Born on July 4th, 1885, at 5:00 am, at home as Marcella Laureana Salgado y Felix. (her birth certificate says, Marcelina). She was born in the town of Dorado, then a colony of Spain, Puerto Rico. Her father Cecilio had been a tobacco store owner and her mother Fermina was the leader of an all-female orchestra.
Marcella, was a highly-educated Spanish teacher, a dancer, and a singer (Soprano). She came from a musical family who performed in the "Zarzuela" or Spanish Musical Theatre in San Juan. The singers in this theater were considered the "royalty" on the island. Queen Victoria of Spain apparently knighted her uncle.
She married a piano tuner named Julian Santos, who was in the merchant marines. He was then employed by the Albert William Knabe Piano Company. He was in San Francisco during the great earthquake of 1906, which he survived. His eldest son with Marcella was named "Albert William Santos" in Mr. Kanabe's honor.
The family was prosperous and owned sugar cane fields, a coffee bean plantation, and 8 homes in Rio Piedras, on what is now part of the University of Puerto Rico campus. She gave birth to 11 children in all. A pair of twins died soon after birth.
By the 1930s, the island of Puerto Rico was Americanized and the stock market crash of 1929 hit the family hard since much of the family's wealth was invested and they lost almost everything in the crash. Much of the property was sold so they could survive and in 1936, the family boarded the ship "S.S. Borinquen" for New York City, and a more prosperous way of life.
The family settled in the predominantly Italian section of New York near the Tri-boro Bridge around Crescent Avenue. Marcella began to work in a doctors office for a time and several children found employment at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The family attended the 1939 New York Worlds' Fair several times and on her birthday, July 4th, Marcella performed a song called "Princesita" for a large audience.
Her beloved son "Angel" found work as a cake decorator in the Essex Hotel when World War II began. He was returning from getting his paycheck on his day off but was robbed and murdered as he crossed Central Park. He had enlisted in the Army a short time before and was awaiting orders when he was killed.
During World War II, some of her daughters became moderately successful as the "Six Singing Santos Sisters", and performed during the "big band era" to rave reviews. 2 of the sisters, Estrellita and Lucy actually enlisted in the Women's Army Corps as WAC's and were proud veterans of the war.
After the war, Marcella moved to California, following several daughters and a son who "went west" like so many after the war was over. They lived in Santa Maria for about 4 years, then moved to Hollywood. About 1950, Marcella moved to a small "Craftsman" bungalow at the corner of Gower and Selma in Hollywood. Due to her bright and happy personality, she soon became a popular figure in the neighborhood, and for the next few years, many of the famed "Gower Gulch" movie stars befriended Marcella. One night she stood outside of the Pantages Theater for the premier of a movie that starred Sally Forrest. Ms. Forrest got out of her car without an escort and spotted Marcella smiling and waving to her. She walked over to the smartly dressed Marcella and asked her if she would like to be her guest at the premiere. Marcella said it was one of the highlights of her life to sit next to the star at her premiere. She also became a friend of actors Jay C. Flippen, Celeste Holm, and Rita Moreno. Marcella was loved by many because of her sweet disposition and charming laugh.
Marcella liked to walk the neighborhood and up and back down Hollywood or Sunset Boulevards visiting the locally owned shops. She loved to visit F.W. Woolworth on Hollywood Blvd., as well as Musso and Frank Grill, Coffee Dan's, and the Brown Derby restaurants. On her walks, she would stop to chat with sales people at the Broadway Department Store, Rexall Drug Store, Columbia Drug Store soda fountain, the famous news stand outside, and at the Max Factor Salon on Highland Avenue. Everyone knew her and her happy disposition.
In 1958 Marcella was admitted to the hospital when she experienced chest pains. She was found to have a weak heart. Visiting her in the hospital was her beautiful daughter Alma, who suddenly died on July 16, 1958 of a brain aneurysm in the hospital waiting room, just down the hall from Marcella's room. Marcella died quietly 23 days later on July 29th, 1958.
Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Blvd was the scene of a requiem mass funeral for Marcella. Her casket was among the very few that sat on the altar for more than a day since there was a Rosary Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 1, then a Requiem Mass at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. The funeral was a grand affair complete with an all-male choir and over 300 people, including several movie star friends in attendance.
It was a double-funeral, at grave site services at Calvary Cemetery for both Marcella and Alma.
Many movie stars are entombed at the same cemetery just a few steps away from Marcella, including Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, Lou Costello (of Abbott and Costello fame), Roman Navarro, Irene Dunne, John Hodiak, director Hal Roach Jr, Cedric Gibbons (famous movie art director) and silent film stars Mabel Norman and Pola Negri. Since Marcella was a great fan of movies, she is in good company.
Sitting on the old family plantation in Puerto Rico today is a luxury hotel. Her little bungalow on Gower at Selma is also gone now, and a small parking lot for Paramount Picture executives stands in its place.
She was survived by her children Glory, Lucy, Eva, Celeste, Estrellita, Julius, and William. She also left a brother John Salgado who lived across the street from her in Hollywood. In the years since her passing, her legacy now includes grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren. This great lady touched many people during her time and will never be forgotten. She was truly one of a kind.
The 2020 Spanish-language short film "Pensando Demasiado" is dedicated to her memory.
Marcella, was a highly-educated Spanish teacher, a dancer, and a singer (Soprano). She came from a musical family who performed in the "Zarzuela" or Spanish Musical Theatre in San Juan. The singers in this theater were considered the "royalty" on the island. Queen Victoria of Spain apparently knighted her uncle.
She married a piano tuner named Julian Santos, who was in the merchant marines. He was then employed by the Albert William Knabe Piano Company. He was in San Francisco during the great earthquake of 1906, which he survived. His eldest son with Marcella was named "Albert William Santos" in Mr. Kanabe's honor.
The family was prosperous and owned sugar cane fields, a coffee bean plantation, and 8 homes in Rio Piedras, on what is now part of the University of Puerto Rico campus. She gave birth to 11 children in all. A pair of twins died soon after birth.
By the 1930s, the island of Puerto Rico was Americanized and the stock market crash of 1929 hit the family hard since much of the family's wealth was invested and they lost almost everything in the crash. Much of the property was sold so they could survive and in 1936, the family boarded the ship "S.S. Borinquen" for New York City, and a more prosperous way of life.
The family settled in the predominantly Italian section of New York near the Tri-boro Bridge around Crescent Avenue. Marcella began to work in a doctors office for a time and several children found employment at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The family attended the 1939 New York Worlds' Fair several times and on her birthday, July 4th, Marcella performed a song called "Princesita" for a large audience.
Her beloved son "Angel" found work as a cake decorator in the Essex Hotel when World War II began. He was returning from getting his paycheck on his day off but was robbed and murdered as he crossed Central Park. He had enlisted in the Army a short time before and was awaiting orders when he was killed.
During World War II, some of her daughters became moderately successful as the "Six Singing Santos Sisters", and performed during the "big band era" to rave reviews. 2 of the sisters, Estrellita and Lucy actually enlisted in the Women's Army Corps as WAC's and were proud veterans of the war.
After the war, Marcella moved to California, following several daughters and a son who "went west" like so many after the war was over. They lived in Santa Maria for about 4 years, then moved to Hollywood. About 1950, Marcella moved to a small "Craftsman" bungalow at the corner of Gower and Selma in Hollywood. Due to her bright and happy personality, she soon became a popular figure in the neighborhood, and for the next few years, many of the famed "Gower Gulch" movie stars befriended Marcella. One night she stood outside of the Pantages Theater for the premier of a movie that starred Sally Forrest. Ms. Forrest got out of her car without an escort and spotted Marcella smiling and waving to her. She walked over to the smartly dressed Marcella and asked her if she would like to be her guest at the premiere. Marcella said it was one of the highlights of her life to sit next to the star at her premiere. She also became a friend of actors Jay C. Flippen, Celeste Holm, and Rita Moreno. Marcella was loved by many because of her sweet disposition and charming laugh.
