Bette Treadville (May 2, 1911 – February 3, 1989) was an American singer and actress, based in Los Angeles, California.
Career Treadville was known as a "torch singer", a contralto who favored blues and ballads."Torch Singer Bette Treadville Gets Movie Role" Jet (July 8, 1954): 62. She sang in Paris in the 1930s. She was described as the "heavy, heavy mama of song", in reference to her physique and performance style,Earl J. Morris, "Grand Town Day and Night" Pittsburgh Courier (June 10, 1939): 20. via Newspapers.comLawrence F. LaMar, "Teddy Felton is Star of Coast's Bal Taborin Hit" Chicago Defender (November 14, 1943): 10. and billed as "The Girl of 1,000 Songs" for her extensive repertoire, "some nice, some spicy".Advertisement, Arizona Republic (February 21, 1949): 6. via Newspapers.com She was based in Los Angeles, a singer at Curtis Mosby's Club Alabam on the city's Central Avenue from 1933 to 1940."Club Alabam has Big New Show" Chicago Defender (January 16, 1937): 24."Curtis Mosby Nightery Set" Chicago Defender (November 23, 1940): 21. In 1935, she performed in a fundraising concert organized by Clarence Muse, benefiting the NAACP's anti-lynching work."California Stages Big Benefit to Aid Charity" Chicago Defender (July 13, 1935): 6."Stage, Screen Stars Aid Clarence Muse's Benefit" Chicago Defender (July 6, 1935): 8.J. Cullen Fentress, "Dollars to Save 'Our Necks'" California Eagle (July 28, 1934). She sang on radio shows, and made at least one recording, singing "Baby, Ain'tcha Satisfied?" with the Ceelle Burke orchestra, in 1936.Alan Bargebuhr, "New Issues" Cadence Magazine (October–November-December 2012): 125.
As an actress, Treadville appeared in several films, including the comedy One Dark Night (1939; re-released as Night Club Girl in 1944), a race film,"Another Picture by Million Dollars" Pittsburgh Courier (August 26, 1939): 20. via Newspapers.com now lost, co-starring comedian Mantan Moreland;"Principals Prepare for Million Dollar's 'One Dark Night'" Pittsburgh Courier (September 9, 1939): 20. via Newspapers.comLarry Richards, African American Films Through 1959: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Filmography (McFarland 2015): 125, 128-129. it was reported that Hattie McDaniel turned down the Treadville role.Earl J. Morris, "Grand Town Day and Night" Pittsburgh Courier (August 19, 1939): 20. via Newspapers.com Other film roles for Treadville were small parts in As Good as Married (1937), All's Fair (1938), East of Eden (1955),Bruce Levene, James Dean in Mendocino: The Filming of East of Eden (Pacific Transcriptions 1994): 28, 46, 58. and Day of the Nightmare (1965). She was also seen in episodes of the television shows The New Phil Silvers Show (1963)"Phil Silvers" The Indianapolis Star (December 22, 1963): 112. via Newspapers.com and Ben Casey (1965). On stage, appeared in the Mary Sullivan comedy Halo on a Shelf (1961) in Hollywood,Advertisement, Los Angeles Times (October 1, 1961): 412. via Newspapers.com and in a revival of Rain in Pasadena, in a 1963 production starring Vera Miles.Margaret Harford, "'Rain' Revived on Pasadena Stage" Los Angeles Times (March 9, 1963): 7. via Newspapers.com In 1973, she had a role in the Beah Richards show One is a Crowd in Los Angeles."One is a Crowd" Los Angeles Times (May 13, 1973): 509. via Newspapers.com
Personal life Treadville was described in 1932 as "recently estranged wife of Sunburnt Jim" Wilson, a dancer and radio comedian."Girl Singer Hits in Coast Opener" Chicago Defender (June 18, 1932): 5. She died in Los Angeles in 1989, aged 77 years.
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