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Vivian Holt
A sepia-toned portrait of Vivian Holt, a smiling white woman with light eyes and wavy hair, holding a feather fan
Vivian Holt, from about 1920
Born
Vivian Grace Holt

May 10, 1885
Peru, Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 1945 (age 60)
New York, New York, U.S.
Other namesVivienne Holt, Vivian Holt-Ruben
Occupation(s)Singer, actress

Vivian Grace Holt (May 10, 1885 – July 7, 1945), also known as Vivienne Holt and Vivian Holt-Ruben, was an American soprano singer who performed in vaudeville, on Broadway, in recordings and on radio, usually paired with pianist and composer Lillian Rosedale Goodman.

Early life and education[edit]

Holt was born in Peru, Indiana, the daughter of Clarence Edwin Holt and Adele Durand Holt.[1] Her parents divorced in 1895;[2] her father was later found guilty of bigamy.[3] Her father was an actor,[4] and her mother was an actress, so she was on the stage from early childhood.[5][6] She trained as a singer with Lazar Samoiloff[7] and Francis Stuart.[8] "She is a good example of the Samoiloff bel canto method of singing," reported Musical Courier in 1916. "Her breath control is perfect. Her pianos and crescendos, fortes and diminuendos are exquisite. Her trills and staccatos and her tone attack in general is delightful to hear."[9]

Career[edit]

Holt was a coloratura soprano singer.[10][11] She was featured in a concert held at Ella Backus-Behr's New York City studio in 1911.[12] From 1913 to 1915, she was sometimes billed as Vivian Holt-Ruben.[13][14]

Holt made dozens of recordings between 1913 and 1929, mostly for the Victor label,[15] many of them duets with pianist Lillian Rosedale Goodman.[16][17] She and Rosedale sang together in vaudeville and lyceum circuits in the 1910s.[18] Holt performed in Broadway musicals with Rosedale, including Hello, Alexander (1919)[19] with Sophie Tucker, and Red Pepper (1922).[20]

Holt introduced Rosedale to Chicago lawyer Mark O. Goodman, which led to Rosedale's marriage in 1921, and the end of the women's professional partnership.[21] Holt made recordings and toured with Myrtle Leonard in 1923 and 1924,[8][21] and sang with tenor Robert Roberts in 1926.[5] Holt and Rosedale were back together for a radio concert in 1931.[22] In her later years she was an actress in radio programs.[6]

"My Isle of Golden Dreams" (1919) by Walter Blaufuss, Gus Kahn; cover of sheet music featuring Holt and Rosedale

Personal life[edit]

Holt was married briefly, and had a daughter, Eleanor Ruben. Holt died from a heart attack in 1945, at the age of 60, in New York City.[6][16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Started Stage Life When Very Young". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1919-03-23. p. 50. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Mrs. Holt Sues for Divorce". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 1895-09-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Judge Scores Actor Holt; One of His Wives Granted a Divorce at Kansas City". The Topeka State Journal. 1899-01-06. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "New Act Booked Direct". Variety. 48 (11): 6. November 9, 1917 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b "Holt and Roberts Sing at Rivoli and Other Publix Theatres". The Metronome. 42: 19. June 1, 1926.
  6. ^ a b c "Vivian Grace Holt; Actress, Singer". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1945-07-09. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Samoiloff Pupils Won Acclaim at Stadium Concerts". Musical America. 30 (24): 12. October 11, 1919 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ a b "Good Singing in All Places Rule with Stuart Pupils". The Musical Leader. 45 (21): 494. May 24, 1923.
  9. ^ "Professional Pupils in Recital". Musical Courier. 72: 30. March 9, 1916.
  10. ^ "New Acts This Week: Holt and Rosedale; Soprano Singing and Pianolog". Variety. 48 (11): 21. November 9, 1917 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ "Splendid Accompanying Artists Appear With Leonid Samoloff". The West Milton Record. 1916-07-26. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Program of Gilberte Music". Musical America. 13 (21): 34. April 1, 1911 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ "Honors for Buffalo Singers". The Buffalo Enquirer. 1914-01-24. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Advertisement". Quad-City Times. 1915-03-28. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Vocal Records". New Victor Records: 12. October 1919 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ a b "Vivian Holt". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  17. ^ "Best of the New Records". The Judge. 77: 34. September 20, 1919.
  18. ^ "The Affiliated Lyceum Bureaus of America; Leonid Samoloff and Assisting Artists". The Lyceum Magazine. 26 (10): 57. March 1917.
  19. ^ Dietz, Dan (2021-05-26). The Complete Book of 1910s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 495. ISBN 978-1-5381-5028-3.
  20. ^ Dietz, Dan (2019-04-10). The Complete Book of 1920s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-5381-1282-3.
  21. ^ a b "Vivian Holt, Soprano, on Orpheum Program". The Calgary Albertan. 1924-08-28. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Doran, Dorothy (1931-07-18). "Weekend Radio Bill Offers Music Variety". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-06-19 – via Newspapers.com.

External links[edit]

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