Barbara Allen

Tucson, AZ, USA

My father Antonio Cammarata came from a royal family. He was baron and assisted King Vittorio Emanuele 2nd, at the time. My father decided to leave Sicily, and came to America for a better life. Also, my mother Rosaria Cammarata joined my father, and decided to get married in America. They were first cousins. We lived in Arlington, Massachusetts at that time. I have three brothers, Michael, Chris and Joe. I was born on June 28,1924. My name was Josephine Grace Cammarata. I was fourteen years old when I started to write poetry. My first poem I wrote is titled, "Truth" Speak it honestly, never fear. Speak it so that all may hear. In the end it shall appear. Thruth is best, throughout the year. Then I went to Arlington Hight School in Massachusetts and graduated. At nineteen I went to court with my mother and changed my name to Barbara Allen legally. Then I decided to go to Hollywood, California. In 1949, I opened a Theatrical Agency in Hollywood, and sponsored many talent shows, and invited directors, producers from radio, television, night clubs, and motion pictures. I have also worked in Hollywood directing talent shows for KFOX and also KHJ radio, and was under the supervision of the late Cecil B. DeMille. I also taught drama at the Hal Styles School of Radio. I helped many entertainers reach their goal. Then I returned to Boston and worked with Louise Morgain over WNAO television, also WEEL and WTAO as a disc jockey, and also produced variety shows and childrens shows over WBZ television. Finally I moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1966 with my husband Joe and my two daughters, Laurie and Ann. That same year we decided to adopt a boy. His name is Joe Jr. In 1970, I was an extra at Old Tucson Movie Location filming, "Run, Simon Run, " opposite Burt Reynolds and Inger Stevens. In 1986, I was a disc jockey and hostess for a talk show at KXCI Radio. I also wrote many scripts for radio and television. I wrote my first play, "Three Too Many." In 1986, I joined the Community Cable Corp. in Tucson and produced and directed many videw shows, which included, "Arizona Welcomes Pope John Paul 2," "The Liberated Wailing Wall, " "Master Design," "Bethlehem Marketplace, "and many more. In 1989, The American Poetry Association held its second annual convention in New Orleans where singer, Glen Campbell, presented me with another award for best poetry for that year.