Perry Askam
Perry Askam (1898–1961) was a 20th-century American actor and baritone singer, most active in musical theatre and opera around the San Francisco area.[2] Perry was orphaned at a young age, and went to live with his maternal aunt, Elisa Haag, whom he came to view as a second mother.[2] Askam joined the French army during World War I, and when the United States entered on the side of the Allies, he transferred to the American Ambulance Corps.[5] Askam had a significant role in the 1930 Warner Brothers musical film Sweet Kitty Bellairs in which he sang lead in several numbers,[1] not surprising in that he was the only professional singer in the cast.[8] He had two roles for San Francisco's 1937 season, both in works by Charles Gounod, first as Mercutio in his Roméo et Juliette and then as Valentin in Faust.