Thespian blood runs through the veins of Chris Mayne, and It looks like he probably inherited it from my Great Aunt Joan.
Joan made her living as a ‘concert artiste’ by playing the saw and other novelty instruments including the sleigh bells. Her variety of theatre performances was of a type that was very popular from the turn of the twentieth century up to WWII.
Joan appeared at the Royal Variety Hall and the BBC, performed at dinners, receptions and cabarets, and her repertoire included songs such as the “Waltz” by Victor Herbert.
Joan was an extremely successful self-publicist. She had many professional business cards that she would give out to drum up her own publicity and was determined to succeed in her career.
Aunt Joan 1910 – 1969