Knowledge (XXG)

Duncan Sisters

Source 📝

184: 42: 377: 1029: 191:
During the next few years they perfected their act with Rosetta as a foghorn-voiced comedian and Vivian as the pretty-but-dumb blonde type. Within a few years they "matured into first-rate vaudeville troupers who wrote much of their music in dialogue." They subsequently played not only in
337:
Vivian and Rosetta Duncan have made a snappy, hilarious comedy of the life of a vaudeville sister team in this elaborate picture. It is crammed to the gunwales with Duncan comedy, and they do a lot of the vocalizing that made them famous. Listen for "Following You" – you'll care for
400:. In the late 1940s the Duncans wrote and recorded four Christmas selections for the Hollywood Recording Guild Inc.: "Dear Santy", "The Angel on the Top of the X-mas Tree", "Twimmin' de Cwis'mas Twee" and "Jolly Ole Fella". These appeared on 7" extended play 78rpm kiddie records. 342:
Unfortunately, the film "faltered at the box office and helped to cut short the Duncans' movie career." The movie, seldom seen for decades in part due to the color footage being missing, resurfaced in 2010 in a restored print released by Warner Bros. Archive.
302:
as the fictional Mahoney sisters. The film proved to be highly successful so MGM decided to follow it up with a similar film, this time starring the real-life Duncan Sisters in the leads. The result was
455:. Ms. Hutton demanded a rewrite after reading the first script draft and soon afterward walked out of her contract with the studio. Production plans for the film were then abandoned and never resumed. 410:
Their act ended in 1959 when Rosetta died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, where she apparently fell asleep at the wheel while returning from a performance engagement, in
1317: 1332: 384:
Although by now past their prime, the Duncan Sisters continued as a popular night club entertainers act for several more decades. They also appeared in several
1128:
The sequences are a fashion revue in the first part of the film, and two musical numbers - "Hoosier Hop" and "I'm Sailing on a Sunbeam" - at the end.
1327: 1322: 1297: 1136:. Some of the color scenes were released on laserdisc as part of the "Dawn of Sound" series and a brief clip was used in the compilation film 418:. Vivian, who by that time had remarried to Frank Herman, subsequently continued performing as a single act on the club circuit. She died of 373:
Rosetta (who was lesbian) attempted a solo career for a few years, but was rejoined with Vivian in 1932 after Vivian's divorce from Asther.
1337: 1287: 691: 305: 1312: 1188: 1307: 1292: 249:. For this production they wrote and introduced the songs "I Never Had a Mammy" and "Rememb'ring". A huge hit in its day, 1268: 1255: 1237: 325:. In the film the Duncan Sisters performed two of their most popular songs, "I'm Following You" and "Hoosier Hop." 434:
considered making a musical biography about the sisters' life after the success of a film of another sister act,
104: 1163: 721: 436: 173: 1196: 172:, the daughters of a violinist turned salesman. They began their stage careers in 1911 as part of the cast of 1065: 67: 983: 419: 1133: 577: 431: 246: 209: 388: 1302: 582: 353:, but that film was never completed. In 1935 the Duncans returned to the screen in the short musical 241: 346: 310: 290: 282: 654: 444: 1246: 1228: 1034: 504: 411: 396: 205: 94: 1042: 201: 1260: 1189:
https://books.google.com/books?id=XFnfnKg6BcAC&dq=duncan+lesbian+rosetta&pg=PA338
642: 573: 407:'s television show. They sang some of their songs and did their Topsy and Eva routine. 265: 236: 1281: 993: 956: 948: 940: 905: 892: 865: 857: 849: 624: 452: 1001: 800: 777: 751: 727: 697: 679: 660: 630: 448: 314: 286: 279: 257: 254: 217: 197: 1251: 1233: 709: 675: 366: 322: 295: 183: 165: 41: 1024: 771: 391: 299: 193: 169: 137: 17: 672: 329: 232: 1197:
https://books.google.com/books?id=TyFaAAAAMAAJ&q=duncan+lesbian+rosetta
376: 1132:, which survives with all the color footage, is occasionally broadcast on 415: 404: 385: 357:
which featured footage of them reprising their Topsy and Eva characters.
