Lupino Lane: Difference between revisions

From The Goon Show Depository
No edit summary
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|British actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Lupino Lane
| image = Lupino Lane.jpg
| image = Lupino Lane.jpg
| caption =  
| caption =  
| birthname = Henry William George Lupino
| birthname = Henry William George Lupino
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1892|6|16|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1892|06|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[w:London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[w:London|London]], England
| birth_place = [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[London]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|11|10|1892|6|16|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1959|11|10|1892|06|16|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England
| death_place = London, England
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|theatre manager|director|producer}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|theatre manager|director|producer}}
| years_active = 1896–1940
| years_active = 1896–1940
| spouse = {{marriage|[[w:Violet Blythe|Violet Blythe]]|1917}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Violet Blythe]]|1917}}
| children = 1
| children = 1
| relatives = {{hlist|[[w:Wallace Lupino|Wallace Lupino]] (brother)|[[w:Stanley Lupino|Stanley Lupino]] (brother)|[[w:Ida Lupino|Ida Lupino]] (cousin) [[w:Richard Lupino|Richard Lupino]] (nephew)}}
| relatives = {{hlist|[[wWallace Lupino]] (brother)|[[Stanley Lupino]] (brother)|[[Ida Lupino]] (cousin) [[Richard Lupino]] (nephew)}}
| family = [[w:Lupino family|Lupino]]
| family = [[Lupino family|Lupino]]
}}
}}
'''Henry William George Lupino''' (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally  '''Lupino Lane''', was an English actor and [[w:Actor-manager|theatre manager]], and a member of the famous [[w:Lupino family|Lupino family]], which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/director/actress [[w:Ida Lupino|Ida Lupino]]. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, [[w:music hall|music hall]] and film performances. Increasingly celebrated for his silent comedy short subjects, he is best known in the United Kingdom for playing Bill Snibson in the play and film ''[[w:Me and My Girl|Me and My Girl]]'', which popularized the song and dance routine "[[w:The Lambeth Walk|The Lambeth Walk]]".<ref name="odd">''Oxford Dictionary of Biography'' "Lupino Lane"</ref>
'''Henry William George Lupino''' (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally  '''Lupino Lane''', was an English actor and [[Actor-manager|theatre manager]], and a member of the famous [[Lupino family|Lupino family]], which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/director/actress [[Ida Lupino|Ida Lupino]]. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, [[music hall|music hall]] and film performances. Increasingly celebrated for his silent comedy short subjects, he is best known in the United Kingdom for playing Bill Snibson in the play and film ''[[Me and My Girl|Me and My Girl]]'', which popularized the song and dance routine "[[The Lambeth Walk|The Lambeth Walk]]".<ref name="odd">''Oxford Dictionary of Biography'' "Lupino Lane"</ref>


== Early life and career ==
== Early life and career ==
Lane was born in [[w:London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], London, son of Harry Charles Lupino (1867–1925), part of the [[w:Lupino family|Lupino family]]. He adopted the surname Lane from his great-aunt Sarah Lane (1822–1899, née Borrow), the director of the [[w:Britannia Theatre|Britannia Theatre]], [[w:Hoxton|Hoxton]].<ref name="odd" /> Lane married actress Violet Blythe on 10 February 1917, and their son was the actor Lauri Lupino Lane (1921–86). Lane's brother was the actor [[w:Wallace Lupino|Wallace Lupino]], and his nephew, Wallace's son, was another actor, [[w:Richard Lupino|Richard Lupino]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/arts/television/richard-lupino-75-tv-and-stage-actor-is-dead.html|title=Richard Lupino, 75, TV and Stage Actor, Is Dead|newspaper=[[w:The New York Times|The New York Times]]|date=10 March 2005}}</ref>
Lane was born in [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], London, son of Harry Charles Lupino (1867–1925), part of the [[Lupino family|Lupino family]]. He adopted the surname Lane from his great-aunt Sarah Lane (1822–1899, née Borrow), the director of the [[Britannia Theatre|Britannia Theatre]], [[Hoxton|Hoxton]].<ref name="odd" /> Lane married actress Violet Blythe on 10 February 1917, and their son was the actor Lauri Lupino Lane (1921–86). Lane's brother was the actor [[Wallace Lupino|Wallace Lupino]], and his nephew, Wallace's son, was another actor, [[Richard Lupino|Richard Lupino]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/10/arts/television/richard-lupino-75-tv-and-stage-actor-is-dead.html|title=Richard Lupino, 75, TV and Stage Actor, Is Dead|newspaper=[[The New York Times|The New York Times]]|date=10 March 2005}}</ref>


