Clarence "Harry" Fender (1896 – 1995) was an entertainer and detective who performed in Florenz Ziegfeld shows such as Kid Boots and later hosted the St. Louis children's television program Captain 11's Showboat.
[6] His performance in the musical Follow the Girl at the Roof Theatre in New York was reviewed by Billboard: "Harry Fender sang with pleasing effect, altho [sic] some of his notes in the lower register were too much restrained".
[7] Billboard reviewed his performance in the 1922 musical The Lady in Ermine at the Ambassador Theatre: "Harry Fender was sincere at all times and sang each of his numbers excellently".
[8] In a review for the 1923 musical Adrienne at the George M. Cohan Theatre, Billboard wrote that while Fender was "not much of an actor" he had "a delightful singing voice".
[10][11] Ziegfeld wrote to him that the role of Gaylord Ravenal in Show Boat would be "the opportunity of your life".
[12] Musical historian Miles Kreuger writes that Fender had developed a fear of performing on stage.