Wini Shaw
Encyclopedia
Wini Shaw sometimes credited as Winifred Shaw, was an American
actress, dance
r and singer
. Although credited with a 1910 year of birth, she was actually born in 1907 as per the Social Security Death Index
under her married name Wini O'Malley (SS# 132-10-9051).
in 1907, the youngest of thirteen children of Hawaiian
descent.
act and later appeared in a number of Warner Brothers musical film
s in the 1930s. She is best remembered for introducing the song "Lullaby of Broadway
" in the musical film Gold Diggers of 1935
(1935).
Shaw's only recording, (Decca
408) with Dick Jurgens
and his Orchestra, was "Lullaby of Broadway" and "I'm Goin' Shoppin' with You". Both songs were from the film, and the recording was made on February 28, 1935.
She also sang "The Lady in Red
" in the musical film In Caliente
(1935), starring Dolores del Rio
; the song was later made famous when Bugs Bunny
sang it in drag
.
Shaw also appeared in a brief revival of the musical-theatre
production of Simple Simon
(1931) on Broadway
in New York City
, New York
.
and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Queens
, a cemetery designated for people who were of the Catholic faith.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. Although credited with a 1910 year of birth, she was actually born in 1907 as per the Social Security Death Index
Social Security Administration
The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the United States federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits...
under her married name Wini O'Malley (SS# 132-10-9051).
Early life
She was born as Winifred Lei Momi in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1907, the youngest of thirteen children of Hawaiian
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
descent.
Career
Shaw began her entertainment career as a child in her parents' vaudevilleVaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
act and later appeared in a number of Warner Brothers musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
s in the 1930s. She is best remembered for introducing the song "Lullaby of Broadway
Lullaby of Broadway (song)
"Lullaby of Broadway" is a popular song with music written by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, published in 1935. The song was introduced by Wini Shaw in the musical film, Gold Diggers of 1935, and, in an unusual move, it was used as background music in a sequence in the Bette Davis film...
" in the musical film Gold Diggers of 1935
Gold Diggers of 1935
Gold Diggers of 1935 is a Warner Bros. musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Winifred Shaw, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert and Frank McHugh...
(1935).
Shaw's only recording, (Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
408) with Dick Jurgens
Dick Jurgens
Dick Henry Jurgens was an American swing music bandleader, who enjoyed great popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s....
and his Orchestra, was "Lullaby of Broadway" and "I'm Goin' Shoppin' with You". Both songs were from the film, and the recording was made on February 28, 1935.
She also sang "The Lady in Red
The Lady in Red (Allie Wrubel song)
The Lady in Red is a 1935 song with lyrics by Mort Dixon and music by Allie Wrubel.- In Caliente and beyond :It is a Latin-sounding tune featured in the soundtrack of the 1935 film In Caliente. The song took on a life of its own, becoming a staple of Warner Bros...
" in the musical film In Caliente
In Caliente
In Caliente, also known as Viva Señorita, is a 1935 film written by Ralph Block, directed by Lloyd Bacon, and starred Dolores del Río.- Plot :...
(1935), starring Dolores del Rio
Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood...
; the song was later made famous when Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
sang it in drag
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
.
Shaw also appeared in a brief revival of the musical-theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
production of Simple Simon
Simple Simon (musical)
Simple Simon is a Broadway musical with book by Guy Bolton, and Ed Wynn, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, and starring Ed Wynn....
(1931) on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Filmography
- Cross Country Cruise (1934), uncredited
- Gift of GabGift of Gab (film)Gift of Gab is a 1934 black-and-white film released by Universal Pictures. Edmund Lowe stars as a man with the "Gift of Gab" — he can sell anyone anything. The film costars Ruth Etting, Ethel Waters, Victor Moore, and Gloria Stuart, and features Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi.Ruth Etting sings...
(1934) - I Believed in You (1934), uncredited
- Million Dollar Ransom (1934)
- Sweet Adeline (1934)
- Three on a Honeymoon (1934)
- Wake Up and DreamWake Up and DreamWake Up and Dream is a musical revue with a book by John Hastings Turner and music and lyrics by Cole Porter and others. The most famous song from the revue is the Porter standard "What Is This Thing Called Love?"...
(1934) - What, No Men!What, No Men!What, No Men! is a 1934 short comedy film directed by Ralph Staub. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1934 for Best Short Subject ....
(1934) - Wild Gold (1934)
- Broadway Hostess (1935)
- The Case of the Curious BrideThe Case of the Curious BrideThe Case of the Curious Bride is a 1935 mystery film, the second in a series starring Warren William as Perry Mason. The story is based on the novel of the same name by Erle Stanley Gardner.-Plot:...
(1935) - Front Page WomanFront Page WomanFront Page Woman is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay by Roy Chanslor, Laird Doyle, and Lillie Hayward is based on the novel Women Are Bum Newspapermen by Richard Macauley.-Plot:...
(1935) - Gold Diggers of 1935Gold Diggers of 1935Gold Diggers of 1935 is a Warner Bros. musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Winifred Shaw, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert and Frank McHugh...
(1935) - Gypsy Sweetheart (1935)
- In CalienteIn CalienteIn Caliente, also known as Viva Señorita, is a 1935 film written by Ralph Block, directed by Lloyd Bacon, and starred Dolores del Río.- Plot :...
(1935)
- Page Miss Glory (1935), uncredited
- The Case of the Velvet ClawsThe Case of the Velvet ClawsThe Cases of the Velvet Claws is a 1936 mystery film, the fourth and final appearance of Warren William as defense attorney Perry Mason. Mason finally marries his longtime secretary Della Street, but has to cut their honeymoon short in order to defend a woman accused of murder.-Cast:*Warren William...
(1936) - Fugitive in the Sky (1936)
- King of the Islands (1936)
- Romance in the Air (1936)
- Satan Met a LadySatan Met a LadySatan Met a Lady is a 1936 American detective film directed by William Dieterle and starring Bette Davis.The screenplay by Brown Holmes is a loose adaptation of the 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, which previously was filmed in 1931 under its original title.-Plot:Private...
(1936) - The Singing Kid (1936)
- Sons o' Guns (1936)
- Melody for Two (1937)
- Ready, Willing, and AbleReady, Willing, and Able (film)Ready, Willing, and Able is a 1937 musical film starring Ruby Keeler and Ross Alexander. It also featured Lee Dixon, Allen Jenkins, Winifred Shaw, Louise Fazenda, and Carolyn Hughes. The director was Ray Enright....
(1937) - September in the Rain (1937), voice
- Smart Blonde (1937)
- Little Me (1938)
- Rhumba Land (1939)
Death
She died at the age of 75 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Queens
Calvary Cemetery, Queens
The Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in Queens has the largest number of interments of any cemetery in the United States.The offices of Calvary Cemetery are located at 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd. in Woodside in the New York City borough of Queens, New York. The cemetery is managed by the Trustees of...
, a cemetery designated for people who were of the Catholic faith.