What you know by now is that Joane spent nearly 50 years as an entertainer, gracing the stages of some of New York’s most prestigious clubs, including Broadway’s historic Paramount Theater and even Leon and Eddie’s on the famed 52nd street. What you might not know is that she started on the New York Vaudeville circuit with her brother when they were only teenagers. 

(Vaudeville style performances were popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often described as more circus than theater, performers specialized in choreography, comedy, and tap dance. While the advent of the radio and other forms of home entertainment eventually caused Vaudeville to fade away, it was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in North America for several decades. As such, its influences are still felt in live entertainment today.) 

A brother who also danced and a mother who lived to 107? It’s hard to ignore the possibility that GENETICS play a part in living a long, healthy life. However, while studies suggest that a long lifespan often “runs in the family,” genetics may not be the key to a longer life. That’s good news for those of us who don’t have a genealogy of long-livers. But what’s most important to Joane hasn’t been the length of her life, or even all of the memories she’s made: it’s an eye towards the FUTURE.