| Joan Blaine | |
| Birth Date: | 20 April 1900 |
| Birth Place: | Fort Dodge, Iowa, U.S. |
| Death Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Alma Mater: | Northwestern University |
| Spouse: | William Pitts |
| Known For: | Acting in soap operas on radio |
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. She left the program March 26, 1937, "to fulfill a movie contract."[8] She was featured in The House by the Side of the Road in 1934-1935[9] and had a role called "mysterious guest" in the Edgar Guest Welcome Valley program in 1936.[10]
In 1937, she was featured in We Are Four, a "dramatic serial" on the Mutual Broadcasting System.[11]
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.[12]
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]
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.
Blaine appeared in a movie, The Knife.[17]
Blaine was married to William Pitts.
Blaine died April 18, 1949, in New York Hospital.[18]
| Year | Program | Episode/source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | NBC Armistice Day presentation | A Good Soldier[19] | |
| 1942 | Stories America Loves | So Big[20] |