{{Short description|American singer (1916–1999)}} {{Infobox person | name = Virginia Verrill | image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets -->Virginia Verrill 1935.jpg | alt = | caption = Verrill in 1935 | birth_name = | birth_date = November 20, 1916 | birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1999|01|18|1916|11|20|mf=yes}} | death_place = Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. | other_names = | occupation = Singer | alma_mater = | spouse = James K. Breyley (1913-1988) m1940-1960 (divorced) Dr. Louis Duddleston (1915-2003) m 1961 | children = 2 | parents = | known_for = }} '''Catherine Virginia Verrill''' (November 20, 1916 – January 18, 1999) was a singer in the era of old-time radio and big bands. Her work included providing the off-screen singing voices for some female film stars.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill, Unseen Voice Of Hollywood's Singing Stars, 82|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/25/arts/virginia-verrill-unseen-voice-of-hollywood-s-singing-stars-82.html|access-date=2 April 2016|agency=The New York Times|date=January 25, 1999}}</ref>
==Early years== Verrill was born Catherine Virginia Verrill in Santa Monica, California. Her mother, Aimee McLean Verrill, was active in vaudeville.<ref name=ot/> At 5 months of age, Verrill appeared with her mother in her act.<ref name=lat/>
Verrill's family was friends with orchestra leader Paul Whiteman, who had Virginia sing on his bandstand when she was 3 years old. She attended Hollywood's John Marshall High School.<ref name=ot/> (Another source says that she graduated from Hollywood High School.)<ref name=bde/>
==Radio== By the time she was 13, Verrill was singing on local stations,<ref name=ot/> with her debut coming on KMPC in 1932.<ref name="bde">{{cite news|last1=Ranson|first1=Jo|title=Radio Dial Log|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816195/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/|agency=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=June 12, 1935|location=New York, Brooklyn|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 1934, she sang with David Brockman and the KHJ orchestra<ref>{{cite news|title=Radio Features|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4814956/santa_ana_register/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=November 28, 1934|location=California, Santa Ana|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> on ''California Melodies'', which originated at KHJ and was carried on the CBS network.<ref name=ot/> Early in 1935, columnist Walter Winchell reported that Verrill had begun working for CBS.<ref name=ww>{{cite news|last1=Winchell|first1=Walter|title=Walter Winchell on Broadway|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4815116/reading_times/|agency=Reading Times|date=March 22, 1935|location=Pennsylvania, Reading|page=28|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> In June 1935, she was singing on the ''Socony Sketchbook'' with Johnny Green's orchestra<ref>{{cite news|title=(Socony Sketchbook advertisement)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816294/the_portsmouth_herald/|agency=The Portsmouth Herald|date=June 14, 1935|location=New Hampshire, Portsmouth|page=7|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> and had "a starring contract" on another show that was planned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Who's Who; What's What|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4816132/oakland_tribune/|agency=Oakland Tribune|date=June 7, 1935|location=California, Oakland|page=32|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> That program debuted July 2, 1935, with Verrill as star and Mark Warnow conducting the accompanying orchestra.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=Larry|title=A.A.U. Meet Rates Top on Weekly Airwave Offerings|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4825988/the_lincoln_star/|agency=The Lincoln Star|date=June 30, 1935|location=Nebraska, Lincoln|page=20|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 3, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> She had another program, ''Vocals by Verrill'', in 1937.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill on Saturday|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiodailyaprjun01unse#page/n167/mode/1up|access-date=5 April 2016|agency=Radio Daily|date=April 30, 1937|page=3}}</ref>
Verrill performed regularly on the variety shows ''College Humor Program'',<ref>{{cite news|title=On the Air|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826689/harrisburg_telegraph/|agency=Harrisburg Telegraph|date=June 24, 1941|location=Pennsylvania, Harrisburg|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Uncle Walter's Dog House'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Plane Engine Building Is Broadcast Topic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826602/the_fresno_bee_the_republican/|agency=The Fresno Bee The Republican|date=September 5, 1941|location=California, Fresno|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Home Town, Unincorporated'',<ref name=rp>Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4513-4}}. P. 155.</ref> ''The Jack Haley Show'',{{r|rp|page1=170}} and ''Maxwell House Show Boat''.{{r|rp|page1=303}}
