Penny Singleton (born Mariana Dorothy McNulty, September 15, 1908 – November 12, 2003) was an American actress, singer, dancer and labor leader. During her 60-year career on stage, screen, radio and television, Singleton appeared as the comic-strip heroine Blondie Bumstead in a series of 28 motion pictures from 1938 until 1950 and the popular '' Blondie'' radio program from 1939 until 1950. Singleton also provided the voice of Jane Jetson in the

animated series An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have eith ...

The Jetsons ''The Jetsons'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. It originally aired in prime time from September 23, 1962, to March 17, 1963, on ABC, then later aired in reruns via syndication, with new episodes produced ...

'' from 1962 to 1963. Behind the scenes, Singleton served two terms as president of the

American Guild of Variety Artists The American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) is an American entertainment union representing performers in variety entertainment, including circuses, Las Vegas showrooms and cabarets, comedy showcases, dance revues, magic shows, theme park show ...

, and testified before a Senate subcommittee in 1962 on the union's treatment of women variety workers.

Early life

Singleton was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

to Bernard J. "Benny" McNulty and Mary Dorothy McNulty. She began performing professionally as a child, and only completed sixth grade in her schooling.

Career

Penny Singleton Arthur Lake Blondie 1944

Singleton sang at a silent movie theater, and toured in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

as part of an act called "The Kiddie Kabaret". She sang and danced with

Milton Berle Milton Berle (born Mendel Berlinger; ; July 12, 1908 – March 27, 2002) was an American actor and comedian. His career as an entertainer spanned over 80 years, first in silent films and on stage as a child actor, then in radio, movies and tel ...

, whom she had known since childhood, and actor Gene Raymond, and appeared on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century wit ...

's ''The Great Temptations''. She also toured nightclubs and in roadshows of plays and musicals. Singleton appeared as a

nightclub singer A nightclub act is a production, usually of nightclub music or comedy, designed for performance at a nightclub, a type of drinking establishment, by a nightclub performer such as a nightclub singer or nightclub dancer, whose performance may ...

in '' After the Thin Man'', credited as Dorothy McNulty. She was cast opposite Arthur Lake (as Dagwood) in the feature film '' Blondie'' in 1938, based on the

comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of drawings, often cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics ter ...

by Chic Young. They repeated their roles on a radio comedy beginning in 1939 and in guest appearances on other radio shows. As Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead, they proved so popular that a succession of 27 sequels was made from 1938 until 1950, with the radio show ending the same year. Singleton's husband Robert Sparks produced 12 of these sequels. Also in 1950, she had her own program, ''The Penny Singleton Show'', on NBC radio. Singleton held top billing in ''

Go West, Young Lady ''Go West, Young Lady'' is a 1941 American comedy Western film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Glenn Ford and Ann Miller. Plot The town of Headstone eagerly awaits the arrival of their new sheriff, hoping that he ...

'' (1941), over her male co-star,

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton "Glenn" Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006) was a Canadian-American actor who often portrayed ordinary men in unusual circumstances. Ford was most prominent during Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-offi ...

. Only two other female stars ( Dorothy Page and Jane Frazee) were top-billed singing cowgirls at the time. She provided the voice of Jane Jetson in the 1962–63 animated series, ''

''.

Labor activism

Singleton was active in union affairs as a vocal member of the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). She was elected president of the AGVA in 1958–1959, and again in 1969–1970. Her union membership was suspended in 1962, when she was accused of slandering some of the union's officers, and she countersued. Singleton was reinstated as a union member in 1963, after the dispute reached a legal settlement. She testified on the exploitation of women in variety work, and the union's shortcomings in representing those workers, before a United States Senate subcommittee in 1962. "I charge here and now that the exotic and strip artists have been abandoned and made outcasts by the very union to which they pay dues for representation and protection," she announced to the subcommittee. In 1967, she led a successful month-long strike by the

Radio City Rockettes The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded 1925 in St. Louis, they have, since , performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Until 2015, they also had a touring company. They are best known for starring in the ...

for better working conditions. During her presidency, she led negotiations with the Disney on Parade show (NAWAL Productions) during a variety artists' strike in the 1970 Disney on Parade (DOP) show – a joint venture between Walt Disney and NBC, and one of the most successful touring arena shows ever, with tours all over the world. With over 100 cast members, she led a slowdown in the performance in

Hershey, Pennsylvania Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to The Hershey Company, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey. The community is lo ...