318: 261: 98: 1242: 1224: 213: 641:
A silent film adaptation of their stage hit. Partially directed by
1187:
By Frank Cullen, Florence Hackman, Donald McNeilly Page 338, see:
375: 182: 369:, who had co-starred with her and Rosetta in the film version of 1064:
Sources differ on their birth dates. These are taken from the
164:(June 17, 1897 – September 19, 1986) were born in 349:
did cast the Duncans in their all-star 1930 extravaganza
160:(November 23, 1894 – December 4, 1959) and 227:
In 1923 the Duncans created their signature roles in
447:
announced plans for a biopic on the Duncans to star
140:duo who became popular in the 1920s with their act 115: 75: 51: 32: 1318:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 886:The Argentines, The Portuguese, and the Greeks 440:. The project never got beyond the idea stage. 380:The Duncan Sisters as Topsy and Eva, circa 1945 335: 196:, but also in night clubs and on stage in both 1273:Discography of American Historical Recordings 1106:. Jefferson, NC, and London. McFarland, 1996. 682:, with the Duncans doing a cameo appearance. 8: 738:An all-star extravaganza - never completed. 403:In 1956 both Rosetta and Vivian appeared on 29: 1209:One of Duncan Sisters Badly Hurt In Crash 1115:Wagenknecht, Edward, and Anthony Slide. 821: 596: 462: 321:and featuring three sequences filmed in 1098: 1096: 1094: 1080: 1078: 1076: 1074: 1054: 1166:. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. 2009 1060: 1058: 1333:20th-century American women musicians 187:L-R Vivian and Rosetta Duncan c. 1912 46:L-R Rosetta and Vivian Duncan c. 1912 27:American entertainers; vaudeville duo 7: 1088:. Secaucus, NJ. Castle Books, 1974. 1084:Springer, John, and Jack Hamilton. 1119:. New York, NY, Crown Books, 1975. 204:. They made their first important 25: 333:magazine stated in their review: 1027: 1011:The Argentines, The Portuguese, 253:was subsequently adapted into a 40: 1328:20th-century American comedians 1323:20th-century American musicians 1195:By Anthony Slide, Page 3, see: 264:with some additional scenes by 1298:American vaudeville performers 1138:That's Entertainment, Part III 870:Just Give the Southland to Me 1: 365:In 1930 Vivian married actor 1269:Duncan Sisters (Vocal group) 1104:The First Hollywood Musicals 897:I Got a "Code" in My "Doze" 854:The Music Lesson (Do-Re-Mi) 807: 804: 784: 781: 758: 755: 747:The Voice of Hollywood No. 7 734: 731: 708:An early sound musical with 704: 701: 667: 664: 637: 634: 271: 1117:The Films of D. W. Griffith 980:Baby Feet Go Pitter-Patter 913:It's an Old Spanish Custom 563:Dec 23, 1924 - May 9, 1925 520:May 5, 1919 - Aug 16, 1919 494:Oct 18, 1917 – Feb 9, 1918 285:released their early sound 235:, Vivian as the latter), a 231:(Rosetta as the former, in 85:September 19, 1986 (Vivian) 58:November 23, 1894 (Rosetta) 1354: 1338:Comedians from Los Angeles 1256:Internet Broadway Database 1238:Internet Broadway Database 1211:. December 2, 1959, pg D3. 1153:New York, NY. Dover, 1975. 