Barbara deCosta
That Guatemalan Connection
Entertainer, singer, national television host
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Barbara DeCosta

"Here she is, just a talented and beautiful young singer fresh from Guatemala who sings in six languages and seems to be getting gigs at all the best spots."

On her first meeting with Leonard: "I didn't like him - right away."

They were married in January 1951, just a few months later. They've been together ever since.

Original cutline:

"BARBARA DeCOSTA, torch and ballad singer from the Blue Angel Club in New York, is making her Miami Beach debut at the Vanity Fair Club"

On the Sammy Davis Jr. Show, cutline:

"LOVELY - Beautious Barbara De Costa, lovely singer of songs from Guatemala, will appear on stage with the Sammy Davis Jr. show at the Regal Theatre beginning Friday."

Ad for Pigalle in St. Louis.

From the "artist/biography" prepared by:

Leonard Reed
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
380 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor
OXford 7-2590

STUDIO FILMS, INC.
publicity department

Latin born Barbara DeCosta, one of the liveliest singers to come along in recent years, stands five feet eight inches and weighs one-hundred and thirty-five pounds. She attended UCLA and speaks English Fluently.

Babara is equally at home with a ballad, show tune, torch song or operatic aria, as well as some clever special material. She sings in English, French and Spanish and is remarkably adept in these languages.

After many years of voice training, Miss DeCosta entered the concert field. She made an extensive tour of the West Coasat where audiences and critics alike acclaimed her exciting mezzo-soprano tone qualities.

Following her completion of this tour, Network executives vied for Barbara's outstanding talents, and for one year, "The Barbara DeCosta Show", sponsored by The Roper Stove Co., was heard from coast-to-coast. This show, emanating from KLAC-TV, Los Angeles, Calif., earned for Miss DeCosta the name, "Telegenic Barbara."

Possessed with a dynamic personality and an ability to captivate an audience, Barbara has been established as an outstanding entertainer in most of the nation's leading night clubs and smart hotels.

Besides her numerous radio and television appearances, Miss DeCosta has completed successful engagements at such top spots as: Cafe Gala, Bar Of Music, Latty Potter's, Victors and the Marquez, in Los Angeles, Califnorina; The Chez Paree and Ruby Foo's in Montreal, and La Port St. John in Quebec, Canada; the Esquire Room in Dayton, Ohio; the Chez Ami in Buffalo, New York; and the Bachelor House in New York City.

Studio Films has just completed a series of films starring Miss DeCosta.

"Let's Go Places" column by A.S. Kany talking about the "Red Room":

"... Offered on the bill is Barbara De Costa, a tall, dark-haired beauty from Guatemala, who gives sultry-voiced glitter to a variety of numbers. To mention a few, "Why don't you Believe Me," "I Get a Kick Out of You" and some typically Spanish numbers native to her land. In her lower register Miss De Costa has some lucious tone quality."

"Amusements" column by Bill Barton in Variety:

"At the Red Room this week is an unusual variety show, featuring a classical pianist and a beautiful Guatemalan singer. The pianist is Samuel Shpargel, perforning on an $800 Baldwin Grand. ... The singer is Barbara De Costa, whose good voice, better poise and excellent flair for dramatics, make her appear to be on her way to the top."