Myrtle Watkins
Myrtle Watkins was an American-born Mexican dancer, singer of jazz and Latin American music, and actress, best known in the United States and Mexico by the name Paquita Zarate.
Early life
Myrtle Watkins was born Myrtle Dillard in Birmingham, Alabama, in June 1908. She was the fifth child of Betty S. and Jasper L. Dillard. A 1910 Alabama census confirms her birth. Her father owned and operated J. L. Dillard's Fish Company, a grocery store in Birmingham. In mid-1925, at the age of 17, Myrtle appeared in Baltimore as a dancer with her partner Yank Brunson. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper recognized her as a local entertainer. By late 1925, she had joined Eddie Lemon's Stock Company, performing in the "Who Dat?" revue at the Regent Theater.When Eddie Lemon departed for Philadelphia early in 1926, Myrtle remained at the Regent as part of Lew Peyton's Brownskin Vamps. She gained recognition for her solo Charleston performance during this time. Myrtle married local mechanic Cephus Watkins, but the marriage was short-lived. Subsequently, she performed at the "all-white" Folly Cabaret in East Baltimore, where her Charleston became immensely popular. A few weeks later, she left for Boston to join the "Rarin' to Go" revue. In 1928, while touring the Boston area with the Bostonian Harmony Lads, singing light blues, Myrtle expressed her longing for Baltimore in an article for the Afro-American newspaper.
Career
Arrival in Europe
During the winter of 1928, Myrtle joined the cast of the second version of Lew Leslie's Blackbirds during the Boston auditions. She eventually met Eddie Thompson, one of the show's leading dancers and part of the duo Worthy & Thompson. Myrtle and Eddie returned briefly to New York to marry, although this was another brief marriage. Blackbirds continued touring the Eastern U.S. until May 31, when the troupe boarded the SS Ile de France for France. There, they performed for three months at the Moulin Rouge before the French director renovated the venue into a cinema. The show opened on June 7 and was a sensation, with some of France's top stars attending, including Mistinguett and Maurice Chevalier. Adelaide Hall was the star attraction, and replacing Bill "Bojangles" Robinson in this version were John Worthy and Ed Thompson. Blackbirds returned to New York for a brief East Coast tour in September, but its return coincided with the famous Wall Street crash, leaving the troupe without work.In April 1930, United States Census takers arrived at the Thompson residence on 7th Avenue, where Mrs. Myrtle Thompson mentioned that she was employed as an entertainer with origins in Alabama. Weeks later, while engaged at Harlem's Lennox Club, Afro-American songwriter Eugene Newton, who had previously opened a Parisian nightclub in 1929, began plans to open a new cabaret in the French capital. He organized Newton's Chocolate Revue as the main act. While Eddie Thompson was away touring across America, Myrtle returned to France to join the revue, arriving around April 26. The show was promptly reorganized with the help of Eugene Bullard and S.H. Dudley Jr. before preparing for its opening a week later. On May 1, the Comedy Club Revue opened at Gene Newton's Le Comedy Club, where the production ran for several weeks before the establishment was shut down by French authorities. On May 24, the cast moved to Eugene Bullard's Embassy Club, rebranding the show as Revue Noire: Hot Stuff, featuring headliners Louis Cole, Elisabeth Welch, Lillian Brown, and comic Snow Fisher.
On May 31, Louis Cole, Elisabeth Welch, Myrtle Watkins, and Senegalese Folies-Bergère star Féral Benga were entertaining at the Enfants-Terribles Restaurant, quickly becoming a popular attraction. On June 23, an artistic gala was held at the Enfants-Terribles, where Myrtle performed alongside Lucienne Boyer, Alina de Silva, the Irving Sisters, Charpini and Brancato, and M. Pisella to the sound of Pance Lowry's orchestra. For the remainder of the summer, Myrtle teamed up with Elisabeth Welch, appearing at the famous supper club Chez Florence in long orange satin gowns designed by Jean Patou, lifting their skirts to reveal their long legs as they danced. Soon after, she appeared again at the Embassy with the show Ebony Follies. By late 1930, after most of the cast at the Embassy had already returned to America, Myrtle began performing at the Champs-Élysées Nightclub before eventually making her way southwest to Spain.
Spain (1930–33)
Myrtle probably arrived in Spain that winter, as she opened in Madrid on January 6, 1931, with her Red Hot Coals Jazz Orchestra at the Lido de Madrid Cabaret. Her arrival was likely organized by Spanish author and lyricist Alvaro Retana, who was known for introducing black jazz entertainers to Spain. Retana later mentioned in his memoirs that Myrtle performed semi-nude, imitating the Spanish dancer Carmen Tortola Valencia, under the name Perla de Oriente.On March 7, her contract at the Lido ended, and Myrtle traveled south to Seville's Casino del Exposición, where she was performing when the Spanish monarchy ended on April 14, with Niceto Alcalá-Zamora y Torres declared president and former King Alfonso XIII peacefully abdicating and boarding a train to France in exile.
In May, Myrtle returned triumphantly to Madrid's Lido as celebrations filled the streets. On June 6, she performed at the Sala Metropolitano, and three days later moved to the Ideals-Rosales open-air cabaret, where she performed with Carlos VG Flores' Orchestra until July 6. During this engagement, she was introduced to Argentine singer-guitarist Alfredo Marino and his partner Hector Morel. After her contract ended at the Ideals-Rosales, Myrtle joined the duo on a tour across Spain's northern coast, performing in cities such as Bilbao, Oviedo, and San Sebastián.
