Sir Allen Lane (born Allen Lane Williams, 21 September 1902 – 7 July 1970) was a British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing high quality paperback fiction and non-fiction to the mass market.

Early life and family[link]

Allen Lane Williams was born in Bristol to Camilla (née Lane) and Samuel Williams, and studied at Bristol Grammar School. In 1919 he joined the publishing company Bodley Head as an apprentice to his uncle and founder of the company John Lane. In the process, he and the rest of his family changed their surname to Lane to retain the childless John Lane's company as a family firm. Lane married Lettice Lucy Orr on 28 June 1941 and had three daughters, the older two of whom were Clare and Christine. He was knighted in 1962.

Career as a publisher[link]

He rose quickly in the business becoming managing editor in 1925 following the death of his uncle. After conflict with the board of directors who were wary at first — for fear of being prosecuted — of publishing James Joyce's controversial book Ulysses, Lane left in 1936 to set up Penguin Books. The legend goes that on a train journey back from visiting Agatha Christie in 1934, Lane found himself on an Exeter station platform with nothing available worth reading. He conceived of paperback editions of literature of proven quality which would be cheap enough to be sold from a vending machine; the first was set up in Charing Cross Road and dubbed the "Penguincubator". Lane was also well aware of the Hamburg publisher Albatross Books and adopted many of its innovations. The paperback venture was extremely successful, and he expanded into other areas such as Puffin Books in 1940 and the Penguin Classics series in 1945. Lane was responsible for the decision to publish an unexpurgated edition of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover as a means of testing the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

In 1965, during an attempt by chief editor Tony Godwin and the board of directors to remove him, Lane stole a book's entire print run and burnt it. (The book was called Massacre and was by the French cartoonist Siné: it was reportedly deeply offensive.) Lane fired Godwin, and retained control of Penguin, but was forced to retire shortly afterwards after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. He died in 1970 at Northwood, Middlesex.^[1]

References[link]

1. ^ About Penguin: Company History, Penguin Books Ltd. Retrieved 2010-08-18.

Bibliography[link]

• Morpurgo, J. E. (1979) Allen Lane: King Penguin. London: Hutchinson
• Hare, Steve (1995) Penguin Portrait: Allen Lane and the Penguin Editors, 1935-1970. London: Penguin Books

External links[link]

• University of Bristol Library Special Collections. "Penguin Archive". http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/library/collections/specialcollections/archives/penguin/. 
• Works by or about Allen Lane in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Horatio Morpurgo, Lane's grandson. "Lady Chatterley's Defendant: Allen Lane and the Paperback Revolution (a portrait of Allen Lane)". http://www.threemonkeysonline.com/als/allen_lane_lady_chatterley.html. 
• Toby Clements (19 February 2009). "History of the Penguin Archive". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/4691018/History-of-Penguin-archive.html. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
• BBC Radio 4 programme about Allen Lane by author Michael Morpurgo, his son-in-law

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Allan "Rocky" Lane (September 22, 1909 – October 27, 1973) was a studio leading man and the star of many cowboy B-movies in the 1940s and 1950s. He appeared in more than 125 films and TV shows in a career lasting from 1929 to 1966. He also did the voice of the talking horse on the television series Mister Ed, beginning in 1961.

Biography[link]

Lane was born as Harry Leonard Albershardt in Mishawaka, Indiana to William H. Albershardt and his wife, Linnie Anne.^[1] He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.^[2] Lane had been a photographer, model and stage actor by the time he was 20 years old. He was spotted by Fox Film Corporation (later 20th Century Fox) talent scouts and was signed to a contract. His first film role for Fox was as a romantic lead opposite June Collyer in the 1929 release, Not Quite Decent (now a lost film). He made several other films at Fox but jumped ship to Warner Bros. in the early 1930s.^{[citation needed]}.

Film career[link]

While at Warner his career foundered, and after a number of bit parts he left films in the early 1930s. By 1936, Lane returned to films and to 20th Century Fox, taking supporting roles in the drama Laughing at Trouble and the Shirley Temple film Stowaway. After several more supporting roles at Fox, Lane longed for a starring role; therefore, he took the lead in a Republic Pictures' short feature, The Duke Comes Back (1937).

From 1929 through 1936, he appeared in twenty-four films. In 1937 his career began to soar; he was a hit in 1938's The Law West of Tombstone. In 1940, he portrayed "RCMP Sergeant Dave King," the role becoming one of his most notable successes. The first was King of the Royal Mounted, a 1940 serial adaptation of Zane Grey's King of the Royal Mounted, with Lane playing the lead role. He starred in several Canadian Mounted Police films, including the serials The Yukon Patrol and King of the Mounties. He is best remembered for these today. In 1946 and 1947, he portrayed "Red Ryder" in seven films. The following year, he became "Rocky Lane" in western films.

