User:Danno Hanks/sandbox

Cheerful Capitola Willoughby-The Pretty Girl With The Happy Name

In the mid-70s as President of the Monongahela Historical Society, I had in my possession, for safe keeping, 20+ photo albums of Dr. Taylor, a Monongahela dentist. While looking through these albums, I came upon an advertisement for a local ice cream company. It featured a pretty young girl with an uncommon but happy name, Cheerful Willoughby.

The information under the ad stated that Cheerful lived in Monongahela, her father owned the local opera house and she was named Miss Monongahela, in 1909. It ended with the statement that she went to Hollywood and became a silent movie star.

I always thought it would be interesting to see if she did go to Hollywood and if she did become a movie star. In 2014, I decided to see what I could find out about her life and to answer those two questions.

Due to the wonders of the Internet, I was able to locate Cheerful's grandson, Dan "Danno" Hanks, who provided most of this information and all the photos used, The photos are his property and used with his permission. Cheerful Capitola Willoughby was born on May 21, 1891, in Lockport, Niagara, NY. Her parents were Merrill B. Willoughby and Emily J. Scholfield, The 1900 census lists Merrill, Emily, Cheerful and two sons, Don and Thomas. They were living in Claysville Borough, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Cheerful would have been 9 years old at the time. The 1910 census shows that the family had moved to Richmond Ward 2, Richmond, NY and lists a sister, Olive. It would be safe to assume that due to this movement, Cheerful's father did not own the opera house, but probably managed it. In 1902, when Cheerful was 11 years old, he published a song she wrote and dedicated to her brother, Don. The song was titled "Will You Be Mine" and was considered a "parlor song", meaning it was the type of song played for the family's enjoyment while sitting around the house in the evening. It is listed as published by M. B. Willoughby, Lyric Theatre, Washington, PA. This would indicate that Merrill was working at the Lyric Theatre in Washington, PA in 1902. Cheerful became well known in the Monongahela and Charleroi area due to being mentioned in The Charleroi Mail, apparently a newspaper of the community. To me this would indicate that the family either moved to Monongahela between 1902 and 1910, or Merrill was involved with the opera house and Cheerful  spent much time there, possibly playing piano. Cheerful was in the area enough to be the model in an ice cream advertisement and to be named Miss Monongahela of 1909.

In 1908 or 1909, she moved with her parents to Stockton, NY The Pittsburgh Press had the following announcements. Cheerful became engaged to Charles Kappes, Jr of Washington, PA on June 23, 1912. She was married at her parent's home in Stockton, NY, on July 4, 1912. She was 21 years old. On October 18, 1913, her only child, Cheerful Louis Kappes was born.

In the next few years, her musical talent became evident as she had several songs published. On November 19, 1913 she wrote the music with J.W.Musgrove lyrics to "Pansy". Cheerful and Mr.; Musgrove followed this with a comedy in two acts, titled "The Princess Lulu". Finally, in 1919 Cheerful provided the music with Ivan Abramson's lyrics on "Someone Must Pay".

In 1920, Cheerful became the first model for the Kodak Advertising Postcard Plan. It is the iconic Kodak advertising photo and can be seen on the cover of the book, "Kodak Girl" Later she did some other modeling. Possibly because of this exposure, Cheerful became the subject of a stalker. He was jailed in 1921 but on his release four years later, was again arrested. At the time, Cheerful was listed as an organist in a Brooklyn movie theater. In 1926, Paramount Pictures released the silent film, "Kid Boots", starring Eddie Canter. In the credits, Cheerful is listed on the crew as Musician. This seems to be the only movie credit for Cheerful.

Sadly, in 1935, Cheerful became a resident at Rockland Psychiatry Center, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockland_Psychiatric_Center) in Orangeburg, NY. She resided at this mental hospital until her passing on April 5, 1952. She was 61 years old.

Did the pretty girl with the happy name make it to Hollywood? Yes. Did she become a movie star? No. However, her name will always be a part of the movie industry. Bob Gallagher bobgallagher@tampabay.rr.com