Marion Marlowe (born Marion Townsend; March 7, 1929 – March 24, 2012)[1] was an American singer and actress. She is best known for her recordings of "The Man in the Raincoat" and "Heartbeat". Marlowe worked with Frank Parker ("Moonlight and Roses") and was married to the television producer Larry Puck.[1]
Marlowe was born in St. Louis, Missouri,[2] and her father died several years later. At that point Marlowe and her mother (a ballerina who had danced with the Metropolitan Opera) moved in with her grandparents. Her initial public performance came at age 5 when she sang Ave Maria at the Moolah Temple in St. Louis. She had her own quarter-hour weekly radio program from age 9 until she was 13.[3]
According to Richard Lamparksi's 1975 book Whatever Became of...?, Marlowe began taking vocal lessons when she was 12 years old and studied at London's Royal Conservatory under Sir Thomas Beecham. Later, she roomed with Marilyn Monroe at Hollywood's Studio Club while being coached by Sigmund Romberg.
Careeredit
Televisionedit
Marlowe is best known for her performances on the television variety series Arthur Godfrey and His Friends from 1950 to 1955, in which she sang duets with Frank Parker as the "Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy of the 1950s."[4]
In April 1955, she was dropped from CBS's roster, and the same month she was fired by Arthur Godfrey from his show along with fellow cast members Haleloke and the Mariners.[5] After being fired by Godfrey, she was signed by Ed Sullivan to make six appearances on his Toast of the Town program.[6] Her contract with Sullivan provided $18,000 for the six appearances, compared to $1,500 per week for six shows with Godfrey.[7]
Recordingedit
She recorded for Columbia Records, then Cadence Records in the mid-1950s,[8] and had a hit single with "The Man in the Raincoat", which reached no. 14 on Billboard's chart of "Most Played by Jockeys" in 1955.[9]
Stageedit
Marlowe later pursued a career as a stage actress, most notably as the Baroness, Elsa Schraeder, in the original production of The Sound of Music, from 1959 to 1963.[10] In 1964 she starred in the Off-Broadway flop The Athenian Touch.
Personal lifeedit
On May 6, 1955,[11] Marlowe married television producer Larry Puck, who also had been fired by Godfrey.[12][13]
Deathedit
Marlowe died of natural causes in Tucson, Arizona on March 24, 2012, aged 83.[1]
Partial discographyedit
Romance (with Frank Parker—1953, Columbia CL 6267)
^"The Billboard Music Popularity Charts", Billboard, August 6, 1955. p. 50. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
^Marion Marlowe Gets Wish to Act on Stage. Los Angeles Times, December 25, 1959. (subscription access required)
^Ewald, William (October 26, 1955). "Godfrey Fires Top Aide, Marion Marlowe's Hubby As Ax Hits Staff Again". Nevada State Journal. p. 1. Retrieved August 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^Marion Marlowe to Wed Friday. New York Times, May 4, 1955. (subscription access required)
marion, marlowe, born, marion, townsend, march, 1929, march, 2012, american, singer, actress, best, known, recordings, raincoat, heartbeat, marlowe, worked, with, frank, parker, moonlight, roses, married, television, producer, larry, puck, marlowe, 1953bornmar. Marion Marlowe born Marion Townsend March 7 1929 March 24 2012 1 was an American singer and actress She is best known for her recordings of The Man in the Raincoat and Heartbeat Marlowe worked with Frank Parker Moonlight and Roses and was married to the television producer Larry Puck 1 Marion MarloweMarlowe in 1953BornMarion Townsend 1929 03 07 March 7 1929St Louis Missouri U S DiedMarch 24 2012 2012 03 24 aged 83 Tucson Arizona U S Occupation s Actress singerYears active1946 1963 Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 2 1 Television 2 2 Recording 2 3 Stage 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Partial discography 6 References 7 External linksEarly years editMarlowe was born in St Louis Missouri 2 and her father died several years later At that point Marlowe and her mother a ballerina who had danced with the Metropolitan Opera moved in with her grandparents Her initial public performance came at age 5 when she sang Ave Maria at the Moolah Temple in St Louis She had her own quarter hour weekly radio program from age 9 until she was 13 3 According to Richard Lamparksi s 1975 book Whatever Became of Marlowe began taking vocal lessons when she was 12 years old and studied at London s Royal Conservatory under Sir Thomas Beecham Later she roomed with Marilyn Monroe at Hollywood s Studio Club while being coached by Sigmund Romberg Career editTelevision edit Marlowe is best known for her performances on the television variety series Arthur Godfrey and His Friends from 1950 to 1955 in which she sang duets with Frank Parker as the Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy of the 1950s 4 In April 1955 she was dropped from CBS s roster and the same month she was fired by Arthur Godfrey from his show along with fellow cast members Haleloke and the Mariners 5 After being fired by Godfrey she was signed by Ed Sullivan to make six appearances on his Toast of the Town program 6 Her contract with Sullivan provided 18 000 for the six appearances compared to 1 500 per week for six shows with Godfrey 7 Recording edit She recorded for Columbia Records then Cadence Records in the mid 1950s 8 and had a hit single with The Man in the Raincoat which reached no 14 on Billboard s chart of Most Played by Jockeys in 1955 9 Stage edit Marlowe later pursued a career as a stage actress most notably as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the original production of The Sound of Music from 1959 to 1963 10 In 1964 she starred in the Off Broadway flop The Athenian Touch Personal life editOn May 6 1955 11 Marlowe married television producer Larry Puck who also had been fired by Godfrey 12 13 Death editMarlowe died of natural causes in Tucson Arizona on March 24 2012 aged 83 1 Partial discography editRomance with Frank Parker 1953 Columbia CL 6267 Whatever Happens Where Flamingos Fly 1956 Cadence 1300 Sweethearts with Frank Parker 1957 Harmony HL 7022 References edit a b c Thedeadrockstarsclub com accessed March 27 2012 Marion Marlowe born in St Louis Missouri March 7 in History at BrainyHistory com BrainyHistory Retrieved 2023 02 07 Cohen Martin December 1953 Marion Marlowe PDF Radio TV Mirror 41 1 27 29 79 80 Retrieved 30 August 2015 Arthur Godfrey s shows Arthur Godfrey on the St James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture Sullivan signs dismissed Godfrey singer The Kokomo Tribune April 16 1955 p 17 Retrieved August 29 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp Everett Arthur April 16 1955 Godfrey Fires Six Vocalists Altoona Tribune p 10 Retrieved August 29 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp Marion Marlowe Discography USA 45cat The Billboard Music Popularity Charts Billboard August 6 1955 p 50 Retrieved April 16 2018 Marion Marlowe Gets Wish to Act on Stage Los Angeles Times December 25 1959 subscription access required Ewald William October 26 1955 Godfrey Fires Top Aide Marion Marlowe s Hubby As Ax Hits Staff Again Nevada State Journal p 1 Retrieved August 29 2015 via Newspapers com nbsp Marion Marlowe to Wed Friday New York Times May 4 1955 subscription access required Time article on her marriage to Larry Puck May 16 1955External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marion Marlowe Marion Marlowe at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marion Marlowe amp oldid 1205666576, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
