Rita Rio and Her Mistresses of Rhythm ~ Feed The Kitty

[@ismailveli3631]

Her talent, charm, personality and oh my god that beautiful smile is enough to melt any mans heart

[@aaronettewilson5926]

Wow...They were really good..

[@esmeephillips5888]

For a cheap short, this has some fast cutting to bring out the spirited band performance. Love how the trombonists use their sailor hats as mutes. What a trouper little Eunice Westmoreland was under all those names and identities. As much fun as Carmen Miranda or Lupe Velez, and way more versatile. What might she have done with a long-term contract at a big studio? But the call of domesticity was stronger, and after the war she only did bits.

[@Glad2BGolden]

Very talented and entertaining.

[@everydayeveryday982]

This is a black woman named Eunice Westmoreland. She went under the name of Rita Rio, Dona Drake, Rita Novella in the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's. She was a dancer, singer, actress and she even directed a group of lady singers.

[@adpowell1414]

Rita Rio/Dona Drake was NOT a "black" woman. What is wrong with you people?

[@dadevi]

​@@adpowell1414 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dona_Drake Read under Early Life. Her parents were black. She decided to pass in Hollywood as Hispanic. This happened all the time.

[@donnapanda]

​@@adpowell1414 she was three quarters African American, she had to hide it in those days or she would have been typecast as a maid

[@adpowell1414]

@@donnapanda It is impossible for a a beautiful Caucasian like Rita Rio/Dona Drake to be 3/4 "African American." Census records are NOT DNA tests.

[@adpowell1414]

@@donnapanda The Census is NOT a DNA test. Many whites and other non-blacks were incorrectly labeled as "black" for racist political purposes. Dona Drake/Rita Rio was a beautiful Caucasian woman. No one can look like her and be "black" or "African."

[@HufftownGirl]

WOW!!!! They are fantastic!!!!

[@mikelisacarb]

Crazy how all the old folks in the audience get up and start dancing at the end!

[@raisincane42]

These girls were full of spunk. Tight band. Good performance

[@Venochentina]

Qué bonitas marineras!

[@lingtheking]

2:17

[@BigBadassR]

Rita Rio is black, for those who didn't know. In charge of a white girl orchestra. Maybe they gave blacks and women more of a chance in the old days then is taught in schools today.

[@thegreatdominion949]

Blanche Calloway and Lil Hardin both lead their own bands (with male sidemen) way before this. Also check out the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.

[@adpowell1414]

Rita Rio (also known as Dona Drake) was a Caucasian with some racially mixed ancestry. SHE was definitely NOT BLACK. Blacks do NOT look like her. Are you blind?

@@adpowell1414 You have not seen a photo of Fredi Washington, Blanche Calloway or Duke Ellington's vocalist Kay Davis. Or Broadway actress Hilda Simms. These women are of Mix racial heritage but Rio / Dona Drake chose Not to Identify as Black / Afro American for the purposes of a film career.

[@adpowell1414]

Anybody who "looks white" because of European genes IS white (drops of the dreaded black blood or not). To say otherwise is racist. medium.com/@mischling2nd/its-not-rachel-dolezal-who-s-crazy-but-the-ridiculous-racist-and-contradictory-definitions-of-7a1da0a404f0

[@KingswayMovies]

@@adpowell1414 You are an idiot.

[@ikeeichenberg]

not bad for girls....