Martha Mears
After watching a 12 minute sequence on You Tube (“Martha Mears, The Busiest Dubber in Hollywood”) , I realised I had found another piece of Hollywood history that I was unfamiliar with. Singer MARTHA MEARS dubbed for so many stars, the list is almost endless.
Why is she not spoken about more. I don’t know, but there can be no doubt that she was the top female song dubber in classic Hollywood. Rita Hayworth, Lucille Ball, Hedy Lamarr, Audrey Totter, Loretta Young, Claudette Colbert – Martha was the singing voice of all these stars, and many more.
It’s Martha’s voice you hear singing “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby in HOLIDAY INN.
Martha Mears
I haven’t been able to find out much about Martha. She was active in Hollywood from 1940 to 1951. She was born in Sugar Creek, Missouri in 1910 and died in Versailles , Missouri in 1986.She appeared in a couple of shorts, DARN THAT DREAM(1940) and IN THE GROOVE (1941), and played nightclub singers in ROAD BLOCK and MY FOOLISH HEART ( in which she sings the famous title song without having to sound like anyone other than herself).
She was undoubtedly the’ go-to ‘ singer for the studios in the 1940s and it’s a pleasure to give her the recognition she deserves. ( and I’ll take another look at Road Block .)
By way of showing some of the actresses she sang for, below are illustrations from the films she worked on. What a skill she had, to change her voice to suit the actress she was dubbing for.
Another ‘if only ‘ instance – an interview with Ms Mears would have been fascinating.
Claudette Colbert. ZAZA.
Anne Shirley. FOUR JACKS AND A JILL
Dubbing for Maria Montez.
Carole Landis. ROAD SHOW.
Lucille BALL .THE BIG STREET
Lucille Ball. DUBARRY WAS A LADY
Marjorie Reynolds. HOLIDAY INN.
Frank Sinatra / Michèle Morgan
Michele Morgan. HIGHER AND HIGHER.
Martha dubbed Patricia Morison though heaven knows why -Patricia was the original Broadway star of KISS ME KATE.
Singing for Hedy Lamarr.
Julie Bishop. ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
Rita Hayworth’s voice.
All of Rita’s songs in COVER GIRL.
It’s Martha’s luscious tones you hear in that beautiful song, “Long Ago and far away”.
George Raft, Virginia Huston. NOCTURNE.
Dubbing for Virginia Huston who plays night club singer.
Audrey Totter’s singing voice.
Singing for Belita in THE GANGSTER, with Barry Sullivan.
Veronica Lake.I WANTED WINGS.
( Martha also sang for Veronica in THIS GUN FOR HIRE, STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM.)
Sonia Henie. THE COUNTESS OF MONTE CRISTO.
Loretta Young. HALF ANGEL.
To view the excellent video about Martha ( and many other dubbing stories], the link is http://www.youtube.com/user/lostvocals8
Vienna's Classic Hollywood
More biographical info here (2/3rds down the page).
http://www.bobnolan-sop.net/Reference/Dr%20Pepper/Dr%20Pepper.htm
Big list of dubbed movies here.
http://www.janettedavis.net/Dubbers/dubberslist.php
Thanks, Bob. The latter is a very useful source of dubbers.
Vienna: Thanks for this marvelous post and thanks also to Bob for that invaluable list. One name that’s missing is Joanie Sommers, a popular singer in the 1950s and ’60s, who made her movie debut in “Everything’s Ducky,” a Mickey Rooney-Buddy Hackett comedy from 1961. For some reason, never explained, director Don Taylor dubbed her entire vocal performance with the voice of another actress (whose identity was never revealed.) This was odd indeed because Sommers (familiar not only from her recordings but also from the song she sang in the Pepsi commercials) has a distinctive, sandpaper voice. It was replaced with something more shrill. Sommers would make one more film – 1964’s “The Lively Set,” directed by Jack Arnold who was wise enough to retain her charming voice. I just wish I knew who dubbed her in “Everything’s Ducky.” Anyone out there know? If so, share!
Thanks, Joe. Hope we get an answer for you.
Martha Mears is my maternal grandmother’s cousin. I met her and her sister in Versailles, MO when I was in 6th grade. They were both very sweet and very funny.
How interesting. Thanks for getting in touch.
My Husband’s Grandmother and Grandfather were George Mears,Son Bill Mears…and think Bill Mears (think they were cousins) knew Martha and talked about her all the time. Bill wanted us to meet her but it just never happened…My husband was Jack Nottingham,his Mother MaryAnn Mears..Also was Otto Mears a Relative of yours…
I believe that another movie that Martha Mears actually appears in as an unnamed nightclub singer is: “Remember the Night” from 1940 starring Barbra Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. Martha does receive performance credits as she sings a song about Indiana which has a strong connection point to the movie plot.
“Remember the Night” is a timeless, classic Christmas movie. A redemptive tale wrapped around a tender love story.
Go to “Ten-Two-Four Time” on Old Time Radio or any of the sellers of OTR programs and you can listen to Martha Mears till your heart’s content. OTRCat.com is one site.
These radio websites are very good. Thanks for your comment.
Why not link to my clip, since that’s where you found out about her?
Your clip is wonderful. It’s easy to find on You Tube. Would it be ok if I put the video on this post?
Could you add a link to it? That way, it will get more views and rank higher in YouTube searches – thanks!
At last, Mark.
Didn’t get notified of your reply. Hope you can add the link!