Vanita Smythe(1925-1994)
- Actress
Vanita Smythe was born on January 13, 1925 in Detroit Michigan to
African American parents. She started her career in soundies in 1946 at
the age of 21, with 'What Good Am I Without You?' followed by 'Does You
Do or Does You Don't?', 'They Raided The Joint', 'I Need a Playmate',
'Get It Off Your Mind', 'Sho' Had a Wonderful Time', 'Low, Short, and
Squatty', and 'Back Door Man'. She also did 2 films in 1947 called
'Reet, Petite, and Gone' and 'Ebony Parade'. Most of Vanita's soundies
pushed against propriety as she sang about sex and drugs openly, and
William Forest Crouch had no problem directing these racy films since
soundies weren't affected by Hollywood law. The seemingly promising
career in soundies was ended soon after Vanita started. She started
soundies too late in the game and the soundies era ended in 1947.Her
role as the evil Rusty in 'Reet, Petite, and Gone' proved that Vanita
had talent in that field as well, but because of racism in those days
and the fact that Vanita wasn't light enough to play roles that most
High Yellow African Americans were given and the fact that she wasn't
dark enough to play a maid really affected her career. Then she was
forced to go on a 3 year hiatus but finally in 1950 she was signed with
Regal Records and recorded 'Until I Fell For You', 'You Got Me Cryin'
For You', and 'Lonesome For You'. But her career was stopped once again
in 1951, when she married Clarence Paul record producer for Motown
Records in Tennesee. This time however, her career as a Singer and
Actress was over permanently. Vanita chose to live the simple life like
many women of those day led - as a housewife. Staying very low key for
the rest of her life Vanita Smythe Pauling died in January of 1994 in
Detroit, Michigan.