838: 830: 541:Oct 5, 1920 - May 7, 1921 208:appearance in 1917 at the 82:December 4, 1959 (Rosetta) 992: 955: 947: 939: 904: 891: 864: 856: 848: 572:Their biggest success, a 105:Beverly Hills, California 39: 34:Vivian and Rosetta Duncan 1288:American women comedians 1185:Vaudeville, Old and New, 966:Aunt Susie's Picnic Day 889:Cross Word Puzzle Blues 426:Unrealized movie project 1066:Internet Movie Database 910:The Kinky Kids' Parade 239:derived from the novel 68:Los Angeles, California 1149:Kreuger, Miles (ed.). 381: 340: 188: 61:June 17, 1897 (Vivian) 1313:American musical duos 953:Black and Blue Blues 578:Harriet Beecher Stowe 432:Twentieth Century-Fox 379: 247:Harriet Beecher Stowe 210:Winter Garden Theatre 186: 1308:Sibling musical duos 1293:American comedy duos 1193:Eccentrics of comedy 961:I Never Had a Mammy 929:I Never Had a Mammy 921:Happy-Go-Lucky Days 862:In Sweet Onion Time 459:Broadway appearances 1164:"It's a Great Life" 1086:They Had Faces Then 818:Selected recordings 516:She's a Good Fellow 420:Alzheimer's disease 291:The Broadway Melody 283:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 136:) were an American 1151:The Movie Musical. 1102:Bradley, Edwin M. 935:I'm Following You 881:Hula-Hula Lullaby 878:Mean Cicero Blues 875:Baby Sister Blues 811:A two-reel short. 805:Rosie and "Topsy" 655:Two Flaming Youths 593:Screen appearances 445:Paramount Pictures 382: 189: 126:The Duncan Sisters 1207:Chicago Tribune, 1130:It's a Great Life 1018: 1017: 998:The Music Lesson 977:Bull Frog Patrol 902:Stick in the Mud 815: 814: 808:Vivian and "Eva" 722:The March of Time 692:It's a Great Life 590: 589: 583:Uncle Tom's Cabin 437:The Dolly Sisters 351:The March of Time 306:It's a Great Life 273:It's a Great Life 242:Uncle Tom's Cabin 123: 122: 116:Years active 16:(Redirected from 1345: 1212: 1205: 1199: 1182: 1176: 1175: 1173: 1171: 1160: 1154: 1147: 1141: 1126: 1120: 1113: 1107: 1100: 1089: 1082: 1069: 1062: 1037: 1035:Biography portal 1032: 1031: 1030: 822: 597: 463: 397:You Asked For It 44: 30: 21: 1353: 1352: 1348: 1347: 1346: 1344: 1343: 1342: 1278: 1277: 1221: 1216: 1215: 1206: 1202: 1183: 1179: 1169: 1167: 1162: 1161: 1157: 1148: 1144: 1127: 1123: 1114: 1110: 1101: 1092: 1083: 1072: 1063: 1056: 1051: 1043:Blanche Merrill 1033: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1013:and the Greeks 984:White Christmas 820: 609:Rosetta's Role 595: 475:Rosetta's Role 461: 428: 363: 317:), directed by 276: 212:in a show with 155: 150: 111: 110: 89: 88: 71: 65: 64: 47: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1351: 1349: 1341: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1320: 1315: 1310: 1305: 1300: 1295: 1290: 1280: 1279: 1276: 1275: 1266: 1261:An article on 1258: 1249: 1240: 1234:Rosetta Duncan 1231: 1225:Rosetta Duncan 1220: 1219:External links 1217: 1214: 1213: 1200: 1177: 1155: 1142: 1121: 1108: 1090: 1070: 1053: 1052: 1050: 1047: 1046: 1045: 1039: 1038: 1022: 1019: 1016: 1015: 1009: 1005: 1004: 999: 996: 991: 990:Tom Boy Blues 987: 986: 981: 978: 974: 973: 970: 967: 963: 962: 959: 954: 951: 946: 943: 937: 936: 933: 930: 926: 925: 922: 