On Monday I posted a brief TCM doc about the ‘pansy craze’ of the late 1920s and early 30s. Among other things, the doc serves as a good introduction for those not already in the know to the premiere pansy performer of the era, Jean Malin. Born GENE Malin in Brooklyn, Maline bogan his singular career serving as a chorus boy in several Broadway musicals, before graduating to Greenwich Village nightclubs where he honed his act. In the spring of 1930, Malin became the headline act at Louis Schwartz’s elegant Club Abbey at 46th Street and 8th Avenue in New York City. Although Malin was at times assisted by Helen Morgan, Jr. (Francis Dunn) and Lestra LaMonte (the paper-gown-wearing Lester LaMonte), popular drag artists of the day, he did not appear in female attire –at least not most of the time. As the clip from the other day shows, he did a mean Mae West and apparently a pretty good Gloria Swanson as well.

The crux of Malin’s act was not to impersonate women, but to appear as a flamboyant, effeminate, openly gay male wearing a tuxedo. Broadway columnist, Louis Sobel,l described Malin as “a baby-faced lad who lisped and pressed his fingers into his thighs” during performances while another observer called him “a brilliant entertainer, a very funny guy, but risqué”. Malin moved on stage and amongst the audience members as an elegant, witty, wisecracking emcee, who, despite his over-the-top fairy presence, could be vicious if need be. He once punched a disruptive patron during a performance, prompting Ed Sullivan to write, “Jean Malin belted a heckler last night at one of the local clubs. All that twitters isn’t pansy.”  Malin reportedly was the highest-paid nightclub entertainer of 1930. Alas, there is precious little of Maline left for us to study–those clips from the doc account for about half of his film output. Above and below I’ve posted the only two recordings that I’m aware of Malin having made. ‘That’s What’s the Matter With Me’ and ‘I’d Rather Be Spanish (than Mannish).’ The songs explain themselves. Malin died in a freaky car crash in 1932–he was performing at a pier in Santa Monica and apparently screwed up when driving away, putting the car in reverse and plunging it into the Pacific Ocean.