Joan Blaine
Blaine in 1942
Born(1900-04-20)April 20, 1900
Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 1949(1949-04-18) (aged 48)
New York City, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNorthwestern University
OccupationActress
Known forActing in soap operas on radio
SpouseWilliam Pitts

Joan Blaine (April 20, 1900 - April 18, 1949) was an American actress best known for her work in soap operas on old-time radio.

Early years

Blaine was born April 20, ca. 1900 [1] in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and was a descendant of James G. Blaine, a 19th-century American politician who twice was the Republican candidate for president of the United States.[2] Her father was a lawyer.[3]

She graduated from Northwestern University and practiced law in Chicago for a year after receiving her degree.[4] She also attended Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.[5]

Radio

A 1938 newspaper article described Blaine as "one of radio's leading actresses,"[6] and one in 1943 reported, "Joan was acclaimed the most popular daytime radio actress in the country."[2] She was described in one old-time radio reference book as "one of the first real stars of the [soap opera] form, getting billing up front before the title."[7]

One of Blaine's earliest roles on radio was playing the title character in The Story of Mary Marlin, beginning in 1934.[8] She left the program March 26, 1937, "to fulfill a movie contract."[9] She was featured in The House by the Side of the Road in 1934-1935[10] and had a role called "mysterious guest" in the Edgar Guest Welcome Valley program in 1936.[11]

In 1937, she was featured in We Are Four, a "dramatic serial" on the Mutual Broadcasting System.[12]

She starred in Valiant Lady, beginning March 7, 1938, on CBS,[6] and continued in the lead role of Joan Barrett for most of the program's nine years on the air.[8]

Blaine was also featured in A Tale of Today and Welcome Valley[13] and was the "narrator and reader of prose selections" on Music Magic.[14]

Stage

Blaine had an apprenticeship with the Chicago Theater Guild.[15] She had roles in two Broadway theatre productions -- Mystery Square and The Ghost Parade[16] and appeared in the New York productions Spitfire, And So to Bed, and Winter's Tale.[15] She also portrayed the lead character, Selena Peake, in summer stock theatre productions of So Big.[17]

Film

Blaine appeared in a movie, The Knife.[18]

Personal life

Blaine was married to William Pitts.[19]

Death

Blaine died April 18, 1949, in New York Hospital.[19]

Radio appearances

Year Program Episode/source
1934 NBC Armistice Day presentation A Good Soldier[20]
1942 Stories America Loves So Big[17]

References

  1. ^ Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Deaths, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8. P. 76.
  2. ^ a b Meegan, Jean (February 7, 1943). "She's Queen of Daytime Soap Operas". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 10. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  3. ^ Lesser, Jerry (February 10, 1940). "Radio Talent: New York" (PDF). Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ^ Blanck, Katherine (July 30, 1941). "Radio Star Joan Blaine Designs Home Ideas". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 6. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Blaine, Joan (October 1940). "Here's How It All Started". Radio Varieties. 3 (10): 8, 25. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Joan Blaine Opens New Drama Series On CBS This Week". The Lincoln Star. March 6, 1938. p. 38. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-932616-2. P. 628.
  8. ^ a b Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Pp. 692-694.
  9. ^ "Merchandising Notes" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 15, 1937. p. 98. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  10. ^ "'Fibber' Puts Johnson Co. Out In Front" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 21, 1947. p. 15. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  11. ^ "In the World of Entertainment". Pottstown Mercury. November 12, 1936. p. 15. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "Blaine on KFOR Show". The Lincoln Star. May 9, 1937. p. 44. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. ^ Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. Pp. 232, 254.
  14. ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 76.
  15. ^ a b "Joan Blaine, Radio and Stage Actress, Dies in New York". Chicago Tribune. April 20, 1949. p. Part 3-Page 8. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Joan Blaine". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Edna Ferber's Novel, 'So Big', on 'Stories America Loves'". Harrisburg Telegraph. January 10, 1942. p. 27. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. ^ "Joan Blaine, Actress". Motion Picture Daily. April 21, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Joan Blaine, Star Of Radio Shows". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 20, 1949. p. 23. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ "Players in Drama of Armistice Day". Reading Times. October 30, 1934. p. 27. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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