Marguerita Padula

Marguerita Anna Padula (December 20, 1890 – February 22, 1957) was an American actress and performer, active in film, vaudeville and radio. She was often typified as a character actress, with her film credits including Hit the Deck, The Cuckoos and Kid Dynamite.

Marguerita Anna Padula
Marguerita Padula in 1926
Born(1890-12-20)December 20, 1890
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 22, 1957(1957-02-22) (aged 66)
West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City, U.S.
Other namesMargaret Padula
Margarita Padula
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
SpouseFrancis Joseph Coffey (m. 1910; died 1920)

Early life

Padula was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, to an Italian father and Irish-American mother. Her early music experience as an organist for the choir at her local church.[1] Padula studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and was acclaimed as one of the best young pianists in Worcester,[2][3] often playing the accompanying music for amateur shows in the area.

She married Francis Coffey in 1910.[3]

Career

By 1914, Padula entered the vaudeville circuit as one half of a comedic duo called “Hendricks & Padula”.[4] During the 1920s she would play at various theaters around the country, receiving positive reviews for her piano playing, whistling and voice – said to have a range of four octaves.[5] Her transition into the movie industry began with the role of Lavinia in the 1930 movie Hit the Deck. She was offered the role by an RKO executive after he heard her sing a rendition of the song ‘Hallelujah’ at a home gathering.[2] For the next decade, Padula divided her time between film, radio and theater before taking a residency at a supper club run by Charley Foy in the San Fernando Valley.[6]

Later years & death

Towards the end of the 1940s, Padula’s health began to deteriorate to the point where she had to walk with the assistance of a cane.[7] In September 1956, she was admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital (now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) in Los Angeles suffering from pneumonia and ultimately had her leg amputated.[8][9] She would later die at her home in West Hollywood on February 22, 1957, aged 66.[10] She is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1930 Hit the Deck Lavinia
1930 The Cuckoos Gypsy Queen
1930 Billy the Kid Nicky Whoosiz
1930 The Happy Hottentots Woman Short film, uncredited
1933 Take a Chance Dancehall Girl - Solo Singer Uncredited
1933 The Big Casino Self - Singer Short film
1939 They All Come Out Anna Uncredited
1939 Lady of the Tropics Madame Kya Credited as Margaret Padula
1940 Road to Singapore Properietress Credited as Margarita Padula
1943 Kid Dynamite Mrs. Lyons Credited as Margaret Padula
1944 Wilson Singer Uncredited
1944 Bowery to Broadway Singer Uncredited
1947 The Gangster Minor role Uncredited

References
  1. Green, Bernard (October 19, 1932). "Penned Portraits". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 36. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  2. "Mammy Singer Deluxe in Film Here". Richmond Record Herald. June 20, 1930. p. 4. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  3. "Married Nearly a Year". The Boston Globe. January 18, 1911. p. 5. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  4. "Hendricks and Padula, Coloniad". Stockton Daily Evening Record. September 2, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  5. ""Hit the Deck" is Packed with Laughs and Melody". The Kingsport Times. June 1, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  6. Kovach, Ted (November 3, 1951). "Veteran Padula Tells Story Of Her Career". The Valley Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  7. "Hollywood Roundup". The Beatrice Times. February 13, 1952. p. 5. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  8. "Padula in Hospital". Forth Worth Star-Telegram. September 30, 1956. p. 41. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  9. "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. September 13, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  10. "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994". FamilySearch. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
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