Bela Sumares

Bela Sumares
Sumares in 1942
Born	Cambridge, MA
Died	July 2, 1980(1980-07-02) (aged 68)
Other names	Poppy of California

Izabel "Bela" Zita Sumares (July 2, 1912 - March 2, 1980) was a Portuguese American entertainer who led a weekly radio show in Oakland, California.

Early life

Sumares was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of five children. ^[1] Her parents, Mary (Souza) and Antonio Sumares, were both born in Madeira, Portugal. ^[2] She lived in Oakland, California.

Career

Described as "a cross between Carmen Miranda and Martha Raye," Sumares could sing, dance, and perform comedy. ^[3] She led a group of Portuguese Americans who put on a daily hour-long radio program daily on KROW in Oakland, California. ^{[4] [5]} Called "an early star of Portuguese radio," Sumares would sing in both Portuguese and English. ^{[6] [7]} Their Portuguese Variety Show performed at festivals in California in the 1930s through the 1960s. ^{[8] [9]} Sumares took her act on the road and performed at other Portuguese-themed events. ^[10]

Sumares created her own radio program Hora da Papoila (Poppy Time) which ran weekly on KSAN. ^[11] Later in her career she would sometimes represent Brazil at Pan-American events. ^[12]

References

1. "Mary Sumares Obit". Oakland Tribune. April 1, 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
2. Congress, Library of. "Bella Sumares metadata". Flickr.com. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
3. "Go 'Native' at "Night in Portugal"". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. December 8, 1971. p. 31. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
4. "Birthday". The Oakland Post Enquirer. Oakland, CA. July 11, 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
5. "From "Castles of Romance" to Thrill Party Throngs". The Oakland Post Enquirer. December 10, 1936. p. 15. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
6. Schneider, John F. (2012). Bay Area Radio. Arcadia. p. 97. ISBN   9780738589107 . Retrieved 13 September 2025.
7. Vaz, August Mark (1965). The Portuguese in California. Oakland, CA: I. D. E. S. Supreme Council. p. 223. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
8. "Ten Day Fiesta to Begin Saturday Evening". The West Side Index. Newman, California. August 20, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
9. "Top Performers Due at International Family Picnic". The Berkeley Gazette. October 15, 1965. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
10. "Kahala Slates Portugal Night". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu HI. November 28, 1971. p. 162. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
11. "Los Amigos to Hear Official Tell of Brazil". Berkeley Gazette. June 16, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
12. "Pan-American Week Observance Tonight by Los Amigos Program". The Independent. Richmond, CA. April 20, 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2025.