Historical records matching Dona Drake
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About Dona Drake
Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida on November 15, 1914 to Joseph Andrew Westmoreland, Sr. (1882-1960) and Novella (née Smith; 1889-1946). She had four siblings.
Dona Drake (/DO-nə DRAYK/ November 15, 1914 – June 20, 1989) was an American singer, dancer, and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was typically being cast in ethnic roles including Latin American and Middle Easterners. Drake often presented herself as Mexican and went by the names Una Novella[1] and Rita Novella. As Rita Rio, she led a touring all-girl orchestra in the early 1940s, also known as "Dona Drake and her Girl Band", among other names for her musical and dance acts.
The 1910 United States census, taken in Florida, lists her father as black and her mother, taken in Alabama, as black. The 1920 United States census, taken in Florida, records her and her parents as being mulatto. The 1930 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her and her parents as being negro. The 1950 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her father and brother as white and Drake (under the name Dona Travilla), taken in California, as white. Drake was likely African American with some white heritage from her father's side. Drake often presented herself as Hispanic and reportedly spoke Spanish but had no documented Hispanic, Spanish, or Latin American heritage. Her father was from Arkansas and her mother was from Alabama.
Born Eunice Westmoreland
November 15, 1914
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Died June 20, 1989 (aged 74)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names
Una Novella
Rita Novella
Rita Rio
Una Velon (or Una Villon)
Rita Shaw
Dona Travilla
Occupations
Actress/singer/dancer
Years active 1933–1977
Spouse William Travilla (m. 1944)
Children 1
References
- California, County Marriages, 1850-1953 005688750 < FamilySearch >
- http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/76/Dona+Drake/ind...
- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHW2-D2S 1930 census
- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-W5NV 1950 census
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dona_Drake
- https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/GMC9-88M
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0236888/
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9121113/dona-drake
- http://pinupchillimarie.weebly.com/chillis-blog/little-known-black-...
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd7oOr-RfHg
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lYuELoeSww
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Dona Drake's Timeline
| 1914 |
November 15, 1914
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Miami, Dade County, Florida, United States
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| 1951 |
August 16, 1951
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Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, United States
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| 1989 |
June 20, 1989
Age 74
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Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States
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| ???? |
Ashes scattered at Point Fermin Park in Los Angeles, California, United States
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