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Helen Gahagan Douglas

Helen Gahagan Douglas (born Helen Mary Gahagan; November 25, 1900 – June 28, 1980) was an American actress and politician. Her career included success on Broadway, as a touring opera singer, and in Hollywood films. Her portrayal of the villain in the 1935 movie She inspired Disney's Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

In politics, she was the third woman and first Democratic woman elected to Congress from California; her election made California one of the first two states (along with Illinois) to elect female members to the House from both parties. In the 1950 United States Senate election in California, she unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate, losing to Republican Richard Nixon. The campaign became symbolic of modern political vitriol, as both Gahagan's primary opponent Manchester Boddy and Nixon referred to her as "pink right down to her underwear", suggesting Communist sympathies.

She was married to fellow actor Melvyn Douglas, and they had two children, Peter and Mary.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 25, 1900 (Boonton), Died June 28, 1980 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-63163 12-in. 10/22/1930 Vissi d'arte Helen Gahagan Douglas Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor CVE-Test-1020 12-in. 10/3/1930 Vissi d'arte Helen Gahagan Douglas Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor CVE-Test-1021 12-in. 10/3/1930 Hungarian folk song Helen Gahagan Douglas Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1927-02-23-01] 10-in. 2/23/1927 Ever of thee I'm fondly dreaming Helen Gahagan Douglas Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gahagan Douglas, Helen," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103267.

Gahagan Douglas, Helen. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103267.

"Gahagan Douglas, Helen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103267

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