June Preston

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June Preston
RKO photo.jpg
June Preston publicity photo
Born1928
Occupationactress, opera singer

June Preston (born 1928) is an American former child actress who began her film career at RKO Pictures, with a minor role as Mrs. Blewett's daughter in the 1934 film Anne of Green Gables. As an adult, Preston performed as a soprano singer in the US, and in recitals in Latin America and Europe.

Early life and film career[]

June Preston began her film career after her photograph was shown to the casting office of RKO in 1934, and Preston was cast in a small role in Anne of Green Gables.[1][2][3] Preston then signed a contract with the studio[4][5] and appeared in short films.[6]

She also appeared in the 1934 MGM film Have a Heart.[7] By 1936, she was promoted as an RKO "featured child player" and clothing model.[8] She also had a small role in the film Our Gang Follies of 1938.[9] For several years, a clothing line was produced under her name, including dresses named June Preston Frocks.[10][11][12]

After her film career ended, she moved to West Seattle and attended James Madison Junior High and then West Seattle High School, graduating in 1947.[12] Her high school would later, in 1989, induct her into their Hall of Fame.[13]

Singing career[]

Preston studied music at Seattle University where she appeared in the university's 1947 production of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore and was the soprano soloist in the university's performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem in 1949.[14][15]

Preston married the Argentine opera impresario Gregorio Ravic.[16] In the summer of 1952 she toured with his company, which included Nicola Moscona, Jean Madeira, and Graciela Rivera, for four weeks of performances in cities in Colombia.[16] [n 1] Preston sang the role of Mimi in La bohème opposite the tenor Walter Fredericks as Rodolfo.[18] She was a member of the chorus of the San Francisco Opera for the 1952-1953 season.[19]

On 4 and 5 November 1961, at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis, she was a soloist in the final movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.[20] She subsequently began a tour of recitals in Europe.[21] In October 1962, she sang at Op Gouden Wieken, a concert hall in The Hague.[22] She gave a recital on 30 November 1962 in Barcelona at the Palau de la Música Catalana[23][24] and a subsequent performance in Tarragona on 3 December 1962 .[25]

In the late 80's, Preston was signed as a cover performer for Kate Smith patriotic songs.[13]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Ravic's company was known as the "Compañía de Ópera Estrellas del Metropolitan" (Stars of the Metropolitan) as several of the ensemble's leads were principal artists of the Metropolitan Opera (the "Met") who performed with this touring group while on summer break from the Met. However, it was not affiliated with the Met and also employed singers from other American opera companies.[16][17]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jane (sic) Preston Temple rival". Los Angeles Times. March 20, 1935. p. 13. Retrieved September 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Doting Parents and Film Executives Push Child Actors to the Heights". Detroit Free Press. January 6, 1935. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Entertainments". The Telegraph. January 9, 1935. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  4. ^ A Little from "Lots", The Film Daily, January 17, 1935, page 6
  5. ^ "Star in Embryo". Daily Standard. December 28, 1934. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  6. ^ Warakeu, D. L. (June 8, 1935). "Children on the Films: Boom in Baby Stars". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. ^ Barnes, Eleanor (May 25, 1935). "Actress Shakes 'Curse'". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Style for a Starlet". Daily Standard. January 18, 1936. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  9. ^ TCM Our Gang Follies acting credits
  10. ^ "June Preston to Appear at Kahn's". Oakland Tribune. November 21, 1940. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Inman, David (5 December 1987). "Minor film role enough to bring June Preston fame". The Courier-Journal. p. 23. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b St. Clair, Tim (June 7, 1989). "Fete honors architect, admiral, singer". West Seattle Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  13. ^ a b "June Preston in Hall of Fame". Waitsburg Times. July 20, 1989. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  14. ^ "Four SC Students Soon To Appear in "Bartered Bride"". The Spectator (Seattle University). December 4, 1947. p. 4.
  15. ^ "Concert to Be Passiontide Music". The Spectator (Seattle University). March 31, 1949. p. 1.
  16. ^ a b c "International: Bad-Check Impresario Lands U.S. Opera Troupe In Colombia Hot Water". Variety. Vol. 187, no. 6. July 16, 1952. p. 11.
  17. ^ "Brave Rescue from A Fiasco". Opera News. 17: 13–14. 1952.
  18. ^ Morales Vélez, Alejandro (2012). Preston, June in Zarzuela, opereta y ópera en Medellín, 1864-2009. Compañías, obras, teatros y artistas (in Spanish). Medellín. p. 156. ISBN 9789587201307. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  19. ^ San Francisco Opera Association (September 1952). Jeanne Sturgis Taylor (ed.). "THIRTIETH ANNUAL SEASON, SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION". GOLDEN NUGGET LIBRARY INDEX.
  20. ^ Sherman, Thomas B. (November 6, 1961). "Choral Work Marks Symphony Concert". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "SIU Choral Group Invited to Return". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. November 1, 1961. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Van Hessen, Ro (24 October 1964). "June Preston: verrassend !" (in Dutch). Haagsche Courant. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  23. ^ "La Expresiva Soprano Norteamericana June Preston, Presentada Por La Asociacion De Cultura Musical" [Expressive American Soprano June Preston, Presented By The Music Culture Association]. El Noticiero Universal (in Spanish). December 1, 1962. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  24. ^ L. G. M. (December 3, 1962). "La Boheme En El Liceo, Con Dos Repartos Diferentes" [La Boheme At The Liceo, With Two Different Cast]. Hoja del Lunes (in Spanish). p. 36. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "La celebre soprano June Preston en el Instituto Musical" [Celebrated soprano June Preston at the Musical Institute]. Diari de Tarragona (in Spanish). December 5, 1962. Retrieved January 7, 2022.

External links[]

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