Marie Louise Caselotti (1910 - 1999)

Born 23 Aug 1910 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Edgar Richard Bagarozy — married 13 Jun 1938 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States

Died 13 Jul 1999 at age 88 in Malibu, California, United States

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Biography

Louise Caselotti is Notable.

Marie Louise was born 23 Aug 1910, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was the daughter of noted music professor Guido Hocke-Caselotti and his wife, opera singer Maria Odrich. In 1915, at age 4, she was residing in New York City, where her father was teaching music.^[1] By 1917, the family had moved to Nassau County, New York, and in 1920 they were residing in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County. ^[2]

By 1921, Louise and her family had returned to Bridgeport, Connecticut. Louise studied at Lauralton Hall in nearby Milford, Connecticut. In 1924, the family moved to Italy for two years, where her mother performed, her father taught, and Louisa and her sister, Adrianna, took vocal lessons.

After the family returned to the United States in the summer of 1926, they moved to Los Angeles, California, where Louise made her public debut singing with the San Carlo Opera Company at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium. At 16, she traveled to Havana, Cuba, where she played Carmen with the Columbia Opera Company. Louise was proclaimed by many to have been the best Carmen of her time, playing the role on more than 400 occasions over the course of her career. At age 18, she made her first film, an Italian musical produced in Hollywood.^[3] Louise had just three years of high school, likely having dropped out early to pursue her career.

In 1930, the family was residing at 1340 N. Douglas Street, in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, where Louisa's parents had established a voice studio.^[4] In March 1933, Louise's parents filed for divorce. And in 1934, Louise's father remarried.^[5]

Louise sang on a few radio shows and some experimental television broadcasts for the CBS broadcasting company. She also dubbed the voices of several leading Hollywood actresses in the late 1930s. But her performing career never fully took off. Then, on 13 Jun 1938, she married attorney Eddie Bagarozy, in New York City and retired from the stage.^[6] Louise and Eddie settled in Manhattan and in 1940, they were residing in an apartment at 763 Riverside Drive in Manhattan.^[7]

In about 1945, Eddie discovered an aspiring young opera singer named Maria Callas. He brought her to Louise for free voice lessons, while attempting to establish an opera company to showcase her talents in Chicago. The United States Opera Company was a financial disaster and failed before it even opened. But Eddie was able to arranging for Maria to perform in Italy, where she was a hit. Later, however, after Maria had become rich and famous, Eddie had to sue, in a prolonged headline-making court battle, to get what he felt was his rightfully earned commission as her manager. He had asked the Court for $300,000, and ultimately settled out of court.

In 1950, Louise and Eddie were residing in a home in New York City. That year, Eddie was described as an "automobile directr" suggesting he may have left the talent business follwing the Maria Callas scandal.^[8].

Louise spent her later years teaching voice lessons. Eddie passed away in February 1967. Louise survived him by more than 30 years. She died 13 Jul 1999, in Malibu, California, a little more than a month shy of her 89th birthday. Her body was cremated.^[9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ 1915 New York State Census, Ancestry.com (database online with images) New York County, City of New York, AD 23, ED 79, p15, household of Guido Caselotti [image 7].
2. ↑ 1920 U.S Federal Census, Ancestry.com (database online with images) New York, Nassau County, Hempstead, ED 33, p3B, dwelling 52, family 60, household of Guido Caselotti [image 6].
3. ↑ This Is Our Town, Bridgeport Post, 21 Aug 1960, p. C2.
4. ↑ 1930 U.S Federal Census, Ancestry.com (database online with images) California, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, ED 717, p 2B, dwelling 44, family 56, household of Guido Hocke-Caselotti [image 4].
5. ↑ Singer Asks Divorce, Modesto Herald, 22 Mar 1933.
6. ↑ New York, New York, Index to Marriage Licenses, 1908-1910 & 1938-1940, Ancestry.com (database online) marriage of E. Richard Bagarozy and Louise Casseloti (1938).
7. ↑ 1940 U.S Federal Census, Ancestry.com (database online with images) New York, New York County, City of New York, ED 31-1894, p1A, family 7, household of Richard Bagarozy [image 1].
8. ↑ 1950 U.S. Federal Census. New York, New York County, City of New York, ED 31-1866, sheet 10, dwelling 114, household of E. Richard Bagarozy. Available on line at Ancestry.con. (Image 11).
9. ↑ Louise Cassoletti, The Los Angeles (CA) Times, 19 Jul 1999, p. 216.
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/224664407/louise-caselotti : accessed 23 April 2021), memorial page for Louise Caselotti (23 Aug 1910–13 Jul 1999), Find a Grave Memorial ID 224664407; Maintained by Matoko (contributor 48729590).

• Of People and Places, Bridgeport Post, 9 Mar 1958.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Louise Caselotti
• Wikidata: Item Q6688667, en:Wikipedia
• Find A Grave: Memorial #224664407