Mayris Chaney Martin was born Fannie Watson Maris Chaney in San Francisco, California. Her parents were Richard Maris Chaney from Boonsboro, Maryland, and Charlotte Levy from Wapping, Middlesex, England. Involved in entertainment at a early age her first known performance was at the age of 7 with her sister Jewell, in the opera "Mascot" at the Richmond Opera House in Point Richmond across San Francisco Bay. Then again the next year with her sister at the Hayward High School Auditorium, performing russian dance. This is when she first becomes known by her nick name "Tiny". Mayris acquired her dancing skill under the 10 year tutelage of Bronsilaw Mieczkowski, a ballet master who immigrated to San Francisco from the Imperial school, in Moscow. With her sister Jewell, she continued to perform at theaters around the "Bay Area" until the early 1920s.
Traveling to New York at age 18 she happened on the opportunity to join the Musical Revue "Spice of 1922". After 85 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway "Spice of 1922" criss crossed the United States and Canada on a tour that lasted well into 1923, traveling by special train to accommodate the company of over 100 and all the props and baggage.
Advancing in her career, she performed adagio ballroom, tap, acrobatic, ballet and other dance forms in vaudeville and ball rooms, touring the world with partner Edward Fox (who was also cast in "Spice of 1922") as the dance team Chaney and Fox. They are noted as the first act to appear at the Trocadero in Sydney, Australia in April of 1936.
"A chance meeting with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933 led to a close friendship that lasted until Mrs. Roosevelt's 1962 death. Although both women had extremely heavy travel schedules, they tried to make time to visit when ever possible." During the 1930's and early 1940's, occasionally she would perform with Edward Fox at the White House, entertaining the Roosevelt's and their distinguished guests.
"In 1941, Mrs. Roosevelt as assistant director of the Office of Civilian Defense, recruited Mayris to coordinate a nationwide physical fitness program in the Office Of Civilian Defense. ER's critics quickly used Mayris Chaney's appointment as the means to attack ER's role in home front defense programs and the two women resigned in early 1942. The attacks in the press further strengthened their friendship."
When Edward Fox became ill, unable to perform, Mayris put together a dance troupe, which appeared in two motion pictures. The Mayris Chaney Dance Trio appeared in the 1943 feature "Hi'ya, Sailor", and The Mayris Chaney Dancers were in 1944's "Weekend Pass".
August 18, 1943 in San Francisco at a double wedding ceremony at the home of Dr. Margaret Chung, she married drummer and band leader Hershey Martin. At the same time Edward Fox, Miss Chaney's dance partner for several years, married Elaine Brewer. The wedding couples both honeymooned at Cal Neva Resort & Casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Her husband Hershey Martin, later on became a theatrical agent with the William Morris Agency. He died in 1965. Mrs. Martin was the society editor of the Beverly Hills Courier for more than 30 years.
Traveling to New York at age 18 she happened on the opportunity to join the Musical Revue "Spice of 1922". After 85 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway "Spice of 1922" criss crossed the United States and Canada on a tour that lasted well into 1923, traveling by special train to accommodate the company of over 100 and all the props and baggage.
Advancing in her career, she performed adagio ballroom, tap, acrobatic, ballet and other dance forms in vaudeville and ball rooms, touring the world with partner Edward Fox (who was also cast in "Spice of 1922") as the dance team Chaney and Fox. They are noted as the first act to appear at the Trocadero in Sydney, Australia in April of 1936.
"A chance meeting with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933 led to a close friendship that lasted until Mrs. Roosevelt's 1962 death. Although both women had extremely heavy travel schedules, they tried to make time to visit when ever possible." During the 1930's and early 1940's, occasionally she would perform with Edward Fox at the White House, entertaining the Roosevelt's and their distinguished guests.
"In 1941, Mrs. Roosevelt as assistant director of the Office of Civilian Defense, recruited Mayris to coordinate a nationwide physical fitness program in the Office Of Civilian Defense. ER's critics quickly used Mayris Chaney's appointment as the means to attack ER's role in home front defense programs and the two women resigned in early 1942. The attacks in the press further strengthened their friendship."
When Edward Fox became ill, unable to perform, Mayris put together a dance troupe, which appeared in two motion pictures. The Mayris Chaney Dance Trio appeared in the 1943 feature "Hi'ya, Sailor", and The Mayris Chaney Dancers were in 1944's "Weekend Pass".
August 18, 1943 in San Francisco at a double wedding ceremony at the home of Dr. Margaret Chung, she married drummer and band leader Hershey Martin. At the same time Edward Fox, Miss Chaney's dance partner for several years, married Elaine Brewer. The wedding couples both honeymooned at Cal Neva Resort & Casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Her husband Hershey Martin, later on became a theatrical agent with the William Morris Agency. He died in 1965. Mrs. Martin was the society editor of the Beverly Hills Courier for more than 30 years.
