He was the most famous Otello (in Verdi's opera) of the 1930s.
In 1926, he appeared in a Vitaphone short film, at the very beginning
of the sound era, before "The Jazz Singer"(the first officially
recognized talking picture) was ever released. Martinelli sang "Vesti
La Giubba" from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci".
His daughter Bettina was born in 1915. His son Antonio was born in
1917. His daughter Giovanna was born in April 1926.