Lillian Cornell (born Lillian Michuda; June 2, 1916 - May 25, 2015) was an American singer on

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the earl ...

and an actress in films in the early 1940s.

Early years

Cornell was born Lillian Michuda June 2, 1916, in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Her name was changed to Lillian Cornell by studio executives when she began to act in films.

Radio

In 1936, Cornell (billed as Lillian Michuda) had her own radio program on WCFL in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Three years later, she had moved to

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

, where she had the self-titled ''Lillian Cornell'' program.Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 161. She also performed on ''Pleasure Parade'', ''

Club Matinee ''Club Matinee'' is an American old-time radio variety show. It was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network from 1937 to 1943 and on ABC from 1945 to 1946. Format ''Club Matinee'' featured comedy and music, with the two sometimes combined in the form ...

'', ''Roy Shield Revue'', ''Jamboree'' and ''Sunday Dinner at Aunt Fanny's''.

Personal appearances

In 1944, Cornell was the featured singer at the

Blackstone Hotel The Blackstone Hotel is a historic 21-story hotel on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive in the Michigan Boulevard Historic District in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. Built between 1908 and 1910, it is on the Natio ...

in Chicago. A review published in the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' on November 26, 1944, described Cornell as "a dark haired beauty with a clear, impressive voice and an admirably gracious, easy manner."

Film

Cornell's venture into the film industry was initiated via radio. ''Radio Varieties'' magazine reported that because radio commitments kept Cornell in Chicago, "her managers arranged a cocktail party in the movie mecca, at which an audition of Lillian's voice was heard by special wire from the Windy City." She signed a contract with

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

and soon appeared in ''

Buck Benny Rides Again ''Buck Benny Rides Again'' is a 1940 American Western comedy film from Paramount Pictures starring Jack Benny and Ellen Drew. The film featured regulars from Benny's radio show including Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Andy Devine, Phil Harris, and ...

''.

Television

In 1946, Cornell was part of the cast of ''The Window Shade Revue'', a 45-minute musical broadcast on WNBT in New York City. An article in

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

magazine reported that the program was "said to be one of the biggest budgeted shows yet done by NBC on WNBT since the web took over Channel Four." She also appeared on ''Close-Ups'' on NBC that year.

Personal life

In 1947, Cornell married Asa Fessenden. They were married until he died in 1984.

Death

Cornell died May 25, 2015, in

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

Partial filmography

*''

'' (1940) *''

Dancing on a Dime Dancing on a Dime is a 1940 Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company ...

'' (1940) *''

Rhythm on the River ''Rhythm on the River'' is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. Crosby and Martin sang " On ...

'' (1940) *'' The Quarterback'' (1940) *''

Kiss the Boys Goodbye ''Kiss the Boys Goodbye'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Mary Martin, Don Ameche and Oscar Levant. It is based on a play by Clare Boothe Luce which was inspired by the search for an actress to ...

'' (1941) *''

The Mad Ghoul ''The Mad Ghoul'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by James Hogan and starring Turhan Bey, Evelyn Ankers, and David Bruce, and featuring George Zucco, Robert Armstrong, and Milburn Stone. The film is about the scientist Dr. Alfred Mo ...

'' (1943) *'' Moon Over Las Vegas'' (1944) * '' Sweethearts of the U.S.A.'' (1944)

Partial discography

*''Gems from Sigmund Rombert Shows'' - with Sigmund Romberg and his Orchestra and Chorus, Genevieve Row, Eric Mattson and Lawrence Brooks (RCA Victor Album M-1051) *''Gems from Sigmund Romberg Shows, Volume 2'' - with Sigmund Romberg and his Orchestra and Chorus, Genevieve Row and Lawrence Brooks (RCA Victor Album MO-1256)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornell, Lillian 1916 births 2015 deaths Actresses from Chicago American film actresses 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century American women American radio personalities