According to his 1917 WWI draft card (also in Ancestry.com) at the age of 21 he worked in Portland, Oregon at the Traffic Department for the Southern Pacific Railroad. By 1920 he sang in musical theater sketches at Portland's Liberty Theater. In 1921 he transferred to work for the Southern Pacific in Merced, California where he quickly became a major figure in the musical life there.
"Albert Gillette: Available for Concerts and Entertainments" (ad. in the Merced Sun-Star March 11, 1923)
A 1923 article announced that Gillette had been appointed to the Sherwood School of Music in Modesto. It also gave him an impressive resume claiming that he had been "brought to the Coast" by the legendary Sid Grauman who intended to engage him at this movie theaters. This article also highlighted Gillette's forthcoming appearances with the San Francisco Opera company. It also noted that he began his training under Hugo Reisenfeld and had appeared at the Rialto and Rivoli theaters in New York.
In 1924 he was listed as the director of the Modesto Conservatory of Music, but his professional focus had already moved substantially to the San Francisco Bay Area. In February 1923, he was a finalist in operatic singing contest judged by baritone Titta Ruffo that was held by the San Francisco Examiner's short-lived radio station KUO. Between September 1923 and September 1924 he performed in the San Francisco Opera company's performances of Andrea Chénier, Gianni Schicchi, Rigoletto, Roméo et Juliette, Madama Butterfly and Tosca.
In the following years he performed extensively with the Pacific Coast Grand Opera troupe led by Arturo Casiglia. He also sang at many churches in San Francisco and Oakland and was active at Oakland's Athens Club. But Gillette was probably best known for his work on local radio where he was a frequent on-air recitalist on KGO, KPO, KFRC and KYA in San Francisco and KLX and KTAB in Oakland.
Albert Gillette, baritone, plays "Camille" in Lehar's "Merry Widow" the comic opera on KGO's Sat. eve. Dec. 5 program (source: San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection)
As radio began to more toward more network programming, Gillette's vocal talents were broadcast across the airwaves of more West Coast stations. He perform and directed with Paul Steindorff's Radio Light Opera Company, broadcast from KGO but heard across NBC's Orange Network. In 1930 he transferred to Portland, Oregon where he continued working for NBC as the program director at station KGW.
Albert Gillette, former star of KPO is now Director of Programs for KGW, Portland. Word from the north indicates that the KPO favorite of several years ago is enjoying unrivalled success as the helmsman of KGW's programs. (Source: Broadcast Weekly December 6, 1931)
Luther F. Sies' Encyclopedia of American Radio 1920-1960 lists a few of the broadcast programs where Gillette was featured. He was a member of California Mixed Quartet on KGO in 1925, the Francisco Mixed Quartet on KPO in 1926 and the KTAB Quartet on KTAB in 1926. He also performed on the National Carbon Company Program on KGO in 1925 and on the Hour of Musical Gems on the NBC-Pacific Coast Network (Orange Network) originating from KYA, with Pacific Salon Orchestra conducted by Liborius Hauptmann. Gillette continued to sing opera in Southern California returned to the Bay Area in the late 1930s and resumed his appearances on Bay Area radio stations and stages.
While Albert Gillette was ubiquitous on the Bay Area stage and airwaves for many years there are few accounts of his performance style. A reviewer in the Pacific Coast Musical Review was "impressed with his histrionic ability. Gillette has the knack of making even the smallest sort of a role a thing of distinction." Another review in the Music Leader noted his "splendid acting, powerful baritone voice and fine diction."
Albert Jay Gillette died in San Francisco on January 5, 1956. His death notice in the Chronicle of January 6, 1956 did not mention his musical career but did note his membership in The Family, a local men's social club that actively presented concerts and plays. He also kept a connection to his railway work -- the notice also stated that he was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks Local 854. He was buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma.
"Albert Gillette Goes to Modesto to Teach Music," Merced Sun-Star September 5, 1923
"Albert Gillette on Athens Program," San Francisco Chronicle June 20, 1926.
"Albert Gillette Will Sing in 'Lucia' Here," Oakland Tribune April 2, 1939
Alexandre, Constance H., "Pacific Coast Opera Co.," Pacific Coast Musical Review November 20-30, 1926.
"Arturo Casiglia," San Francisco Examiner December 27, 1925.
"'Barber' to Be Given in English in Pasadena," Los Angeles Times August 21, 1938.
"Gillette Will Song Six Songs," San Francisco Chronicle June 11, 1927
"Hanson and Powell Present Works with San Francisco Symphony," Musical Leader December 31, 1925.
"KGO Grand Opera on Air Tomorrow," San Francisco Examiner March 10, 1927.
"Local News," Merced Sun-Star July 20, 1924.
"Mainly about Merced," Merced County Sun November 11, 1921.
"Mikado to Be Given by KGO," San Francisco Examiner June 27, 1925
"Musical Club Closes Successful Season," Merced County Sun May 28, 1922.
Nunan, Thomas, "Millions Hear Greatest S.F. Air Program," San Francisco Examiner April 6, 1927.
"'Pagliacci' in KGO Broadcast," San Francisco Examiner March 6, 1927.
"Program for Dinner Concert Announced," San Francisco Chronicle April 17, 1926.
Sies, Luther F. Encyclopedia of American radio, 1920-1960 (McFarland, 2000).
"Steindorff Company in Tuesday Concert," San Francisco Examiner July 3, 1927.
Tuttle, Oliver W., "Famed Opera Baritone to Act as Judge," San Francisco Examiner March 15, 1923.
Tuttle, Oliver W., "Five Winners in Ruffo Song Test," San Francisco Examiner March 17, 1923.
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