Hannah Williams

Background

Hannah Williams was born in Taylor, Pennsylvania and performed as a young child with her older sister Dorothy as "The Williams Sisters", a singing and dancing vaudeville acting

Career

The sisters performed with the Scranton Sirens Orchestra (1923), George White"s Scandals of 1924, Charley Straight Orchestra (1925), Ben Pollack Orchestra (1926–1927), and in various Chicago and New York night clubs and theaters. She performed in Broadway theater, being known in particular for the song, "Cheerful Little Earful" in Sweet and Low (1930). In the 1920s she recorded with Ben Pollack"s band.

Her only film appearance was singing "Get Happy" in the short film The Audition (1933), one of the Warner Brothers series of "Melody Masters" musical shorts.

Her sister Dorothy was married to Dixieland cornet player Jimmy McPartland who was occasionally hired by Kahn.

Achievements

• Hannah was married to eight-year heavyweight champion boxer Jack Dempsey from 1933 to 1943, with whom she had two children, Joan (1934) and Barbara (1936).