The Rhythmettes

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The Rhythmettes were a singing trio who provided the vocals on several 1930s and 1940s Hollywood films, including Disney Silly Symphony shorts and The Wizard of Oz (1939).

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The original members were Dorothy Compton and Mary Moder [1] with Anna Lou Barnes and Betty Bruce performing as the third member in the early- to mid -1930s. [2] : 84  Bruce wrote the musical arrangements for the group. [3]

By 1933, the trio was with Al Pearce's radio show, The Happy Go Lucky Hour, on radio station KHJ in Los Angeles. [4] They performed on stage with the rest of Pearce's group in the United States and Canada. [5] [6] [7]

Compton, Moder, and one other member were heard in Disney's Silly Symphony shorts, including Old King Cole (1933), [2] : 128  Lullaby Land (1933), [2] : 130  and Funny Little Bunnies (1934). [2] : 142  Various members of the Rhythmettes would appear in other shorts, including Birds of a Feather (1931), [2] : 84  Three Little Pigs (1933), [8] and The Practical Pig (1939). [2] : 206  In addition to singing, individual members performed voicework for characters in several Silly Symphony shorts. Dorothy Compton voiced of Fiddler Pig [9] and Mary Moder voiced Fifer Pig in Three Little Pigs (1933). [2] : 124  A 1934 article in Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan reported that the trio "do not broadcast that they are the Three Little Pigs because they want more work at the Disney art shop". [10]

Compton left the trio in 1934. [11] In The Practical Pig (1939), Moder reprised her role as Fifer Pig and Bruce took over Compton's role of Fiddler Pig. [2] : 206 

The trio were heard on several songs in The Wizard of Oz, including "Munchkinland" (the vocals after Dorothy arrives in the Munchkin village), a reprise of Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow", and "Optimistic Voices", which plays as Dorothy and her friends escape the field of poppies and approach the Emerald City. [12]

Selected filmography

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References

  1. ↑ "News of Radio and Its Personalities". The Los Angeles Times. 1934-04-08. p. 38. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Merritt, Russell. (2006). Walt Disney's Silly symphonies : a companion to the Classic cartoon series. Kaufman, J. B., Cineteca del Friuli. Gemona (Udine), Italy: La cineteca del Friuli. ISBN   978-88-86155-27-4. OCLC   76000173.
  3. ↑ Windrom, Guy (1937-07-02). "Disney's 'Three Little Pigs' Went to Picture Market with Betty's Tunes in Their Hearts". The Jackson Sun. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  4. ↑ Hogan, David J. (2014-06-01). The Wizard of Oz FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Life According to Oz. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-4803-9720-0.
  5. ↑ "Etherites Remain at Paramount". The Los Angeles Times. 1933-09-21. p. 29. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  6. ↑ "Al Pearce Radio Stars in City". The Vancouver Sun. 1933-08-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  7. ↑ "Al Pearce and Gang Capture Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. 1933-08-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  8. ↑ Nye, Carroll. "Vallee Gives Sunshine Program: Crooner Sings in Hollywood. James Cagney to Appear in One-Act Playlet KMTR Makes Bow With New Variety Offering New Song Hits Featured in KHJ All-Star Revue." Los Angeles Times . 14 Dec 1933: 16. Via Proquest.
  9. ↑ "Fiorito's New Singing Girl". The Los Angeles Times. 1934-05-22. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  10. ↑ Skolsky, Sidney. "Mickey Mouse." Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan . February 1934. Pg. 172.
  11. ↑ Frogley, Kenneth (1934-04-27). "Radio Topics". Daily News. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  12. ↑ McClelland, Doug (1989). Down the Yellow Brick Road: The Making of The Wizard of Oz. Ottenheimer Publishers. p. 128. ISBN   0-517-68364-4 . Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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