Elaine Dunn

Elaine Dunn (born Elaine Dombcik, 1933 or 1934)[1] is an American singer, dancer, and actress.

Elaine Dunn
Born
Elaine Dombcik

1933/1934
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Singer, dancer, actor
SpouseDean Shendal
Children1

Early years

Dunn is the daughter of a commercial artist in Cleveland. Her uncle, a dancer and comedian in night clubs, encouraged her to become a dancer.[2] She took voice lessons to correct a speech impediment that she had as a child,[3] and she began taking ballet and tap dancing lessons when she was 7.[4] At age 13, she won a contest that included 750 other girls, resulting in an appearance at a benefit performance with Danny Kaye. That appearance, in turn, led to her performing at Chin's Victory Room in Cleveland, after which she spent three years touring the East and Midwest with her mother as her companion and manager.[2]

Career

Dunn gained prominence at age 18 at the Copacabana in New York City,[5] when her two-minute flamenco dance "brought fierce applause" from the audience.[1] A follow-up review in the trade publication Billboard called Dunn's performance "still as electric as when first caught."[6] After that, she began performing on Broadway and in clubs in Las Vegas.[5] Her Broadway credits include John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1953), Catch a Star! (1955), and Pal Joey (1963).[7]

In 1960, Dunn played the female lead in a touring company's production of Flower Drum Song.[4] She starred in West Coast productions of Bye Bye Birdie (1961)[8] and Sweet Charity (1967).[9]

On television, Dunn was a regular on Broadway Open House.[10] She also was featured on the TV shows of Perry Como, Bob Hope, Red Skelton[5] Steve Allen, The Wild Wild West (S2/E13) and Ed Sullivan[11] and appeared on The Hollywood Palace[12] and The Bell Telephone Hour.[11]

In 1957, she was a vocalist in The Tropicana Revue at the Tropicana Hotel in Las, Vegas Nevada.[13] She became good friends with model and showgirl Marilyn Johnson.

In 1959, Dunn recorded "Touch Me" backed by "Far Away Places" on RCA Victor (7552).[14] In 1961, she signed an exclusive contract with Warner Bros. Records.[15]

During the Vietnam War, Dunn traveled in a troupe led by Hope to entertain military personnel.[16]

Personal life

Dunn married hotel executive Dean Shendal, and they have a son.[17]

References
  1. "Little Girl's Big Step". Life. April 28, 1952. pp. 56, 58. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  2. "Elaine Dunn's Elfin Size Belies Energetic Routine". Sunday News. Pennsylvania, Lancaster. October 20, 1957. p. 47. Retrieved September 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Eichelbaum, Stanley (February 24, 1963). "Stripper at the Palace". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 146. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Clark, Jane (November 4, 1960). "An early start in show biz". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Missouri, St. Louis. p. 14. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Elaine Dunn Taking Role of Pat Suzuki". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. October 28, 1962. p. 48. Retrieved September 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Copacabana, New York". Billboard. April 5, 1952. p. 28. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  7. "Elaine Dunn". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  8. "Elaine Dunn signed for 'Bye, Bye Birdie' heroine". Valley Times. California, North Hollywood. January 11, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Eichelbaum, Stanley (July 19, 1967). "The Circle Star's Dancy, Chancy 'Charity'". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 20. Retrieved September 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  11. "Elaine Dunn Opens Two-Week Run At Valley Music Hall on June 20". American Fork Citizen. Utah, American Fork. June 23, 1966. p. 11. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Inman, David M. (2014). Television Variety Shows: Histories and Episode Guides to 57 Programs. McFarland. p. 291. ISBN 978-1-4766-0877-8. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  13. Clemens, Samuel (2020). Pat: A Biography of Hollywood's Blonde Starlet. Sequoia Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-0578682822.
  14. "Reviews of New Pop Records" (PDF). Billboard. July 6, 1959. p. 34. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  15. "Music as written" (PDF). Billboard. August 28, 1961. p. 39. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  16. Wilson, Earl (December 29, 1967). "On The Town". The Morning Herald. Pennsylvania, Uniontown. p. 4. Retrieved September 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Marsh, Agnes (May 2, 1965). "CLO Has Dunn it Again". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. p. D 1. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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