, followed by a walkout in

Ft. Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...

, and a settlement the next week in

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

. The issue was purportedly that the 16" support stage used by the dancers was cut from the show to reduce trucking costs. The stage, which was laid down on the arena floor without the support, caused the dancers to reportedly get

shin splints A shin splint, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is pain along the inside edge of the shinbone (tibia) due to inflammation of tissue in the area. Generally this is between the middle of the lower leg and the ankle. The pain may be dull ...

. The strike was settled and the show went on in Houston.

Personal life and legacy

Singleton married Laurence Scroggs Singleton, a dentist, in 1937; they divorced in 1939, although she kept his surname. She remarried, to Robert C. Sparks, a Marine Corps officer and film producer, in 1941. They remained wed until his death in 1963. Singleton had two daughters, Dorothy and Susan. She was both a lifelong

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

and Democrat. For her contributions to both radio and the motion-picture industry, in 1960, Singleton was honored with two stars during her induction to the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

. Her star for radio is located at 6811 Hollywood Boulevard, and her film star is at 6547 Hollywood Boulevard.

Death

On November 12, 2003, Singleton died at the age of 95 of

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a rise ...

Sherman Oaks, California Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley, founded in 1927. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density th ...

. She was buried at San Fernando Cemetery.

Filmography

Features

Credited as Dorothy McNulty 1930–1937 *''Belle of the Night'' (1930) *'' Good News'' (1930) - Flo *''

Love in the Rough ''Love in the Rough'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and written by Sarah Y. Mason, Joseph Farnham and Robert E. Hopkins. The film stars Robert Montgomery, Dorothy Jordan, Benny Rubin, J. C. Nugent, Pen ...

'' (1930) - Virgie *''Howd' Ya Like That?'' (1934) - Dancer *'' After the Thin Man'' (1936) - Polly Byrnes *'' Vogues of 1938'' (1937) - Miss Violet Sims *''

Sea Racketeers ''Sea Racketeers'' is a 1937 American film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and starring Weldon Heyburn, Jeanne Madden, and Warren Hymer. Plot summary Cast *Weldon Heyburn as Chief Bos'n Mate Jim Wilson *Jeanne Madden as Patricia 'Pat' Coll ...

'' (1937) - Florence Riley *''

Swing Your Lady ''Swing Your Lady'' is a 1938 country musical comedy film directed by Ray Enright, starring Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh, and Louise Fazenda. Ronald Reagan is also in the cast in one of his early roles. Daniel Boone Savage, a professional wres ...

'' (1938) - Cookie *''

Outside of Paradise ''Outside of Paradise'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by John H. Auer and written by Harry Sauber. The film stars Phil Regan, Penny Singleton, Bert Gordon, Leonid Kinskey, Ruth Coleman and Mary Forbes. The film was released on Febru ...

'' (1938) - Colleen Kerrigan *''

Men Are Such Fools ''Men are Such Fools'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson. The film stars Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, and Penny Si ...

'' (1938) - Nancy *'' Racket Busters'' (1938) - Gladys Christie *''

Mr. Chump ''Mr. Chump'' is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by William Clemens and written by George Bricker. The film stars Johnnie Davis, Lola Lane, Penny Singleton, Donald Briggs, Chester Clute and Frank Orth. The film was released by Warne ...

'' (1938) - Betty Martin *'' Boy Meets Girl'' (1938) - Peggy *''

Secrets of an Actress ''Secrets of an Actress'' is a romantic drama film directed by William Keighley, and starring Kay Francis, George Brent, and Ian Hunter in 1938. It is about a love triangle between a stage actress, her financial backer, and his friend. Plot summ ...

'' (1938) - Miss Reid *'' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) - Miss Calder *''

The Mad Miss Manton ''The Mad Miss Manton'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy-mystery film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Barbara Stanwyck as fun-loving socialite Melsa Manton and Henry Fonda as newspaper editor Peter Ames. Melsa and her debutante friends h ...

