Dona Drake stars in the 9 minute Vitaphone B229 released July 1, 1939 titled
Rita Rio and Her Orchestra. Drake was born in MIami in 1914 as Eunice Westmoreland. She was of 3/4 black heritage but presented herself as Mexican entertainer Una Novella or Rita Novella. She began performing in 1932 as a chorus girl in nightclubs and by 1933 was in Earl Carroll's Vanities where a newspaper critic wrote that she sings, dances and looks like a 16 year old reincarnation of Ann Pennington. She was hired away from a Broadway nightclub and has already proved herself as worthy of being in the big time spotlight. In 1934, newspaper gossip columnist Walter Winchell wrote Una's torso shifting serves to synchronize the music tempo. (Berrens) directing is not needed. This young lady directs the tooters with her wiggling. (paraphrased).
She began using the name Dona Drake in 1935 when she became the star attraction at the Paradise Cabaret on Broadway in NY. She could not only sing and dance, but also played clarinet, piano, trumpet, sax, and drums. In 1940, she went to Hollywood using the name Rita Shaw. Hollywood studio publicity incorrectly stated she was Mexican born as Rita Novella. Her features and dark curly hair led to her being cast as Latina, Middle Eastern, American Indian and Gypsy. She is remembered in Hollywood for playing Bette Davis' American Indian maid in Beyond the Forest. She gave stand out performances in \"So This is New York\" in 1948 and \"The Girl From Jones Beach\" in 1949. The highest grossing movie she acted in was \"Road to Morocco\" with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in 1942.
In the early 1940s, her life imitated her art in this Vitaphone as she led all girl bands ~Rita Rio and Her All Girl Band~ and Dona Drake and Her All Girl Band\". She also started an all girl band she called \"The Girl Friends\" which toured the US and included fellow actresses Marie Wilson, Faith Bacon and Toby Wing.
In 1936, the FBI questioned her about the murder of her mobster boyfriend. In her typical \"ditzy\" act, she said she thought he was Mr Cohen and had no idea what the man had done for a living. Between 1935 and 1941 she was in 7 short subjects and from 1941 to 1955, she appeared in 22 movies and 7 TV series.She married fashion designer Wm. Travilla in 1944, had one child, and she and Wm. remained married until 1989 when she died of pneumonia in Los Angeles.
Rio Rita and Her All Girl Orchestra, Vitaphone B229, 9 minutes, filmed in Brooklyn, NY. Released to theaters July 1, 1939. I Cried for You.
Her all girl orchestra also appeared in Sweet Shoe January 1938 and Gals and Gallons May 1939.
