Singer, Musician, Actress. She was discovered before her sixteenth birthday by Harry Freeman, a comedian with the Edwin Stewart Theatrical company. Freeman heard Lettie singing at her father's fish market in Racine, Wisconsin and requested she audition for critics at old Turner Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This audition launched her formal voice training in Europe and thus began her singing career with the Maurice Grau Opera company as lead soprano. In those early years after she returned from performing in Europe, she toured northern and southern states in the United States adopting the stage name Anita Lassen. She was billed as the "Danish Nightingale." In addition to performing, she also taught voice lessons in New Orleans, Louisiana and New York, New York. Eventually she adopted and used the stage name Doris Wilson staring in many stage performances such as "Before the Ball" and "The Antique Girl." In 1913, she was joined by her two younger sisters, Dot and Alma, to form Doris Wilson and Company, later the Doris Wilson Trio. Together they performed a unique and very successful Vaudeville mirror act called "Through the Looking Glass." Her professional international singing and acting career spanned nearly thirty years.
Singer, Musician, Actress. She was discovered before her sixteenth birthday by Harry Freeman, a comedian with the Edwin Stewart Theatrical company. Freeman heard Lettie singing at her father's fish market in Racine, Wisconsin and requested she audition for critics at old Turner Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This audition launched her formal voice training in Europe and thus began her singing career with the Maurice Grau Opera company as lead soprano. In those early years after she returned from performing in Europe, she toured northern and southern states in the United States adopting the stage name Anita Lassen. She was billed as the "Danish Nightingale." In addition to performing, she also taught voice lessons in New Orleans, Louisiana and New York, New York. Eventually she adopted and used the stage name Doris Wilson staring in many stage performances such as "Before the Ball" and "The Antique Girl." In 1913, she was joined by her two younger sisters, Dot and Alma, to form Doris Wilson and Company, later the Doris Wilson Trio. Together they performed a unique and very successful Vaudeville mirror act called "Through the Looking Glass." Her professional international singing and acting career spanned nearly thirty years.
Bio by: Nadeen Sobottka
Gravesite Details
According to the Racine Journal Times dated October 16, 1942, she was cremated in St. Petersburg, Florida and her ashes were buried in her family's plot in Mound Cemetery.
Family Members
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