Lane made his first stage appearance at the age of four in a benefit in [[w:Birmingham|Birmingham]] for [[w:Vesta Tilley|Vesta Tilley]]. He made his London début in 1903 as Nipper Lane at the [[w:London Pavilion|London Pavilion]].<ref name="odd" /> He worked steadily as a performer thereafter. In 1915, he appeared at the [[w:Empire, Leicester Square|Empire Theatre]] and played comic roles in theatre and film on both sides of the Atlantic from then on. In 1921, he dived through sixty three stage traps in six minutes while performing in a 1921 [[w:pantomime|pantomime]] production of ''[[w:Aladdin|Aladdin]]'' at the Hippodrome.<ref name="odd" /><ref>''Daily Graphic'', 8 January 1921</ref> Lane and his wife Violet Blythe were both in the [[w:Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of the musical ''[[w:Afgar|Afgar]]'', at the Central Theatre, in 1920–21, and he appeared in the ''[[w:Ziegfeld Follies|Ziegfeld Follies]] of 1924'' at the [[w:New Amsterdam Theatre|New Amsterdam Theatre]], from June 1924 to March 1925, and subsequently played Ko-Ko in ''[[w:The Mikado]]'' on Broadway in 1925, receiving good reviews.<ref name="odd" />
Lane made his first stage appearance at the age of four in a benefit in [[Birmingham|Birmingham]] for [[Vesta Tilley|Vesta Tilley]]. He made his London début in 1903 as Nipper Lane at the [[London Pavilion|London Pavilion]].<ref name="odd" /> He worked steadily as a performer thereafter. In 1915, he appeared at the [[Empire, Leicester Square|Empire Theatre]] and played comic roles in theatre and film on both sides of the Atlantic from then on. In 1921, he dived through sixty three stage traps in six minutes while performing in a 1921 [[pantomime|pantomime]] production of ''[[Aladdin|Aladdin]]'' at the Hippodrome.<ref name="odd" /><ref>''Daily Graphic'', 8 January 1921</ref> Lane and his wife Violet Blythe were both in the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of the musical ''[[Afgar|Afgar]]'', at the Central Theatre, in 1920–21, and he appeared in the ''[[Ziegfeld Follies|Ziegfeld Follies]] of 1924'' at the [[New Amsterdam Theatre|New Amsterdam Theatre]], from June 1924 to March 1925, and subsequently played Ko-Ko in ''[[The Mikado]]'' on Broadway in 1925, receiving good reviews.<ref name="odd" />


Lane's silent film career started in 1915 in a series of British short films, including the experimental ''Mr Butterbuns'' series.<ref name=allmovie/> As a comedy actor, he appeared in 40 [[w:Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films made in the 1920s.<ref name="odd" />  After several shorts and features for Fox in 1922–23, Lane appeared as Rudolph in [[D. W. Griffith]]'s 1924 feature ''[[Isn't Life Wonderful|Isn't Life Wonderful?]].'' He signed with [[Educational Pictures]] for a series of short comedies that featured his acrobatic flips and falls.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}} [[Roscoe Arbuckle]] was one of his directors, but Lane was soon directing the films himself under the pseudonym "Henry W. George" (his given names). These comedies displayed Lane's agility and versatility: in one film he played 27 characters (''Only Me'', 1929).<ref>{{cite book|last=Donati|first=William|title=Ida Lupino: A Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Whjb4eJKkHYC&pg=PT36|year=2013|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-4352-1|page=36}}</ref> Lane's brother Wallace Lupino, who usually co-starred in Lane's comedies, also starred in his own comedies, of which only three are known to survive. (Archivist Ben Model discovered one of them and posted it on YouTube.)
Lane's silent film career started in 1915 in a series of British short films, including the experimental ''Mr Butterbuns'' series.<ref name=allmovie/> As a comedy actor, he appeared in 40 [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] films made in the 1920s.<ref name="odd" />  After several shorts and features for Fox in 1922–23, Lane appeared as Rudolph in [[D. W. Griffith|D. W. Griffith]]'s 1924 feature ''[[Isn't Life Wonderful|Isn't Life Wonderful?]].'' He signed with [[Educational Pictures|Educational Pictures]] for a series of short comedies that featured his acrobatic flips and falls. [[Roscoe Arbuckle|Roscoe Arbuckle]] was one of his directors, but Lane was soon directing the films himself under the pseudonym "Henry W. George" (his given names). These comedies displayed Lane's agility and versatility: in one film he played 27 characters (''Only Me'', 1929).<ref>{{cite book|last=Donati|first=William|title=Ida Lupino: A Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Whjb4eJKkHYC&pg=PT36|year=2013|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-4352-1|page=36}}</ref> Lane's brother Wallace Lupino, who usually co-starred in Lane's comedies, also starred in his own comedies, of which only three are known to survive. (Archivist Ben Model discovered one of them and posted it on YouTube.)


