Some of the information is Boop-Oop-a-Dooping full of SPOILERS. Boop-Oop-a-Doop!
Peggy Bernier
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| Peggy Bernier | |
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Name |
Peggy Bernier |
Peggy Watson (born March 19, 1907) was a singer, actress and comedienne. In 1925, she won an audition to take on the role of a chorus girl in Al Jolson's Big Boy musical.
She was later discovered by Paul Ash, and began working with him. In 1926, Ash stated that Peggy Bernier was his greatest find, and biggest sensation. Bernier appeared at the McVicker's Theatre,[1] Balaban and Katz' New Oriental Theatre in Chicago. African-American child performer Baby Esther Jones, also appeared in Paul Ash's 1926 revue at the McVicker's as a Charleston dancer under the pseudonym Lil' Esther.
On July 30, 1927, she appeared at the Chicago Oriental in Paul Ash's "Jazz Grab Bag" show, there she sang with her husband. She sang "Dew, Dewey Days," and "Morning Glories".
At the Chicago Noshore on November 12, 1927 she sang "I Ain't That Kind of a Baby," "He Don't Wanta," and "Miss Annabelle Lee" on stage.
In 1928, Bernier appeared in the musical Good News, there she played the role of the baby-talking Flo. On the 4th of April, in 1928, Bernier recorded the songs "Varsity Drag" and "Good News" for Brunswick Records. In 1928, actress and singer Babe Kane also took on the same role as Bernier.
In Bernier's rare recording she can be heard singing in baby-talk and using a scat-singing technique similar to Helen Kane.
Two years later the role of Flo was portrayed by Penny Singleton in the 1930 musical film adaption by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In June of 1929, Bernier started rehearsing for a show called Me For You, it was later renamed Heads Up!, in the musical Bernier played the role of Polly. The 1930 film adaption featured Helen Kane as Betty.
Bernier was later brought up in a debate during the "$250,000 Infringement Lawsuit" launched by Helen Kane. It was argued in court that Bernier had used a "baby-voice" in her songs long before Kane was known. Kane responded by claiming that she had not heard Bernier sing, but accepted that Bernier and others such as Irene Franklin, and the Duncan Sisters were using a similar gimmick, before she was known.
Though Peggy Bernier had used the baby-talk technique years before Helen Kane was known, late 1920s newspapers attributed the style to Kane, rather than Bernier. The article by "The Film Daily" stated that Bernier's singing style was raspy and needed polishing in comparison to Kane.[2]
Bernier was discovered by Paul Ash long before Kane was known. Bernier was initially known for her Al Jolson impersonations, and her cute baby-talk voice.
When Kane was asked about Bernier in court, Kane admitted that she knew Bernier. But when asked if she knew that Bernier sang in a "baby-voice" Kane responded with a vague answer claiming that she had never heard Bernier sing, and that Bernier had followed her into the Paramount, and that she couldn't remember what had happened next.
Kane ended up admitting that the Duncan Sisters, Irene Franklin, Frances White, Nan Halperin and Peggy Bernier were all prominent before her, and that each and every one of these singers had preceded her by singing using the baby-voice technique.[3] Kane's fate in court was sealed by the fact that the baby-style of singing was common among a number of vocalists. Not only that, the scat-singing style of the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" had "alternatively" originated in Harlem nightclubs a decade earlier.
Quotes
- Peggy Bernier: "It's a drag, all right, peppy but hard work, and you might be kicking somebody in the chin." (1929)
Filmography
- One On The Aisle (1930)
- Hit Parade (1938)
- Rebellious Daughters (1938)
Discography
Columbia Records:
- "Me Too" (10/18/1926)
- "Cuddle Closer" (10/19/1926)
- "Don't Somebody Need Somebody?" (10/18/1926)
- "Sweet Thing" (10/18/1926)
Brunswick Records:
- "Varsity Drag" (04/04/1928)
- "Good News" (04/04/1928)
Death
- She died on March 5, 2001, aged 93.
Trivia
- Bernier was active in the entertainment business from 1926 to 1938.
- Her mother was an Irish immigrant, and her father was a French Canadian.
- She was married to Milton Watson, who played the role of Captain Flynn O'Flynn on the operatic serial, The O'Flynns.
- Paul Ash also discovered her husband Milton Watson, including stars such as Helen Kane, Paul Whiteman, Rudy Wiedoeft, Ruth Etting and Ginger Rogers.
- Bernier's rare "baby-talk" songs were ripped by the "Boop-Boop-Be-Doop" website. You can hear samples of Bernier's recordings of the "Varsity Drag" here, and "Good News" here.