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• Nash Airflyte Theater –

 

TV Show in which Joan made her television debut on January 18, 1951. The episode was titled Pot o' Gold.

 

 

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• Office Wife, The (1930) –

 

Although it was the second movie Joan made for WB, it was the first screened for an audience.

 

• Opposite Sex, The (1956) –

 

Remake of The Women (1939) starring June Allyson and Joan Collins.

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Joan asked June for a part in the movie via her daughter Ellen Powell. She got it, but was only tenth billed. Five years had passed since her last movie The Blue Veil (1951).

 

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• Panama Canal –

 

Joan and Dick Powell travelled through it on their honeymoon.

 

• Penny Arcade –

 

Stage play that co-starred James Cagney and Joan Blondell in 1929. See also Sinners Holiday and Al Jolson.

 

• Physical Stats –

 

In 1933, her physical stats were given as follows:

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Height: 5ft 4inch

Weight: 115 pounds

 

• Ponedel, Dorothy (1898 – 1979) –

 

Make-up artist who shared a deep friendship with Joan.

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When Dorothy Pondell was stricken with multiple sclerosis, Joan bribed the hospital stuff with chocolate to get her special attention.

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See also Clark Gable.

 

• Powell, Dick (1904 - 1963) -

 

Joan's second husband and father of daughter Ellen Powell.

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They first started dating in September 1935 and got married on September 19, 1936. Their wedding took place on the yacht ‘Santa Paula’ at San Pedro. The docks were filled with fans. Joan's sister Gloria was maid of honor, actor Regis Toomey was best man.

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Powell saw homes as an investment and sold any house they owned sooner or later to make a better deal and earn money. Joan was heartbroken very often over losing one of her homes.

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Their divorce was granted on July 14, 1944. She testified that he was guilty of numerous acts of cruelty. Powell didn't attend the proceedings, telling Joan that he didn't care whether she got a divorce or not.

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Generally, he was a good father, and maybe that is the reason why he didn't fight for custody. Instead, he’d rather settle out of court to prevent hurting their children further. They agreed on him paying $100 a month for each of their children.

 

When Dick Powell got inoperable cancer in 1962, he and Joan enjoyed a convivial relationship. Old animosities were forgotten and she brought him homemade food regularly.

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Although June Allyson and Dick Powell had their affairs, Joan's presence caused further stress in their marriage. June Allyson would dictate the terms of how, when, and where Joan could see Dick. She also accommodated her visits for a while, until she barred Joan completely from their apartment.

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Shortly before he died, their daughter Ellen Powell phoned Joan to tell her he was near death. Joan, distraught, asked a friend to drive her to his apartment while June was gone. Dressed in black, she scaled a fire escape and entered his bedroom through the back door. They said their goodbyes and that was the last time she saw him alive.

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They starred in ten movies together: Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Footlight Parade (1933), Convention City (1933), Dames (1934), Broadway Gondolier (1935), Stage Struck (1936), Colleen (1936), Golf Diggers of 1937 (1937), I Want a Divorce (1940), and Model Wife (1941).

 

• Powell, Ellen (1938) –

 

Joan's and Dick Powell's daughter. Owned three stereo shops in the ‘70s. Works as a hair stylist for TV and the movies since the late 1970s.

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Her birth was rather easy compared to that of Norman Scott. Labour lasted 10 hours and was completed without complications.

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In 1960, Ellen married Chuck Haywarth, and gave birth to daughter Joan Ellen Hayward in 1961. Joan took charge of her daughter's child quickly. She cooked incessantly, paid for the redecoration of her nursery, outfitted her exclusively, and showered her with dolls and toys.

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Ellen got divorced in 1965. Due to opening her own businesses, she came home late most of the time, which led to Joan often taking care of her granddaughter Joan Ellen.

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To save money for her stereo business, private schools, and summer camp for daughter Joanie, Ellen Powell moved in with mother Joan in 1970. They stayed together until the summer of 1971. They share once again a few years later.

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Ellen's drug abuse and mental problems caused her to lose her stereo business. It also caused a lot of strain on the relationship between she and Joan. Miss Powell later started working as a hairdresser after obtaining the necessary license to do so.

