327}} ''The Colgate House Party'', ''The Old Gold Program'', ''The General Foods Show'', ''Bob Ripley'', ''Phillip Morris'', and ''Radio Rodeo''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} During World War II, Mears was featured on several episodes of the ''Personal Album'' program produced by the [Armed Forces Radio Service](/source/American_Forces_Network).{{cite book|last1=Mackenzie|first1=Harry|title=The Directory of the Armed Forces Radio Service Series|date=1999|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313308123|pages=H-Series 12–13|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3WyZ9A4_XEC&q=%22Martha+Mears%22+-singer&pg=PA13|accessdate=25 November 2016|language=en}} ==Film== She was also the singing voice of many film actresses,{{cite news|last1=Moffett|first1=Mrs. F.D.|title=Versatile Voice Moberlyan 'Dubs' for Unmusical Stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7611860/moberly_monitorindex/|work=Moberly Monitor-Index|agency=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=February 19, 1952|location=Missouri, Moberly|page=6|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 26, 2016}} {{Open access}} notably singing for [Marjorie Reynolds](/source/Marjorie_Reynolds) in the debut of "[White Christmas](/source/White_Christmas_(song))" in the movie ''[Holiday Inn](/source/Holiday_Inn_(film))'' (1942),{{cite book|last1=Reid|first1=John|title=Movies Magnificent: 150 Must-See Cinema Classics|date=2005|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781411650671|page=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtHYGDwTB7cC&q=%22Martha+Mears%22+-singer&pg=PA85|accessdate=26 November 2016|language=en}} for [Rita Hayworth](/source/Rita_Hayworth) in ''[Cover Girl](/source/Cover_Girl_(film))'' and for one of [Lucille Ball](/source/Lucille_Ball)'s songs in ''[DuBarry Was a Lady](/source/DuBarry_Was_a_Lady)'' (1943).{{cite book|last1=Brady|first1=Kathleen|title=Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball|date=2001|publisher=Billboard Books|isbn=9780823089130|page=134|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w82Ltm6taMAC&q=%22Martha+Mears%22+singer&pg=PA134|accessdate=26 November 2016|language=en}} Her other movie credits include dubbing the singing voices of actresses such as [Claudette Colbert](/source/Claudette_Colbert), [Loretta Young](/source/Loretta_Young), [Hedy Lamarr](/source/Hedy_Lamarr), [Veronica Lake](/source/Veronica_Lake), and [Eva Gabor](/source/Eva_Gabor). ==Personal life== Mears was married to Sidney Brokaw, a violinist, and they had two sons.{{cite news|title=All That's Gold Does Not Glitter|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7598413/oakland_tribune/|work=Oakland Tribune|date=February 2, 1936|location=California, Oakland|page=60|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|accessdate = November 25, 2016}} {{Open access}} ==Partial filmography== {{Portal|Radio|United States|1950s}} * ''[Half Angel](/source/Half_Angel_(1951_film))'' (1951) ("Castle In The Sand" for [Loretta Young](/source/Loretta_Young)) * ''[My Favorite Spy](/source/My_Favorite_Spy_(1951_film))'' (1951) ("Just A Moment More" for [Hedy Lamarr](/source/Hedy_Lamarr)) * ''[Under The Gun](/source/Under_the_Gun_(1951_film))'' (1951) ("I Cried For You" for [Audrey Totter](/source/Audrey_Totter)) * ''[My Foolish Heart](/source/My_Foolish_Heart_(1949_film))'' (1949) (performer: "[My Foolish Heart](/source/My_Foolish_Heart_(song))") * ''[The Countess of Monte Cristo](/source/The_Countess_of_Monte_Cristo_(1948_film))'' (1948) ("Count Your Blessings", "Who Believes in Santa Claus" for [Sonja Henie](/source/Sonja_Henie)) * ''[Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid](/source/Mr._Peabody_and_the_Mermaid)'' (1948) ("The Caribee" for [Andrea King](/source/Andrea_King)) * ''[The Saxon Charm](/source/The_Saxon_Charm)'' (1948) ("I'm In The Mood For Love" for [Audrey Totter](/source/Audrey_Totter)) * ''[The Gangster](/source/The_Gangster_(1947_film))'' (1947) ("Paradise" for [Belita](/source/Belita)) * ''[Isn't It Romantic?](/source/Isn't_It_Romantic%3F)'' (1948) ("Miss Julie July", "Indiana Dinner", "At the Nickolodeon" for [Veronica Lake](/source/Veronica_Lake)) * ''[Nocturne](/source/Nocturne_(1946_film))'' (1946) ("Nocturne", "Why Pretend", "A Little Bit is Better than None" for [Virginia Huston](/source/Virginia_Huston)) * ''[Meet Me On Broadway](/source/Meet_Me_On_Broadway)'' (1946) ("Fifth Avenue" for [Marjorie Reynolds](/source/Marjorie_Reynolds)) * ''[Bring on the Girls](/source/Bring_on_the_Girls_(film))'' (1945) ("You Moved Right