'' (1938) - Frances Glesk *'' Hard to Get'' (1938) - Hattie *'' Blondie'' (1938) - Blondie *'' Blondie Meets the Boss'' (1939) - Blondie *''

Blondie Takes a Vacation ''Blondie Takes a Vacation'' is a 1939 American black-and-white comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. The film is based on Chic Young's comic strip of the same name. This was the ...

'' (1939) - Blondie *''

Blondie Brings Up Baby ''Blondie Brings Up Baby'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. It is the fourth of 28 films based on the comic strip. Plot summary Blondie is convinced by a sale ...

'' (1939) - Blondie *''

Blondie on a Budget ''Blondie on a Budget'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake and Rita Hayworth. It is the fifth entry into the long-running Blondie series of films, which ran between 1938 and 19 ...

'' (1940) - Blondie *''

Blondie Has Servant Trouble ''Blondie Has Servant Trouble'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. It is sixth of the series of 28 Blondie movies. Plot summary Blondie proves to be a real nuisance to he ...

'' (1940) - Blondie *''

Blondie Plays Cupid ''Blondie Plays Cupid'' is a 1940 American comedy film starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake and directed by Frank R. Strayer. Also in the cast is Glenn Ford. It is the seventh of the 28 ''Blondie'' films. Plot summary Blondie catches her h ...

'' (1940) - Blondie *''

Blondie Goes Latin ''Blondie Goes Latin'', also known as ''Conga Swing'', is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and Robert Sparks and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the eighth of the Blondie films. The film ...

'' (1941) - Blondie *''

Blondie in Society ''Blondie in Society'' is a 1941 black-and-white comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the ninth of the 28 features in the Blondie film series. Plot Dagwood is given a Great ...

'' (1941) - Blondie *''

'' (1941) - Belinda Pendergast *'' Blondie Goes to College'' (1942) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Blessed Event ''Blondie's Blessed Event'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the 11th of the Blondie films. It was the first to feature the character of Cookie. Plot ...

'' (1942) - Blondie *''

Blondie for Victory ''Blondie for Victory'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. It is the 12th entry in the Blondie series. Plot Blondie Bumstead forms a civilian defense group, Housewives of ...

'' (1942) - Blondie *'' It's a Great Life'' (1943) - Blondie *''

Footlight Glamour ''Footlight Glamour'' is a 1943 black-and-white film and the 14th of the 28 Blondie films. It is one of only two movies in the series that did not feature "Blondie" in the title (the other, '' It's a Great Life'', was released earlier that year) ...

'' (1943) - Blondie *''

Leave It to Blondie ''Leave It to Blondie'' is a 1945 black-and-white comedy film and the 15th of the 28 Blondie films. Plot summary Cast * Penny Singleton as Blondie * Arthur Lake as Dagwood * Larry Simms as Baby Dumpling * Marjorie Ann Mutchie as Cookie * Dais ...

'' (1945) - Blondie *''

Life with Blondie ''Life with Blondie'' is a 1945 black-and-white domestic comedy film and the 16th of the 28 Blondie films. It was the return of Dagwood and Blondie after Columbia Picture's 1943 decision to cancel the series met with protest. Plot summary A pho ...

'' (1945) - Blondie *''

Young Widow ''Young Widow'' is a 1946 drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Jane Russell and Louis Hayward. It focuses on Joan Kenwood, a young journalist who cannot get over her husband's death in World War II. Kenwood is reminded in large wa ...

'' (1946) - Peg Martin *'' Blondie's Lucky Day'' (1946) - Blondie *'' Blondie Knows Best'' (1946) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Big Moment ''Blondie's Big Moment'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the 19th of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood is eager to make a good imp ...

'' (1947) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Holiday ''Blondie's Holiday'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. The film is based on the comic strip of the same name. The screenplay was written by Chic Young and Connie Lee. The film ...

'' (1947) - Blondie *''

Blondie in the Dough ''Blondie in the Dough'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is 21st of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood and his boss are frantically s ...

'' (1947) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Anniversary ''Blondie's Anniversary'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the twenty-second of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood is holding a watch, a gift that his bos ...

'' (1947) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Reward ''Blondie's Reward'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the twenty-third of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood purchases the wrong real ...

'' (1948) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Secret ''Blondie's Secret'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the twenty-fourth of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Cast * Penny Singleton as ...

