Jane Dornacker
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Born Name:
Jane Carroll Dornacker
Born Date: October 1, 1947
Born Place: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died Date: October 22, 1986
Died Place: Manhattan, New York City
Occupations: Musician, comedian, actress, radio traffic reporter
Brief Biography: Jane Dornacker was a multi-talented American entertainer known for her work. She gained widespread recognition for her flamboyant personality and her tragic death in a helicopter crash while broadcasting live on air.
Early Life and Flamboyant Beginnings:
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dornacker moved to San Francisco in 1965. She quickly made a name for herself at San Francisco State University, where she was elected Homecoming Queen after campaigning in a large birdcage on an "Earth Mother" ticket. Before her entertainment career, she was notably one of the first female letter carriers for the U.S. Postal Service.
Career in Entertainment:
Dornacker’s career spanned several creative fields in the late 1970s and early 1980s:
Music: She was the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group Leila and the Snakes. She also toured with the band The Tubes and co-wrote their popular song "Don't Touch Me There".
Acting: She appeared in works by playwright Sam Shepard and played the memorable, straight-laced Nurse Murch in the 1983 film The Right Stuff.
Comedy: She was a prominent figure on the San Francisco stand-up scene, often performing alongside future stars like Nora Dunn and Paula Poundstone.
"Trafficologist" and Radio Career:
In the early 1980s, Dornacker transitioned into radio as a traffic reporter, first for San Francisco’s KFRC, where she was known for her lightning-fast delivery and irreverent humor. She eventually moved to New York City to work for WNBC-AM, becoming a beloved "trafficologist" known for her raspy voice and sharp wit.
Born Date: October 1, 1947
Born Place: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died Date: October 22, 1986
Died Place: Manhattan, New York City
Occupations: Musician, comedian, actress, radio traffic reporter
Brief Biography: Jane Dornacker was a multi-talented American entertainer known for her work. She gained widespread recognition for her flamboyant personality and her tragic death in a helicopter crash while broadcasting live on air.
Early Life and Flamboyant Beginnings:
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dornacker moved to San Francisco in 1965. She quickly made a name for herself at San Francisco State University, where she was elected Homecoming Queen after campaigning in a large birdcage on an "Earth Mother" ticket. Before her entertainment career, she was notably one of the first female letter carriers for the U.S. Postal Service.
Career in Entertainment:
Dornacker’s career spanned several creative fields in the late 1970s and early 1980s:
Music: She was the lead singer and songwriter for the rock group Leila and the Snakes. She also toured with the band The Tubes and co-wrote their popular song "Don't Touch Me There".
Acting: She appeared in works by playwright Sam Shepard and played the memorable, straight-laced Nurse Murch in the 1983 film The Right Stuff.
Comedy: She was a prominent figure on the San Francisco stand-up scene, often performing alongside future stars like Nora Dunn and Paula Poundstone.
"Trafficologist" and Radio Career:
In the early 1980s, Dornacker transitioned into radio as a traffic reporter, first for San Francisco’s KFRC, where she was known for her lightning-fast delivery and irreverent humor. She eventually moved to New York City to work for WNBC-AM, becoming a beloved "trafficologist" known for her raspy voice and sharp wit.