Judy Canova in PUDDIN’ HEAD (1941), directed by Joseph Santley for Republic Pictures. In “The Ghost Routine,” an attempted haunting becomes a musical number for a heroine who sings whenever she’s frightened. A stormy night and a skeleton-costumed intruder provide the spooky atmosphere, even if the film itself is decidedly a comedy.

Known as the “Ozark Nightingale,” Canova built her career around a country-girl persona, complete with pigtails, a Southern drawl and exuberant yodeling. Born in Florida, she began performing alongside her sister Annie and brother Zeke in a family vaudeville act before moving into radio, Broadway and motion pictures. Behind the comic characterization was a singer with considerable range and a powerful voice.

Republic made her the star of musical comedies including SCATTERBRAIN (1940), SIS HOPKINS (1941) and JOAN OF OZARK (1942), giving her opportunities to combine singing with broad comedy. Her success extended beyond the screen: THE JUDY CANOVA SHOW debuted on radio in 1943, with a supporting cast that included Mel Blanc.

James Robert Parish later profiled her in THE SLAPSTICK QUEENS (1973), alongside Marjorie Main, Joan Davis, Martha Raye and Phyllis Diller, drawing in part on an interview with Canova herself. This October, we’re making room for her on the comic side of the macabre.

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