'' (1948) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Big Deal ''Blondie's Big Deal'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake (actor), Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the twenty-fifth of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood acci ...

'' (1949) - Blondie *''

Blondie Hits the Jackpot ''Blondie Hits the Jackpot'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the 26th of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood is hired on a constr ...

'' (1949) - Blondie *''

Blondie's Hero ''Blondie's Hero'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is the penultimate entry of the 28 Blondie films, which ended with '' Beware of B ...

'' (1950) - Blondie *''

Beware of Blondie ''Beware of Blondie'' is a 1950 American black and white comedy film and is the last of Columbia's 28 Blondie films in 12 years. Plot summary Mr. Dithers goes on vacation, and leaves Dagwood in charge of the office. He arrives exhausted, havin ...

'' (1950) - Blondie *'' The Best Man'' (scenes deleted, 1964) *'' Jetsons: The Movie'' (1990) - Jane Jetson (voice) Sourced, to 1964, from

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corporat ...

Short subjects

*''Belle of the Night'' (1930) *''Campus Cinderella'' (1938) *''Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 1'' (1939)

Television credits

*'' Pulitzer Prize Playhouse'' (1950) - Wilhelmina *''

Frances Farmer Presents ''Frances Farmer Presents'' is an American anthology series that aired on Indianapolis station WFBM-TV (then an NBC affiliate). The series premiered on October 13, 1958 and ended in September 1964. Synopsis Film actress Frances Farmer had gone ...

'' (1958) - Belinda Pendergast *''

The Quick Draw McGraw Show ''The Quick Draw McGraw Show'' is an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, and their third television series overall after '' The Ruff and Reddy Show'' and '' The Huckleberry Hound Show''. Voice actor Daws B ...

'' (1959) – ''The Cattle Battle Rattled'' – Wife *''

'' (1962–1963, 1985–1987) - Jane Jetson (voice) *''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

'' (1963) - Maggie Franklin *''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' (1964) - ''

Sounds and Silences "Sounds and Silences" is episode 147 of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. It originally aired on April 3, 1964 on CBS. Opening narration Plot Roswell G. Flemington, owner of a model ship company and formerly a serv ...

''- Mrs. Flemington *''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The seri ...

'' (1986) – "The Perfect Foil" – Aunt Mildred *'' Rockin' with Judy Jetson'' (1988) - Jane Jetson (voice) *''

The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones ''The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones'' is a 1987 animated crossover made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the '' Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10'' series. The two-hour special stars the cast of the Hanna-Barbe ...

'' (1989) - Jane Jetson (voice) *'' Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration'' (1989) - Jane Jetson (voice) *''

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' is an American animated syndicated programming block produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that ran on a weekly schedule and was performed in live action. The program ran from 1985 to 1994. Overview The ...

'' (1990) - Jane Jetson (voice)

Stage work

* ''Sky High'' (1925) * ''Sweetheart Time'' (1926) * ''The Great Temptations'' (1926) * '' Good News'' (1928) (replacement for Zelma O'Neal) * ''Hey Nonny Nonny!'' (1932) * ''

Call Me Madam ''Call Me Madam'' is a musical written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. The musical is a satire on politics and foreign policy that spoofs postwar America's penchant for lending billions of dollars to ...

'' (1959) * '' Never Too Late'' (1964) * '' No, No, Nanette'' (1971) (replacement for

Ruby Keeler Ethel Ruby Keeler (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who was paired on-screen with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Bros., particularly '' 42nd Street'' (1933). From ...

) * ''No, No, Nanette'' (1974) * '' Little Me'' (1983)

Theme parks

* ''

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera (ride) The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida and one of the park's original attractions. The story line tells that Dick Dastardly and Muttley have kidnapped Elroy Jetson. Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo Bear, Boo- ...

'' (1990) – Jane Jetson (voice)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Singleton, Penny 1908 births 2003 deaths American people of Irish descent American film actresses American radio actresses American Roman Catholics American stage actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Vaudeville performers Hanna-Barbera people Nightclub performers 20th-century American actresses 20th-century Roman Catholics California Democrats Pennsylvania Democrats Columbia Pictures contract players 21st-century American women Catholics from California Catholics from Pennsylvania