Perry Askam
Perry Askam | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1898 |
| Died | 1961 (aged 62–63) |
| Occupations | baritone singer, actor |
| Years active | 1920s–1950s |
| Spouse | Frances |
Perry Askam (1898–1961) was a 20th-century American actor and baritone singer, most active in musical theatre and opera around the San Francisco area.
Askam was born in 1898[1] to Oliver and Helena Askam. Helena was the daughter of ferryman and land magnate Henry Rengstorff.[2] Perry was orphaned at a young age, and went to live with his maternal aunt, Elisa Haag, whom he came to view as a second mother.[2] A little later Elisa and Perry moved into Rengstorff House with Perry's grandmother Christina Rengstorff, widow of Henry.[2] On this expansive property Perry worked the ranch, working with cattle and in the grain fields while attending local school.[2] He then attended the Santa Clara University, studying music.[2]
Askam joined the French army during World War I, and when the United States entered on the side of the Allies, he transferred to the American Ambulance Corps.[2] At war's end, he relocated to New York and appeared in Broadway performances.[2]
Askam played the San Francisco production of Castles in the Air in 1927.[3] In 1928 he performed in The Desert Song at the Curran Theatre.[3]
He was in the Los Angeles production of The New Moon.[4] This engagement led to a recording of the musical's songs "Stouthearted Men" and "Lover Come Back to Me".[4] Joel Whitburn estimates this recording (released on Victor Records 22317) would have been listed as a best seller if the Billboard Hot 100 had existed.[5]
Askam had a significant role in the 1930 Warner Brothers musical film Sweet Kitty Bellairs in which he sang lead in several numbers,[1] not surprising in that he was the only professional singer in the cast.[6]
Askam spent two seasons with the San Francisco Opera.[7] Askam performed the role of Count Almaviva in the 1936 production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.[8] He had two roles for San Francisco's 1937 season, both in works by Charles Gounod, first as Mercutio in his Roméo et Juliette and then as Valentin in Faust.[9] He joined the New York-based New Opera Company in 1941 for a performance of Mozart's then-rarely-heard Così fan tutte.[10]
In 1945 Perry and his wife Frances moved back to Rengstorff House to look after his aunt Elise.[2] He made regular concert appearances with the San Francisco Symphony.[2] Perry lived at his ancestral home until 1959.[2] He died in 1961.[1]
Filmography
[edit | edit source]- Sweet Kitty Bellairs (1930) – Captain O'Hara[1]
- The Crusades (1935) – Soldier[11]
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Perry Askam at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Perry Askam at the Internet Broadway DatabaseLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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