And now....... Here's Don !! ......
Remembering the Don Lane Show 1975-83
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(Left to right) Another opening of another show...
Don's entrance at station GTV9...to do the monologue (You Tube)
The show had a few opening themes over the years...
(The original used in the '70s)
(1980s)
(Special opening for the final program in 1983)
Affectionately known as the "Lanky Yank" in his adopted country because of his towering stature, Lane had been a top basketball and football player in his college days. He got his start as a performer in the Entertainment Unit of the US Army in which he toured American military bases both at home and overseas. Winning the "All Army" talent quest on two occasions, he was invited to appear on the top-rating Ed Sullivan TV show.
Donny Isaacson (Don Lane) (back row marked with yellow)
Kalamazoo College, Michigan (1952) (You Tube)(Left) Wikipedia (right)
Don's appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" (1950s)
Many critically-acclaimed nightclub engagements soon followed, particularly around Nevada's Reno and Lake Tahoe gambling resorts. By the mid-'60s, Lane was enjoying adventures in paradise and getting rave reviews as a stand-up comedian in Honolulu where he regularly worked alongside singer and multi-instrumentalist Wayne Newton. Both were still paying their dues just prior to making it big with the former going on to become a hugely popular TV star in far away Australia while the latter went back to the mainland where eventually, reigned supreme as the "King of Las Vegas", doing at least five shows a week at $50,000 apiece
Don's major break came when he caught the eye of John Collins; a visiting television producer from TCN Channel 9 in Sydney who asked the comic to be the "temporary fill-in" host of the tonight show in the '"Harbor City". Aussie viewers, however, quickly warmed to the charismatic new arrival from the States with his Sinatra-style singing voice, snappy banter and easy charm and the station wasted no time offering him the job on a permanent basis. Titled Tonight with Don Lane, the program proved be an immediate winner, continuing for five years. He even scored a Top 40 hit with the Jackie Trent/Tony Hatch song "You're Everything"
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Nevada State Journal - Reno Sat, Feb 18, 1961
Mapes Casino and "Sky Room"
nightclub Reno, Nevada (Google)
(Short film about Mapes Casino and the 'Sky Room")
( Reno: History of America's Original Gambling Capitol)
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Nevada State Journal - Reno, Sat, Nov 16, 1963
Honolulu - Star Bulletin, November 13, 1964
(Interesting to note that singer Freda Payne
was appearing with Don at the Dunes... She later went on
to have a million-selling record with 1970's "Band of Gold".....
Wayne Newton (Left to right):
From teenage singing star in the 1960s (IMDB) to become
the "King of Las Vegas" by the '80s (Getty Images) and catching
up with an old pal for the TV special "Don Lane's America" (1998)(You Tube)
(1980 television news profile)
(Wayne Newton live at the London Palladium 1983)
Early days on Sydney TV (1960s):
(Left) Don sings for girls and (right) with
Hollywood guest Mickey Rooney (Nine Network)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/968276699185355
(Lane's debut performance on Brian Henderson's
(Lane's debut performance on Brian Henderson's
"Bandstand" NOTE: When you go over to the Facebook
page click the "X" in the top right corner of the sign- in page
then unmute the video by left-clicking the "X" next to the
speaker symbol in the top right corner of the "Bandstand" screen) )
("You're Everything")
(Having some fun with a comedy sketch that
didn't quite go according to plan)(You Tube)
In the early '70s, however, Don's American agent lured him back to the US to do nightclub and TV work in Las Vegas and LA. He kept the gamblers entertained at the Sahara's Casbar Theatre (filming location of the 1960 movie Ocean's Eleven - see below) then landed the leading role in a production of "'The Music Man" at the new Union Plaza Hotel & Casino.....
