Joan Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Joan Rhodes was a London
-born British
performer, wrestler, stuntwoman and strongwoman
.
Born into poverty in London, she and her siblings were deserted by their parents. Following unhappy spells in the workhouse and with an aunt, she left home at 14. After sleeping rough in Brewer Street, Soho, she joined a travelling fair, where she got the idea for her act after seeing a professional strong man at work.
performer during the 1950s and 1960s. Her popularity increased due to her early appearances on television shows in the US and UK, including The Toast Of The Town (1955) and The Bob Hope
Christmas Show. It was in the latter that, on stage in Iceland
on December 27, 1955, that Rhodes lifted, then accidentally dropped, Hope, while entertaining troops for the USO.
, who reportedly weighed over 480 lbs. She frequently ended her act by lifting four male audience members at the same time.
Other parts of her stage routine included allowing men to try to bend iron bars before she would, arm-wrestling two men at once (one with each hand as each man was allowed to use two arms), lifting jeeps and small cars and pushing them offstage while men sat in them, and defeating a team of four men in tugs of war.
Rhodes was a life-long friend of author Quentin Crisp
.
(1944). She appeared as herself performing some of her strength feats in the Vernon Sewell
-directed crime caper, Johnny, You're Wanted
(1956). She also appeared in Burke and Hare (1971), The Pink Panther Strikes Again
(1976) and The Elephant Man
(1980).
programme covered her life with anecdotes by Roy Hudd
, who knew her well.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
performer, wrestler, stuntwoman and strongwoman
Strongwoman
Strongwoman refers to either a woman performing feats of strength in a show or circus, or a woman who competes in strength athletics. Traditionally, strongwomen have had a special appeal, as women involved in demonstrated feats of strength were exceptions....
.
Born into poverty in London, she and her siblings were deserted by their parents. Following unhappy spells in the workhouse and with an aunt, she left home at 14. After sleeping rough in Brewer Street, Soho, she joined a travelling fair, where she got the idea for her act after seeing a professional strong man at work.
With Bob Hope
She began as a variety and cabaretCabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
performer during the 1950s and 1960s. Her popularity increased due to her early appearances on television shows in the US and UK, including The Toast Of The Town (1955) and The Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
Christmas Show. It was in the latter that, on stage in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
on December 27, 1955, that Rhodes lifted, then accidentally dropped, Hope, while entertaining troops for the USO.
Stage routine
Rhodes could bend iron bars across her knee, in her mouth and around her arm or neck. She ripped telephone directories, often ripping two simultaneously and ripping others into quarters. She lifted large men over her head or into her arms, including 450 lb boxer Ewart Potgeiter and giant Ted EvansTed Evans
John Edward Evans , also known as "Jammer", was a footballer.-Playing career:Evans played for Newcastle Swifts before joining local league club Stoke in 1891, he left in 1895 for Bury, moving on to Burslem Port Vale most likely in the autumn of 1896. He was a regular in the first team, helping the...
, who reportedly weighed over 480 lbs. She frequently ended her act by lifting four male audience members at the same time.
Other parts of her stage routine included allowing men to try to bend iron bars before she would, arm-wrestling two men at once (one with each hand as each man was allowed to use two arms), lifting jeeps and small cars and pushing them offstage while men sat in them, and defeating a team of four men in tugs of war.
Rhodes was a life-long friend of author Quentin Crisp
Quentin Crisp
Quentin Crisp , was an English writer and raconteur. He became a gay icon in the 1970s after publication of his memoir, The Naked Civil Servant.- Early life :...
.
Stunts
As a stunt performer, she worked on films, including Fanny by GaslightFanny by Gaslight (film)
Fanny by Gaslight was a 1944 British drama film, produced by Gainsborough Pictures, set in the 1870s and adapted from a novel by Michael Sadleir . It was one of its famous period-set "Gainsborough melodramas"...
(1944). She appeared as herself performing some of her strength feats in the Vernon Sewell
Vernon Sewell
Vernon Campbell Sewell was a British film director, screenwriter, producer writer and, briefly, an actor. Sewell was born in London, England in 1903. He was educated at Marlborough College. He directed over 30 films during his career, starting with Morgenrot in 1933...
-directed crime caper, Johnny, You're Wanted
Johnny, You're Wanted
Johnny, You're Wanted is a 1956 British crime B-movie, directed by Vernon Sewell and starring John Slater. The film features famous strongwoman Joan Rhodes performing her stage act.-Plot:...
(1956). She also appeared in Burke and Hare (1971), The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Pink Panther Strikes Again is the fifth film in the Pink Panther series and picks up where The Return of the Pink Panther leaves off...
(1976) and The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man (film)
The Elephant Man is a 1980 American drama film based on the true story of Joseph Merrick , a severely deformed man in 19th century London...
(1980).
Death
Joan Rhodes died on 30 May 2010, aged 89. On 11 June 2010, Radio 4 in its "Last Word"programme covered her life with anecdotes by Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd
Roy Hudd, OBE is an English comedian, actor, radio host and author, and an authority on the history of music hall entertainment.- Early life :...
, who knew her well.