Marcella liked to walk the neighborhood and up and back down Hollywood or Sunset Boulevards visiting the locally owned shops. She loved to visit F.W. Woolworth on Hollywood Blvd., as well as Musso and Frank Grill, Coffee Dan's, and the Brown Derby restaurants. On her walks, she would stop to chat with sales people at the Broadway Department Store, Rexall Drug Store, Columbia Drug Store soda fountain, the famous news stand outside, and at the Max Factor Salon on Highland Avenue. Everyone knew her and her happy disposition.
In 1958 Marcella was admitted to the hospital when she experienced chest pains. She was found to have a weak heart. Visiting her in the hospital was her beautiful daughter Alma, who suddenly died on July 16, 1958 of a brain aneurysm in the hospital waiting room, just down the hall from Marcella's room. Marcella died quietly 23 days later on July 29th, 1958.
Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Blvd was the scene of a requiem mass funeral for Marcella. Her casket was among the very few that sat on the altar for more than a day since there was a Rosary Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 1, then a Requiem Mass at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. The funeral was a grand affair complete with an all-male choir and over 300 people, including several movie star friends in attendance.
It was a double-funeral, at grave site services at Calvary Cemetery for both Marcella and Alma.
Many movie stars are entombed at the same cemetery just a few steps away from Marcella, including Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, Lou Costello (of Abbott and Costello fame), Roman Navarro, Irene Dunne, John Hodiak, director Hal Roach Jr, Cedric Gibbons (famous movie art director) and silent film stars Mabel Norman and Pola Negri. Since Marcella was a great fan of movies, she is in good company.
Sitting on the old family plantation in Puerto Rico today is a luxury hotel. Her little bungalow on Gower at Selma is also gone now, and a small parking lot for Paramount Picture executives stands in its place.
She was survived by her children Glory, Lucy, Eva, Celeste, Estrellita, Julius, and William. She also left a brother John Salgado who lived across the street from her in Hollywood. In the years since her passing, her legacy now includes grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren. This great lady touched many people during her time and will never be forgotten. She was truly one of a kind.
The 2020 Spanish-language short film "Pensando Demasiado" is dedicated to her memory.
Born on July 4th, 1885, at 5:00 am, at home as Marcella Laureana Salgado y Felix. (her birth certificate says, Marcelina). She was born in the town of Dorado, then a colony of Spain, Puerto Rico. Her father Cecilio had been a tobacco store owner and her mother Fermina was the leader of an all-female orchestra.
Marcella, was a highly-educated Spanish teacher, a dancer, and a singer (Soprano). She came from a musical family who performed in the "Zarzuela" or Spanish Musical Theatre in San Juan. The singers in this theater were considered the "royalty" on the island. Queen Victoria of Spain apparently knighted her uncle.
She married a piano tuner named Julian Santos, who was in the merchant marines. He was then employed by the Albert William Knabe Piano Company. He was in San Francisco during the great earthquake of 1906, which he survived. His eldest son with Marcella was named "Albert William Santos" in Mr. Kanabe's honor.
The family was prosperous and owned sugar cane fields, a coffee bean plantation, and 8 homes in Rio Piedras, on what is now part of the University of Puerto Rico campus. She gave birth to 11 children in all. A pair of twins died soon after birth.
By the 1930s, the island of Puerto Rico was Americanized and the stock market crash of 1929 hit the family hard since much of the family's wealth was invested and they lost almost everything in the crash. Much of the property was sold so they could survive and in 1936, the family boarded the ship "S.S. Borinquen" for New York City, and a more prosperous way of life.
The family settled in the predominantly Italian section of New York near the Tri-boro Bridge around Crescent Avenue. Marcella began to work in a doctors office for a time and several children found employment at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The family attended the 1939 New York Worlds' Fair several times and on her birthday, July 4th, Marcella performed a song called "Princesita" for a large audience.
Her beloved son "Angel" found work as a cake decorator in the Essex Hotel when World War II began. He was returning from getting his paycheck on his day off but was robbed and murdered as he crossed Central Park. He had enlisted in the Army a short time before and was awaiting orders when he was killed.
