Joan Hannan (born Georgia Joan Waldor,
January 19, 1929 - April 13, 2012) was the drummer in the movie Some Like It Hot. She was the owner of the lesbian bar “Joani Presents” in North Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s.
Partner Marion Cain
Queer Places:
Joani Presents, 6413 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Joan Hannan (born Georgia Joan Waldor,
January 19, 1929 - April 13, 2012) was the drummer in the movie Some Like It Hot. She was the owner of the lesbian bar “Joani Presents” in North Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s.
Georgia Joan Waldor Hannan was born Georgia Joan Waldor in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 19, 1929 to Gwenith and Nils T. Waldor. Georgia began playing the drums when she was eight years old, which ultimately unfolded into a lifetime career in the entertainment industry. In 1947 she toured around the world during peace time with the USO entertaining the troops after WWII. Upon her return to the states she formed several all girl bands that played hotels and nightclubs throughout the country.
In 1958, she was the drummer in the all-girl band portrayed in the Billy Wilder film starring Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot. In a 2011 interview, Hannon detailed some of the difficulties of playing her role as a drummer both in film and USO live shows: "I was forced to be a heterosexual woman...I had to constantly flirt." She elaborates on the discomfort this caused her as a lesbian, going on to say that during her USO performances, she knew that an "extremely feminine" drummer was wanted and ideal. Despite this, Hannon counted her appearance in Some Like It Hot as one of the highlights of her career and even described an encounter she had on-set with Marilyn herself. "Monroe was standing beside [Hannon's] drum set as a scene was set up and remarked, 'I just love the drums. I wish you'd teach me to play.'" Hannon was left starstruck and later had nothing but praise for the movie star's friendly demeanor.
Between 1957-1958 she owned and operated Joanie's Bar in Palm Springs, California. Hannon was then co-owner (with her brother David) of a lesbian and gay-oriented bar in the Studio City area of North Hollywood before opening Joani Presents.
Georgia went on to becoming a very successful nightclub & restaurant owner during the 1960s spanning four decades; The most famous of her establishments being "Joani Presents" in North Hollywood which catered to the lesbian community between 1961 and 1973.
In 1991, Hannon relocated to Humboldt County in Northern California, where she presided over a night club she owned in Garberville during the 1990s.
She passed away in 2012 and was survived by her partner of 24 years, Marion Cain.
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