Jue Quon Tai on Stage-Door Johnnies

Here's a funny little piece featuring vaudeville singer Jue Quon Tai's observations about stage-door Johnnies. It is also the earliest mention that I've found of her ambition to become an opera star.

Chinese Prima Donna Finds Johnnies Are in Lead in America

The Chinese produce few stage-door Johnnies — but America has an output that can't be beaten!

So declares Jue Quon Tai, fair Chinese singer, who says that during several visits to Oakland she has met both kind — and counted them. Here's her ratio:

Chinese Johnnies — they call them "Yuan" in Chinese — 3.

American Johnnies — 44.

German Johnnies — 6.

French Johnnies — 14.

"Every night I find one of 'em at the stage door — perhaps two or three. The American Johnny doesn't know his business — he's all 'rough and stuff' — thinks all he has to do is bring flowers or something and meet a girl. The Chinese Johnny tries to tell you he knew your parents in Canton. The German Johnny says he's studying sociology, and wants to study you.

"The greatest place for Johnnies in America is Los Angeles. Next to that comes San Francisco."

Miss Tai, who is famed as the most beautiful woman of her race, was educated in America, and speaks several languages. Her ambition is to be an opera star, and she has already received considerable notice through her rendition of "Madame Butterfly". She is now touring a western vaudeville circuit, and is at present an Oakland visitor.

—Oakland Tribune, August 8, 1915