Jean Malin Jean (sometimes Gene) Malin got his start as a female impersonator in the 20s, but his greatest success would come later as a noted emcee during the time of the short-lived and under-researched "pansy craze" of the early 30s. He died on August 10, 1933, accidentally backing his car off the Santa Monica pier; actress Patsy Kelly, who was with him at the time, survived. He left behind but two recordings, released posthumously and pressed in a single royal blue shellac 78, "That's What's the Matter With Me" and "I'd Rather Be Spanish Than Mannish." [Source: "Gay New York (Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940)" by George Chauncey] Below,
from Vanity Fair, February 1931, Jean Malin at the Club Abbey Malin Video Clip Malin appeared in at least two movies, and I've got a clip of him in "Arizona to Broadway" (1933), which starred James Dunn and Joan Bennett. Malin had an uncredited role as Ray Best, a female impersonator obviously intended to represent Mae West. To set up this scene, a gangster, Tommy Monk, wants to have a Broadway show so at gunpoint lures top performers of the day to take part. Also represented was Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn. This is the earliest clip I know of a performance of an actual female impersonator. And here's pretty good American Masters bio one...and hey, I'm even in the credits. Below, two stills from the movie "From Arizona To Broadway," with Jean Malin's character Ray Best, "doing" Mae West Above, left to right, Max Wagner, Jean Malin, J Carrol Naish Below, with Walter Catlett My show for May 2010 was devoted entirely to The Pansy Craze, Click to hear it. Or.... This recording has been a top Holy Grail one for me, and I finally tracked down a copy, May 2022 Below label scans courtesy of Tyler Alpern
the
coloration on these three different labels is interesting And,
who is the writer of the Malin songs? So
little survives about Jean Malin, so I'm sharing these two pics of
him, from a copy of
Below, (on the right) from promotional shots for the 1933 movie "Double Harness" Jean
Malin was originally cast in the role of a dress-shop owner for this
film, Below,
another promotional shot, of a scene not in the movie, For trivia sake, below is Fredric Santley, who replaced Jean Malin in "Double Harness" Below,
from Richard Lamparski's very interesting book Above,
1932, Club New Yorker, with Thelma Todd, Pat DiCicco, Lois Wilson Below,
Club New Yorker, 1/17/33, with Maurice Chevalier, Marlene Dietrich, Clippings
1931
Most
of the articles below are from syndicated gossip columns, rather
1932 The
irony of the above caption is hilarious...
1933
Sid
Grauman (of Grauman's Chinese Theatre) apparently
the 78 rpm recording was released after his death Below, NYT article reporting his death Below, two more Malin obituaries and, Mrs. Malin made the papers years later on her own, notoriously...
New addition (Dec 2010) Jean Malin show ad from
"The Harlequin's Installation Revel, at the Masquers" actual size ad, 5"x7" Front
cover of The Masquers Program And, below, one of the crowns of my memorabilia collection... In
the 20's & 30's it was common for club goers to show appreciation
by "clapping" with Below,
an internet friend Brian Ferree sent me these photos
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