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.
Known For
Arabian Nights
(1942)
Corporal
Gung Ho!
(1943)
Capt. Dunphy
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Director
The Shaggy D.A.
(1976)
Roller Rink Announcer
Boom Town
(1940)
Assistant D.A.
Quicksand
(1950)
Lt. Nelson
Union Pacific
(1939)
Sam Reed
The Escape
(1939)
David Clifford
The Jackie Robinson Story
(1950)
Hopper
Ride 'Em Cowboy
(1942)
Pete Conway (uncredited)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
(1949)
Michael Gihuly
Kansas City Bomber
(1972)
Len
Full Filmography
Acting
Shake, Mr. Shakespeare
(1936)
Mr. Smith
Punch and Beauty
(1936)
Russ Biff
For the Love of Pete
(1936)
McSwat's Cornerman
There Goes My Girl
(1937)
Tim J. Whelan
Flight from Glory
(1937)
Mr. Hanson
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
(1937)
High-Grade
You Can't Buy Luck
(1937)
Det. McGrath
Super-Sleuth
(1937)
Barker
Wise Girl
(1937)
Detective
Should Wives Work?
(1937)
The Woman I Love
(1937)
Florence's Boyfriend
Many Unhappy Returns
(1937)
Doctor
New Faces of 1937
(1937)
Broker
The Life of the Party
(1937)
Hotel Manager
Danger Patrol
(1937)
Bill
Saturday's Heroes
(1937)
Red Watson
The Jitters
(1938)
Dance Studio Manager
His Exciting Night
(1938)
Homer Carslake
Go Chase Yourself
(1938)
Nails
I'm from the City
(1938)
Captain Oliver 'Ollie' Fitch
Joy of Living
(1938)
Harvey (Uncredited)
The Saint in New York
(1938)
Dispatcher (Uncredited)
The Last Warning
(1938)
Richard Lane
Radio City Revels
(1938)
Crane
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
(1938)
Assistant Coach Jones
Blind Alibi
(1938)
Bowers
Exposed
(1938)
Tony Mitchell
Charlie Chan in Honolulu
(1938)
Joe Arnold
Everybody's Doing It
(1938)
Steve Devers
Ears of Experience
(1938)
The Boss
The Dummy Owner
(1938)
Crashing Hollywood
(1938)
Hugo Wells
This Marriage Business
(1938)
Joe Selby
For Love or Money
(1939)
Foster
It Could Happen to You
(1939)
District Attorney
The Escape
(1939)
David Clifford
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
(1939)
Police Commissioner Gordon
Stronger Than Desire
(1939)
Jerry Brody
Hero for a Day
(1939)
Abbott
Drunk Driving
(1939)
Rick
The Amazing Mr. Williams
(1939)
Reagan (uncredited)
Union Pacific
(1939)
Sam Reed
Nick Carter, Master Detective
(1939)
Sam Vaughn
Mutiny on the Blackhawk
(1939)
Kit Carson
Main Street Lawyer
(1939)
Ballou, Marco's Lawyer
News Is Made at Night
(1939)
Barney Basely
Sued for Libel
(1939)
Smiley Dugan
The Day the Bookies Wept
(1939)
Ramsey Firpo
Unexpected Father
(1939)
Leo Murphy - Booking Agent
Sandy Is a Lady
(1940)
Philip Jarvis
Free, Blonde and 21
(1940)
Lieutenant Lake
The Biscuit Eater
(1940)
Harvey McNeil
City of Chance
(1940)
Marty Connors
Youth Will Be Served
(1940)
Mr. Hewitt
Hired Wife
(1940)
McNab
Brother Orchid
(1940)
Mugsy O'Day
Two Girls on Broadway
(1940)
Buddy Bartell
Boom Town
(1940)
Assistant D.A.