Lupino Lane made the transition to talking pictures, starring in a few sound shorts for Educational and making a guest appearance in the [[Warner Bros.]] feature ''[[The Show of Shows]]''. He also played a major role in the 1929 musical film ''[[The Love Parade]]'', but within two years he left Hollywood for his native England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-love-parade-v100446|title=The Love Parade (1929) - Ernst Lubitsch - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref name=allmovie>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/lupino-lane-p40368|title=Lupino Lane - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos|website=AllMovie}}</ref>
Lupino Lane made the transition to talking pictures, starring in a few sound shorts for Educational and making a guest appearance in the [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros.]] feature ''[[The Show of Shows|The Show of Shows]]''. He also played a major role in the 1929 musical film ''[[The Love Parade|The Love Parade]]'', but within two years he left Hollywood for his native England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-love-parade-v100446|title=The Love Parade (1929) - Ernst Lubitsch - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref><ref name=allmovie>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/lupino-lane-p40368|title=Lupino Lane - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


== 1930s ==
== 1930s ==
In the 1930s, Lane directed and acted in mostly British feature films.  With Sir [[w:Oswald Stoll|Oswald Stoll]], Lane co-produced ''[[Twenty to One]]'', written by L. Arthur Rose and [[w:Frank Eyton|Frank Eyton]] with music by [[w:Billy Mayerl|Billy Mayerl]], on the [[w:West End theatre|West End]]. Lane made his first appearance as Bill Snibson in this production, in which Snibson, a [[w:tout]], was a big hit. The production ran for a year starting from November 1935 and went on a long British tour after that.<ref name="odd" />
In the 1930s, Lane directed and acted in mostly British feature films.  With Sir [[Oswald Stoll|Oswald Stoll]], Lane co-produced ''[[Twenty to One]]'', written by L. Arthur Rose and [[Frank Eyton|Frank Eyton]] with music by [[Billy Mayerl|Billy Mayerl]], on the [[West End theatre|West End]]. Lane made his first appearance as Bill Snibson in this production, in which Snibson, a [[tout]], was a big hit. The production ran for a year starting from November 1935 and went on a long British tour after that.<ref name="odd" />


