Patsy Jane Holcomb was a cornetist, vaudeville actress/dancer, and an orchestra conductor. She was born in Missouri, but raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From a young age she performed with her brother and sister at local social occasions and church events. During her teens she lost most of her family, with her sister, brother and mother dying within a five year period. Patsy joined the Boston Ladies' Symphony Orchestra as a cornet player and traveled with them for a time. In 1903 she was working in vaudeville in New Jersey, and married fellow performer Billy Quirk, changing her name to Jane Quirk. She kept working and traveling, appearing in various plays, and eventually moved to conducting the orchestra for musical plays, including "The Trained Nurses" in 1912, and "Redheads" in 1913 - both Jesse Lasky productions. During this time, Jane and her husband Billy bred and showed champion French bulldogs. During the next few years, Jane continued to play the cornet, and was the conductor or musical director for various productions. After her divorce from Billy Quirk in 1916, she adopted the professional name "Jane Frayne." In 1924 she was the director of a Jazz band, the "Knights of Harmony," following which she presented "Jane Frayne's Toyland" with the Shand family. In 1928, she married musician William Greene, and retired from the stage in 1930. Jane and William settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she ran a tea-room for a time, and then for several years worked for Kellogg's. Jane died on the 13th July 1949 after a long illness and was buried with her family in Cedar Rapids.
Patsy Jane Holcomb was a cornetist, vaudeville actress/dancer, and an orchestra conductor. She was born in Missouri, but raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From a young age she performed with her brother and sister at local social occasions and church events. During her teens she lost most of her family, with her sister, brother and mother dying within a five year period. Patsy joined the Boston Ladies' Symphony Orchestra as a cornet player and traveled with them for a time. In 1903 she was working in vaudeville in New Jersey, and married fellow performer Billy Quirk, changing her name to Jane Quirk. She kept working and traveling, appearing in various plays, and eventually moved to conducting the orchestra for musical plays, including "The Trained Nurses" in 1912, and "Redheads" in 1913 - both Jesse Lasky productions. During this time, Jane and her husband Billy bred and showed champion French bulldogs. During the next few years, Jane continued to play the cornet, and was the conductor or musical director for various productions. After her divorce from Billy Quirk in 1916, she adopted the professional name "Jane Frayne." In 1924 she was the director of a Jazz band, the "Knights of Harmony," following which she presented "Jane Frayne's Toyland" with the Shand family. In 1928, she married musician William Greene, and retired from the stage in 1930. Jane and William settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she ran a tea-room for a time, and then for several years worked for Kellogg's. Jane died on the 13th July 1949 after a long illness and was buried with her family in Cedar Rapids.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
