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For an audience of seniors, many younger than herself, Hildegarde performs her theme song "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," composed by her former manager/partner Anna Sosenko in 1935. She also revives "The Last Times I Saw Paris" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, II), "Lili Marlene" (Mack David) and "I'll Be Seeing You" (Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal). Nicknamed "The Dear That Made Milwaukee Famous," Hildegarde Loretta Sell went by one name, in the tradition of Mistinguett, Ramona, and later Madonna. Although associated with intercontinental glamour and sophistication, she was a native of Adell, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Although she appeared as herself in films singing a song or two, she was never cast in a feature film. Her career lasted several decades, in supper clubs, music hall, vaudeville, and her own radio show. She appeared on many television variety shows, such as Dinah Shore Chevy Show, Toast of the Town (Ed Sullivan), The Steve Allen Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and Over Easy with Hugh Downs. She was still active well into her nineties, and received many tributes and honors before her death in July, 2005.

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