Riders of the Purple Sage
(1941)
Steve Oldring
Time Out for Rhythm
(1941)
Mike Armstrong
Respect the Law
(1941)
George Johnson
Meet Boston Blackie
(1941)
Inspector Faraday
Confessions of Boston Blackie
(1941)
Inspector John Farraday
The Penalty
(1941)
Craig
Ride, Kelly, Ride
(1941)
Dan Thomas
The Cowboy and the Blonde
(1941)
Gilbert
San Antonio Rose
(1941)
Charles J. Willoughby
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
(1941)
Recruiting Officer
I Wanted Wings
(1941)
Flight Commander
For Beauty's Sake
(1941)
Mr. Jackman
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Director
Navy Blues
(1941)
'Rocky' Anderson
Dead End Kids Go To War
(1942)
Don Ames
Dr. Broadway
(1942)
Police Sgt. Patrick Doyle
Drums of the Congo
(1942)
Coutlass
Time to Kill
(1942)
Lt. Breeze
Ride 'Em Cowboy
(1942)
Pete Conway (uncredited)
Alias Boston Blackie
(1942)
Inspector Farraday
Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood
(1942)
Inspector Farraday
Butch Minds the Baby
(1942)
Harry the Horse
A-Haunting We Will Go
(1942)
Phillips
Arabian Nights
(1942)
Corporal
To the Shores of Tripoli
(1942)
Lieutenant
It Ain't Hay
(1943)
Slicker
Fired Wife
(1943)
Orin Tracy
The Chance of a Lifetime
(1943)
Insp. John Farraday
Gung Ho!
(1943)
Capt. Dunphy
Don't Be a Sucker!
(1943)
Soapbox Orator
After Midnight with Boston Blackie
(1943)
Inspector Farraday
Crazy House
(1943)
S. E. Hanley
Corvette K-225
(1943)
Vice Admiral
Swing Your Partner
(1943)
Mr. Lane
Air Force
(1943)
Maj. W.G. Roberts
Brazil
(1944)
Edward Graham
Louisiana Hayride
(1944)
J. Huntington McMasters
A Wave, a WAC and a Marine
(1944)
Marty Allen
Bowery to Broadway
(1944)
Walter Rogers
One Mysterious Night
(1944)
Inspector Farraday
Slightly Terrific
(1944)
Mike Hamilyon
Take It Big
(1944)
Eddie Hampton
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
(1944)
Sgt. 'Alphabet' Czeidrowski
Bermuda Mystery
(1944)
Detective Sergeant Donovan
What a Blonde
(1945)
Pomeroy
Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion
(1945)
Insp. John Farraday
High Blood Pleasure
(1945)
Dick
Boston Blackie's Rendezvous
(1945)
Inspector Farraday
Wonder Man
(1945)
Asst. District Attorney
Here Come the Co-eds
(1945)
Near-Sighted Man at Ballroom
Two O'Clock Courage
(1945)
Al Haley
The Bullfighters
(1945)
'Hot Shot' Coleman
Pardon My Terror
(1946)
Dick
Hot Water
(1946)
Dick
Gentleman Joe Palooka
(1946)
Phillips
Ain't Love Cuckoo?
(1946)
Dick Lane
Sioux City Sue
(1946)
Jefferson Lang
Girl on the Spot
(1946)
Weepy McGurk
The Phantom Thief
(1946)
Inspector John Farraday
Talk About a Lady
(1946)
Duke Randall
A Close Call for Boston Blackie
(1946)
Inspector Farraday
Boston Blackie and the Law
(1946)
Inspector Farraday
Wedding Belle
(1947)
Dick Lane
Out of the Blue
(1947)
Detective Noonan
Song of Scheherazade
(1947)
Lieutenant
Training for Trouble
(1947)
Richard Lane
Tenth Avenue Angel
(1948)
Street Vendor
Pardon My Lamb Chop
(1948)
Dick, Shell-shocked Veteran
The Babe Ruth Story
(1948)
Boston Braves' coach
The Creeper
(1948)
Insp. Fenwick
Trapped by Boston Blackie
(1948)
Insp. William R. Farraday
The Return of the Whistler
(1948)
Gaylord Traynor
Two Nuts in a Rut
(1948)
Richard Lane, producer
There's a Girl in My Heart
(1949)
Sergeant Mullin
Miss Mink of 1949
(1949)
Herbert Pendelton
He's in Again
(1949)
Dick
The Big Wheel
(1949)
Reno Riley
Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture
(1949)
Inspector William R. Farraday
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
(1949)
Michael Gihuly
Flung by a Fling
(1949)
Sgt. Dick Lane
Quicksand
(1950)
Lt. Nelson
The Jackie Robinson Story
(1950)
Hopper
The Admiral Was a Lady
(1950)
Marty Gruber
Everybody's Dancin'
(1950)
Colonel Ed Harrison
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
(1951)
Kelley
Kansas City Bomber
(1972)
Len
The Shaggy D.A.
(1976)
Roller Rink Announcer