Between 1940-1966, Lane made eighty-two film and television series appearances, mostly in westerns. Between 1947-53, he made over 30 B-movie westerns (as "Rocky" Lane) with his faithful horse 'Black Jack'. His last roles were in voice over acting, including providing the speech for Mister Ed (1961–1966). In 2003 he won the TV Land Award for the category "Favorite Pet-Human Relationship" as Mr. Ed.^[3]

Filmography[link]

• The Forward Pass (1929)
• Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937)
• Maid's Night Out (1938)
• Having Wonderful Time (1938)
• Twelve Crowded Hours (1939)
• Panama Lady (1939)
• King of the Royal Mounted (1940)
• King of the Mounties (1942)
• Daredevils of the West (1943)
• The Dancing Masters (1943)
• The Tiger Woman (1944)
• A Guy Could Change (1946)
• Stagecoach to Denver (1946)
• Trail of Robin Hood (1950)
• Fort Dodge Stampede (1951)
• Hell Bent for Leather (1960)
• Posse from Hell (1961)

Television[link]

Series

• Mister Ed, 1961-1966 syndicated and later CBS TV series. Lane provided the voice for Mister Ed
• Red Ryder, 1956-1957 TV series. Lane portrayed Red Ryder

Guest appearances

• Cheyenne, episode "Massacre at Gunsight Pass", originally aired May 1, 1961
• Gunsmoke, episode "Long Hours, Short Pay", originally aired April 29, 1961
• Bonanza, episode "The Blood Line", originally aired December 31, 1960
• Gunsmoke, episode "The Badge", originally aired November 12, 1960
• Lawman, episode "The Payment", originally aired May 8, 1960
• Bronco, episode "Death of an Outlaw", originally aired March 8, 1960
• Colt .45, episode "Arizona Anderson", originally aired February 14, 1960
• Tales of Wells Fargo, episode "The Reward", originally aired April 21, 1958
• Wagon Train, episode "The Daniel Barrister Story", originally aired April 16, 1958
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents, episode "Lamb to the Slaughter", originally aired April 13, 1958
• Gunsmoke, episode "Texas Cowboys", originally aired April 5, 1958
• Mike Hammer, episode "Husbands Are Bad Luck", originally aired 1957

Death[link]

Lane retired after 1966, and was residing in Woodland Hills, California at the time of his death to cancer in 1973, aged 64. He is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Allan Lane at the Internet Movie Database
• Allan Lane at AllRovi
• Rocky Lane westerns
• Recollections of Allan Lane
• FanBase page - Notre Dame Football

Royce da 5'9"
Royce da 5'9" performing live at Rock the Bells 2011
Background information
Birth name	Ryan Daniel Montgomery
Also known as	Bad, Nickel Nine
Born	(1977-07-05) July 5, 1977 (age 34)
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, midwest hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, record producer
Years active	1997–present
Associated acts	Eminem, Bad Meets Evil, Slaughterhouse, DJ Premier, Yelawolf, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Kid Vishis, Sherif
Website	http://www.royceda59.com

Ryan Daniel Montgomery (born July 5, 1977), better known by his stage name Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper. He is known for his longtime association with Eminem and for his solo career, recording primarily with Carlos "6 July" Broady and DJ Premier, as well as ghostwriting for the likes of Diddy and Dr. Dre. Royce is one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with Eminem and also a member of hip hop group Slaughterhouse. The editors of About.com ranked him #33 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).^[1]

Career[link]

Early acclaim[link]

Ryan Montgomery was born and raised on the West side of Detroit, Michigan on W. McNichols & Wyoming Ave. He moved to Oak Park, Michigan when he was 10 years old, later acquiring the nickname "Royce" during high school after wearing a Turkish link chain with an R pendant resembling the Rolls Royce symbol. He started rapping at age 18, influenced mainly by Ras Kass and Redman.^[2] He signed his first deal in 1998 with Tommy Boy Records, after the label shut down, he signed a deal with Columbia where he started recording an album called Rock City, referring to Detroit's former status as home to Motown Records. When the project was heavily bootlegged, Royce left the label for Koch to re-record some of the album, eventually releasing it in 2002 as Rock City (Version 2.0). While the album did not sell very well, the DJ Premier-produced single "Boom" gained Royce some underground recognition and eventually resulted in the two working together more closely.

Through his manager, Royce was introduced to Eminem in 1997, and the two formed a working relationship; they formed up as a duo, Bad Meets Evil, and released several tracks together. Royce appeared on Eminem's major-label debut studio album The Slim Shady LP, in which he was featured on a song called "Bad Meets Evil". Royce and Eminem also released a track called "Renegades", from which Royce's vocals would later be replaced with Jay-Z's on the latter's The Blueprint. Through Eminem, Royce would also be introduced to both Dr. Dre and execs at Game Recordings. After his manager Kino stated: "I’ve seen Em sit Dre down like a pupil and coach him on rhymes" on a phone interview,^[3] Dr. Dre requested that Royce cut ties with his manager. Royce refused to fire his manager, thus his relationship with Dre ended.

