Tess Gardella | |
|---|---|
 Tess Gardella (1894-1950), stage name "Aunt Jemima" | |
| Born | Therese Gardella December 19, 1894 |
| Died | January 3, 1950 (aged 55) |
| Nationality | Italian-American |
| Other names | "Aunt Jemima" |
| Occupation(s) | singer, dancer, actress |
| Known for | blackface; original "Queenie" in Showboat |
Therese Gardella (December 19, 1894 – January 3, 1950) was an American performer on the stage and screen whose stage persona was Aunt Jemima. She was of Italian descent. She performed on both stage and screen, usually in blackface. Tess was born in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, to John and Louisa Gardella.[1] She came to New York City in 1918, singing in dance halls and nightclubs and also political rallies.[2]
She died of diabetes in Brooklyn, New York, on January 3, 1950.[3]
- ^ Gardella, Tess. "'Aunt Jemima' Dies, Age 52". The Mountain Echo (Shickshinny, Pennsylvania). No. 6 Jan 1950, p. 1. Newspapers.com. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Slide, Anthony (1994). Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Greenwood Press. pp. 15–16. ISBN 978-0-313-28027-6.
- ^ obituary, VarietyJan. 11,1950