During World War II, some of her daughters became moderately successful as the "Six Singing Santos Sisters", and performed during the "big band era" to rave reviews. 2 of the sisters, Estrellita and Lucy actually enlisted in the Women's Army Corps as WAC's and were proud veterans of the war.
After the war, Marcella moved to California, following several daughters and a son who "went west" like so many after the war was over. They lived in Santa Maria for about 4 years, then moved to Hollywood. About 1950, Marcella moved to a small "Craftsman" bungalow at the corner of Gower and Selma in Hollywood. Due to her bright and happy personality, she soon became a popular figure in the neighborhood, and for the next few years, many of the famed "Gower Gulch" movie stars befriended Marcella. One night she stood outside of the Pantages Theater for the premier of a movie that starred Sally Forrest. Ms. Forrest got out of her car without an escort and spotted Marcella smiling and waving to her. She walked over to the smartly dressed Marcella and asked her if she would like to be her guest at the premiere. Marcella said it was one of the highlights of her life to sit next to the star at her premiere. She also became a friend of actors Jay C. Flippen, Celeste Holm, and Rita Moreno. Marcella was loved by many because of her sweet disposition and charming laugh.
Marcella liked to walk the neighborhood and up and back down Hollywood or Sunset Boulevards visiting the locally owned shops. She loved to visit F.W. Woolworth on Hollywood Blvd., as well as Musso and Frank Grill, Coffee Dan's, and the Brown Derby restaurants. On her walks, she would stop to chat with sales people at the Broadway Department Store, Rexall Drug Store, Columbia Drug Store soda fountain, the famous news stand outside, and at the Max Factor Salon on Highland Avenue. Everyone knew her and her happy disposition.
In 1958 Marcella was admitted to the hospital when she experienced chest pains. She was found to have a weak heart. Visiting her in the hospital was her beautiful daughter Alma, who suddenly died on July 16, 1958 of a brain aneurysm in the hospital waiting room, just down the hall from Marcella's room. Marcella died quietly 23 days later on July 29th, 1958.
Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Blvd was the scene of a requiem mass funeral for Marcella. Her casket was among the very few that sat on the altar for more than a day since there was a Rosary Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 1, then a Requiem Mass at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. The funeral was a grand affair complete with an all-male choir and over 300 people, including several movie star friends in attendance.
It was a double-funeral, at grave site services at Calvary Cemetery for both Marcella and Alma.
Many movie stars are entombed at the same cemetery just a few steps away from Marcella, including Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, Lou Costello (of Abbott and Costello fame), Roman Navarro, Irene Dunne, John Hodiak, director Hal Roach Jr, Cedric Gibbons (famous movie art director) and silent film stars Mabel Norman and Pola Negri. Since Marcella was a great fan of movies, she is in good company.
Sitting on the old family plantation in Puerto Rico today is a luxury hotel. Her little bungalow on Gower at Selma is also gone now, and a small parking lot for Paramount Picture executives stands in its place.
She was survived by her children Glory, Lucy, Eva, Celeste, Estrellita, Julius, and William. She also left a brother John Salgado who lived across the street from her in Hollywood. In the years since her passing, her legacy now includes grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren. This great lady touched many people during her time and will never be forgotten. She was truly one of a kind.
The 2020 Spanish-language short film "Pensando Demasiado" is dedicated to her memory.
Marcella, was a highly-educated Spanish teacher, a dancer, and a singer (Soprano). She came from a musical family who performed in the "Zarzuela" or Spanish Musical Theatre in San Juan. The singers in this theater were considered the "royalty" on the island. Queen Victoria of Spain apparently knighted her uncle.
She married a piano tuner named Julian Santos, who was in the merchant marines. He was then employed by the Albert William Knabe Piano Company. He was in San Francisco during the great earthquake of 1906, which he survived. His eldest son with Marcella was named "Albert William Santos" in Mr. Kanabe's honor.
The family was prosperous and owned sugar cane fields, a coffee bean plantation, and 8 homes in Rio Piedras, on what is now part of the University of Puerto Rico campus. She gave birth to 11 children in all. A pair of twins died soon after birth.