Feud with D12[link]

Royce had a falling-out with Eminem's hip hop group D12, including mutual friend and group member Proof. This resulted in a drawn-out, public rivalry between the rapper and five of the six members, with Royce releasing three diss tracks aimed at the group. The first diss track, "Shit on You", was recorded over instrumental of D12's song with the same name and mainly attacked group member Bizarre. "Malcolm X" was the second diss track, which featured Tré Little. D12 responded with "Smack Down" which was recorded over 50 Cent's "Back Down" instrumental. Proof also recorded a diss track entitled "Many Men". This was recorded over 50 Cent's "Many Men (Wish Death)" instrumental. Proof later released another diss with The Purple Gang called "Beef Is Ova". Royce responded with his third diss track, which was recorded over 50 Cent's "In Da Club" instrumental titled "Death Day". In the summer of 2003, D12 member Proof confronted Royce outside a club in Detroit. Violence erupted between the rappers' entourage, leading to the Police being called, and Proof and Royce's arrest. The two were detained overnight in adjacent cells where they talked out their differences and ended the feud^[4]. A few years later Royce was featured in a mixtape of D12 released in 2008 called Return of the Dozen. They also went on tour in Europe and Canada together.

Solo work[link]

Royce signed with Game Recordings, for whom he had recorded several tracks for the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto III, released in 2001. The in-game radio station, Game Radio FM, prominently featured Royce's "I'm the King", an The Alchemist-produced solo track that (along with the publicized beef) helped elevate Royce's name beyond his association with Eminem. In 2004, he released his second and most critically successful album to date, Death Is Certain, charting with another Premier-produced single, "Hip-Hop".

Royce in 2002.

After the relative success of his sophomore effort, Royce put out a third solo project, Independent's Day, in 2005. This was met with less acclaim than either of his previous releases. During this time, the rivalry between Royce and former friend Proof reached a boiling point in the streets of Detroit, on an occasion where the two rappers drew guns; they were subsequently arrested and left to work out their differences while spending the night in neighboring cells in jail. The time spent in jail led to the artists ending their feud and subsequently embarking on two overseas tours together.^[5] Though Royce had planned other projects involving Nottz and his former crew, D-Elite, these were cut short after a sentencing to one year in prison for a DUI.^[6].

Release from prison[link]

After his release in 2007, Royce with DJ Premier and Statik Selektah released the mixtape The Bar Exam. He also announced an album with Premier; in an interview with Elemental Magazine, Royce stated that, contrary to rumors, Premier would not be producing the entirety of his upcoming album, but will be overseeing the project as executive producer, handpicking all of the beats. Following The Bar Exam, Royce wrote the single for Diddy's album Press Play, "Tell Me". Following this, the producer expressed interest in signing the lyricist to Bad Boy;^[7] Nas has also stated that he would like to sign Royce to his Def Jam imprint, The Jones Experience.^[8] Neither of these deals, however, materialized.

In early 2008 Royce confirmed that he had officially resolved misunderstandings between himself and Eminem.^[9] He released The Bar Exam 2 with DJ Green Lantern later in the year, as well as a retail version of the mixtape The Album; the projects featured production from Green Lantern, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier and 6 July, among others. Later worked on his Premier-assisted retail release, Street Hop, the lead single of which was "Shake This", also produced by DJ Premier. The video to the song circulated the internet, and the project was released October 20, 2009.^[10]. On May 26, 2012, Royce announced that he will release a mixtape before his next album via twitter.^[11].

Slaughterhouse[link]

Joe Budden collaborated with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5'9" and Nino Bless on a track titled "Slaughterhouse" on his digital release, Halfway House. Based on the reception of the track, they decided to form a supergroup, minus Nino Bless, and named it after the first song they made together.^[12] They released numerous songs throughout early 2009, building a buzz for their self-titled album, which was released through E1 on August 11, 2009.^[13] The album features production from DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter and The Alchemist, plus guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, K. Young and The New Royales. The group signed with Shady Records on January 12, 2011.

Bad Meets Evil reunion[link]

After Royce reconciled with Eminem, the duo started working again on new music and released Hell: The Sequel on June 14, 2011. The EP has released two singles, "Fast Lane" and "Lighters" featuring Bruno Mars.

Personal Life[link]

Royce da 5'9" has 3 kids: 2 sons and a daughter.

Growing up as a kid he had a variety of different jobs including working as a store clerk, working at a gas station, and even at a zoo.

Royce is never really keen in searching for certain collaborators for his songs unless other people make offers to feature themselves on any of his songs.

Whilst in high school, Royce da 5'9" was generally a good student in class. He recalls in an interview by saying, "In high school I would usually excel in class depending on the teacher, I will admit I did have a bit of attention issues but actually I was a well appreciated student."

