She, along with Robert Preston, Pert Kelton, and the barbershop quartet The Buffalo Bills, were the only opening night
"The Music Man" stage performers to make the transition to the silver
screen.
Her father, Vincent Mondo, worked for Paramount Publix Corporation and
painted wall murals on Paramount owned theaters.
She forged a lifelong friendship with McHale's Navy Star Ernest Borgnine who
also hailed from the New Haven, Connecticut area.
When her agent told her of auditions for the new Broadway musical "The
Music Man," Mondo prepared by dressing in a sailor top, long skirt,
white stockings, black Mary Jane shoes and a curly blonde wig.