The Rhythmettes

The Rhythmettes were a singing trio who provided the vocals on several 1930s and 1940s Hollywood films, including Disney Silly Symphony shorts and The Wizard of Oz (1939).

The original members were Dorothy Compton and Mary Moder^[1] with Anna Lou Barnes and Betty Bruce performing as the third member in the early- to mid -1930s.^[2]: 84 Bruce wrote the musical arrangements for the group.^[3]

By 1933, the trio was with Al Pearce's radio show, The Happy Go Lucky Hour, on radio station KHJ in Los Angeles.^[4] They performed on stage with the rest of Pearce's group in the United States and Canada.^[5][6][7]

Compton, Moder, and one other member were heard in Disney's Silly Symphony shorts, including Old King Cole (1933),^[2]: 128 Lullaby Land (1933),^[2]: 130 and Funny Little Bunnies (1934).^[2]: 142 Various members of the Rhythmettes would appear in other shorts, including Birds of a Feather (1931),^[2]: 84 Three Little Pigs (1933),^[8] and The Practical Pig (1939).^[2]: 206 In addition to singing, individual members performed voicework for characters in several Silly Symphony shorts. Dorothy Compton voiced of Fiddler Pig^[9] and Mary Moder voiced Fifer Pig in Three Little Pigs (1933).^[2]: 124 A 1934 article in Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan reported that the trio "do not broadcast that they are the Three Little Pigs because they want more work at the Disney art shop".^[10]

Compton left the trio in 1934.^[11] In The Practical Pig (1939), Moder reprised her role as Fifer Pig and Bruce took over Compton's role of Fiddler Pig.^[2]: 206

The trio were heard on several songs in The Wizard of Oz, including "Munchkinland" (the vocals after Dorothy arrives in the Munchkin village), a reprise of Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow", and "Optimistic Voices", which plays as Dorothy and her friends escape the field of poppies and approach the Emerald City.^[12]

Selected filmography

• Three Little Pigs (1933)
• Birds of a Feather (1931) as hummingbirds and Brox Sister owls
• Old King Cole (1933)
• Lullaby Land (1933)
• Funny Little Bunnies (1934)
• The Practical Pig (1939)
• The Wizard of Oz (1939)

References

1. "News of Radio and Its Personalities". The Los Angeles Times. 1934-04-08. p. 38. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
2. Merritt, Russell. (2006). Walt Disney's Silly symphonies : a companion to the Classic cartoon series. Kaufman, J. B., Cineteca del Friuli. Gemona (Udine), Italy: La cineteca del Friuli. ISBN 978-88-86155-27-4. OCLC 76000173.
3. Windrom, Guy (1937-07-02). "Disney's 'Three Little Pigs' Went to Picture Market with Betty's Tunes in Their Hearts". The Jackson Sun. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
4. Hogan, David J. (2014-06-01). The Wizard of Oz FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Life According to Oz. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4803-9720-0.
5. "Etherites Remain at Paramount". The Los Angeles Times. 1933-09-21. p. 29. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
6. "Al Pearce Radio Stars in City". The Vancouver Sun. 1933-08-21. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
7. "Al Pearce and Gang Capture Vancouver". The Vancouver Sun. 1933-08-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
8. Nye, Carroll. "Vallee Gives Sunshine Program: Crooner Sings in Hollywood. James Cagney to Appear in One-Act Playlet KMTR Makes Bow With New Variety Offering New Song Hits Featured in KHJ All-Star Revue." Los Angeles Times. 14 Dec 1933: 16. Via Proquest.
9. "Fiorito's New Singing Girl". The Los Angeles Times. 1934-05-22. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
10. Skolsky, Sidney. "Mickey Mouse." Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan. February 1934. Pg. 172.
11. Frogley, Kenneth (1934-04-27). "Radio Topics". Daily News. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
12. McClelland, Doug (1989). Down the Yellow Brick Road: The Making of The Wizard of Oz. Ottenheimer Publishers. p. 128. ISBN 0-517-68364-4. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

External links

• The Rhythmettes at IMDb
• Photo of The Happy Go Lucky Gang
• Photo of Compton, Moder, and Pinto Colvig
• Blog post about the Rhythmettes