Technique[link]

Royce Da 5'9" has been known for his rhyme structure - often two or more of his lines will rhyme exactly start to finish. He has also been known to move from one set of rhymes to another, then coming back to the first set later on in the verse. Complex phrasing is another aspect of his style, which looks to avoid delivering lines in simple or common terms.^[14]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Collaboration albums[link]

• 2009: Slaughterhouse (with Slaughterhouse)
• 2011: Slaughterhouse EP (with Slaughterhouse)
• 2011: Hell: The Sequel (with Eminem as Bad Meets Evil)
• 2012: Welcome to: Our House (with Slaughterhouse)
• TBA: Motown 25 (with Elzhi)

Mixtapes[link]

• 2003: Build & Destroy
• 2004: M.I.C.: Make It Count
• 2007: The Bar Exam (with Statik Selektah and DJ Premier)
• 2008: The Bar Exam 2 (with DJ Green Lantern)
• 2010: The Bar Exam 3 (with DJ Whoo Kid)
• TBA: TBA

Singles[link]

Featured singles[link]

Guest Appearances[link]

• 1999: "Bad Meets Evil" - Eminem feat. Royce da 5'9"
• 2008: "Slaughterhouse" - Joe Budden feat. Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, Crooked I & Nino Bless
• 2008: "Losing Out" - Black Milk feat. Royce da 5'9"
• 2008: "Motown 25" - Elzhi feat. Royce da 5'9"
• 2010: "Deadly Medley" - Black Milk feat. Royce da 5'9 & Elzhi"
• 2011: "Nightmares" - Professor Green feat. Royce da 5'9" & Kobe
• 2011: "Finish What You Start" - Joell Ortiz feat. Royce da 5'9"
• 2011: "Life's A bitch" - Elzhi feat. Royce da 5'9"
• 2011: "See You in Hell" - Omar LinX feat. Royce da 5'9" & Joell Ortiz
• 2012: "Spazz Out" - Drew32 feat. Royce da 5'9"

References[link]

External links[link]

• Royce da 5'9" on Twitter
• Royce da 5'9" on Myspace
• Royce da 5'9" at MTV
• 'Bad Meets Evil' Interview

Debbie Allen
Allen in December 2010
Born	Deborrah Kaye Allen (1950-01-16) January 16, 1950 (age 62) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, choreographer, television director, television producer
Years active	1976–present
Spouse	Win Wilford (m. 1975–1983) «start: (1975)–end+1: (1984)»"Marriage: Win Wilford to Debbie Allen" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Debbie_Allen) Norm Nixon (m. 1984) «start: (1984)»"Marriage: Norm Nixon to Debbie Allen" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Debbie_Allen)
Website
http://www.debbieallendanceacademy.com

Deborrah Kaye “Debbie” Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.^[1][2] She is perhaps best known for her work on the 1982 musical-drama television series Fame, where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series' principal choreographer. She is the younger sister of actress/singer Phylicia Rashād.

Life and career[link]

Early years[link]

Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the youngest of four children to orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen Sr. and Vivian (née Ayers) Allen, she is a poet (Spice of Dawns and other books) and museum art director.^[3]

She went on to earn a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University. She holds honoris causa Doctorates from Howard University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She currently teaches young dancers. She also taught choreography to former Los Angeles Lakers dancer-turned-singer, Paula Abdul. Her daughter, Vivian Nixon, played Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet.

Career[link]

Debbie Allen had her Broadway debut in the chorus of Purlie. Allen also created the role of Beneatha in the Tony Award-winning musical Raisin. She first began receiving critical attention in 1980 for her appearance in the role of Anita in the Broadway revival of West Side Story which earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award, she would receive a second Tony Award nomination in 1986 for her performance in the title role of Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity. One of her earlier television appearances was in the TV sitcom Good Times in a memorable 2-part episode titled "J.J's Fiancee'" as J.J's drug-addicted fiancee, Diana.

Allen was first introduced as Lydia Grant in the 1980 film Fame. Although her role in the film was relatively small, Lydia would become a central figure in the television adaptation, which ran from 1982 to 1987. During the opening montage of each episode, Grant told her students: "You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat." Allen was nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Actress four times during the show's run. She is the only actress to have appeared in all three screen incarnations of Fame, playing Lydia Grant in both the 1980 film and 1982 television series and playing the school principal in the 2009 remake.^{[citation needed]}

Allen was also lead choreographer for the film and television series, winning two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award.In an article from the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Hollywood Reporter commented on Allen's impact as the producer-director of the television series, A Different World. The show dealt with the life of students at the fictional historically black college, Hillman, and ran for six seasons on NBC.^[4]

Debbie Allen was also selected to appear in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations by Alex Haley where she plays the wife of Alex Haley.

In 2008 she directed the all-African-American Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring stage veterans James Earl Jones (Big Daddy), her sister Phylicia Rashād (Big Mama) and Anika Noni Rose (Maggie, the Cat), as well as film actor Terrence Howard, who made his Broadway debut as Brick. The production, with some roles recast, had a limited run (2009-April 2010) in London.^[5]

Allen has released two solo albums, 1986's Sweet Charity and 1989's Special Look which also had several singles off the album. In 2001, Allen fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California. Allen's academy offers a comprehensive curriculum for boys and girls ages four to eighteen in all the major dance techniques including Classical Ballet, Modern, African, jazz, and Hip-Hop. In addition special workshops are held for concentration in the Peking Opera, Martial Arts dance techniques, Flamenco, Salsa, and Tap.

Debbie Allen was awarded an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts, as well as from her Alma Mater, Howard University.

