About this project

Kay Kemble (1911-1989) is a character invented for this project. Kay sang on radio commercials as a child and went on to lead Big Bands and swing ensembles in the 30's and 40's. She worked at Scott Air Field as a WAAC enlistee and a civilian. She produced war bond rallies, and her all-female band promoted a popular shampoo brand. In the 80's there was renewed interest in Kay's musical career.

Kay informally adopted the orphaned niece and nephew of her partner Wilmetta "Teeny" Stockton, and in the early 70's the family moved from St. Louis to New Orleans. After Kay and Teeny's deaths, family members remained in New Orleans until displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In 2014, I arranged to archive, organize, and restore Kay's memorabilia. Most items were damaged due to age, hurried packing , and lack of funds for formal archiving.

I've "become" Kay in reproduction radio broadcasts, and created artifacts to represent damaged or destroyed items in the collection.



Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Mortal Storm, 1940 film




I've posted about movies, films, cartoons, technology, and even fashion during Kay's career era but up till now I have said much about the literature of the years 1938 to 1952, when Kay was a poublic figure.

In 1938, the British novel The Mortal Storm woke some American readers up to the reality of the rising fascist movement in the United States. The book became a 1940 movie seen by many more people than had read the book.

 
Click here for the trailer for the film "The Mortal Storm"
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