Dona Drake ( ; November 15, 1914 – June 20, 1989) was an American singer, dancer, and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was typically cast in ethnic roles including Latin American and Middle Easterners. Drake often presented herself as Mexican and went by the names Una Novella 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.

Early life Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida on November 15, 1914 to Joseph Andrew Westmoreland, Sr. and Novella (née Smith). She had four siblings.

Ethnicity The 1910 United States census, taken in Florida, lists her father as black and her mother, taken in Alabama, as black."United States Census, 1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVK9-T7V : Fri Oct 06 00:00:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Charles Scott and Estella Scott, 1910."United States Census, 1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ2-FTY : Fri Oct 06 13:00:45 UTC 2023), Entry for Alex Smith and Harrison Smith, 1910. The 1920 United States census, taken in Florida, records her and her parents as being mulatto."United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNY6-39P : Sat Dec 23 01:54:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Joe S Westmoreland and Nevella Westmoreland, 1920. The 1930 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her and her parents as being negro."United States Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHW2-HPC : Fri Oct 06 11:59:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmoreland and Novella Westmoreland, 1930. The 1950 United States census, taken in Pennsylvania, records her father and brother as negro and Drake (under the name Dona Travilla), taken in California, as white."United States 1950 Census", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1Q-2MV7 : Fri Oct 06 03:46:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Westmorland, Jr and Joseph Westmurland, 10 April 1950."United States 1950 Census", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-W5NJ : Wed Oct 04 21:02:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Bill Travilla and Dona Travilla, 10 April 1950. Drake was of African American heritage. 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.

Career

Entering show business in the 1930s, she used the names Una Velon (pronounced YOO-nə; also spelled Una Villon), Rita Rio and Rita Shaw. The newspapers of the day ascribed her billed-name changes to “Rita Shaw,” and then to “Dona Drake,” as Paramount’s.”Surprised Actress Awarded New Name.” The Daily Notes (Canonsburg, PA), 27 June 1941, 14.”Dona Drake Now Has Fifth Name.” Oakland Tribune, 6 July 1941, 27.Harison, Paul. “This Little Drank No Ugly Duckling” (NEA article). Sandusky (OH) Register-Star-News, 4 July 1941, 4

Una Villon She began performing in 1932, working under the name Una Villon as a chorus girl and in nightclubs. As Una Villon, she appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities in 1933, prompting Paul Harrison to write in a review printed in The Indiana Gazette: "Most noteworthy newcomer is Miss Una Villon who sings, dances and looks like a 16-year-old incarnation of Ann Pennington. Only a couple of days before the premiere she was hired away from a Broadway night club and already has proved her right to a place in the big-time spotlight."

In 1934, columnist Walter Winchell wrote about her performance in a night club: "Una Villon's torso shifting serves to synchronize the tempos instead of Berren's directing — this young lady directs the tooters with her wiggling."

Rita Rio and Rita Shaw She began using the name Rita Rio in 1935, when she was featured at the Paradise cabaret on Broadway. Besides singing and dancing, she sometimes played piano, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone and drums and occasionally led the orchestra. In 1936, she and another woman formed an orchestra. After the group had financial problems in 1940, she went to Hollywood, where she had screen tests using the name Rita Shaw.

She settled on the stage name Dona Drake in the early 1940s. Studio publicity during her heyday incorrectly stated that Drake was of Mexican origin and was born Rita Novella (borrowing her mother's first name as a new last).

She was sometimes cast as an ethnic character, such as a Latina, Middle Easterner, American Indian, or Gypsy. She is perhaps best known for playing the American Indian maid of Bette Davis in Beyond the Forest. She also appeared as the Arab girl Mihirmah, opposite Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in Road to Morocco in 1942. In 1944 she appeared as a lead role as a big band singer in a B-movie titled Hot Rhythm, which also featured Irene Ryan (Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies) as a ditsy secretary.

Drake had a "non-ethnic", non-musical role as the second female lead in the 1949 comedy The Girl from Jones Beach, playing opposite Eddie Bracken. The year before, she gave a comic performance as the fortune-hunting sister in So This Is New York.

Personal life In 1936, Drake was questioned by the FBI about the murder of her then-boyfriend and known mobster, Louis Amberg. She claimed to only know him as "Mr. Cohen" and had no idea what he did for a living.

Drake married Oscar and Emmy award-winning fashion designer William Travilla on August 19, 1944. They had one daughter: Nia Novella Travilla (August 16, 1951 – October 1, 2002), who had no children. They remained a couple until her death. Travilla appeared on the March 24, 1960, episode of You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx, and introduced his elegantly dressed wife to the audience.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine:

Filmography

+ Film and television Year Title Role Notes 1935 Moonlight and Melody Rita Short, credited as Rita Rio 1936 Strike Me Pink Mademoiselle Fifi credited as Rita Rio 1938 Sweet Shoe Rita Rio Short, credited as Rita Rio 1938 Beautiful, But Dummies Model Short, credited as Rita Ray 1939 Gals and Gallons Orchestra Leader credited as Rita Rio 1939 Rita Rio and Her Orchestra Rita Rio Short, played self in this 10-minute short 1941 Fresh as a Freshman Chicquita Short 1941 Aloma of the South Seas Nea first film credit as Dona Drake 1941 Louisiana Purchase Beatrice 1941 I Look at You Rita Rio Short, With Alan Ladd. 1942 Road to Morocco Mihirmah credited as Dona Drake 1942 Star Spangled Rhythm Herself performs song "On the Swing Shift" with Marjorie Reynolds and Betty Jane Rhodes 1943 Salute for Three Dona Drake and Her Girl Band credited as Dona Drake 1943 Let's Face It Muriel 1944 Hot Rhythm Mary Adams 1945 Hollywood Victory Caravan Herself Victory Bonds Short, performs song "Plain Jane Doe" with Betty Hutton 1946 Without Reservations Dolores Ortega 1946 Dangerous Millions Elena Valdez 1948 Another Part of the Forest Laurette Sincee 1948 So This Is New York Kate Goff 1949 The Doolins of Oklahoma Cattle Annie 1949 The Girl from Jones Beach Connie Martin 1949 Beyond the Forest Jenny 1950 Fortunes of Captain Blood Pepita Maria Rosados 1951 Valentino Maria Torres 1952 Kansas City Confidential Teresa 1953 The Bandits of Corsica Zelda 1953 Son of Belle Starr Dolores 1953 Down Laredo Way Narita 1953Adventures of Superman Joyce Episode 35: "The Dog Who Knew Superman" 9th episode of 1953; aired 14 November 1954 Superman Flies Again Joyce theatrical re-release of 3 episodes of the television series included episode 35 1954 Princess of the Nile Mirva 1954 The Lone Wolf Lee Episode: "Deadline" 1954 City Detective Francesca Episode: "The Gift Shop" 1955 Soldiers of Fortune Cheu Episode: "The Runaway King"

Preservation Sweet Shoe was preserved and restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from 16mm prints. Restoration funding was provided by a grant from the GRAMMY Museum. The restoration had its world premiere at the 2024 UCLA Festival of Preservation.

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