Joan Blaine | |
|---|---|
 Blaine in 1942 | |
| Born | April 20, 1900 Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 1949 (aged 48) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Acting in soap operas on radio |
| Spouse | William 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.
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]
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. [13]
Blaine was also featured in A Tale of Today and Welcome Valley [14] and was the "narrator and reader of prose selections" on Music Magic. [15]
Blaine had an apprenticeship with the Chicago Theater Guild. [16] She had roles in two Broadway theatre productions -- Mystery Square and The Ghost Parade [17] and appeared in the New York productions Spitfire, And So to Bed, and Winter's Tale. [16] She also portrayed the lead character, Selena Peake, in summer stock theatre productions of So Big . [18]
Blaine appeared in a movie, The Knife. [19]
Blaine was married to William Pitts. [20]
Blaine died April 18, 1949, in New York Hospital. [20]
| Year | Program | Episode/source |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | NBC Armistice Day presentation | A Good Soldier [21] |
| 1942 | Stories America Loves | So Big [18] |
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