Viola Essen's journey to stardom in ballet was a testament to the unpredictable nature of success in the entertainment industry. Despite being signed by Republic boss Herbert J. Yates after her captivating performance in the short-lived Broadway musical "Hollywood Pinafore", she struggled to replicate her success on the big screen.
In 1946, the 21-year-old ballerina was cast in one of Republic's biggest productions, "Specter of the Rose", a film launched with a grand publicity campaign featuring ads in prominent periodicals such as "Life", "Cue", and "Look". Written, directed, and produced by the renowned Academy Award winner Ben Hecht, the film told a tale of "dark terror and strange love". Although it received moderate critical acclaim for its offbeat nature, the film failed to generate significant box office returns.
The New York Times Review (September 2, 1946) was particularly scathing in its assessment, urging Hecht to return to writing conventional films that everyone else enjoys, rather than indulging in unconventional projects that only satisfy his own soul.
After her film debut, Viola returned to the Ballet Theatre and later appeared on Broadway in "Along Fifth Avenue" (1949),starring alongside the talented Jackie Gleason. Her personal life was marked by a marriage to actor Gabriel Dell, a member of the "Dead End Kids" fame, sometime in the early 1950s.
Professionally, Viola's time in the spotlight was short-lived, and she was never again seen on the big screen. Her later life was marked by financial hardship, and she passed away in 1970 at the age of 44.