''[[w:Me and My Girl|Me and My Girl]]'', the follow-up show, written by Rose and [[w:Douglas Furber|Douglas Furber]] with music by [[w:Noel Gay|Noel Gay]], was an even bigger hit. Snibson inherits a country estate and invites his mates from [[w:Lambeth|Lambeth]] to stay with him. It featured a hit song and dance routine from Lane called "[[w:The Lambeth Walk|The Lambeth Walk]]", which became popular throughout Europe in the late 1930s. Lane directed and produced the show as well as starring in it for 1,550 performances between 1937 and 1940.<ref name="British Cinema page 109">Jeffrey Richards editor ''The Unknown 1930s: An Alternative History of the British Cinema, 1929–1939'' I. B. Tauris, 1991, p. 109</ref> It was the first British musical comedy to be televised and was made into a film in 1939.<ref name="odd" /> The film was known as ''The Lambeth Walk''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-lambeth-walk-v98581|title=The Lambeth Walk (1940) - Albert de Courville - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref> due to the popularity of the dance.<ref name="British Cinema page 109"/>
''[[Me and My Girl|Me and My Girl]]'', the follow-up show, written by Rose and [[Douglas Furber|Douglas Furber]] with music by [[Noel Gay|Noel Gay]], was an even bigger hit. Snibson inherits a country estate and invites his mates from [[Lambeth|Lambeth]] to stay with him. It featured a hit song and dance routine from Lane called "[[The Lambeth Walk|The Lambeth Walk]]", which became popular throughout Europe in the late 1930s. Lane directed and produced the show as well as starring in it for 1,550 performances between 1937 and 1940.<ref name="British Cinema page 109">Jeffrey Richards editor ''The Unknown 1930s: An Alternative History of the British Cinema, 1929–1939'' I. B. Tauris, 1991, p. 109</ref> It was the first British musical comedy to be televised and was made into a film in 1939.<ref name="odd" /> The film was known as ''The Lambeth Walk''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-lambeth-walk-v98581|title=The Lambeth Walk (1940) - Albert de Courville - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related|website=AllMovie}}</ref> due to the popularity of the dance.<ref name="British Cinema page 109"/>


== Later career and death ==
== Later career and death ==
The success of ''Me and My Girl'' made Lane a rich man. Lane continued to act on stage and on television in England for the rest of his life. In 1946, after it sustained damage during [[w:World War II|World War II]], he purchased the shell of the [[w:Gaiety Theatre, London|Gaiety Theatre]] in London to rescue it from dereliction, intending to produce comedies. He failed to win the financial backing to refurbish it and sold it in 1950. The theatre was demolished in 1956.
The success of ''Me and My Girl'' made Lane a rich man. Lane continued to act on stage and on television in England for the rest of his life. In 1946, after it sustained damage during [[World War II|World War II]], he purchased the shell of the [[Gaiety Theatre, London|Gaiety Theatre]] in London to rescue it from dereliction, intending to produce comedies. He failed to win the financial backing to refurbish it and sold it in 1950. The theatre was demolished in 1956.


He was the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in March 1956 when he was surprised by [[w:Eamonn Andrews|Eamonn Andrews]] at London's BBC Television Theatre. He also appeared as the castaway on ''[[w:Desert Island Discs|Desert Island Discs]]'' in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009y8jy|title=BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Lupino Lane|website=BBC}}</ref>
He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in March 1956 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews|Eamonn Andrews]] at London's BBC Television Theatre. He also appeared as the castaway on ''[[Desert Island Discs|Desert Island Discs]]'' in 1957.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009y8jy|title=BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Lupino Lane|website=BBC}}</ref>


Lane died on 10 November 1959, in London, at age 67<ref name="odd" /> and is buried at [[w:Streatham Park Cemetery|Streatham Park Cemetery]]. His wife, Violet Blythe, died 17 March 1983, aged 93.
Lane died on 10 November 1959, in London, at age 67<ref name="odd" /> and is buried at [[Streatham Park Cemetery|Streatham Park Cemetery]]. His wife, Violet Blythe, died 17 March 1983, aged 93.


To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, [[w:the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America|the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America]] restored his memorial at Streatham Park Cemetery and held a memorial service at [[w:St Paul's, Covent Garden|St Paul's]], [[w:Covent Garden|Covent Garden]], with a reception at [[w:Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Theatre Royal]].<ref>''The Stage'' newspaper, 5 November 2009</ref>
To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, [[the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America|the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America]] restored his memorial at Streatham Park Cemetery and held a memorial service at [[St Paul's, Covent Garden|St Paul's]], [[Covent Garden|Covent Garden]], with a reception at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Theatre Royal]].<ref>''The Stage'' newspaper, 5 November 2009</ref>