919: 915: 914: 911: 908: 903: 899: 898: 895: 890: 887: 883: 882: 879: 876: 872: 871: 868: 863: 860: 855: 852: 846: 845: 842: 839: 837: 834: 831: 829: 826: 819: 816: 813: 812: 809: 806: 803: 798: 793: 789: 788: 786: 783: 780: 775: 768: 764: 763: 760: 757: 754: 749: 744: 740: 739: 736: 733: 730: 725: 718: 714: 713: 706: 703: 700: 695: 688: 684: 683: 669: 666: 663: 658: 651: 647: 646: 643:D. W. Griffith 639: 636: 633: 628: 621: 617: 616: 613: 612:Vivian's Role 610: 607: 604: 601: 594: 591: 588: 587: 574:musical comedy 570: 569:Eva St. Clare 567: 564: 561: 556: 552: 551: 548: 545: 542: 539: 534: 530: 529: 527: 524: 521: 518: 513: 509: 508: 501: 498: 495: 492: 487: 483: 482: 479: 478:Vivian's Role 476: 473: 470: 467: 460: 457: 427: 424: 371:Topsy and Eva. 362: 359: 275: 270: 266:D. W. Griffith 260:, directed by 237:musical comedy 178:Kiddies' Revue 154: 151: 149: 146: 121: 120: 117: 113: 112: 109: 108: 102: 91: 90: 87: 86: 83: 79: 77: 73: 72: 66: 63: 62: 59: 55: 53: 49: 48: 45: 37: 36: 33: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1350: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1319: 1316: 1314: 1311: 1309: 1306: 1304: 1301: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1286: 1285: 1283: 1274: 1270: 1267: 1265: 1264: 1263:Topsy and Eva 1259: 1257: 1253: 1252:Vivian Duncan 1250: 1248: 1244: 1243:Vivian Duncan 1241: 1239: 1235: 1232: 1230: 1226: 1223: 1222: 1218: 1210: 1204: 1201: 1198: 1194: 1190: 1186: 1181: 1178: 1165: 1159: 1156: 1152: 1146: 1143: 1139: 1135: 1131: 1125: 1122: 1118: 1112: 1109: 1105: 1099: 1097: 1095: 1091: 1087: 1081: 1079: 1077: 1075: 1071: 1067: 1061: 1059: 1055: 1048: 1044: 1041: 1040: 1036: 1025: 1020: 1014: 1010: 1007: 1006: 1003: 1000: 997: 995: 989: 988: 985: 982: 979: 976: 975: 971: 968: 965: 964: 960: 958: 952: 950: 944: 942: 938: 934: 931: 928: 927: 923: 920: 917: 916: 912: 909: 907: 901: 900: 896: 894: 888: 885: 884: 880: 877: 874: 873: 869: 867: 861: 859: 853: 851: 847: 843: 840: 835: 832: 827: 824: 823: 817: 810: 802: 799: 797: 794: 791: 790: 787: 779: 776: 774: 773: 769: 766: 765: 761: 753: 750: 748: 745: 742: 741: 737: 729: 726: 724: 723: 719: 716: 715: 711: 707: 699: 696: 694: 693: 689: 686: 685: 681: 677: 674: 670: 662: 659: 657: 656: 652: 649: 648: 644: 640: 632: 629: 627: 626: 625:Topsy and Eva 622: 619: 618: 614: 611: 608: 605: 602: 599: 598: 592: 585: 584: 579: 576:adapted from 575: 571: 568: 565: 562: 560: 559:Topsy and Eva 557: 554: 553: 549: 546: 543: 540: 538: 535: 532: 531: 528: 525: 522: 519: 517: 514: 511: 510: 506: 502: 499: 496: 493: 491: 490:Doing Our Bit 488: 485: 484: 480: 477: 474: 471: 468: 465: 464: 458: 456: 454: 453:Ginger Rogers 450: 446: 441: 439: 438: 433: 425: 423: 421: 417: 413: 408: 406: 401: 399: 398: 393: 389: 387: 378: 374: 372: 368: 360: 358: 356: 352: 348: 344: 339: 334: 332: 331: 326: 324: 320: 316: 312: 308: 307: 301: 297: 293: 292: 288: 284: 281: 274: 269: 267: 263: 259: 256: 252: 251:Topsy and Eva 248: 244: 243: 238: 234: 230: 229:Topsy and Eva 225: 223: 222:Doing Our Bit 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 