Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Juliette Lange 1882-1977
Juliette Lange was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1882. Her father, John Lange, was a well-known Russian voice teacher who immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1867 and married Ida Auwerda, a Dutch prima donna, in 1873. They had three children, Juliette, Julius and Zenia. The family owned the Lange Art and Novelty Company, in Council Bluffs, Iowa until 1914 when they came to Florida as pioneers, purchasing a parcel of Everglades ‘muckland’ in Davie where they established the first citrus grove in this type of soil. Part of their old citrus grove is now Lange Park in the Town of Davie.
Juliette was a mezzo-soprano who “sang with a sweetness of tone not often heard from other than a star.” Like her mother, she was a prima donna or second principal singer. Juliette learned piano and dancing from her father and was later sent to Chicago to study under Madame Dore Boetti, a renowned Italian vocal teacher. After a year in grand opera, Juliette stepped into the role of Arlina in Bohemian Girl with the Standard Opera Company. Just before her retirement, Juliette joined Walter Mitgo’s Olympians to sing in Melody Land, an opening act to the movie, The Mysterious Lady starring Greta Garbo at The Olympia Theater in Miami. She also became a familiar radio voice of the time.
In 1930, Juliette’s father became seriously ill. She retired from show touring and came to Fort Lauderdale to take care of him. In Fort Lauderdale, Juliette developed new interests and became involved with community activities. She was known in gardening circles for her skill in growing camellia flowers and was president of the Rio Vista Beautification Circle. Like her mother, Ida, she was active with St. Anthony’s Church serving as choir director and president of the church Women’s Club. Juliette was also an early member of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.