By the 1930s, the island of Puerto Rico was Americanized and the stock market crash of 1929 hit the family hard since much of the family's wealth was invested and they lost almost everything in the crash. Much of the property was sold so they could survive and in 1936, the family boarded the ship "S.S. Borinquen" for New York City, and a more prosperous way of life.
The family settled in the predominantly Italian section of New York near the Tri-boro Bridge around Crescent Avenue. Marcella began to work in a doctors office for a time and several children found employment at the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The family attended the 1939 New York Worlds' Fair several times and on her birthday, July 4th, Marcella performed a song called "Princesita" for a large audience.
Her beloved son "Angel" found work as a cake decorator in the Essex Hotel when World War II began. He was returning from getting his paycheck on his day off but was robbed and murdered as he crossed Central Park. He had enlisted in the Army a short time before and was awaiting orders when he was killed.
During World War II, some of her daughters became moderately successful as the "Six Singing Santos Sisters", and performed during the "big band era" to rave reviews. 2 of the sisters, Estrellita and Lucy actually enlisted in the Women's Army Corps as WAC's and were proud veterans of the war.
After the war, Marcella moved to California, following several daughters and a son who "went west" like so many after the war was over. They lived in Santa Maria for about 4 years, then moved to Hollywood. About 1950, Marcella moved to a small "Craftsman" bungalow at the corner of Gower and Selma in Hollywood. Due to her bright and happy personality, she soon became a popular figure in the neighborhood, and for the next few years, many of the famed "Gower Gulch" movie stars befriended Marcella. One night she stood outside of the Pantages Theater for the premier of a movie that starred Sally Forrest. Ms. Forrest got out of her car without an escort and spotted Marcella smiling and waving to her. She walked over to the smartly dressed Marcella and asked her if she would like to be her guest at the premiere. Marcella said it was one of the highlights of her life to sit next to the star at her premiere. She also became a friend of actors Jay C. Flippen, Celeste Holm, and Rita Moreno. Marcella was loved by many because of her sweet disposition and charming laugh.
Marcella liked to walk the neighborhood and up and back down Hollywood or Sunset Boulevards visiting the locally owned shops. She loved to visit F.W. Woolworth on Hollywood Blvd., as well as Musso and Frank Grill, Coffee Dan's, and the Brown Derby restaurants. On her walks, she would stop to chat with sales people at the Broadway Department Store, Rexall Drug Store, Columbia Drug Store soda fountain, the famous news stand outside, and at the Max Factor Salon on Highland Avenue. Everyone knew her and her happy disposition.
In 1958 Marcella was admitted to the hospital when she experienced chest pains. She was found to have a weak heart. Visiting her in the hospital was her beautiful daughter Alma, who suddenly died on July 16, 1958 of a brain aneurysm in the hospital waiting room, just down the hall from Marcella's room. Marcella died quietly 23 days later on July 29th, 1958.
Blessed Sacrament Church on Sunset Blvd was the scene of a requiem mass funeral for Marcella. Her casket was among the very few that sat on the altar for more than a day since there was a Rosary Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 1, then a Requiem Mass at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. The funeral was a grand affair complete with an all-male choir and over 300 people, including several movie star friends in attendance.
It was a double-funeral, at grave site services at Calvary Cemetery for both Marcella and Alma.
Many movie stars are entombed at the same cemetery just a few steps away from Marcella, including Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, Lou Costello (of Abbott and Costello fame), Roman Navarro, Irene Dunne, John Hodiak, director Hal Roach Jr, Cedric Gibbons (famous movie art director) and silent film stars Mabel Norman and Pola Negri. Since Marcella was a great fan of movies, she is in good company.
Sitting on the old family plantation in Puerto Rico today is a luxury hotel. Her little bungalow on Gower at Selma is also gone now, and a small parking lot for Paramount Picture executives stands in its place.
She was survived by her children Glory, Lucy, Eva, Celeste, Estrellita, Julius, and William. She also left a brother John Salgado who lived across the street from her in Hollywood. In the years since her passing, her legacy now includes grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren. This great lady touched many people during her time and will never be forgotten. She was truly one of a kind.
The 2020 Spanish-language short film "Pensando Demasiado" is dedicated to her memory.
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