Kay Armen
Kay Armen | |
|---|---|
 Armen (center) in "Hit the Deck"musical (1955) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Armenuhi Manoogian |
| Born | November 2, 1915 Chicago, Illinois,U.S. |
| Origin | American Armenian |
| Died | October 3, 2011(aged 95) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | singer |
Armenuhi Manoogian(Armenian:Արմենուհի Մանուկեան); November 2, 1915 – October 3, 2011), better known by her stage nameKay Armen,was an American-Armenian singer popular during the 1940s and 1950s.[citation needed]Her career in show business spanned almost six decades; she worked on stage and in radio, television, and film. She wrote multiple songs, performed in nightclubs and recorded many records.[1]
Radio
[edit]Armen was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her father, Robert Manoogian, Sr., was a professional wrestler billed as Bob Monograph.[2]She first appeared on radio atWSMin Nashville, Tennessee,[3]performing on 12 programs per week.[4]In 1947, she had her own weekly 15-minute program, titledKay Armen-Songs,on NBC-Blue.[5]
Television and Film
[edit]She appeared in a number of roles, notably in the 1959 NBC sitcomLove and Marriageand on screen in the 1955Metro-Goldwyn-MayermusicalHit the Deckand the 1961 filmHey, Let's Twist!.She was also a songwriter with compositions, including "Be Good to Yourself", "My Love and I" and "It’s a Sin to Cry Over You".[1]
Personal life
[edit]Robert Manoogian, Jr. (January 4, 1918 – April 3, 2002), her younger brother, was an American professional wrestler who was best known for his work withNational Wrestling Alliancein the 1940s asBobby Managoff.[1]
Kay Armen died in 2011 in New York City at the age of 95.
Filmography
[edit]- 1955:Hit the Deckas Mrs. Ottavio Ferrari
- 1959-1960:Love and Marriageas Sophie (TV series, 18 episodes)
- 1961:Hey, Let's Twist!as Angie
- 1980:Jimmy B. & Andréas Mama Butsicaris (TV movie)
- 1981:Paternityas Claudia Feinstein
References
[edit]- ^abc"Kay Armen dies at 95. Singer appeared in MGM's 'Hit the Deck'".Variety.November 17, 2011.RetrievedMarch 22,2014.
- ^"Frank Gotch Breaks Leg".3 October 2013.
- ^"Kay Armen, TV, Radio Singer To Appear At Fair".Bedford Gazette.Pennsylvania, Bedford. The Bedford Gazette. August 1, 1952. p. 1.RetrievedNovember 5,2015– viaNewspapers.
- ^DeLong, Thomas A. (1996).Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960.McFarland & Company, Inc.ISBN978-0-7864-2834-2.P. 15.
- ^Sies, Luther F. (2014).Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1.McFarland & Company, Inc.ISBN978-0-7864-5149-4.P. 37.
