tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232462365568428196.post7400223842656907607..comments2024-03-18T03:19:20.814-07:00Comments on Pete Kelly's Blog: Forgotten Heroes of the Big Band Era: Rita Rio and her Mistresses of RhythmPete Kelly's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06450905419878791803noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232462365568428196.post-49715667703926379312015-09-23T22:25:12.032-07:002015-09-23T22:25:12.032-07:00Actually, Dona Drake was AfricanAmerican and simpl...Actually, Dona Drake was AfricanAmerican and simply passed as "Latina" in order to gain roles slated for white or ethnically exotic looking characters! Merle Oberon denied her Anglo-Indian ethnic heritage as well and faired better as a household name in the 1930's and 40's as a bonafide actress! Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03242031822479696577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232462365568428196.post-39274826486376574272015-09-18T07:32:07.107-07:002015-09-18T07:32:07.107-07:00What a lovely write-up. I was wondering about Rio...What a lovely write-up. I was wondering about Rio Rita, since the short "Rio Rita and Her Orchestra (1939)" is scheduled today on Turner Classic Movies (11:49 PM Central Time; 12:49 AM Eastern). Lucky for me, your blog came up in my search, and because of your tie-in to the name Dona Drake, I was able to find additional information.<br /><br />You may want to double check one thing, however. Both Wikipedia and www.nndb.com show her death date as 20 June 1989, making her age at death 74. Her picture at nndb is quite striking, link: http://www.nndb.com/people/569/000174047/<br /><br />Interestingly, her hair looks lighter there.flowwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16184568640115709220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232462365568428196.post-51431398017300600582013-09-16T09:04:36.286-07:002013-09-16T09:04:36.286-07:00Looks more exceptional that i was expected.I will ...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.royalservicesteam.com/" rel="nofollow">Looks more exceptional that i was expected.I will keep that in mind.<br />Thank you very much for your wonderful post.... :)</a><br /><br /><br />Kind Regards<br /><a href="http://www.royalservicesteam.com/" rel="nofollow">Rodrico Compas</a><br /><a href="http://www.royalservicesteam.com/" rel="nofollow">Commercial Cleaning</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051571737470982952noreply@blogger.com