She was also heard on broadcasts with Orville Knapp's Orchestra.<ref>{{cite news|title=KHJ Sunday Programs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805495/santa_ana_register/|agency=Santa Ana Register|date=August 11, 1934|location=California, Santa Ana|page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
==Personal appearances== In 1934, Verrill sang with Marvin George and his Hermosa Hut Orchestra.<ref>{{cite news|title=(Dance advertisement)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805644/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/|agency=The San Bernardino County Sun|date=October 19, 1934|location=California, San Bernardino|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> She also "was featured at the Colony Club and other famous Hollywood rendezvous."<ref name=ot/>
==Film== When she was 13,<ref>{{cite news|title=Singer Resents Being Told She Looks Like Myrna Loy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19370128&id=HOUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3637,948554&hl=en|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=The Pittsburgh Press|date=January 28, 1937|location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh|page=27}}</ref> Verrill won an audition over 300 others to sing the title song in Barbara Stanwyck's ''Ten Cents a Dance''," (1931).<ref name="lat">{{cite news|title=Virginia Verrill; Movie and Radio Singer|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-29-mn-2899-story.html|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=Los Angeles Times|date=January 29, 1999}}</ref> By the time she was 18 years old, she had "frequently played voice double for Hollywood picture stars."<ref name="ot">{{cite news|last1=Robert|first1=Bernes|title=The Radio Reporter|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4815224/oakland_tribune/|agency=Oakland Tribune|date=May 12, 1935|location=California, Oakland|page=79|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> Her dubbing included singing for Jean Harlow in both ''Reckless'' (1935)<ref name=ww/> and ''Suzy'' (1936).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Earl|title=Donna doesn't feel exploited|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19810414&id=n4NRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7100,2927604&hl=en|access-date=6 April 2016|agency=The Milwaukee Sentinel|date=April 14, 1981|location=Wisconsin, Milwaukee|page=Page 2-Part 3}}</ref>
On-screen, she was seen in ''Hide-Out'' (1934)<ref>{{cite news|title=Hollywood Descendant Makes Film Debut|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4805622/pottstown_mercury/|agency=Pottstown Mercury|date=October 16, 1934|location=Pennsylvania, Pottstown|page=3|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 1, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref> and ''Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938''.<ref name=nyt/>
==Personal life== By 1942, Verrill had left show business. A newspaper column printed September 25 of that year reported, "Virginia, at the age of 25, has retired from the stage and screen and is now a happy housewife and mother and is reported to be the best pie crust baker on the block."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Durling|first1=E.V.|title=On the Side|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4826499/shamokin_newsdispatch/|agency=Shamokin News-Dispatch|date=September 25, 1942|location=Pennsylvania, Shamokin|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = April 2, 2016}} {{Open access}}</ref>
At the time of her death, Verrill was married to Dr. Louis C. Duddleston.<ref name=nyt/> The two had wed on June 17, 1961, in Crystal Lake, Illinois; he was a dentist then living in nearby Woodstock who had previously taught at Northwestern University.<ref>"Crystal Lake Church is Setting for Breyley-Duddleston Nuptials." Woodstock (IL) Daily Sentinel, 11 July 1961.</ref> Her first husband was a Music Corporation of America's chief band-booking executive in Chicago.<ref>"MCA Inks Welk to 3-Year Pact." Billboard, 18 February 1950.</ref>
==Death== Verrill died January 18, 1999, at age 82, in the Mayview Nursing Home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Survivors included her husband, a son, a daughter, and seven grandchildren.<ref name=nyt/>
== References == <!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags, these references will then appear here automatically --> {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0y1xdXr0So Virginia Verrill sings ''It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget)'' with the Isham Jones Orchestra]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Verrill, Virginia}} Category:1999 deaths Category:American film actresses Category:American radio actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Santa Monica, California Category:1916 births Category:20th-century American singers