Upon returning to Madrid on July 22, she appeared at the Casanova en Stambul cabaret alongside Manuel Pizarro's Argentina Orchestra for three days. On August 11, Myrtle performed at the Dancing Retiro, a nightclub located in Madrid's lush Parque del Buen Retiro, alongside popular Afro-American bandleader Harry Flemming and his orchestra. Two days later, she reunited with Morel and Marino, and together they performed at the Teatro Alkazar in a magnificent stage show for six weeks.
On October 2, Myrtle appeared at the Circo Price for three days before boarding a train to Barcelona. Not long after arriving, she made several appearances on Spanish radio and recorded several songs for the Compañía del Gramófono-Barcelona. Although none of these recordings seem to have survived, she was noted for performing El Manisero and other popular Cuban rumbas and Spanish pasodoble toreros during this time.
On October 27, Myrtle, along with Afro-American dancer Josephine Wynn, opened at the popular Eden Concert Music Hall, where they performed successfully for a month. On November 8, Myrtle participated in the Fiesta Parisina at the Eden Concert alongside Afro-Uruguayan singer Oscar Rorra, known by the stage name Caruso Negro.
On November 17, at the Teatro Novedades, she performed in a benefit for Barcelona's firefighters. On November 21, Myrtle participated in an eight-day variety spectacle at the Circo Barcelonés, alongside some of Spain's top entertainers.
On December 16, Myrtle appeared with Afro-American dancer Jimmy Holmes at the Buena Sombra Cabaret, where she performed until February 3.
From February 28 to March 16, 1932, Myrtle performed with Afro-American bandleader Levi Wine's Revista Americana, which included popular Spanish cabaret artist Bella Dorita, at the Ba-Ta-Clan in Valencia. A week later, she returned to Madrid and established a residence at the Hotel Florida. On March 24, she opened at the Lido de Madrid with Louis Douglas's company, where they were engaged throughout the month. After hours, Myrtle would drive over to the Teatro Fuencarral, where she also appeared in Folklóricos Arrevistados, alongside Argentinean actress Perlita Greco and Rosarillo de Triana.
In early May, while Louis Douglas recovered in a local hospital from stomach pains, Myrtle, together with dancer Scrappy Jones, reorganized the company from his bedside. On May 21, Modern Melodies opened at the Avenida Cinema, where Myrtle performed in a costume with red feathers swinging on her backside. A visiting journalist for the Afro-American described her as the "Josephine Baker of Spain":
"Miss Watkins is a very good dancer, with plenty of pep, and a pretty shapely figure. She is making conquests in high society and on her string is the marquis of one of Spain's bluest blue bloods. She lives at the Hotel Florida, one of the best hotels in the city, has a fine roadster, records for Spanish gramophone and radio, and entertains at one of the leading cabarets."
The revue closed on June 16, and Louis Douglas took the company to another theater, although it's unclear whether Myrtle joined them.
On July 14, Myrtle and Josephine Wynn traveled to the city of Zaragoza to perform for three weeks at the Florida Bar. On October 4, Spanish newspapers reported that an upcoming film, Movietone 1933, was in preparation at a Madrid film studio. The film was set to feature Perlita Greco, Myrtle, Scrappy Jones, and several other Spanish actors. However, it’s unknown whether the film was ever completed.
On October 13, Myrtle performed in the city of Huesca at the Cine Odeon with Cuban saxophonist El Negro Aquilino and his band. In December, Louis Douglas and his troupe departed for what would be a failed Italian tour. It's unclear whether Myrtle accompanied him, as she disappears from the public eye for several months. She may have spent this time performing in various Spanish provinces.
On January 10, 1933, Myrtle resurfaced in Andalusía, performing at Seville's Teatro del Duque. On January 21, she was engaged at the Teatro Mora in the nearby city of Huelva. A short time later, on March 9, she appeared back in Seville at the Pathe Cinema for four days.
In June 1933, Myrtle toured Belgium with bandleader Robert de Kers. While there, she recorded a new song, Lonely Brown Rose and appeared on the covers of Belgian magazines. After returning to Spain in the fall, she opened on September 15 at Barcelona's Teatro Romea in Max Guido's Jazz Show revue, where she performed for two magnificent weeks. On October 7, she moved to the glamorous Pompeya Musichall, where she danced all evening for a month. After midnight, she would run down the street to sing at the popular Hollywood nightclub, where her performances were broadcast as floorshows over the radio.
At the Hollywood, she performed alongside her latest rival, 17-year-old Elsie Bayron, who, although born in Puerto Rico, had grown up in Harlem and was showcasing her repertoire from the Savoy Ballroom every night in Barcelona's popular nightclubs. On November 17, Myrtle appeared at the exclusive Casa Llibre Tea Rooms, singing for some of Spain's elite.
That winter, Myrtle teamed up with Afro-American pianist Tommy Puss Chase and his band for a tour along the southern coast of France. They performed in Cannes, Nice, and ended in Monaco during the Rallye Monte Carlo. A contemporary described Myrtle as "a very enterprising girl, always had some kind of band with her, and was a very good looking and talented singer and dancer."