A commemorative [[w:blue plaque|blue plaque]] was erected to Lupino Lane on 15 June 2014 at his former home 32 [[w:Maida Vale|Maida Vale]], Paddington, by [[w:The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America|The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themusichallguild.com/news.php |title=Music Hall Guild |publisher=Music Hall Guild |date=25 September 2011 |accessdate=23 July 2014}}</ref>
A commemorative [[blue plaque|blue plaque]] was erected to Lupino Lane on 15 June 2014 at his former home 32 [[Maida Vale|Maida Vale]], Paddington, by [[The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America|The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themusichallguild.com/news.php |title=Music Hall Guild |publisher=Music Hall Guild |date=25 September 2011 |accessdate=23 July 2014}}</ref>


==Partial filmography==
==Partial filmography==
Line 67: Line 64:


==DVD release==
==DVD release==
On 26 December 2012, [[Alpha Video]] released ''Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1'' on [[DVD region code|Region 0]] [[DVD-R]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldies.com/product-view/6894D.html |title=Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1 |accessdate=30 January 2014}}</ref>  <BR>
On 26 December 2012, [[Alpha Video|Alpha Video]] released ''Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1'' on [[DVD region code|Region 0]] [[DVD-R|DVD-R]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldies.com/product-view/6894D.html |title=Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1 |accessdate=30 January 2014}}</ref>  <BR>
On 28 January 2014, they released ''Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldies.com/product-view/7286D.html |title=Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2 |accessdate=30 January 2014}}</ref>
On 28 January 2014, they released ''Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldies.com/product-view/7286D.html |title=Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2 |accessdate=30 January 2014}}</ref>


Line 89: Line 86:
*{{IMDb name|name=Lauri Lupino Lane|id=0485421}}
*{{IMDb name|name=Lauri Lupino Lane|id=0485421}}
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/9399fe0a#p009y8jy Lupino Lane on Desert Island Discs]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/9399fe0a#p009y8jy Lupino Lane on Desert Island Discs]
{{Lupino Lane}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Lupino}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Lupino}}

Latest revision as of 07:08, 29 March 2023

Lupino Lane
Lupino Lane.jpg
Born
Henry William George Lupino

(1892-06-16)16 June 1892
Hackney, London, England
Died10 November 1959(1959-11-10) (aged 67)
London, England
Occupations
  • Actor
  • theatre manager
  • director
  • producer
Years active1896–1940
Spouse
​
(m. 1917)​
Children1
Relatives
FamilyLupino

Henry William George Lupino (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally Lupino Lane, was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family, which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/director/actress Ida Lupino. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, music hall and film performances. Increasingly celebrated for his silent comedy short subjects, he is best known in the United Kingdom for playing Bill Snibson in the play and film Me and My Girl, which popularized the song and dance routine "The Lambeth Walk".[1]

Early life and career

Lane was born in Hackney, London, son of Harry Charles Lupino (1867–1925), part of the Lupino family. He adopted the surname Lane from his great-aunt Sarah Lane (1822–1899, née Borrow), the director of the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton.[1] Lane married actress Violet Blythe on 10 February 1917, and their son was the actor Lauri Lupino Lane (1921–86). Lane's brother was the actor Wallace Lupino, and his nephew, Wallace's son, was another actor, Richard Lupino.[2]

Lane made his first stage appearance at the age of four in a benefit in Birmingham for Vesta Tilley. He made his London début in 1903 as Nipper Lane at the London Pavilion.[1] He worked steadily as a performer thereafter. In 1915, he appeared at the Empire Theatre and played comic roles in theatre and film on both sides of the Atlantic from then on. In 1921, he dived through sixty three stage traps in six minutes while performing in a 1921 pantomime production of Aladdin at the Hippodrome.[1][3] Lane and his wife Violet Blythe were both in the Broadway production of the musical Afgar, at the Central Theatre, in 1920–21, and he appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1924 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, from June 1924 to March 1925, and subsequently played Ko-Ko in The Mikado on Broadway in 1925, receiving good reviews.[1]

Lane's silent film career started in 1915 in a series of British short films, including the experimental Mr Butterbuns series.[4] As a comedy actor, he appeared in 40 Hollywood films made in the 1920s.[1] After several shorts and features for Fox in 1922–23, Lane appeared as Rudolph in D. W. Griffith's 1924 feature Isn't Life Wonderful?. He signed with Educational Pictures for a series of short comedies that featured his acrobatic flips and falls. Roscoe Arbuckle was one of his directors, but Lane was soon directing the films himself under the pseudonym "Henry W. George" (his given names). These comedies displayed Lane's agility and versatility: in one film he played 27 characters (Only Me, 1929).[5] Lane's brother Wallace Lupino, who usually co-starred in Lane's comedies, also starred in his own comedies, of which only three are known to survive. (Archivist Ben Model discovered one of them and posted it on YouTube.)