Awards and honors[link]

• Allen was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 as a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.^[6]

• For her contributions to the television industry, Debbie Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Allen was presented with the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement, at the 1992 UCLA Spring Sing.^[7]

• Three-time Emmy Award winner for Choreography for the series Fame and The Motown 25th Anniversary Special.

• 10 Image Awards as a director, actress, choreographer and producer for Fame, A Different World, Motown 25, The Academy Awards, The Debbie Allen Special and Amistad.

Personal life[link]

Allen is married to former NBA player Norm Nixon,^[8] and they are the parents of dancer Vivian Nichole Nixon, and basketball player Norman Ellard Nixon Jr. (Wofford College & Southern University). Allen was previously married to Win Wilford from 1975 to 1983.^[9][10][11]

She is the sister of actress Phylicia Rashād, and Tex Allen (Andrew Arthur Allen Jr, born 1945), noted jazz composer.^[3]

Work[link]

2004 Dreams- Children's Theater at The Kennedy Center Washington DC 2006 Pearl- Children's Theater at the Kennedy Center Washington DC

See also[link]

• The Kids from "Fame"

References[link]

External links[link]

• Debbie Allen | PlaybillVault.com
• Debbie Allen at the Internet Broadway Database
• Debbie Allen at the Internet Movie Database
• Debbie Allen at AllRovi
• Debbie Allen on Twitter

Don Lane
Born	Morton Donald Isaacson (1933-11-13)13 November 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	22 October 2009(2009-10-22) (aged 75) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	TV presenter, actor, singer, sportscaster
Years active	1965-2001
Website
http://www.wtsentertainment.com.au

Don Lane (November 13, 1933 – October 22, 2009^[1]), born Morton Donald Isaacson, was an American-born talk show host and singer. Lane became best known for his television career in Australia, especially for hosting The Don Lane Show which aired on the Nine Network from 1975 to 1983.

Early life[link]

Don Lane was born at the Manhattan "Flower Hospital" in New York City to a Jewish father (Jacob) and a Catholic mother (Dolly), who later converted to Judaism. Jacob "Jack" Isaacson was a sergeant in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and Dolly was a homemaker. He was raised in The Bronx, where he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and was classmates with Judd Hirsch and Garry Marshall. By his mid-teens, due to his mother's influential personality, Lane had decided he wanted to be in show business. He even placed a star on his bedroom door. He started to entertain at parties he attended with his parents, usually doing a mixture of singing and comedy. He also played varsity football and basketball for DeWitt Clinton and attained a football and basketball scholarship to Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he spent three years.

Early career[link]

After leaving college, Lane formed a double act with his best friend Manny Glasser called “Donny and the Duke”. The duo worked in local Ney York nightclubs for a few months before Lane was drafted into the US Army at age 21. He was commissioned as an officer and served in the artillery. While in the army he formed a double act with fellow soldier Murray Levine, Lane usually played the comic while his partner was the straight man. The double act went on to win the all-army entertainment contest and earned them appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1955. One year later Lane won the all-army entertainment contest again as a solo act. After his mandatory service in the army, he later toured for two years entertaining troops all over the United States.

After touring the country entertaining the troops as a solo performer, Lane started to work his act in the New York nightclubs. It was at this time that he adopted the stage name of "Don Lane", after fellow entertainer Frankie Laine. Lane worked his act in nightclubs throughout New York, Los Angeles and the showrooms in Las Vegas. During his stint in Las Vegas, he worked alongside Wayne Newton and was often a supporting act for names such as Sammy Davis Jr.. While in Los Angeles, Lane also worked as an actor and featured in national commercials for Coca-Cola, which Lane said "paid the bills for years".^[2] He then returned to New York and performed at weddings, nightclubs and parties.

In 1964 Lane was offered a contract to be the headline act at the Dunes Nightclub in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was his first offer to become a headliner and first guaranteed contract as a solo performer. Due to the lucrative offer the Dunes Nightclub made to him, he quickly relocated to Honolulu where he first started to enjoy success as a headline performer. It was in Hawaii that he met his first wife, Gina, who was an exotic dancer.

Australian television career[link]

[edit] Tonight with Don Lane: 1965-1969

In 1965 the Irish comedian Dave Allen presented a talk show on Sydney television for TCN-9. He was eventually sacked^[1] and Nine producer John Collins looked for replacement hosts to fill in for the rest of the season. After a series of temporary hosts, Collins found Lane working in the well-known nightclub The Dunes in Hawaii. While in the United States, Collins asked Las Vegas performer Wayne Newton if there was anybody he should consider as a replacement; Newton's answer was "Don Lane".

Lane was offered the job after filming and sending in an audition tape for the TCN-9 executives. He was given the host's chair for six weeks. He planned to base his version of the show on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Lane's run was variously referred to as The Tonight Show, Tonight with Don Lane and Sydney Tonight. Within a month, Nine settled on Lane as permanent host. After four weeks, his original six-week contract was extended to forty weeks.^[3]

Tonight with Don Lane featured comedy sketches, interviews with visiting entertainers and musical numbers often performed by Lane with the Tonight Show Orchestra. The announcer for the show was Mike Walsh who later went on to host his own successful variety show.

