A legend in her own time, Miss Jean Anderson was dance teacher to several generations of San Franciscans, both children and adults. Jean and her sister, Lenore, were both accomplished dancers during the tail end of the vaudeville years. They performed in all known San Francisco venues, including movie theatres, stadiums and hospitals. For many decades the Andersons performed all over town, even in the days when the big downtown movie theatres still had live entertainment. They performed at the Worlds Fair on Treasure Island. They performed in theatres, churches, temples, convalescent homes, schoolrooms, auditoriums and even football stadiums. Their annual Christmas show was a showcase for students of all ages, and featured all kinds of dancing, from tap to ballet. Lessons for children cost 25 cents and the price stayed the same until the studio closed. She was fascinated by all the different people she met, and she cared about every one of them. The Anderson Sisters School of Dancing on Sixth Avenue, San Francisco, was beyond description. There were record players representing every era of recorded sound from about 1930 to the present. There were even two pianos! Tap shoes and costumes could be found in various corners of the studio. Jeans style of singing was influenced by the young Judy Garland, and she delivered her lyrics with that same kind of warmth and tenderness. Just like the dance studio, Jean seemed to be from another era. Like some other great ladies, Eleanor …
Jean Anderson, Golden Gate Bridge 50th Anniversary
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WillowfanPS
August 16, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Wow thanks so much for sharing this. Do you have any more? I had my doll repaired at their doll hospital when I was a little girl…
Jeannemare
August 16, 2010 at 12:56 pm
The dance studio is long gone and replaced by condos. I walked by yesterday and felt some nostalgia. Thank you for posting such jewel. Thank you.
tapdancegirl88
August 16, 2010 at 1:05 pm
i like to see her tap