Anne Triola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Triola
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| Born | September 25, 1920 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | July 2, 2012 (aged 91) Lee's Summit, Missouri, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, singer, accordionist |
| Years active | 1932–1960 |
| Spouse(s) | Ralph J. Quartaroli (m. 1953–1960; his death) Willey G. Forman (m. 1979–1983; divorced) |
Anne Margaret Triola (born September 25, 1920 – died July 27, 2012) was an American singer, musician, and actress. She performed on stage, in movies, and on television. Anne started her career singing in Hollywood night clubs. She was known for being a comedian and a supporting actress.
Anne Triola became famous for her role in the musical film Lullaby Of Broadway (1951). She also received praise for her work in the movie Without Reservations (1946). This film starred well-known actors Claudette Colbert and John Wayne.
She appeared in five Hollywood films. During World War II, she helped with USO tours in the Pacific Theater. Anne was also very popular for her singing and comedy acts in night clubs across the country. One famous place she performed was the Blue Angel in New York City.
Anne Triola was one of the most popular performers at the Music Circus. This included her shows with the Sacramento Music Circus in the 1950s. People described her as a small woman with dark hair and eyes. She had a lively singing style, similar to Betty Hutton.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Anne Triola was born in Los Angeles, California. Her family came from Italy. Her childhood was different from many other kids growing up in Southern California.
She started learning to play the piano when she was only three years old. This began her professional career very early. When she was 12, Anne started playing the accordion and singing. She performed in different cafes, including one called "Burp Hollow."
Helping During World War II
Anne Triola's early career was paused by World War II. Many people from Hollywood helped with the war effort. They did this through USO tours. Famous actors like Bob Hope and Gary Cooper were part of these tours.
Anne joined a USO group led by actress Judith Anderson. They traveled to the South Pacific. They performed in many USO shows during the war. They entertained soldiers in places like New Guinea, even with dangers from Japanese air raids.
In the summer of 1944, Anne and her group entertained about 1,500 American soldiers. This happened in Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. Anne played her accordion, and Shirley Cornell played the violin. Judith Anderson and Helen McClure sang. PFC Paul Parmalee played the piano. Together, they helped cheer up the tired soldiers.
During her time in the Pacific, Anne lost one of her expensive accordions. It caught fire because of a light bulb.
Anne's Career Journey
Starting as an Accordionist
Anne Triola's path to success as a singing comedian happened by chance. She began her career as an accordion player. She played the accordion for Judith Anderson's USO group during World War II. At first, she was only known as a night club performer.
After her accordion burned in New Guinea, Anne had to change her act. She said, "I just started singing a little bit to help out." She soon found that people loved her comedy songs. Her friends had told her she was funny with the accordion. But she only focused on comedy after she started singing.
Becoming a Singer
When Anne returned from her USO tours, she wanted to create her own style. She started performing in night clubs again, but this time as a singer.
A big opportunity came when she was singing at the Blue Angel in New York City. There, she met important people from the New York theater world. The famous musical writers Rodgers and Hammerstein asked her to star in their show Annie Get Your Gun in London. She couldn't take the offer because of her night club shows. However, years later, Oscar Hammerstein suggested her for the same role at the Sacramento Music Circus.
While singing at Slapsy Maxie's, director Mervyn LeRoy and producer Jesse L. Lasky signed her for movies. She made three movies at RKO. One of them was with John Wayne. Her role in Without Reservations was especially noted. A journalist named Gene Handsaker wrote that Anne Triola's performance was "terrific." He said she made audiences laugh and even stole scenes from stars Claudette Colbert and John Wayne.
She was then loaned to Warner Brothers for a funny supporting role. She acted opposite Billy De Wolfe in Lullaby Of Broadway (1951). This movie was filmed in Technicolor. Anne and Billy De Wolfe sang two duets, "You're Dependable" and "We'd Like to Go on a Trip." While Doris Day and Gene Nelson were the main stars, Anne and Billy provided much of the comedy.
Moving to Television
After her movie career slowed down, Anne Triola went back to night clubs. She also started working in the new world of television. She appeared on game shows and as a guest on other programs. Her last television appearance was as a guest of Frank Sinatra.
Soon after, Anne's career paused. She got married in 1953 and moved to Modesto. She became a housewife. She said it was nice to settle down in a quiet place after the busy life of show business.
The Music Circus
Anne Triola's connection to the Music Circus eventually brought her out of retirement. She had been part of the Sacramento Music Circus when it first began in 1951. This was a type of stage show held inside a big tent. Anne starred in this show for its first two seasons.
In July 1954, she returned to the Sacramento Music Circus. She started rehearsing for main roles in musicals like New Faces, Oklahoma!, and Brigadoon. She played the role of Meg in Brigadoon. She also sang songs that Eartha Kitt had performed in New Faces.
Anne's popularity grew. In May 1955, producers Howard Young and Russell Lewis honored her. They opened the fifth anniversary season with Anne starring in Annie Get Your Gun. This was a special role for Anne, as she had performed it during the Music Circus's first season.
In August 1959, she took on the main role in Bells Are Ringing at the Sacramento Music Circus. She starred with Gar Moore and Marvin Kaplan. Anne played a telephone answering service operator in this romantic comedy. The show ran for two weeks that summer.
Personal Life
In 1953, Anne Triola married Ralph J. Quartaroli. He was a successful businessman. Anne decided to leave show business. They moved to Modesto, California, where his family owned a cannery. Anne felt that mixing marriage and a busy career might not work well. So, she became a housewife. She said it was hard work, but done for love, not money.
On November 16, 1956, Anne gave birth to a baby girl named Tina. Ralph also had a daughter named Susan from his previous marriage. So, they had two daughters.
Sadly, in May 1960, Anne's husband and three other people died in a plane crash. They were flying from Las Vegas to Van Nuys, California.
Anne remarried in 1979 to Willey G. Forman. They divorced in 1983.
She lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1990s. By 1996, she had moved back to Los Angeles. Anne Triola passed away in Lee's Summit, Missouri on July 27, 2012. She was 91 years old.
Filmography
- Snow Follies (1939)
- Moon Over Las Vegas (1944)
- Without Reservations (1946)
- Sleep, My Love (1948)
- Lullaby of Broadway (1951)