In" for [Marjorie Reynolds](/source/Marjorie_Reynolds)) * ''[Tonight and Every Night](/source/Tonight_and_Every_Night)'' (1945) ("Tonight and Every Night", "What Does an English Girl Think of a Yank?", "You Excite Me", "The Boy I Left Behind", "Cry and You Cry Alone" for [Rita Hayworth](/source/Rita_Hayworth)) * ''[Cover Girl](/source/Cover_Girl_(film))'' (1944) ("The Show Must Go On", "Sure Thing", "Make Way for Tomorrow", "[Long Ago (and Far Away)](/source/Long_Ago_(and_Far_Away))", "Poor John" for [Rita Hayworth](/source/Rita_Hayworth)) * ''[DuBarry Was a Lady](/source/DuBarry_Was_a_Lady)'' (1943) ("DuBarry Was a Lady", "Madame, I Like Your Crepe Suzettes" for [Lucille Ball](/source/Lucille_Ball)) * ''[Higher and Higher](/source/Higher_and_Higher_(film))'' (1943) ("It's a Most Important Affair", "Today I'm a Debutante", "You're On Your Own", "Minuet in Boogie" for [Michèle Morgan](/source/Mich%C3%A8le_Morgan)) * ''[Action in the North Atlantic](/source/Action_in_the_North_Atlantic)'' (1943) ("[Night and Day](/source/Night_and_Day_(song))" for [Julie Bishop](/source/Julie_Bishop_(actress))) * ''[Silver Skates](/source/Silver_Skates)'' (1943) ("A Girl Like You, A Boy Like Me" for [Patricia Morison](/source/Patricia_Morison)) * ''[Two Tickets to London](/source/Two_Tickets_to_London)'' (1943) ("You Don't Know What Love Is" for [Michèle Morgan](/source/Mich%C3%A8le_Morgan)) * ''[The Fallen Sparrow](/source/The_Fallen_Sparrow)'' (1943) for [Martha O'Driscoll](/source/Martha_O'Driscoll) * ''[They Got Me Covered](/source/They_Got_Me_Covered)'' (1943) ("Palsy Walsy" for [Marion Martin](/source/Marion_Martin)) * ''[The Big Street](/source/The_Big_Street)'' (1942) ("Who Knows?" for [Lucille Ball](/source/Lucille_Ball)) * ''[Holiday Inn](/source/Holiday_Inn_(film))'' (1942) (performer: "[White Christmas](/source/White_Christmas_(song))", "(Come To) Holiday Inn", "[Happy Holidays](/source/Happy_Holiday_(song))", "Abraham" for [Marjorie Reynolds](/source/Marjorie_Reynolds)) * ''[Star Spangled Rhythm](/source/Star_Spangled_Rhythm)'' (1942) ("A Sweater, a Sarong, and a Peek-a-Boo Bang" for [Veronica Lake](/source/Veronica_Lake)) * ''[This Gun for Hire](/source/This_Gun_for_Hire)'' (1942) ("I've Got You", "Now You See It, Now You Don't" for [Veronica Lake](/source/Veronica_Lake)) * ''[Call Out the Marines](/source/Call_Out_the_Marines)'' (1942) ("The Light of My Life", "Hands Across the Border" for [Dorothy Lovett](/source/Dorothy_Lovett)) * ''[Four Jacks and a Jill (film)](/source/Four_Jacks_and_a_Jill_(film))'' (1942) ("Karanina", "You Go Your Way", "Wherever You Go" for [Anne Shirley](/source/Anne_Shirley_(actress))) * ''[South of Tahiti](/source/South_of_Tahiti)'' (1941) ("Melahi" for [Maria Montez](/source/Maria_Montez)) * ''[The Parson of Panamint](/source/The_Parson_of_Panamint_(1941_film))'' (1941) ("My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon", "It's in the Cards", "Merry-Go-Round", "[Rock of Ages](/source/Rock_of_Ages_(Christian_hymn))" for [Ellen Drew](/source/Ellen_Drew)) * ''[Pacific Blackout](/source/Pacific_Blackout)'' (1941) ("I Met Him in Paris" for [Eva Gabor](/source/Eva_Gabor)) * ''[I Wanted Wings](/source/I_Wanted_Wings)'' (1941) ("Born to Love" for [Veronica Lake](/source/Veronica_Lake)) * ''[Road Show](/source/Road_Show_(film))'' (1941) ("I Should Have Known You Years Ago" for [Carole Landis](/source/Carole_Landis)) * ''[Zaza](/source/Zaza_(1939_film))'' (1938) ("Hello, My Darling" for [Claudette Colbert](/source/Claudette_Colbert)) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{cc}} * {{IMDb name|0575221|Martha Mears}} * {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130221053547/http://www.bobnolan-sop.net/Reference/Dr%20Pepper/Dr%20Pepper.htm "Pepper Rangers Gazette" with bio]}} ===Listen=== * [https://archive.org/download/AFRS-5/AFRS%20540%20-%20Personal%20Album%20-%20Martha%20Mears.mp3 An episode of Armed Forces Radio Service's ''Personal Album'' featuring Martha Mears] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mears, Martha}} Category:1910 births Category:1986 deaths Category:American voice actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century American singers Category:People from Mexico, Missouri Category:People from Moberly, Missouri Category:20th-century American women singers Category:Moberly Area Community College alumni --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martha Mears](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Mears) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Mears?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.