THE JEWISH NEWS - 43 Friday, December 12, 1952 Roberta Peters' Cinderella Story: From Obscurity to Met and Hollywood By LEON GUTTERMAN Jessel considered for the role of the young American concert singer in 20th Century-Fox's Technicolor musical, "Tonight We Sing." The musical revolves around the career of famed Jewish im- presario Sol Hurok and the art- ists he sponsors, and it was Hurok who, on tenor Jan Peerce's recommendation, took Roberta to Metropolitan Opera Manager Rudolph Bing, who signed her for America's top operatic company. It was in- evitable that Hurok's latest pro- tege should appear in the film. What makes her first movie role more perfect for the youth- ful singer is that • her warbling in the picture is done with her professional mentor, Jan Peerce. Hollwood and motion picture* But the petite and pretty coloratura soprano, who found fame and fortune on the night she substituted for Nadine Con- nor in the role of "Zerlina" in "Don Giovanni'' at the Met, was Copyright, 1952, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc. Roberta Peters, the Jewish singing Cinderella who became an overnight sensation at the Metropolitan Opera in 1950, says she never dreamed she'd land in M1 l1 iilii 1 il 11i111iIlIi 11 l 1iIi 111 IiI 1 i 11 Itlil 1 IHII1IiIi1tIIlII1ll1iIl1Illl1lIill111ll111ll1lll1ll1l11flill1i1111I11il1i1I1H1I11t11ili1111lIlU- - :-::- E= a-7 A Happy Hanukah to All Our Friends and Patrons :,- _ - _. __ KOW KOW INN Famous for All Chinese Native Food And Red Cantonese Family Dinners Also Specializing in American Food ---. Carry Out Service = Fri E = _ = 322 W. McNICHOLS TO. 8-7551 = 2 = linililmmliiiimilimmIllimatmittillutilitullImIlmillmnittiiiimItimillinlinulmitimIntiomii-•-; ++.+4 ■ 44..*****•m.•••••***** ♦♦ : Roberta was born in New York City on May. 4, 1930, the daughter of a Bronx shoe salesman Sol Peterman, and a hat designer, Ruth Hirsch Peterman. She was 10 when a schoolmate asked Roberta to accompany her to her music .lesson. Roberta burst into song along with her friend, and the teacher, Harry Pa- rada, promptly recognized her gift, asked permission of her parents to teach the child. Best Wishes for a Joyous Hanukah Louis-Lenke Jonas, and Families LOUIS JONAS AND SONS MANUFACTURERS OF SIX SISTERS ICE CREAM AND FOOD PRODUCTS JONAS MARKET 900 E. EIGHT MILE RD. TW. 2-8600 Hanukah Good Cheer DON D. ROBERTSON REALTOR 27276 Grand River _ J. Greetings on the Holiday Greenfield Machine & Tool Co. MACHINERY and EQUIPMENT Curt C. 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Envelopes, Containers, Sheet Stock Printing Die Cut and Forming Plastic Bin Marking Systems For ALL Types of Businesses 13821 Elmira TE. 4-3990 • me CZ - - z o) cop ,V 4& A. >61 • I NO Cl) ;4 cg ;..T4 El* ).4 0 U1 CQ > ` 2 ON m m m 0 412 e r\I rn i Tr 0 0 (J Z w 1-n1 1 Z rn , Ti" < . 1--- w .1)F- 1 u) l i— ce < C° 0 6 z t _ iz - 0, (7) - — —J a 0 , 0 -eV/I v) 0— (.9 8 rn O 1 Happy Holiday Greetings 'o ELLIS TRUCKING COMPANY Direct Service Fort Wayne - Anderson Indianapolis - Memphis 4930 Stecker T1. 6-3033 I n Dearborn 0". Her ovation was spectacular nd when the young singer ame off stage she was besieged y reporters and photographers' i 1 ashlights "just like in the i ovies." Roberta tried to stay up see the music critics' reviews, i ut fell asleep when she got i ome that night. Her mother ought the early editions of the orning newspapers, turned to e music pages, saw nothing, i. nd greatly disappointed, closed e papers .. . only to find Ro- rta's reviews on the front a ges. When Sol "Hurok learned Jes- 1 was going to produce his t ory, he asked Roberta if she ould be interested in appear- n g in it, and arranged for her o d o a screen test in New York. e did the test and was pr omptly signed for the role. Although Roberta's family h a ye always been in moderate c •cumstances, the girl with the n-up face and figure claims e has never had any real Tuggle except with her own co nscience. Many more times th an she cares to remember, she wa lked around Central Park cry ing because she felt that, as ha rd as she was studying, she wa sn't living up to the faith ev eryone else had in her voice an d in its future success. l?] "A/ways a Shade Smarter" All Over Town 1224 GRISWOLD 2242 GRAND RIVER Holiday Greetings LAIK ON CAFE Genuine Oriental Cuisine Entire Second Floor for Private Parties THEO. CANNINS, Mgr. WO. 4-9635 Season's Greetings DETROIT LEGAL NEWS CO. 610 West Congress Hanukah Greetings GOULDING ELECTRIC CO. 3 14 Beaubien WO. 1-7 199 Holiday Greetings FITZPATRICK HOLDING CO. Business and Industrial Sites 18111 Plymouth t Service in Your Home RINGCLEAR HOSIERY CO. 569 MONROE Two years later, fascinated with her studies, Roberta con- fided her ambition to Jan Peerce, a friend of the family, who listened to her sing then sent her to coach William Her- man, to whom she credits her entire training, vocally, artisti- cally and technically. At 16, Roberta had offers from Broadway shows at $1,000 a week. It took considerable thought and meant a great fi- nancial sacrifice for the Peters f amily, but they turned the 0 ffers down. When Roberta was 19, Peerce heard her sing again, and was o impressed that he arranged or Roberta . to audition for Hurok. On Jan. 25, 1950, Hurok ar- r anged for Roberta's first audi- tion with Metropolitan Opera Manager, Rudolf Bing. It was h er first time on any stage, and t urned out to be a legend- making audition. She signed er actual contract with the Met a few months later. Then came Nov. 17, 1950, the m ost confused and exciting day 0 f her career. Nadine Conner w as ill. Would Roberta be ready o sing the role that night? Al- hough she knew 22 operas in- luding "Giovanni," Roberta h ad never rehearsed the opera, erely watched others rehearse it ♦♦♦♦♦♦* KEnwood 2-2780 Season's Best Wishes the only singer producer George VE. 5-3637 Greetings on the Holiday MACHINE TOOL & DIE CO. Production Machining 4424 SCOTTEN TY. 6-9210 a Season's Best Wishes INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION ENGINEERING CO. Television Service 12815 W. Seven Mile Rd. BR. 3-3660 Detroit 21, Michigan Sincerest Holiday Wishes DETROIT ENGRAVING CO. 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