Due to technical restrictions Lane's tonight show was only broadcast throughout New South Wales, just as In Melbourne Tonight(IMT) was restricted to Victoria. Work on a coaxial cable linking Melbourne with Sydney had begun in June 1959 and was completed on 5 February 1963. On 7 July 1965, Lane appeared on a then-innovative live split-screen link with Graham Kennedy via the cable. Lane and Kennedy sang the song "76 Trombones" as a duet. They took full advantage of the new technology and the duet included the performers throwing jugs of water and Kennedy holding up a sign saying "Go Home Yank" to which Lane laughed. Lane also performed another duet with Kennedy at the Logies ceremony in 1967.^[4]

In March 1968, Lane was charged with importing marijuana into Australia. He was arrested at Sydney Airport and remanded in custody. He strenuously protested his innocence, claiming that the drugs were planted into his jacket pocket by a former business associate who wanted revenge. He was found not guilty on all charges, being defended by barrister Marcus Einfeld.

Return to the United States[link]

When Lane's tonight show ended in 1969 he returned to the United States and the Las Vegas showrooms, this time appearing as a headline act. While in Las Vegas he played Professor Harold Hill in the Las Vegas production of The Music Man. The songs "Trouble" and "76 Trombones" became his signature tunes, both from the musical The Music Man. He also appeared in the American comedy series Wow, hosted by Ken Berry, which also featured Cheryl Ladd and Steve Martin. The Wow show was a sketch comedy series similar to the format of Saturday Night Live and was the summer replacement show for The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Lane was a regular cast member on the show which lasted three months.

[edit] The Don Lane Show: 1975-1983

In 1975, Lane returned to Australia and appeared at a benefit concert for the victims of Cyclone Tracy. The concert was held at the Sydney Opera House and Lane sang and performed a sketch with Toni Lamond.

While in Sydney in 1975, Lane was chosen to replace Ernie Sigley as host of the Melbourne-based The Ernie Sigley Show. The night before, after filming for the first show of the season was completed, Sigley had criticised Nine Network boss Kerry Packer. Packer contacted Lane and the two flew down to Melbourne. Sigley was fired that afternoon and Lane took his place.^[5] Lane's replacement of Sigley was to result in continuing resentment, culminating in a fight in which Lane punched Sigley at the Logies ceremony in 1986.^[5] Lane was to host two specials revamping the old In Melbourne Tonight. The producers wanted a "barrel boy" sidekick for Lane. Lane suggested Bert Newton:

"I used to watch him and Graham working on IMT, and look at them with great envy. So I said 'what about Bert Newton?' If I’m going to work with somebody I want to know that he’s as sharp as anything and a real pro." ^[6]

Newton had hitherto been strongly identified with Australian TV presenter Graham Kennedy. Both Lane and Newton maintain that the first time they met was on-air, during the first episode of the Don Lane Show. Each describes that there was instant "chemistry" and that they never made any deliberate attempt to build the relationship; that it just happened. Lane described the onscreen chemistry during an interview in 2003:

‘‘We were magic from the time he walked out from the curtain …you don't try to explain those things. You just take them and you use them and you enjoy them and most of all you appreciate them, because they don't happen often, they happen once in a rare while.’’^[7]

The IMT special was a ratings success. The show was renamed The Don Lane Show and ran until 1983. Like its predecessor, the show was produced at the studios of GTV 9 in Melbourne and aired over the Nine Network. In absolute terms, Lane's stint on the show was to make him the most highly paid performer on Australian television and The Don Lane Show is still the highest rating variety program in Australian television history.^[8]

The Don Lane Show featured big musical numbers, notable guests and comedy sketches. It was produced by Peter Faiman who went on to produce Crocodile Dundee and the 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Also featured was the 18-piece "Don Lane Orchestra" conducted by musical director Graeme Lyall and announcer Pete Smith. The show went live-to-air twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, usually running for two hours from 9:30pm. Although depending on the length of interviews and "the wheel" segment, the show could finish around 1 am. One particular time the program ran two hours late while Sammy Davis Jr. was escorted by a police car from his concert to the studio in a surprise for Lane. Lane and Newton also did infomercials in which they were given free rein to improvise.

The show broke down Australia's "distance barriers" and used innovative technology to conduct satellite interviews with prominent entertainers overseas. Most visiting major recording artists visiting Australia from overseas were guests on the show. Among the live performances and interviews were Jerry Lee Lewis, Kiss, Tom Waits, Abba, Village People, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oates, Elton John, Cliff Richard, and Duran Duran. Robin Williams made his first talk show appearance on the show and Lane once played tennis with Charlton Heston and also performed in a sketch with The Osmonds and performed duets with people such as Vic Damone, Cilla Black, Debbie Reynolds and Lane's idol, Sammy Davis Jr..