Lupino Lane made the transition to talking pictures, starring in a few sound shorts for Educational and making a guest appearance in the Warner Bros. feature The Show of Shows. He also played a major role in the 1929 musical film The Love Parade, but within two years he left Hollywood for his native England.[6][4]

1930s

In the 1930s, Lane directed and acted in mostly British feature films. With Sir Oswald Stoll, Lane co-produced Twenty to One, written by L. Arthur Rose and Frank Eyton with music by Billy Mayerl, on the West End. Lane made his first appearance as Bill Snibson in this production, in which Snibson, a tout, was a big hit. The production ran for a year starting from November 1935 and went on a long British tour after that.[1]

Me and My Girl, the follow-up show, written by Rose and Douglas Furber with music by Noel Gay, was an even bigger hit. Snibson inherits a country estate and invites his mates from Lambeth to stay with him. It featured a hit song and dance routine from Lane called "The Lambeth Walk", which became popular throughout Europe in the late 1930s. Lane directed and produced the show as well as starring in it for 1,550 performances between 1937 and 1940.[7] It was the first British musical comedy to be televised and was made into a film in 1939.[1] The film was known as The Lambeth Walk[8] due to the popularity of the dance.[7]

Later career and death

The success of Me and My Girl made Lane a rich man. Lane continued to act on stage and on television in England for the rest of his life. In 1946, after it sustained damage during World War II, he purchased the shell of the Gaiety Theatre in London to rescue it from dereliction, intending to produce comedies. He failed to win the financial backing to refurbish it and sold it in 1950. The theatre was demolished in 1956.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in March 1956 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's BBC Television Theatre. He also appeared as the castaway on Desert Island Discs in 1957.[9]

Lane died on 10 November 1959, in London, at age 67[1] and is buried at Streatham Park Cemetery. His wife, Violet Blythe, died 17 March 1983, aged 93.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America restored his memorial at Streatham Park Cemetery and held a memorial service at St Paul's, Covent Garden, with a reception at Theatre Royal.[10]

A commemorative blue plaque was erected to Lupino Lane on 15 June 2014 at his former home 32 Maida Vale, Paddington, by The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[11]

Partial filmography

DVD release

On 26 December 2012, Alpha Video released Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1 on Region 0 DVD-R.[12]
On 28 January 2014, they released Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oxford Dictionary of Biography "Lupino Lane"
  2. ^ "Richard Lupino, 75, TV and Stage Actor, Is Dead". The New York Times. 10 March 2005.
  3. ^ Daily Graphic, 8 January 1921
  4. ^ a b "Lupino Lane - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
  5. ^ Donati, William (2013). Ida Lupino: A Biography. University Press of Kentucky. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-8131-4352-1.
  6. ^ "The Love Parade (1929) - Ernst Lubitsch - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  7. ^ a b Jeffrey Richards editor The Unknown 1930s: An Alternative History of the British Cinema, 1929–1939 I. B. Tauris, 1991, p. 109
  8. ^ "The Lambeth Walk (1940) - Albert de Courville - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  9. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Lupino Lane". BBC.
  10. ^ The Stage newspaper, 5 November 2009
  11. ^ "Music Hall Guild". Music Hall Guild. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 1". Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Alpha Video – Lupino Lane Silent Comedy Collection, Volume 2". Retrieved 30 January 2014.

Sources

  • Lane, Lupino (1946). How To Become A Comedian. London: F. Muller Ltd.
  • White, James Dillon (1957). Born to Star: The Lupino Lane Story. London: Heinemann.
  • Balducci, Anthony (2012). Eighteen Comedians of Silent Film. Seattle: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1479152926.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Lupino_Lane&oldid=46112"