Joan Blaine

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

Joan Blaine
Joan Blaine in 1942
BornApril 20, ca. 1900
Fort Dodge, Iowa
DiedApril 18, 1949
New York City
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNorthwestern University
OccupationActress
Known forActing in soap operas on radio
Spouse(s)William Pitts

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. She was survived by her husband, two brothers and two sisters.[19]

Radio appearances
YearProgramEpisode/source
1934NBC Armistice Day presentationA Good Soldier[20]
1942Stories America LovesSo 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. 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.
  5. Blaine, Joan (October 1940). "Here's How It All Started". Radio Varieties. 3 (10): 8, 25. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. "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.
  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. 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.
  12. "Blaine on KFOR Show". The Lincoln Star. May 9, 1937. p. 44. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  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. "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. "Edna Ferber's Novel, 'So Big', on 'Stories America Loves'". Harrisburg Telegraph. January 10, 1942. p. 27. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Joan Blaine, Actress". Motion Picture Daily. April 21, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  19. "Joan Blaine, Star Of Radio Shows". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 20, 1949. p. 23. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Players in Drama of Armistice Day". Reading Times. October 30, 1934. p. 27. Retrieved September 19, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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