Although The Don Lane Show featured major acts from around the world, it was also known for helping young local entertainers to establish themselves. John Farnham was featured on numerous occasions and attributes Lane to helping his career:

‘‘He helped me over my nerves on being on live TV, he always had something positive to say and always gave me much-needed advice, which I still rely heavily on today.’’ ^[9]

Uri Geller, Doris Stokes and broadcaster Kevin Arnett regularly appeared on The Don Lane Show discussing psychic and paranormal themes. On one occasion in 1981, the skeptic James Randi was a guest on the program. After Randi criticised one of the shows regulars, a heated exchange occurred at the end of the interview, which led to Lane saying, "we're going for a commercial break and you can piss off. We'll be back with Diana Trask".^{[citation needed]} Lane then walked off the set, sweeping the props from the small table, to audience applause. The aftermath of the event led to a national and personal apology to Randi, which was televised on the Nine Network.

Due to new management at Channel 9 and its expensive budget, the show was cancelled despite still having strong ratings. During its time on air the show often gained a 30 percent share of all viewers in the ratings.^[10] The Don Lane Show ended on 13 November 1983, Lane's 50th birthday. His final episode ran for two and a half hours and featured such stars as Billy Connolly, Phyllis Diller and David Bowie as well as musical appearances by John Farnham and Colleen Hewett. After tributes from Bert Newton and many guests, Lane ended his final show with an emotional performance of Peter Allen's "Once Before I Go". He then took a final bow with "The Don Lane Show" written in lights behind him and the screen faded to black.^[11]

Channel 10[link]

When The Don Lane Show finished, Lane took time off from television and moved to Los Angeles. In 1987 he was back in Australia and was under contract as a personality for Network Ten.

Don hosted the program You've Got to Be Joking, which was a practical joke comedy show. You've Got to Be Joking was on the air for twelve months^{[citation needed]}, but was repeated frequently over the next five years.^{[citation needed]} Don was also the host of the 1987 presentation of the TV Week Logie Awards.

In 1988, he hosted his own late night talk show for the network entitled Late Night Australia, later changed to Late Night Oz. The program aired five nights a week at 10:30pm and was up against Graham Kennedy's News Show on the Nine Network, and Clive Robertson's Newsworld on the Seven Network. Late Night Oz was cancelled after just six months.

Sportscasting career: 1991-1996[link]

Lane's career surged again in 1991, this time in the role of a sportscaster. Lane's passion for American football and basketball found a home on the ABC, where he continued to win fans and a new audience for the sports he loved. ABC sports boss David Salter was interested in televising NFL games from the United States with a host that could transcend both American football and rugby league. When learning of Lane's love for both codes, he put him in the host's chair where he would stay for nearly six years.^[12]

Lane hosted American NFL broadcasts twice a week and would give enthusiastic weekly reviews of all games with explanations of the rules for the Australian audience. Don was flown to the United States to host live broadcasts from Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII, which was the first time an Australian broadcaster had done live coverage from a Super Bowl.

In 1993 the sports department expanded at the ABC, and Don hosted NCAA basketball and football for the network for the following two years. Don was also a color commentator for NBL telecasts on the ABC and Foxtel.

Late television career[link]

Lane made a guest appearance on the very last episode of The Late Show on the ABC in 1993. Lane closed the show singing "Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week". When finished with the song, the Late Show big band played the theme for The Don Lane Show and Lane went behind the camera to film audience members, just as he ended most Don Lane Show's.

In 1994, Lane hosted two specials for the Nine Network of The Best of The Don Lane Show. Each special was two hours dedicated to the most memorable moments from The Don Lane Show. In an interview in 1994, Lane explained that coming back to The Don Lane Show environment was very emotional:

"The eight and a half years of that television show is firmly embedded in the minds of many people, and firmly branded into the heads of us. Those were very special years, and to have that all come together meant so much to all of us."^[13]

Lane was honoured in a 1996 episode of This Is Your Life dedicated to him and his career in television. The episode featured tributes from John Farnham, Billy Connolly, Bert Newton, and Garry Marshall.

Lane was also involved in a special entitled Don Lane's America and hosted such programs as The Mad Mad World of Sports and 40 Years of Television. He also hosted a special for Channel 9 titled The Best of Studio 9. The special highlighted the shows and memorable moments that were filmed in Studio 9 in Melbourne.

Lane also returned to sportscasting in 2001 to broadcast the Super Bowl on SBS.

Radio career[link]

During his time on The Don Lane Show, Lane also hosted a morning radio program with Bert Newton on radio station 3UZ in Melbourne. Newton tells a story of how he and the producer pretended to be on-air and gave out Lane's home address to the listeners. Newton claims that the joke was worth it to see Lane's reaction but that Lane repaid him for the practical joke.^[14] The program on 3UZ had many guests who had also appeared on the television show the night before. When moving to Sydney in 1987, Lane hosted a morning show on 2UE for two years. After ending his affiliation with 2UE, he moved to 2KY and hosted a competing breakfast program in 1989. His radio programs usually involved music and interviews with visiting entertainers.

Cabaret performer[link]

Because of his Las Vegas nightclub background, Lane would work in clubs and theatres throughout Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. He would work nightclubs, theatres and theater restaurants when he was not working on television. When first arriving in Australia and hosting his tonight show, an agent named Richard Gray saw the appeal that Lane had and asked him to come and do his "act" at South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club, which was one of Sydney's premier venues. Lane then worked in clubs all over Sydney when his show was not in season, perfecting his act and carrying on from his early nightclub experience.

