Longmeadow's Star of Stage & Radio

Travel into the past to learn about an almost forgotten Longmeadow star of the theater and radio.

Julia Sanderson

Julia Sanderson (1887-1975) was born Julia Sackett in Springfield and was the only child of Albert Sackett and Jeanette Sanderson. Albert (1861-1939) worked for such Springfield institutions as Barney and Berry Skate Company, Smith and Wesson, and the Densmore Typewriter Company. Albert Sackett had a different calling altogether, though - acting. He eventually chose to pursue acting full time. When Julia was nine years old, Albert moved the family to Philadelphia where he launched a thirty-five year career on the professional stage. His daughter, Julia, started in show business at age thirteen acting in the melodramatic play Zorah alongside her father.  In an effort to differentiate between the two, and to give a more youthful allure to her father’s stage persona, Julia took her mother’s maiden name and became known as Julia Sanderson. By fifteen she was appearing on Broadway as a chorus girl and ultimately a leading lady. She would go on to be the star of many Broadway musical comedies including The Dairy Maids, Girl From Utah, The Sunshine Girl, No, No Nanette, Queen High, Oh Kay, Tangerine, Ziegfeld Follies, The Canary, and Hitchy Koo. Julia also performed in touring shows around the country and in London, England. In all she appeared in approximately twenty musical productions.

In 1907, she married her first husband Ted Sloan. He was a Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey. The marriage ended in 1913. Her second marriage was to Navy Lieutenant Commander Bradford Barnette in 1916, and the couple divorced in 1922.

In 1921 she met Frank Crumit, her leading man in the play Tangerine, who had a successful career in vaudeville and musical recording. Both were married, but their professional relationship eventually evolved into love and the couple were married in 1927. The wedding took place at the First Church in Longmeadow. Julia’s parents had moved to Longmeadow in 1919 and resided on Roseland Terrace.

Following the wedding, the couple decided to retire from the theater and purchased a new home in Colony Acres in 1928. The home was called “Dunrovin” because they believed that their “roving” was over.

Crumit decided to become a stockbroker, though that career turn was short-lived. Julia stated, “we were like fish out of water and couldn’t stay away from the life we loved.”  The couple returned to show business, concentrating on the new medium of radio, initially starring in the General Motors Family Party in 1929. The couple split time between New York City and Longmeadow. Their radio broadcasts were typically Monday to Friday. They were among the most popular radio singers of the 1930s, which many consider the golden age of radio. It was said that “their program format was almost no format: a few songs with Frank strumming the guitar, a duet, some friendly banter, and that was it.”  There was a magical sincerity and affection between the couple that was deeply felt and appreciated by the radio audience. They also hosted early quiz show broadcasts including Battle of the Sexes and the Tums Quiz Show.

Frank Crumit unfortunately died suddenly of a heart attack on September 7, 1943 at age 53 years. Julia briefly attempted to carry on in radio but soon retired. She stated, “when a team separates it is hard to establish yourself.” Julia sold her home in Colony Acres in November 1943 and moved in to care for her widowed mother on Roseland Terrace. 

She remained in this home following her mother’s death in 1952 and sold it in 1959 and then she moved into the Sheraton Kimball Hotel in downtown Springfield. Julia had no other family and following her retirement remained somewhat of a recluse. She did not perform, engage in hobbies, participate in social causes or entertain. She discussed writing her autobiography to chronicle her forty year career in entertainment, but this was never completed. Julia died peacefully at 87 years of age on January 27, 1975. Both Julia and Frank are buried in Springfield’s Hillcrest Cemetery. The Paramount Theater in Springfield for a brief time was known as the Julia Sanderson Theater.  Follow this link to listen to a duet from Julia and Frank on YouTube.

Sources:

Boston Globe

Boston Herald

Springfield Republican

Springfield Union

Springfield Daily News

Evening Post

Worcester Telegram

Hampden Registry of Deeds

Ancestry.com

Find A Grave