Ginny Simms was a US singer, radio star and Hollywood actress. She sang with big bands, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Jo Stafford. As an MGM and Universal film actress she appeared in 11 movies from 1939 to 1951. Ginny Simms is your Phantom Dancer Feature artist this week.

The Phantom Dancer is your weekly non-stop mix of swing and jazz from live 1920s-60s radio and TV every week.

LISTEN to this week’s Phantom Dancer mix (online after 2pm AEST, Tuesday 14 November) and weeks of Phantom Dancer mixes online at, at https://2ser.com/phantom-dancer/

GINNY

Ginny Simms studied piano in high school and teachers’ college. She played in college productions, singing with sorority sisters and forming a popular college vocal trio.

This made her want a career as a singer. By 1932 she had her own program on a local radio station.

In that year, Simms also became the vocalist for the Tom Gerun band in San Francisco. Other vocalists in the band were Tony Martin and Woody Herman.

In 1934, she joined the Kay Kyser Orchestra, with which she received her first national exposure appearing on radio shows with Kyser, who she almost married.

She appeared in three films with Kyser: That’s Right—You’re Wrong (1939), You’ll Find Out (1940) and Playmates (1941).

On April 6, 1941, Simms and Kyser costarred in Niagara to Reno (described as “an original comedy”) on CBS radio’s Silver Theater.

She left Kyser in September 1941 for her own radio show.

She starred in more films post-Kyser, including Here We Go Again (1942), Hit the Ice (1943), Broadway Rhythm (1944) and the Cole Porter biopic Night and Day (1946).

In 1951, Simms hosted a local television show on KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles that featured dance bands and talent from military bases around Southern California.

HOMELESS

Simms entertained troops during World War II, and after the war, she continued to help servicemen. In 1947, a radio station’s newsletter noted: “[N]ow she is helping provide new homes for them. Ginny is sponsoring the construction of 450 homes for vets in Los Angeles.”

A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California Walk of Stars was dedicated to Simms in 1993.

14 November PLAY LIST