West End in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Helen Traubel
Born June 16, 1899
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 7, 2018
1. Helen Traubel Marker
Inscription.
Helen Traubel. Born June 16, 1899. Born above her father's drugstore at Jefferson and Chouteau Avenues in South St. Louis, heroic-voiced Helen Traubel debuted with the St. Louis Symphony in 1924. To continue her training in St. Louis, she initially declined an offer from New York's Metropolitan Opera, but moved to New York in the late 1930s. Traubel was the Met's premier Wagnerian soprano until she left in 1953 to appear in nightclubs, on television and in movies, with her joyous confidence and booming laughter, Helen Traubel broke down barriers in a stratified society and proved that an American could succeed in the European-dominated opera world.
Born above her father's drugstore at Jefferson and Chouteau Avenues in South St. Louis, heroic-voiced Helen Traubel debuted with the St. Louis Symphony in 1924. To continue her training in St. Louis, she initially declined an offer from New York's Metropolitan Opera, but moved to New York in the late 1930s. Traubel was the Met's premier Wagnerian soprano until she left in 1953 to appear in nightclubs, on television and in movies, with her joyous confidence and booming laughter, Helen Traubel broke down barriers in a stratified society and proved that an American could succeed in the European-dominated opera world.
Erected 1994 by St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Women. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, St. Louis Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 16, 1899.
Location. 38° 39.331′ N, 90° 17.961′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in West End. Marker is on Delmar Boulevard east of North Skinker Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6193 Delmar Boulevard, Saint Louis MO 63112, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Robert Duvall (here, next to this marker); T. S. Eliot (a few
Click or scan to see this page online
steps from this marker); Robert S. Brookings (a few steps from this marker); Sara Teasdale (a few steps from this marker); Mel Bay (within shouting distance of this marker); Hale Irwin (within shouting distance of this marker); Andy Cohen (within shouting distance of this marker); Chic Young (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Photo courtesy of the University of Washington University Libaries, 1942
2. Helen Traubel, dramatic soprano
Credits. This page was last revised on March 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 14, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on October 15, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
