Georgia Madelon BakerArmstrong, Alice Katt (1950). Who's Who in Los Angeles County. (1910 or 1911 – February 26, 1999)"United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZF-3JC : Thu Dec 07 23:07:32 UTC 2023), Entry for George C Baker and Fannie E Baker, 1920."Lifeline: Deaths". Billboard. March 13, 1999. p. 90. was a record producer, music publisher, actress and singer, known for her role in launching singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's career, and her work with Gospel, R&B and doo wop artists such as Cassietta George, Ron Kenoly and the Paradons. As an actress, she performed in the world premiere of the John Cage/Kenneth Patchen radio play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, and had substantial roles in both the short-lived Gasoline Alley film series and the much-ballyhooed 1955 short subject, The Great Adventure, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rotary International.

Early life A native of Marion, Illinois, Baker was the youngest of five daughters born to Fannie Elizabeth Bateman and George Christie Baker,Who's Who in the West. 14th Edition. Chicago : Marquis Who's Who. 1974. p. 29. ."George Christie Baker". Family Search. a coal miner who died in 1924 at age 54."Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQZK-6ZB : 25 April 2022), George C. Baker, 1924. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Highland Park, Michigan and Baker began modeling."United States Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X739-RBG : Thu Oct 05 20:18:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Fannie Baker and Jewell Baker, 1930.Savoy, Maggie (October 4, 1970). "She's Superworker in Ultracompetitive Line". The Los Angeles Times. Sec. E, p. 1, 12. She later attended Wayne State University before transferring to Northwestern.

Career By the following decade, Baker was appearing on radio in such series as The Lone Ranger and The Romance of Helen Trent, as well as becoming one of the featured vocalists for bandleaders Henry Busse and Johnny Hamp, as well as her then-husband Carl Grayson (né Graub)."Vocalist". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 1, 1934. p. 46.

On May 31, 1942, on WBBM in Chicago, under the direction of her soon-to-be husband Les Mitchel, Baker—as Madelon Grayson—co-starred with Les Tremayne, Forrest Lewis, Jonathan Hole, Frank Dane, and John Larkin in Columbia Workshop's world premiere presentation of poet Kenneth Patchen's radio play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, accompanied by a five-member percussion ensemble performing John Cage's score, conducted by the composer.Fetterman, William (1996). John Cage's Theatre Pieces : Notations and Performances. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Harwood Academic Publishers. p. 8. . Later that year, Baker and fellow WBBM staffer Jane Webb were among a host of local radio people donating their time and talents to the new serviceman's canteen which opened on Christmas Day under the auspices of the Women's Army Corps."Chicago Radio People Open Service Canteen". The Billboard. January 9, 1943. p. 7.

Baker was fashion coordinator for Marshall Field's in Chicago from 1942 to 1944, at which point she and Mitchel moved to Los Angeles.Ferris, Earle (July 6, 1944). "Who's News?". Gonzalez Tribune. p. 1. From 1944 through 1951, she was employed in varying capacities at Les Mitchel Productions; she served variously as producer, secretary-treasurer (as G. Madelon Mitchel)Alicoate, Jack, ed. (1947). The Radio Annual. New York: Radio Daily. p. 755. .Alicoate, Jack, ed. (1951). The Radio Annual. New York: Radio Daily. p. 770. and, on at least one occasion, performer.21 Momen (May 28, 2023). "Gloria Grahame in Jane Speed's "Farewell to Birdie McKeever" – Skippy Hollywood Theatre (8/31/50)". YouTube.

In 1955, Baker—as Madelon Mitchell—co-starred with Edward Arnold, Jim Backus, Lyle Talbot, and Sujata Rubener in The Great Adventure, a 29-minute docu-drama commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rotary International, which had its world premiere simultaneously in 80 countries on February 23."Story of the Great Adventure". The Sydney Morning Herald. February 23, 1955. p. 25 Debuting on December 1 of that year and continuing for at least three months, Baker, still billed as Mitchell, hosted a cooking show entitled Camera Kitchen on KHJ-TV in Los Angeles."Thursday Television; Video-Radio Briefs; Open Road Does L.A. Auto Show". The Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1955. p. 36."Television Schedule". Sant Ana Register. March 1, 1956. p. 14. Among her guests were Barbara Ellen Davenport (wife of college football star Bob Davenport),"Video-Radio Briefs: 'Bail Out' Features Spectacular Films". The Los Angeles Times. December 29, 1955. pt. I, pg. 26.Zimmerman, Paul (December 18, 1955). "Sportscripts: Calendar Does Bruins Favor". The Los Angeles Times. pioneer TV cook Monty Margetts,"Television Programs". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 28, 1955. p. 12."Monty Margetts McDonald, Pioneer TV Cook in Los Angeles". The Modesto Bee. March 13, 1997. p. 40. and fashion consultant Caroline Leonetti."Video-Radio Briefs: Films of Pre-Flood North on Open Road". The Los Angeles Times January 19, 1956. pt. III, pg. 11.

