Have you ever ventured through Lakeland and wondered who is behind the naming of certain roads, spots, or venues? Us too — particularly, Frances Langford, the namesake for the popular promenade on Lake Mirror.

Nicknamed as the “G.I. Nightingale,” Frances Langford spent much of her life right here in Lakeland in the 1910s. Known primarily for her Golden Age glamor, Frances was also a boater, fisherwoman, actress, radio personality, and opera singer.

After a tonsillectomy in her teens, the trained operatic singer had to re-learn a new vocal style, changing her sound to more of the “big band” type of music that she’s known for today as a contralto on the vocal scale. This means she went from the highest female voice type, a soprano, to the lowest — think Amy Winehouse, Tracey Chapman, and Cher.

First a Dreadnaught and later a Moc, Frances attended school at some of Lakeland’s finest and got her start at the age of 17, when she crossed paths with Eli Witt (you know, the cigar manufacturer). Frances' fame was somewhat of an anomaly, if you compare it to today’s standards, making a name for herself primarily in radio while also dabbling in the big screen and stage performances.

From performing on Broadway in “Here Goes the Bride,” to popular radio shows, Frances made her silver screen debut in the 1935 film, “Every Night at Eight,” where she premiered her most well-known score, “I’m in the Mood for Love.”

Fast-forward to the ‘40s, where Frances became known as the “G.I. Sweetheart” or “G.I. Nightingale.” The star performed alongside other big names like Bob Hope, Tony Romano, and Jerry Colonna on U.S.O. tours through Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific to visit injured G.I.’s.

From there, Frances would live a life of stardom and adoration, with other notable appearances in radio and television such as “The Bickersons,” “The Frances Langford/Don Ameche Show,” “Deputy Marshal,” “Frances Langford Presents,” “The Frances Langford Show,” and “The Honeymooners.”

Want more about Frances Langford? Click the button below for a vintage photo of Frances fishing in Lakeland + wager your best guess where she is.

PROMENADE THIS WAY

Use the buttons below to share this history with that one friend that can't help but spout out facts while walking the lake.

EVENTS

Today

Night Market | Thurs., Jan. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | Union Taproom | Free | Shop from local vendors at the Night Market and hear live music from Mike Monts De Oca.

Friday

First Friday | Fri., Jan. 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Downtown Lakeland | Free | Head downtown for live music from Expresion Latina, a makers market, classy car show, and family-friendly activities — restaurants and shops will be open late. 💃

Saturday

ArtLab | Sat., Jan. 8 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Polk Museum of Art | $5 | Engage in an artistic experience related to an exhibition on display in the Museum — materials are included.

Sunday

BIL Mural Ride | Sun., Jan. 9 | 1 p.m. | Swan Brewing | Free | Join this family-friendly bike ride around town and stop for photos at Lakeland’s murals — grab food and drinks from Swan Brewing before or after the ride. 🚲

Monday

RENT | Mon., Jan. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | RP Funding Center | $52+ | Celebrate 25 years of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “RENT” in the “Farewell Season of Love” tour.

Tuesday

Blessings and Hope Distribution | Tues., Jan. 11 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Highland Park Church, 2150 E. Edgewood Dr. | Free | Volunteer for the Blessings and Hope food pantry + help distribute food to the community. 🥫

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN YOUR WEEK HERE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

76º | Mostly sunny | 7% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Fresh Kitchen, the fast-casual health food chain opening in Lakeland this fall, officially has an address. The spot will sit at 4520 S. Florida Ave., across from Wing House and Chick-fil-A, and next to the new Aldi. Who's excited? 🖐

Watch

Filmmakers Alex and Jayden Torres, 2020 graduates from Harrison School for the Arts, are working on gathering funds for their first independent genre-bending short film. While still in school, the duo was recognized as among the best emerging filmmakers worldwide. Watch this video to learn more about their next project. 🎬

Biz

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce announced its 2022 Board of Directors and Executive Committee. To see the full list of everyone who has been selected to serve a term, click here.

Edu

Polk State College announced its decision to move face-to-face classes to a hybrid or reduced class size format to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The libraries, testing centers, computer labs, financial aid, and advising offices will all remain open on campus, but students are encouraged to access services remotely.

Arts

Josh “Bump” Galletta shared his latest creation, part of a collaboration with Qgiv. The artwork features mini stencilings of local landmarks like the Southgate sign, Hollis Garden, and the Publix cake tower, and can be found at the biz’s office in Lakeland (207 Bartow Rd.). 🖌️

Shop

Step right up and get your Orange Blossom Poem merch. The poetry account shared plans for t-shirts, featuring an orange juice carton, and of course, orange blossoms. The shirts, designed by local poet + artist, Pretty Quick Poetry, are not yet available for purchase but will be soon. 🍊

Civic

Polk County commissioners met to discuss the issue of missed trash collections on the west side of Polk. The commissioners agreed to send a letter to the trash collection company that if the service does not improve in the next 30 days, Polk will cancel its contract with the company. (The Ledger)

Today Is

National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day. In Lakeland, if you’re tossing an artificial tree, disassemble it and place it in a regular green garbage cart. For real trees, place it on the curb for regular yard waste collection. For more on properly recycling Christmas trees and decor, read here. 🎄

Regional

SeaWorld’s newest coaster, Ice Breaker, is officially set to open on Feb. 18. The latest addition to the park’s slew of thrill rides will bring a first to Florida: the steepest beyond vertical drop (93-ft tall at a 100-degree angle). (Fox 13 News)

Learn

New year, new you, new language. If your goal in 2022 is to start speaking a new language, Babbel’s got your back. The app’s lessons are based on real life situations and help you become conversational in just 3 weeks. Get up to 60% off when you sign up today. 🌎*

*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.

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THE WRAP

Editor's pick: While I haven’t seen a cow block traffic, I have seen a gator block an intersection…That counts, right? Thankfully it wasn’t nearly as big as this fella.

Missed yesterday's newsletter? We shared not-so-common knowledge about one of Lakeland’s local parks, here.