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Joan Blondell: “She takes after her daddy, Dick Powell – she's a hell of a good businesswoman.“ (Source: Life 1971)

 

• Powell, Norman Scott (1934) –

 

Joan's son from her marriage to George Barnes. Adopted by Dick Powell shortly after they married in 1936. Television executive.

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Giving birth to her son Norman Scott was difficult. Labour lasted about 20 hours - due to the rape in her teenage years and the consequent fractured coccyx. The baby was also breach, with umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. After his birth, Joan slept for 48 hours.

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His name was inspired by Norman Foster, friend and husband of Claudette Colbert.

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Joan Blondell: “My baby is helping me. He takes me out of myself. Makes me understand many more emotions than I have ever felt before.” (Source: Modern Screen, 1935)

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In 1956, Norman married longtime girlfriend Ann at Joan's apartment. Joan, who came to love Ann like her own daughter, gave them a new car as a wedding present. A year later, granddaughter Sandra Lynn Powell was born. Sandra was Joan’s first grandchild.

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Norman divorced Ann in 1966, much to Joan's disappointment. He married once again in 1970, this time to Sue Zan Palmer.

 

• Power, Tyrone (1914 - 1958) –

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Co-star of Joan in Nightmare Alley (1947).

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Joan Blondell: “I look back on a movie like Nightmare Alley with fondness because of my affection for Ty Power. He was a darling guy.“ (Source: NY Times 1977)

 

• Pregnancy –

 

While pregnant with son Norman Scott, she made six or seven movies and kept working until her 7th month. Directors had to find creative ways to hide her condition.

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Joan Blondell: “They kept shooting me higher and higher. They had me in back of everything – desks, barrels, anything.” (Source: D. Bubbeo - The Women of Warner Brothers)

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“I made six pictures while [pregnant]. They'd get me behind desks and behind barrels and throw tables in front of me to hide my growing tummy. And I never had more than two weeks before starting a picture.” (Source: John Kobal – People Will Talk, 1986)

 

• Provincetown Theater –

 

Theater in Greenwich Village, NYC where Joan performed for free at night after work in 1923.

 

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• Rape – See Sexual Harassment.

 

• Recipes – See also Cooking.

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Washington Chocolate Cream Pie (Birthday cake for Bette Davis' 26th birthday in 1934).

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Chicken Chop Suey (a traditional ”Blondell meal” - her parents and siblings enjoyed it very often during their vaudeville days).

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Nut Hamburgers

 

• Remember My Forgotten Man –

 

Joan's song number in Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933). Not a trained singer, she basically talks through the song. Her last line in the song was dubbed by Etta Moen because it called for regular singing.

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Busby Berkely: “I did something extraordinary in that number too, when I had Joan Blondell sing the song because Joan Blondell can't sing. But I knew she could act it. I knew she could 'talk it' and put over the drama for me.” (Source: D. Martin “Films of B. Berkeley”, 1964)

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Joan Blondell: “'The Forgotten Man' number in Gold Diggers of 1933 mortified me. I remember there was a bread line and someone fell down, but that's it. I remember I had a pregnancy test made when that was filming.” (Source: Village Voice, 1971)

 

• Rheumatoid arthritis –

 

Joan began developing rheumatoid arthritis in the early 1950s. She was finally diagnosed in 1956.

 

• Robinson, Edward G. (1893- 1973) –

 

Joan made two pictures with him. Bullets or Ballots (1936) and The Cincinnati Kid (1965).

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Joan Blondell: “The first day [of shooting The Cincinnati Kid] Eddie stumbles over and whispers, 'I guess. Joan, I was a pretty big stinker back then?' And I say, 'Eddie, bigger than you can imagine.' And we both laugh.” (Source: Interview J. Bawden, 1972)

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“He called me up one day and said, 'I want to ask you something. When I was young at Warner's, was I a bastard?' I said, 'Yes, you were.' He said, 'I think so, too.'” (Source: John Kobal – People Will Talk, 1986)

 

• “Rosebud” (or “Baby Rosebud”) –

 

Joan's detested nickname she got as a child due to her vaudeville number “In a Rosebud Garden of Girls”.

 

• Rowlands, Gena (1930) –

 

Co-star of Joan in John Cassavetes’ Opening Night (1977).

 

Gena Rowlands: “I don't know if the word 'endearing' is good enough for her.” (Source: Interviews on the Opening Night DVD)