Joan Lazer
Joan Lazer (1936 or 1937[1] - January 3, 2015) was an American child actress who worked primarily in radio.
Early years
Lazer was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York when she was 2 years old.[2] She began taking lessons in a singing and dancing school in Forest Hills, Long Island, New York, when she was 5. Her appearance at age 6 on the children's radio program Coast to Coast on a Bus led to her desire to be a professional entertainer. Although that appearance was scheduled to be her only time on the show, she ended up singing on it once a week for two years.[3]
Lazer studied at the Professional Children's School[4] and the Lodge Professional School.[5] She also had a music teacher for lessons in piano and voice.[6] She went on to study at Actors Studio, Columbia University, and New York University.[7]
Career
After being trained on how to read scripts, Lazer began auditioning for parts in dramatic radio programs. Her first audition led to a part on My True Story, and roles on other programs followed.[3] During her first 18 months in radio she appeared on programs more than 300 times.[6]
The table below shows some of the roles that Lazer had in radio.
| Program | Character |
|---|---|
| Example | Example |
| Rosemary | Jessie[8] |
| Valiant Lady | Pixie Jeffreys[4] |
| Young Doctor Malone | Jill[9] |
In 1946, Lazer and Richard Leone (ages 9 and 11, respectively) had a program, Milk and Cookies with Jack and Jill, on WNEW Radio in New York City. The two of them discussed world events from a children's perspective for 15 minutes on Sundays.[10] In 1947 she made a set of four recordings that were used by the National Safety Council to promote safety for children. The Mother Goose-themed jingles, initially recorded for WNEW, were made available for use by radio stations and schools.[11]
Lazer made recordings for children. They included "Puss In Boots" and "Who's Who at the Zoo".[6] On the latter recording, Lazer "carries the narrative assignment, taking her moppet listeners on a tour of a large and thriving zoo filled with erudite animals who give brief musical lessons in natural history."[12] She was part of a stock company created by Tone Products Corporation to make recordings for children.[13]
On Broadway Lazer portrayed Rosie Goldberg in Me and Molly (1948).[14]
Television programs on which Lazer appeared included The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen,[15] American Inventory,[16] Treasury Men in Action,[17] and Stage 13.[18]
Personal life and death
Lazer died on January 3, 2015,[19] after having cancer for seven years.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Reed, Joan Lazer". The Palm Beach Post. January 7, 2015. p. B 4. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. November 1948. p. 68. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Daly, Sheila John. "Tops Among Teens". Chicago Sunday Tribune. p. Grafic Magazine - page 2. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Start 'em Young ..." (PDF). Radio Mirror. April 1946. p. 51. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Warren, Wendy (June 25, 1949). "Luncheon Scoops". The Daily Advertiser. Louisiana, Lafayette. p. 11. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "Little Miss Radio". Detroit Free Press. April 6, 1947. p. Parade - page 20. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Information Booth". TV Radio Mirror. July 1956. pp. 25, 27. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Rosemary" (PDF). Radio Best. October 1949. p. 17. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "The Woman Listner". The Daily Clintonian. June 15, 1948. p. 6. Retrieved October 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Milk and Cookies with Jack and Jill". Variety. September 18, 1946. p. 38. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "New Moppet Jingle Disks On Safety Offered to All Stations by Chi Council". Variety. March 26, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Radio Mirror. January 1948. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Kid Drama Diskers". Variety. November 6, 1946. p. 47. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Joan Lazer". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ "Tele Follow-up Comment: Ellery Queen". Variety. March 4, 1959. p. 26. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Sunday February 13". Ross Reports. February 13, 1955. p. A. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Thursday June 21 (Continued)". Ross Reports. June 15, 1951. p. 8. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Wednesday June 14". Ross Reports. June 10, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ "Joan Lazer". Broadway World. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links