Miss Isabella (aka Isabelle) Patricola (1886-1965), usually appearing in credits as Miss Patricola, was popular on radio, records and in vaudeville. Her stage appearances billed her as "The Queen Of The Cabaret" and "The Shining Star Of Vaudeville". Her personality and jazz style comes through very clearly in her recordings, which are filled with a great deal of excitement. She performed singing and playing the violin in her vaudeville act. Early appearances can be traced to Green Mill Gardens, Chicago in June 1914. She was a star attraction there with her 25 piece orchestra until 1917 when she left to tour the Pantages and later Keith - Orpheum vaudeville circuit. Reviewers praised Miss Patricola for “palpitating the audience”. Her dynamic presentation made her a big hit with vaudeville audiences. She also performed at the Palace, the Hippodrome, Loews State Theater, the 81th street theater and in London at the Palladium. She continued to perform in all the major vaudeville theaters into the early 1930s when most closed down and became movie houses. She retired in 1935 and opened a Hygienic Phone Service business with her husband, Walter Morris. This was very successful and provided them with a good income. We are fortunate that she had a successful recording career and recorded many popular songs during her career that lasted from 1919 to 1929. On this great 1923 side she was accompanied by The Virginians led by Ross Gorman, who rose to prominence in Paul Whiteman's Orchestra and who is probably best remembered today for his original playing of the opening clarinet solo in George Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue. As for The Virginians, they were a satellite band of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
