Dale Winters was born in 1891 in Ohio, and became a teenage beauty and singing talent. She arrived in Chicago in 1915 and auditioned as a singer at Colosimo's Cafe, by which time she was going by the singular, Dale Winter. Big Jim was impressed with her talent and he hired her on the spot at a rate of $40 per week.Over time, Colosimo found himself increasingly attracted to this beautiful young woman, and her innocence awakened in him a desire to quit the rackets. A local clergyman, for whose congregation Dale sang, said, "she has the image of goodness written in her face." Colosimo paid for her to take singing lessons and attained for her a college scholarship to study music. During this time, Dale lived with her mother here, at 5716 South Parkway (now Martin Luther King Dr.).
Big Jim's wife, Victoria, was none too happy having her husband fawning over a teenager, and did everything in her power to separate the two. Finally, she could read the writing on the wall, and decamped for Los Angeles in 1920. Colosimo and Winter became more and more closely intertwined, and they were married on April 16, 1920 at the West Baden Springs Hotel in Indiana. After a short honeymoon, Dale moved into Colosimo's home on Vernon Ave.
Less than a month later, on May 11, Dale Winter was a widow. Colosimo was assassinated, probably at the behest of his lieutenant, Johnny Torrio. Dale Winter renounced all claim to Colosimo's money (no one else ever got much anyway), saying "All I want of Jim is the memory of him. I don't want his money or the things he gave me. I'm going to sing again. Maybe I'll sing better. I know now there isn't much to life except giving something to others. There'll never be anything in my life except singing and remembering and singing."
Dale Winter went on to a moderately successful career on Broadway, and occasionally, in film. She married again in 1924 and moved to California, where she and her husband operated a chain of theaters. Her husband died in the 1960s, and she remarried again twice, each time becoming a widow.
Dale Winter passed on in 1985 at Santa Barbara, California.
Thank you for posting this. My grandparents were Dale winter and Henry Duffy. i don't remember much of my grandpa as he passed when I was 3 or 4 but Gramma Dale was a beautiful woman right to the end, warm, kind, generous. Her eyes always twinkled and her voice remained sweet and melodious to the end.
ReplyDeleteLisa Duffy Atkin
OK most people will think that I am a bit crazy for dueing this but I am trying to find out about Dale Winters Duffy due to the fact that I was born on November 28th 1985 in California and have family friends connected to Colosimo. Anyone who can help me would be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSure, get a phone book and look up psychiatrist.
DeleteMy cousin, playwright Anne Nichols was the first wife of Henry Duffy, who later married Dale Winter. I would like to know where Henry Duffy is buried if anyone knows. Also interested in finding more information about Henry Duffy Nichols, Henry's son by Anne Nichols.
ReplyDeleteRobert Westberry
In case it helps some of the posters, here are the Find-A-Grave memorials for...
ReplyDeleteDale Winter Duffy:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53964225
Henry 'Terry' Duffy:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53932222
Note that both are shown as having been cremated; specifically, Dale's remains are listed as 'scattered at sea.'
Bolches yarboclos pa todos.
ReplyDeleteI would like to get in touch with Lisa Duffy Atkin. Her grandmother and my mother are cousins. My grandmother kept in contact with Dale prior to my grandmother's death in 1961.
ReplyDeletePatricia