Miss Joan Peers

 

Today's birthday beauty: Miss Joan Peers.
 

Happy birthday to Joan Peers! Today is also the birthday of some other lovely ladies like Eleanor Boardman, Elsie Ferguson, Colleen Moore (who I hope feature very soon), and June Collyer. They will all get an entry someday, but since Joan is the lesser-known of those few, I am specifically highlighting her.  

Joan was born on August 19, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois (posthumously). She was the daughter of opera singer Frank Peers and his wife Emma. She had one sister named Frances. In later years, Frank managed the Adelphi Theatre in Chicago until he died in 1938, and that's about all there is known about her family. 

In 1917 when she was six years old, she went on tour with Guy Bates Post in the play The Masquerader. Then in 1929, after almost twelve years of absence from the stage, she appeared on Broadway in Marry the Man, but the play didn't succeed very well and closed after only eight performances. Her Hollywood career was very brief. She made nine films in two years and then completely vanished from the public. Her most notable film happened to be her debut in Rouben Mamoulian's Applause (1929). After Applause, she was signed to Columbia to make Tol'able David. After making that picture, she requested to be released but still had four months left to go. It was said that she was "difficult to handle and extremely lackadaisical" but that's probably because the studios gave her a hard time. Perhaps the reason she quit the movies was because it was too much for her to handle...I don't blame her. I've only seen three out of her nine films, Applause, The Tip-Off, and Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, with my favorite being Applause.    


Joan and Helen Morgan in Applause (1929).

Joan with Joe Cook in Rain or Shine, 1930.
 
 
OK, now here's something interesting... An excerpt from Hollywood Filmograph on July 29, 1929, read: 
 
"Joan Peers. Remember the name now, because in another few months, we are going to be mean enough to say, 'We told you so!' Joan is 'unknown' now--just as any pretty sixteen-year-old with no previous screen experience whom Rouben Mamoulia singled out a role for in "Applause." 
 
So I assume she was born in 1911 unless the studios wanted her to appear younger? I don’t know exactly. Some stars did change their birth year when they came to Hollywood just as they did their name. When I watched Girl 27 a few months ago, I found out that most of the actresses, showgirls, extras, etc were underage when they started off. And to think what some of those men did to them is just disgusting. 
 

Joan with Buster Keaton in Parlor, Bedroom and Bath (1931).
 
According to her records, she was married to a man named Christy A. Sullivan, but the date they married is unknown. Together, they raised two daughters. 

Joan passed away on July 11, 1975, in San Fransico, California. Unfortunately, I was not able to find her grave. Unless her ashes were scattered, she might be buried in an unmarked grave. I will be sure to keep an eye out for her and if I find any more information, I will give you all an update. On the other hand, if any of you find any updates on her or any kind of information that could be helpful then ring a bell. She was a really beautiful girl and I hope to revive her memory.