During the era of The Don Lane Show, Lane would perform at Melbourne's premier theatre venues such as The Princess Theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre. Don Lane in Concert was a television special in 1980 which showed Lane's 90 minute stage act live on Channel 9. The musical director for The Don Lane Show, Graeme Lyall, was under contract with the network, so any song which Lane liked was made into an arrangement for an 18-piece orchestra with three backing vocals. During the Don Lane in Concert television special, Lane performed his signature tunes such as "76 Trombones" and "Trouble". But Lane also performed songs that were new at the time such as; "I Still Call Australia Home", "They're Playing Our Song" and "'She's Out of My life"'. Each song was arranged to accommodate Lane's "crooning" style by musical director Graeme Lyall. Entertainment reporter Peter Ford of radio 2UE described Lane's club act as such:

"Don was a terrific television personality. But when you saw Don doing his floor show, whether in clubs or theaters, when he had a live audience and band he really owned that stage. Don Lane knew how to work a room and gave us Las Vegas 'pizazz' whenever he performed."^[10]

Lane was responsible for the name of the original club entertainment awards, the "MO" Awards. Originally named the New South Wales Star Awards, the awards took on the name coined by Lane when they went national. His suggestion not only proved to be a popular name for the awards, it also honours the memory of one of Australia's greatest clowns and comics - Roy Rene, who became a legend in the entertainment industry using the stage name of "MO" McCackie. Lane was a recipient of five Mo Awards.

Lane was a patron of the Australian Club Entertainment (ACE) Awards, and was honored in 2006 when he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ACE Awards ceremony.

Lane was still performing in 2005 in nightclubs all over Sydney.

Personal life[link]

Lane married Jayne Ambrose, a talent agent, with whom he had a son, Phillip Jacob "P.J." Isaacson.^[15] His son moved to the United States to further his basketball career, although he later became an entertainer in his own right using the name "P.J. Lane". He moved back to Sydney in 2009 to look after his ailing father.

Although Lane and Ambrose later divorced, they remained good friends and she was his agent for the rest of his life.

In 2007 Lane released his "tell all" autobiography entitled Never Argue With a Mug. The book follows Lane's career and explains in details show-business scandals which he had personally experienced.

In June 2008, it was announced that Lane was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and had been living in a care facility. News of Lane's condition was saddening for the entertainment community in Australia who viewed him as a TV legend. The news explained the lack of public appearances that Lane had made since his induction into the Logie Awards Hall of Fame in 2003.

Logie awards[link]

The Logie Awards were made in each state separately during the 1960s and early 70s, since it was technically difficult to broadcast live programming interstate. Lane performed in Sydney while Graham Kennedy held the same timeslot in Melbourne.

New South Wales Logies:

• 1966: Most Popular Male and Most Popular Live Show (Tonight with Don Lane)
• 1967: Most Popular Male and Most Popular Live Show (Tonight with Don Lane)
• 1968: Best Male Personality and Best Show (Tonight with Don Lane)
• 1969: Best Male Personality and Best Show (Tonight with Don Lane)
• 1970: Best Male Personality and Best Local Show (Tonight Show with Don Lane)
• 1974: Most Popular Male and Most Popular Show (The Don Lane Show)

National Logie awards:

• Gold Logie
• Most Popular Male Personality
• Victoria: Most Popular Male
• Most Popular Show

In 2003, Lane was inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards Hall of Fame. In 2010, after his death, his son performed a tribute to him.

Trivia[link]

• Lane was the head basketball coach at Sydney's St Aloysius' College from 1989 to 2001, earning a Combined Associated Schools (CAS) championship in 1999.

Death and public memorial[link]

Lane died from a dementia-related illness caused by Alzheimer's disease on 22 October 2009.^[16] During the last eighteen months of his life, due to his deteriorating health, he was forced from his Sydney apartment into Montefiore Nursing Home in Randwick in Sydney's east.^[17] A private Jewish funeral ceremony attended by close family and friends was held at Macquarie Park Cemetery a day after his death.^[18]

On 5 November 2009 a public memorial was held for Lane at the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club.^[19] The memorial was open to all members of the public, asking only for a donation to Alzheimer's Australia. Over 1100 people crammed into the showroom at the club which had a usual capacity of only 600. Other members of the public viewed the memorial on televisions around the club. The memorial celebration featured live performances and speeches from Lane's close friends, such as Rhonda Burchmore, Bert Newton, Mike McColl-Jones, Mike Cleary, Toni Lamond and Helen Reddy. Lane's son opened the memorial with "They're Playing Our Song", which was his father's opening number, and earned a standing ovation for his performance. Lane was remembered as a generous performer who possessed a matching personality off the television screen as he did on. During Bert Newton's tribute, he removed his toupee, to reveal largely bare-terrain underneath.^[20] The memorial ended with a recording of Lane's performance of "Once Before I Go" on the final Don Lane Show which received a standing ovation to audience tears and applause.^[20]

References[link]