Vonda Phelps

Avonda Maude Phelps (April 19, 1915 – September 2, 2004) credited as Vonda Phelps, was an American child stage actress, vaudeville performer and dancer in the 1920s. She appeared in four silent film productions in 1922 and 1923.[1]

Vonda Phelps
Phelps in 1922
Born
Avonda Maude Phelps

(1915-04-19)April 19, 1915
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedSeptember 2, 2004(2004-09-02) (aged 89)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Gerald Russell Hunsaker
​
​
(m. 1940; died 1997)​
Parent(s)Rinaldo Abel Phelps (1872–1951)
Lillian Maude Tiffin (1891–1983)

Biography

Phelps was born on April 19, 1915 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Rinaldo Abel Phelps (1872–1951) and Lillian Maude Tiffin (1891–1983).[1][2]

In May 1924 Phelps participated in Good Fairy, a fantasy play in two acts, at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.[3] She performed along with almost twenty other children. Phelps appeared as a dancer at the Christmas program of the Cosmos Club the following December. Her presentation was highlighted by a rendition of Pierrotte Phantasy. The dance was her original creation and demonstrated her unique personality.[4] Phelps gave a similar interpretation of the dance at the Ambassador Theater in Los Angeles. Her performance was part of a concert given by The Children's Opera in June 1926.[5]

Phelps appeared in four motion pictures in the early 1920s: in The Man Who Waited (1922), as "June", a baby, and in The Jungle Goddess (1922) as "Betty", a little girl, Strange Idols, as a girl at seven and Slippery McGee.[6][7]

Her fame as a youth performer did not endure. She had a birthday luncheon in 1928 at the Elite on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Guests were entertained at a table replete with a centerpiece of sweet peas rendered in pastel shades. Later the celebrants went to Grauman's Chinese Theater. Fellow silent film star Virginia Marshall was among Phelps' birthday attendants.[8] In 1935 she spent twelve weeks dancing in Mexico at the Paris Inn Cafe.[1][9] On December 7, 1940 in Alameda, California she married Gerald Russell Hunsaker (1919–1997).

She died on September 2, 2004, age 89, in Los Angeles, California.[2]

References
  1. "Avonda Phelps, Child Actress, Now Grown Up". Los Angeles Times. January 14, 1935.
  2. She appears as "Avonda Phelps", mistranscribed in the index as "Amanda Phelps", in the 1940 United States Census and is living with her parents, Rinaldo Phelps and Lillian Tiffin, and it lists her occupation as "actress". She appears in the California Death Index as "Avonda M. Phelps" with the same parents. The Social Security Death Index has the following information: "Name: Avonda M. Phelps; SSN: Last Residence: 91042 Tujunga, Los Angeles, California, USA; Born: 19 Apr 1915; Died: 2 Sep 2004". She also applied for a new Social Security card in 1977 as "Avonda Phelps" with parents Rinaldo Phelps and Lillian Tiffin and listed her birth as April 19, 1915 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
  3. "Will Have Role In Good Fairy". Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1924.
  4. "Cosmos Club". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1924. p. C26.
  5. "The Children's Opera". Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1926.
  6. "Thrills Galore in 'Jungle Goddess'". Motion Picture Daily. January 28, 1922. p. 605.
  7. "Women's Page". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. May 16, 1929.
  8. "Society of Cinemaland". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1928.
  9. "Paris Inn Dancers". Los Angeles Times. June 5, 1935.

Further reading
  • Los Angeles Times, Stars Tomorrow? April 1, 1925, Page C4.
  • Los Angeles Times, Talented Child At Benefit Dance, June 4, 1925, Page 20.
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