Alas, word has come on the hot gay wires that fabulously risquee night club chanteuse of the ’40s and ’50s, Ruth Wallis, has passed from Alzheimer’s.
Wallis, progenitress of such incredibly double entendred tunes as “Hopalaong Chastity,” “The Dinghy Song” (“Davey had the cutest little dinghy in the Navy”), and, a personal favorite, “A Man, a Mink, and a Million Pink and Purple Pills” — and who was the inspiration for 2003 Off-Broadway tribute “Boobs! The Musical” — was 87.
Someone has just expunged all of her online clips (heirs already planning to cash in, perhaps?) but below is a fine Victrola-type dealie spinning “Johnny Had a Yo-Yo.” Blush and sing along with us, for Ruth.
Thanks to Matt Sussman of Flavorpill for passing the sad news on.