In 1941 her recording of “Daddy” made it to number 13 on the charts. That same year she played herself in the film Time Out for Rhythm (1941), which featured the Three Stooges, Ann Miller, and Rudy Vallee.

In 1942 she appeared in Mayor of 44th Street, starring George Murphy. Merrill sang with the Freddie Martin Orchestra, but the songs, even the Oscar-nominated “When There’s a Breeze on Lake Louise,” were forgettable. However, the film was one of the New York Times Critic’s Picks that year. Merrill was also a guest on prime radio shows of the ‘40s. She appeared with Adolpe Menjou on Fred Allen’s show and was a regular on The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy show.

- Sandra Burlingame