All who entered Joanne Perez’s dance studio will remember the striking vintage portraits on the walls, encircling the room above the mirrors. Would you like to see them again? Scroll down.
Joanne’s husband Jose Escobar Perez, “Pepito, the Spanish Clown,” used his skills as an artist to apply oil paints on top of photographic enlargements of their vaudeville and nightclub publicity pictures, to “colorize” the originally black-and-white images.
Do you have any clues to the names of two “mystery women” in the portraits? Leave a reply below.
LEFT: Pepito, the Spanish Clown’s publicity portrait of the mid-1920s, showing the final iteration of his iconic vaudeville clown costume.
RIGHT: Joanne and Pepito publicity portrait of their “Gay ’90s” routine, 1930s.
LEFT: Portrait of Joanne Perez in the late 1930s.
RIGHT: Jose Escobar Perez applying his “Pepito, the Spanish Clown” makeup for a photo shoot with Henry Fernandez, circa 1950s.
LEFT: Mystery Woman #1, a brunette in glamorous showgirl attire. Who was she?
RIGHT: Pepito the Spanish Clown performing his “Maestro” violin act, with wig, mustache and putty nose.
LEFT and RIGHT: Joanne Perez portraits, in her “Trini the Dancer” costume, mid-1930s. At that time, she was billed as “Pepito the Spanish Clown and Trini.” Joanne described her routine as “tasteful dancing with acrobatic moves.” 
LEFT: Pepito Perez publicity portrait in costume and makeup for his role in the Greta Garbo film “Golden Earrings, 1947.
RIGHT: Pepito Perez portrait in street clothes and without makeup, circa 1930s.
LEFT: Mystery Woman #2 with red hair and a very strong jawline Who was she?
RIGHT: Portrait of Joanne and Pepito as themselves in formal wear, circa 1960s.
LEFT: Joanne Perez in her iconic “Trini” publicity photo, circa early 1940s.
RIGHT: Joanne Perez portrait with furs, circa 1960s.
Margaret Janet Zettler (Joanne), baby portrait, 1908.
Signed cast photo from “I Love Lucy” Season 6, Episode 163, “Little Ricky’s School Pageant,” the “Enchanted Forest” recital-within-the-episode. This photo once hung on the wall of Joanne’s dance studio in Santa Ana, and is familiar to all who entered those doors.
Inscribed “For Joanne and Pepito, Our Love and Gratitude Always, Lucy and Desi,” circa 1945.
Pepito & Joanne 
I was a ballet student of Joanne’s in the 80’s. I danced for ten years. I have very fond memories of my time there. I visited her once when I moved out the area. I often thought of her. She was a great ballet teacher and wonderful woman.
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I remember the portraits so well, but have no clues on the mystery women. Family members?
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So crazy! I had forgotten about these pictures, but seeing them snapped me right back to the dance room!
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The mystery woman portrait is Maria Tallchief.
I asked Ms Joanne about it and ended up writing a book report on her.
I was a student of Ms. Joanne for 8 years, Portia for hula, and Chanda for jazz. I loved the recitals outside, the old costumes that were still so gorgeous, was always in awe of the hand painted butterfly wings for the lucky girl who did the solo on pointe shoes…singing Honey Bun, the little flower baskets we used in the early years, the canes – she was truly special. It was also so very special the very few times I got to go into her house. Everything was amazing to look at. Miss her and the studio so much. I still drive by it when I visit family in Santa Ana.
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One mystery solved! Thank you so much, Chiara. If by chance you still have the book report, I would be happy to post it on the website :-))
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