199: 195: 185: 181: 179: 175: 171: 167: 163: 162:Vivian Duncan 159: 152: 147: 145: 143: 142:Topsy and Eva 139: 135: 134:Vivian Duncan 131: 127: 118: 114: 106: 103: 100: 96: 93: 92: 84: 81: 80: 78: 74: 69: 60: 57: 56: 54: 50: 43: 38: 31: 19: 18:Vivian Duncan 1272: 1262: 1208: 1203: 1192: 1184: 1180: 1168:. Retrieved 1158: 1150: 1145: 1137: 1129: 1124: 1116: 1111: 1103: 1085: 1012: 1002:Jingle Bells 972:Rememb'ring 945:Um-um-da-da 924:Hoosier Hop 918:Remembr'ing 795: 770: 762:Documentary 746: 720: 702:Casey Hogan 690: 680:W. C. Fields 653: 623: 581: 558: 536: 526:Betty Blair 523:Mazie Moore 515: 489: 449:Betty Hutton 442: 435: 429: 409: 402: 395: 390:and also on 383: 370: 364: 354: 350: 345: 341: 336: 328: 327: 304: 289: 277: 272: 258:silent movie 250: 240: 228: 226: 221: 218:Frank Tinney 190: 177: 161: 157: 156: 153:Early career 141: 133: 129: 125: 124: 1303:Sister duos 1008:Vocalizing 712:sequences. 710:Technicolor 705:Babe Hogan 676:silent film 367:Nils Asther 361:Later years 323:Technicolor 296:Bessie Love 294:, starring 174:Gus Edwards 166:Los Angeles 1282:Categories 1049:References 772:Hello Pop! 392:television 300:Anita Page 194:vaudeville 170:California 138:vaudeville 796:Surprise! 678:starring 550:A revue. 443:In 1952, 430:In 1946, 422:in 1986. 355:Surprise! 330:Photoplay 233:blackface 220:entitled 148:Biography 119:1911–1959 101:(Rosetta) 1021:See also 969:Dawning 932:Lickens 785:Herself 782:Herself 759:Herself 756:Herself 735:Herself 732:Herself 668:Herself 665:Herself 547:Herself 544:Herself 505:Broadway 500:Herself 497:Herself 416:Illinois 405:Liberace 386:soundies 319:Sam Wood 262:Del Lord 206:Broadway 198:New York 107:(Vivian) 99:Illinois 1254:at the 1236:at the 1191: ; 1170:May 18, 537:Tip Top 507:debut. 287:musical 214:Ed Wynn 158:Rosetta 130:Rosetta 836:Title 828:Title 671:A now- 635:Topsy 615:Notes 603:Title 566:Topsy 503:Their 481:Notes 472:Dates 469:Title 412:Cicero 202:London 95:Berwyn 70:(both) 844:Year 841:Year 833:Year 825:Year 606:Year 1247:IMDb 1229:IMDb 1172:2010 994:1928 957:1947 949:1927 941:1924 906:1926 893:1930 866:1929 858:1924 850:1923 801:1935 778:1933 752:1930 728:1930 698:1929 673:lost 661:1927 638:Eva 631:1927 451:and 315:1929 298:and 280:1929 255:1927 216:and 200:and 132:and 76:Died 52:Born 1271:on 1245:at 1227:at 1134:TCM 580:'s 394:'s 347:MGM 338:it. 311:MGM 278:In 245:by 1284:: 1093:^ 1073:^ 1057:^ 792:7 767:6 743:5 717:4 687:3 650:2 645:. 620:1 600:# 586:. 555:4 533:3 512:2 486:1 466:# 414:, 313:, 268:. 224:. 180:. 176:' 168:, 144:. 97:, 1174:. 1140:. 1068:. 309:( 128:( 20:)

Index

Vivian Duncan

Los Angeles, California
Berwyn
Illinois
Beverly Hills, California
vaudeville
Los Angeles
California
Gus Edwards

vaudeville
New York
London
Broadway
Winter Garden Theatre
Ed Wynn
Frank Tinney
blackface
musical comedy
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe
1927
silent movie
Del Lord
D. W. Griffith
1929
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
musical
The Broadway Melody

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.