Louis graveure biography

Louis Graveure collection

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 Collection

Identifier: UA-17.392

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of 7, 10, and 12 inch 78 RPM records related to music performed by Louis Graveure.

Dates

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical/Historical

Louis Graveure, originally named Wilfrid Douthitt, was born on March 18, 1888 in London, England. He originally studied architecture at the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, but later made his New York City debut in 1914, performing in the operetta, β€œThe Lilac Domino.” He sang baritone and performed opposite his future wife, Eleanor Painter, who sang soprano. They married in 1916 and divorced in 1930.

Sometime after his first performance is when Douthitt took on the persona of Louis Graveure. People questioned Graveure, asking him if he was Douthitt, bu

Louis Graveure

Louis Graveure (18 March 1888 – 27 April 1965) was an English actor and baritone singer known as "The Mystery Man".

Birth and Death Data: Born March 18, 1888 (London), Died April 27, 1965 (San Francisco)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal

Notes: Officially changed name from Wilfred Douthitt to Louis Graveure. Sings sometimes in tenor range.

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 109 records)

CompanyMatrix No.SizeFirst Recording DateTitlePrimary PerformerDescriptionRoleAudio
Victor[Trial 1915-11-04-01]Not documented11/4/1915Love, could I only tell theeLouis GraveureBaritone vocal solo, with pianovocalist, baritone vocal 
Victor[Trial 1915-11-04-02]Not documented11/4/1915Tommy ladLouis GraveureBaritone vocal solo, with pianovocalist, baritone vocal 
Columbia4623810-in.12/4/1915I'm wearin' awa' to t







Born Wilfrid Douthitt in 1888 in , he trained there under the well known Welsh soprano, Clara Novello-Davies (1861-1943). Douthitt first studied architecture at the Royal College of Art, . He made his debut in 1914 in an operetta called ‘’The Lilac Domino’’, opposite Eleanor Painter, and received enthusiastic notices. In 1915, a baritone resembling Douthitt but called Louis Graveure made his recital debut. The press was curious to know if Graveure was, in fact, Douthitt. Even after a member of the press knocked on Graveure's apartment door, held up a photograph for comparison, and pronounced that, without the camouflage of his recently grown goatee, Douthitt and Graveure were the same singer, Graveure denied it emphatically. He proclaimed himself Belgian. Thus began one of the better promotional strategies of the twentieth century. Thereafter known as "the mystery man," Graveure capitalized upon this notoriety at every possible juncture. (His mother's maiden name was Graveur.)
Following a 1915 debut, his "glorious" voice and "great sto

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