[Dixielandjazz] Re: Hildagarde

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Richard (and Don Ingle and John Ding),
There were 2 'popular' Hildagarde's.
The one mentioned by Don - Hildagarde Loretta Sell (1906-   ) born in Adell,
Wisconsin and raised in Milwaukee, USA and the other referred to by John -
Hidagarde Kneff (1926-2002), German born and popular there post WWII.
Both recorded. I have more details of both artists.
Hildagarde (Sell) was known for her smart evening dresses, long gloves and
dainty hankies. Impresario Gus Edwards shortened her name in the early 1930s.
She worked in London and Paris in the mid 1930s, but during WWII was in the US
with her own radio shows and engagements at New York's Savoy Plaza and Pierre
hotels plus top clubs in other cities. A long way from war-torn Europe.
As mentioned in an earlier post, I think the Valaida story has been linked with
Hildagarde and her gloves. 
Kind regards,
Bill.