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.



Friday, July 14, 2023

My father grew up with a fancy icebox, but Kay's farm family didn't have one, I'm sure

 Who would have delivered ice down that rural road? I need to do some research on how 20th century people on small farms or in small towns kept cold food from spoiling. 

This is the type of icebox which my grandparents had. My father, who was born in 1933, remembered the ice man giving him chips of ice, like a slushie with no flavoring LOL. 




Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Thursday, June 1, 2023

1953 Film about the War in the Pacific

 

 

After V.E, day, when the war in Europe was over, Americans were still fighting fiercely against the Japanese in the Pacific. Here's Jeff Clandler in "Away All Boats."




 

 

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Kay's early life on the farm, remembered -- separating milk from cream

 Kay's family had a very small farm, only 12 acres total and 9 of them tillable. They kept a small flock of chickens and two milk cows. When Kay was about 13 or 14, her mother became ill for several months and Kay took on the job of hand-cranking a cream separator similar to this one. 




Saturday, May 27, 2023

Laura Leslie, who sang with Sammy Kaye's orchestra, from theoriginal cast album of "Gypsy"

Demo track from near the end of the original cast album of "Gypsy," with Laura Leslie singing "Momma's Talkin' Soft."
 
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

The Ongoing Tale of the Old Gray Mare

 When Kay sang with a little group of friend and relatives on a radio program sponsored by Ma-Flow syrup, the girls sang a medley of tunes about the old gray mare:  


The Old Gray Mare:

 


 


 

The Old Gray Mare Is Back: 





Jogging Along Behind the Old Gray Mare:  




Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Two musical star biopics about facing adversity with bravery


Above: Susan Hayward as Jane Froman in "With A Song in My Heart"


Below: Eleanor Parker as Marjorie Lawrence in "Interrupted Melody"