Richard Lane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Lane (May 28, 1899 – September 5, 1982) was an American television announcer and actor who made his mark broadcasting wrestling and roller derby shows on KTLA-TV, mainly from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Lane was born in 1899 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to a farm family. Early in life he developed talents for reciting poetry and doing various song-and-dance acts.
By his teenage years, he was doing an "iron jaw" routine in circuses around Europe and worked as a drummer touring with a band in Australia. After the decline of vaudeville, Lane obtained extensive work in motion pictures and was best known at the time for playing Inspector John or William Faraday or Farraday (depending on the film) in all fourteen Boston Blackie Columbia Pictures features starring Chester Morris, starting with Meet Boston Blackie in 1941. During World War II, he appeared as emcee with USO troops entertaining G.I.s. His unit appeared at Fort MacArthur in September 1944. Lane also announced for the Jalopy Derby and Destruction Derby at Ascot Park, Gardena California.
Lane also played Faraday in the first radio version of Boston Blackie, which ran on NBC from June 23, 1944 to September 15, 1944.
Acting
Movie
Hellzapoppin'
as Director
1941
Movie
The Shaggy D.A.
as Roller Rink Announcer
1976
Movie
Union Pacific
as Sam Reed
1939
Movie
Boom Town
as Assistant D.A.
1940
Movie
Air Force
as Maj. W.G. Roberts
1943
Movie
Arabian Nights
as Corporal
1942
Movie
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
as Michael Gihuly
1949
Movie
Wonder Man
as Assistant District Attorney
1945
Movie
Brother Orchid
as Mugsy O'Day
1940
Movie
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Barney Johnson (uncredited)
1943
Movie
Quicksand
as Lt. Nelson
1950
Movie
A-Haunting We Will Go
as Phillips
1942
Movie
The Bullfighters
as 'Hot Shot' Coleman
1945
Movie
Ride 'Em Cowboy
as Pete Conway (uncredited)
1941
Movie
Two O'Clock Courage
as Al Haley
1945
Movie
Here Come the Co-Eds
as Near-Sighted Man at Ballroom
1945
Movie
Gung Ho!
as Capt. Dunphy
1943
Movie
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
as Police Commissioner Gordon
1939
Movie
Charlie Chan in Honolulu
as Joe Arnold
1938
Movie
The Jackie Robinson Story
as Hopper
1950
Movie
Kansas City Bomber
as Len
1972
Movie
The Return of the Whistler
as Gaylord Traynor
1948
Movie
To the Shores of Tripoli
as Lieutenant
1942
Movie
The Saint in New York
as Dispatcher (Uncredited)
1938