Photograph of MARTHA RAYE and DAVID ROSE

(presumably taken on their wedding day - October 8, 1938)

Crisp, clear 4-1/2" x 3-1/2" black & white print -– no folds, creases or tears

NOTE: Because there are no identifiers on the back, it's possible that this is a reprint from an original negative. If so, it dates to earlier than 1989.


MARTHA RAYE -- "The Big Mouth", American icon of comedy, often considered the female equivalent to Bob Hope
Born Margaret Reed in 1916 in Butte, Montana
Toured national Vaudeville circuit as a toddler with her parents' show
Sang with Paul Ash and Boris Morros bands as a teen
Invited to Hollywood in 1936 after performing comedy skits at the Trocadero nightclub with Jimmy Durante and Joe E. Lewis
First appeared onscreen that same year in Bing Crosby's Rhythm on the Range
Subsequently appeared in many successful screwball comedies including College Holiday (1936) starring Jack Benny, George Burns & Gracie AllenThe Big Broadcast of 1938 with W.C. Fields and Dorothy LamourAbbott & Costello'Keep 'em Flying (1941); Four Jills in a Jeep (1944) with Kay Francis and Carole Landis; and the Betty Grable vehicle Pin-up Girl (1944)
Traveled extensively with the USO during WWII, known as "Colonel Maggie"
Returned to film in Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) starring Doris Day and Jimmy Durante
Registered nurse Lt. Colonel, visited U.S. Army Special Forces in Vietnam and became Honorary Green Beret
Recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1969 for work with charities and the troops
Appeared in many television series, movies and specials including The Red Skelton Hour (1963-71); McMillan & Wife (1976-77); and Alice (1979-84)
First female member [honorary] of The Friars Club
Final film appearance: The Concorde...Airport '79; last TV role: Murder, She Wrote (1985)
Died of cancer in 1994, buried with full military honors at Fort Bragg, NC

DAVID ROSE -- prolific American songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, orchestra leader, recording artist
Born David Rosenberg in England in 1910; raised in Chicago
Worked with Ted Fio Rito’s band at age sixteen
Frank Trumbauer's staff arranger; composer of early swing tunes "Break It Down", "Transcontinental", "Plantation Moods"
Arranged Benny Goodman's hit "It's Been So Long" in 1936
Moved to Hollywood in 1938, own radio show California Melodies for Mutual Broadcasting System
Married to Martha Raye 1938, divorced 1941; married Judy Garland 1941, divorced 1944
Joined the Army during WWII, met Red Skelton
Composed and recorded "Holiday for Strings", million-selling record in 1944
Composed first motion picture score in 1944: The Princess and the Pirate starring Bob Hope & Virginia Mayo
Same year, received Academy Award nomination for Best Song (with lyricist Leo Robin) for "So in Love" from the Danny Kaye film Wonder Man
Conductor for Skelton's Raleigh Cigarettes Program 1948-1971
Arranged and conducted numerous pop hits including Connie Francis' 1959 single "My Happiness"
Most famous composition and recording "The Stripper", written for a 1958 TV special, became #1 hit on the pop charts in 1962
Composer of many motion picture scores including Operation Petticoat (1959) starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis and Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) starring Doris Day and David Niven
Winner of 4 Emmy Awards for musical composition: An Evening with Fred Astaire (1959);  Bonanza (1971); and Little House on the Prairie (1979, 1982); plus numerous other nominations
Last film score: Sam's Son (1984), written and directed by Michael Landon
Died of a heart attack in 1990


Thanks for looking!