Doris June Struble Explained

Doris June Struble
Other Names:Doris Struble Harmon (after first marriage), Doris Seyller (after second marriage)
Birth Date:June 21, 1895
Birth Place:Sioux City, Iowa
Death Date:June 1976
Death Place:Fresno, California
Occupation:Singer, pianist, dramatic reader
Years Active:1910s, 1920s

Doris June Struble (June 21, 1895 – 1976) was an American pianist, singer, and dramatic reader, based in California. As a young woman, she toured North America, Australia, and New Zealand, and performed on radio; in her later years, she wrote poetry and was a popular children's hospital entertainer in Fresno.

Early life

Doris June Struble was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Michael A. Struble[1] and Sarah June Pattenden Struble. She studied piano from childhood,[2] and graduated from Sioux City Central High School in 1913.[3] In 1914, she starred in a large church pageant in Sioux City.[4] She trained as a performer at the Columbia College of Dramatic Art in Chicago, and as a singer with Oscar Saenger in New York.[5]

Career

Struble toured as a pianist, singer, and dramatic reader on the Chautauqua circuit in the United States and Canada in the 1910s and 1920s.[6] [7] She appeared in Australia and New Zealand in 1918 and 1919, as a member of the Southern Seas Sextette (an all-woman musical ensemble),[8] as a soloist, and accompanying singer Carrie Lanceley.[9] [10] She performed her own works, and pieces by Edna Ferber, Mana-Zucca, Edgar Guest, Carrie Jacobs-Bond, Charles Wakefield Cadman, and other writers. She was especially active in California, often seen on women's club programs and at other community events.[11] [12] [13] Her act also worked on radio.[14] She continued performing her dramatic readings for community groups into the 1940s.[15]

In the 1950s and 1960s, Doris Struble Harmon wrote short poems that appeared in newspapers including The Wall Street Journal.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20] In the 1970s, she was known as the "Fairy Godmother" of Valley Children's Hospital, because she would dress up in a silver cloak, a tiara, and carry a magic wand to visit the young patients to tell them stories.[21] [22] [23]

Personal life

Doris June Struble married Sturges Harmon of Chicago in 1923.[24] [25] They had two children, James and Sarah. She was widowed in 1973, and married again in 1974, to Kennard Burdette Seyller Sr.[26] She died in 1976, aged 81 years, in Fresno, California.

Notes and References

  1. News: 1902-12-25. Doris Struble Gets the Doll. 3. Sioux City Journal. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: 1909-02-28. Music. 16. Sioux City Journal. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  3. The Sioux City High School Maroon and White (1913 yearbook): 75. via Ancestry
  4. News: 1914-01-18. Pageant of 'Book Beloved'. 5. Sioux City Journal. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  5. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LJJ19220609.2.13&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Doris+June+Struble-------1 "Doris June Struble, the Versatile Artist, Will Give a Recital"
  6. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=RBDN19180503.2.39&srpos=12&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Doris+June+Struble-------1 "Schubert Serenaders Bring Joyous Music to Chautauqua"
  7. News: 1924-08-03. Musicians and Dramatists in Varied Events. 64. The Los Angeles Times. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  8. News: 1918-12-12. Evening Session. 2. Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876–1954). 2021-05-31. Trove.
  9. News: 1919-10-09. The Sentimental Bloke. 25. Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885–1939). 2021-05-31. Trove.
  10. News: May 17, 1919. Advertisement. 2. Evening Post. 2021-05-31. Papers Past.
  11. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=RDP19221104.2.74&srpos=2&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Doris+June+Struble-------1 "Woman's Club Program Told"
  12. https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19230222.2.54&srpos=5&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-Doris+June+Struble-------1 "Patriotic Spirit at Sing Tonight"
  13. News: 1923-03-25. Miss Struble to Entertain Woman's Club. 4. Bakersfield Morning Echo. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  14. News: 1922-12-24. Gay Music on KIIJ Program. 18. The Los Angeles Times. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  15. News: 1942-01-06. Resume Sing Programs This Week. 10. Daily News. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Harmon. Doris Struble. 1954-11-13. Saturday Afternoon. 2. Quad-City Times. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Harmon. Doris Struble. 1955-03-24. Metamorphosis. 36. Ventura County Star-Free Press. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Harmon. Doris Struble. 1958-12-03. Old Golfers Never Die. 6. Quad-City Times. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  19. News: Harmon. Doris Struble. 1961-03-25. Snake in the Grass. 18. The Daily Times. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  20. News: Harmon. Doris Struble. 1967-09-02. Shirt Tale. 8. Quad-City Times. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  21. News: Petersen. Jan W.. 1983-12-11. Fresnan Reminisces About the 1914 Howlin' Normal Huskies. 40. The Fresno Bee. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  22. News: 1976-07-07. Volunteer's Magic. 23. The Fresno Bee. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Clarey. Kathey. 1973-02-04. Doris Harmon: Godmother to Many. 76. The Fresno Bee. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.
  24. News: 1923-07-17. Announce Approaching Marriage. 8. The Herald-Press. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  25. News: 1923-06-16. Popular Musician to Wed. 5. Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 2021-05-31. Newspapers.com.
  26. News: 1994-07-16. Obituary for KENNARD BURDETTE SEYLLER, 1896-1994 (Aged 98). 60. The Fresno Bee. 2021-06-01. Newspapers.com.

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