In 1959, Baker, together with her husband Jackson Baker, began Audio Arts Inc., a recording studio specializing in R&B and Gospel, performed by artists such as Cassietta George"Billboard's Recommended LPs: Soul". Billboard. January 7, 1978. p.  96. and Ron Kenoly."Audio Arts!". Discogs. One notable exception was their much-heralded discovery, singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb,"Madelon Baker". Discogs. whose first single they recorded and released,"The Midnight Mail Featuring Jim Webb* – I Can't Get It / I Can't Quit". Discogs. and approximately 50 of whose songs—including "Didn't We," "Where's the Playground Susie" and "Galveston""Jim Webb Ja Ma Master to Bell". Cash Box. May 30, 1970. p. 10.—were published by the Bakers' company, Ja-Ma Music."Degatina to Audio Arts". Cash Box. November 29, 1969. p. 28."Madelon Baker Into R&B; Limits Audio Arts". Billboard. February 22, 1969. p. 26. Another Audio Arts coup was its discovery of the Paradons, resulting in the studio's first hit record (which proved to be the band's only hit), "Diamonds and Pearls".Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. New York : MUZE : Oxford University Press. p. 407. .

Personal life and death Baker was married at least three times. The first two marriages ended in divorce: with violinist/vocalist Carl Graub (aka Grayson) from 1933 to 1940,”Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21K-Y2HB : Sat Oct 21 11:12:59 UTC 2023), Entry for Carl F Graub and Georgia Madelon Baker, 03 Jun 1933. and with producer Lester Mandiville "Les" Mitchel from 1942 to 1952."Can't Live With 'Genius,' Says Wife; Gets Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1952. p. 41. By contrast, Baker's final marriage, to her Audio Arts partner/co-founder—and partial namesake—Jackson Correll Baker, lasted from 1956 until his death in 1975."California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86K-C18 : Thu Oct 19 16:45:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Jackson Correll Baker and Georgia Madelon Mitchel, 28 Apr 1956."California Death Index, 1940-1997", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHG-R32 : 26 November 2014), Jackson C Baker, 28 Oct 1975; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

On February 26, 1999, Baker died of a stroke in Laguna Hills, California.

Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes 1940 Girls of the Road Annie"Showmen's Reviews of Product: Girls of the Road (Columbia); Sociological Melodrama". Motion Picture Herald. As Madelon Grayson The Secret Seven Moll"Madelon Grayson Filmography". TCM. uncredited Glamour for Sale Irene 1950 Charlie's Haunt Eve Tannen"Inside 'Charlie's Haunt'; An interview with Madelon Baker, who plays a role in our new Bell System movie about safety". Pacific Telephone Magazine. 1958. p. 30.St. Louis Flashback (July 22, 2014). "Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Comedy Short 'Charlie's Haunt'". YouTube. 1951 Gasoline Alley Phyllis Wallet"Gasoline Alley Wins New Followers As Movie". Orlando Sunday Sentinel-Star. February 18, 1951. p. 37. As Madelon Mitchel Two Dollar Bettor Grace Shepard"Madelon Mitchel Filmography". TCM. Corky of Gasoline Alley Phyllis Wallet"Exhibitor Servisection: Columbia". The Exhibitor. September 12, 1951. Vol. 46, No. 19. p. 3145. 1953 Never Wave at a WAC Captain McGradyCarmody, Jay (January 29, 1953). "The Passing Show: Premiere Proves Brilliant, Happily So Is the Film". Washington Evening Star. p. 26. Uncredited1955 The Great Adventure Mrs. Grayson As Madelon Mitchell Ain't Misbehavin' Mrs. Warden Uncredited 1956 I've Lived Before Daisy - Miss Stone's MaidLentz, Harris M. (1983). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits : Over 10,000 Actors, Actresses, Directors, Producers, Screenwriters, Cinematographers, Art Directors, and Make-Up, Special Effects, Costume and Other People; Plus Full Cross-References from All Films and TV Shows, Volume 2. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 934. . 1957 The Deadly Mantis Mother

Television Year Title Role Notes 1952 Personal Appearance Theater Episode: "The Haircut" (as Madelon Mitchel)Ames, Walter (February 5, 1952). "Ozzie, Harriet Show Heading for Fall Video; Prop Man Sad Over Skelton Gag Failure". The Los Angeles Times. p. 22. 1955 – 1956 Camera Kitchen Self - host 13 episodes (as Madelon Mitchel) 1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Doctor's Receptionist Season 2 Episode 14: "John Brown's Body""Talent Showsheet December 21 - December 30". Ross Reports on Television. December 24–30, 1956. p. E. 1976 Faith for Today Nurse 1 episodeRensberger, Paula (July 21, 1976). "'Lights, camera, action!' It's just another day at Westwood Hospital; A ready set". Thousand Oaks Star. p. 19. 1983 Odyssey Self 1 episode"Sunday Morning". Los Angeles Times Television Times. September 11, 1983. p. 8.

Notes

References

Further reading Martin, Marjorie (June 10, 1951). "Charming Ogunquit Thrills Vacationists". The Boston Globe. p. A-36. "Guidelines for Black Execs Offered at CORE Parley". Billboard. June 6, 1970. p. 4. "Audio Arts' Baker on 11-City Trip". Record World. June 20, 1970. p. 23. "Webb & Canopy File Suit Vs. Ja-Ma Music". Billboard. October 23, 1971. pp. 8, 72. "Ja-Ma Music Files Webb Countersuit". Billboard. December 25, 1971. p. 3.

External links

The City Wears a Slouch Hat at Internet Archive