Florence Timponi
American singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Florence Timponi Jennings (August 9, 1896 – January 21, 1991), born Florence Lucille Timpone, also known as Melva Talma,[1] was an American singer, actress, Ziegfeld girl, and vaudeville performer, billed as "the Sunshine Girl".
August 9, 1896
Florence Timponi | |
|---|---|
Florence Timponi, from a 1920 publication | |
| Born | Florence Lucille Timpone August 9, 1896 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1991 (aged 94) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Melva Talma, Florence Jennings |
| Occupations | Singer, actress, vaudeville performer |
Early life
Timpone was born in New York City, the daughter of Dominick Timpone and Mary Albro Timpone. Her father was born in Italy.
Career
Timponi was a singer, especially in vaudeville shows. Variety magazine commented on her "fair personality and nice appearance" in 1914.[2] She was billed as "the Sunshine Girl".[3] During World War I, she sang at the 52nd Street Naval Armory in Brooklyn,[4] and at Bensonhurst.[5] She performed novelty songs about American troops fighting Germans. Her photo was featured on sheet music for some of her popular numbers, including Irving Berlin's "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" (1918)[6][7] "You're a Great Big Blue-Eyed Baby" (1913),[8] and "We'll knock the Heligo--Into Heligo--out of Heligoland!".[7][9] She also collected clothing, canes, gloves, suitcases and leather, donated by her audiences, for reuse in the war effort.[10][11] Her stage credits included roles in School Days [1] and Little Simplicity.[12]
In the 1920s, she performed as "Melva Talma", still singing novelty songs and still billed as "the Sunshine Girl."[13][14] She sang in vaudeville programs in Canada in 1925.[15][16]
Personal life
Florence Timpone married George Washington Jennings in 1928. They had a daughter, Georgia Ann. George Jennings died in 1970,[17] and Florence Jennings died in 1991, in Santa Monica, California, aged 94 years.[1]