Mayris Chaney Martin was born Fannie Watson Maris Chaney in San Francisco, California. Her parents were Richard Maris Chaney from Boonsboro, Maryland, and Charlotte Levy from Wapping, Middlesex, England. Involved in entertainment at a early age her first known performance was at the age of 7 with her sister Jewell, in the opera "Mascot" at the Richmond Opera House in Point Richmond across San Francisco Bay. Then again the next year with her sister at the Hayward High School Auditorium, performing russian dance. This is when she first becomes known by her nick name "Tiny". Mayris acquired her dancing skill under the 10 year tutelage of Bronsilaw Mieczkowski, a ballet master who immigrated to San Francisco from the Imperial school, in Moscow. With her sister Jewell, she continued to perform at theaters around the "Bay Area" until the early 1920s.
Traveling to New York at age 18 she happened on the opportunity to join the Musical Revue "Spice of 1922". After 85 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway "Spice of 1922" criss crossed the United States and Canada on a tour that lasted well into 1923, traveling by special train to accommodate the company of over 100 and all the props and baggage.
Advancing in her career, she performed adagio ballroom, tap, acrobatic, ballet and other dance forms in vaudeville and ball rooms, touring the world with partner Edward Fox (who was also cast in "Spice of 1922") as the dance team Chaney and Fox. They are noted as the first act to appear at the Trocadero in Sydney, Australia in April of 1936.
"A chance meeting with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933 led to a close friendship that lasted until Mrs. Roosevelt's 1962 death. Although both women had extremely heavy travel schedules, they tried to make time to visit when ever possible." During the 1930's and early 1940's, occasionally she would perform with Edward Fox at the White House, entertaining the Roosevelt's and their distinguished guests.
"In 1941, Mrs. Roosevelt as assistant director of the Office of Civilian Defense, recruited Mayris to coordinate a nationwide physical fitness program in the Office Of Civilian Defense. ER's critics quickly used Mayris Chaney's appointment as the means to attack ER's role in home front defense programs and the two women resigned in early 1942. The attacks in the press further strengthened their friendship."
When Edward Fox became ill, unable to perform, Mayris put together a dance troupe, which appeared in two motion pictures. The Mayris Chaney Dance Trio appeared in the 1943 feature "Hi'ya, Sailor", and The Mayris Chaney Dancers were in 1944's "Weekend Pass".
August 18, 1943 in San Francisco at a double wedding ceremony at the home of Dr. Margaret Chung, she married drummer and band leader Hershey Martin. At the same time Edward Fox, Miss Chaney's dance partner for several years, married Elaine Brewer. The wedding couples both honeymooned at Cal Neva Resort & Casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Her husband Hershey Martin, later on became a theatrical agent with the William Morris Agency. He died in 1965. Mrs. Martin was the society editor of the Beverly Hills Courier for more than 30 years.
Traveling to New York at age 18 she happened on the opportunity to join the Musical Revue "Spice of 1922". After 85 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway "Spice of 1922" criss crossed the United States and Canada on a tour that lasted well into 1923, traveling by special train to accommodate the company of over 100 and all the props and baggage.
Advancing in her career, she performed adagio ballroom, tap, acrobatic, ballet and other dance forms in vaudeville and ball rooms, touring the world with partner Edward Fox (who was also cast in "Spice of 1922") as the dance team Chaney and Fox. They are noted as the first act to appear at the Trocadero in Sydney, Australia in April of 1936.
"A chance meeting with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933 led to a close friendship that lasted until Mrs. Roosevelt's 1962 death. Although both women had extremely heavy travel schedules, they tried to make time to visit when ever possible." During the 1930's and early 1940's, occasionally she would perform with Edward Fox at the White House, entertaining the Roosevelt's and their distinguished guests.
"In 1941, Mrs. Roosevelt as assistant director of the Office of Civilian Defense, recruited Mayris to coordinate a nationwide physical fitness program in the Office Of Civilian Defense. ER's critics quickly used Mayris Chaney's appointment as the means to attack ER's role in home front defense programs and the two women resigned in early 1942. The attacks in the press further strengthened their friendship."
When Edward Fox became ill, unable to perform, Mayris put together a dance troupe, which appeared in two motion pictures. The Mayris Chaney Dance Trio appeared in the 1943 feature "Hi'ya, Sailor", and The Mayris Chaney Dancers were in 1944's "Weekend Pass".
August 18, 1943 in San Francisco at a double wedding ceremony at the home of Dr. Margaret Chung, she married drummer and band leader Hershey Martin. At the same time Edward Fox, Miss Chaney's dance partner for several years, married Elaine Brewer. The wedding couples both honeymooned at Cal Neva Resort & Casino on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Her husband Hershey Martin, later on became a theatrical agent with the William Morris Agency. He died in 1965. Mrs. Martin was the society editor of the Beverly Hills Courier for more than 30 years.
Gravesite Details
Bio compiled from numerous newspaper articles and various publications
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