Turbulent Facts About Joan Blondell, The Blonde Sidekick Of Old Hollywood
Joan Blondell was a ray of sunshine—but every once in a while, the sun sets and the storm prevails. In her life, the storm meant tumultuous weddings, and leaving Hollywood and Broadway… until the rain settled and she shined again.
Let’s take a deep dive into this glamorous yet heartbreaking Old Hollywood tale.
1. Her Parents Carried Her Everywhere
Rose Joan Blondell joined the glamorous Blondell family on a hot summer day in 1906. Since the family were busy vaudevillians, they were always on tour.
Born in New York, Little Blondel had no choice but to be carried around from one show to the other—reportedly, her cradle was a property trunk.
She was meant to be a “showbiz” baby.
2. She Had A Unique Upbringing
As young as four months old, Blondell had a taste of the good old stage dust. She had her first appearance in the show The Greatest Love, where she was carried on in a cradle. Right out of the gates, she was a born performer. Blondell certainly had a unique upbringing—but the wild ride didn't end there.
3. She Was Far Away From Home
Growing up, Blondell was never home. Thanks to her family and their tours, she experienced various cultures and lived in many places—from Honolulu to Australia.
Just as she stepped into her teenage years, the Blondell family decided to come back home, eventually settling in Dallas.
Blondell, on the other hand, had some big plans for her own future.
4. She Was Very Pretty
With her silky blonde hair and dashing blue eyes, Blondell entered the 1926 Miss Dallas pageant. No surprise—she won, but that wasn't all. She entered other pageants—Miss America and even Miss Universe.
Even though she didn’t win those, she reached the finals for both of them, which probably gave her a good ego boost.
However, on her journey through the pageant world, there was something different about Blondell.