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(Above Left to right) The Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas (1973) (Postcard)
Don strikes a pose in front of his neon and the Casbar Theatre (Flickr)
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Stars who rocked the Casbar:
(Left to right) Comedian Don Rickles (1963)
(Google) Louis Prima and Keely Smith (cover of the album
"Las Vegas Prima Style" recorded live at the Casbar (1958)
(Capitol Records) Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys (UNLV)
(Don Rickles on Johnny Carson promoting a Sahara gig)
(Rickles radio commercials for the Sahara)
(Documentary about Louis Prima)
(Album : Las Vegas Prima Style - Live at the Casbar)
(Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys "We're Gonna Teach you to Rock"
from the movie "Rock Around the Clock" 1956
(History of the Sahara)
(Remembering the "Swinging Casbar")
(Comedian Steve Martin - who worked
with Don: see below - talks about Las Vegas acts)
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(right) Don back in Las Vegas in the '70s (Lane family photo)
(Left) Plaza Hotel & Casino (Google) and (right) Don performing the song
"Seventy-Six Trombones" from "The Music Man" on Australian television (1980)
(Don sings "Seventy Six Trombones" from "The Music Man")
(History of the Plaza Hotel & Casino)
During his return to America, Lane became a regular on the quirky Ken Berry WOW Show - a summer replacement program for ABC TV in Los Angeles. Fellow cast members included Steve Martin, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, George Burns, Carol Burnett, Peter Lawford, Andy Griffith, Dick Clark, and Cheryl Ladd
The Ken Berry WOW Show:
(Left to right) Ken Berry, Don Lane and Steve Martin
(Archival video of the WOW Show with Don and Steve Martin)
A talented song and dance man, host Ken Berry (Left)
rose to national fame as one of the stars of the popular
sitcom "F-Troop" (Right)(Google)
(F-Troop 1960s TV sitcom)
Los Angeles Times, July 15, 1972
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Los Angeles Times, July 15, 1972
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"WOW Show" Cast member Cheryl
Stoppelmoore went on to become Cheryl Ladd
(right)- Star of the hit TV show "Charlie'sAngels "...
Sketch Comedy: Don on the WOW Show ! (You Tube)
In 1975, Don was once again in Australia to do his own national tonight show for the Nine Network - a big budget affair, complete with orchestra, ballet and lavish production numbers that ran for eight years and saw Lane becoming the highest paid television personality in the country. The program was also broadcast in the US for a time.
Just a few of the many international guests who appeared on the show......
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Hollywood Heartthrobs : (Left to right) Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas and Mel Gibson (YouTube) |
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The Comedians: (Left to right) Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller (You Tube) and Robin Williams (Getty Images) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aFQBVYQUCg&t=121s (Complete Bob Hope appearance on the show) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCQbYmMBvM&t=1s (Canadian TV comedian Dave Thomas - one of the few impressionists who can get even close to doing Bob Hope) %20EDIT.jpg) The Music Makers: (Left to right) Olivia Newton John, the Village People and Jerry Lee Lewis (You Tube)  Interviewing the Interviewer: Chatting to Britain's leading television journalist Michael Parkinson (You Tube)  Sparring (via satellite) with the Champ, Muhammad Ali (who was about to visit Australia)(You tube) ... and a very special edition of the show from Elvis Presley's "Graceland" mansion in Memphis.....  |
A trio of stars from
the 1960 movie "Ocean's Eleven"....
(Photo: Left to right) Peter Lawford,
Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin
(Original movie trailer)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXEMhm-3kPU&list=RDrXEMhm-3kPU&start_radio=1
(Sammy sings "EO11" ..theme from the movie
Ocean's Eleven" - See "Tribute to Don Lane" video - 44 minutes
at the end of this piece for Sammy singing live on the how)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvYfsbtExoU&list=RDKvYfsbtExoU&start_radio=1
(.. and Dean performs "Ain't that a kick in the Head'
(.. and Dean performs "Ain't that a kick in the Head'
from the same movie...shot at the Sahara's Casbar Theatre)
(Dean's interview with Don)
View from the studio audience (Nine Network)
Long-time powers (plural) behind the
scenes of the Don Lane Show (Left) Producer
Peter Faiman and (Right) Musical Director Graeme Lyall
(Promotion for the Don Lane Show
on station WPIX Channel 11 in New York)
(Steve Vizard, one of Australia's leading TV funnymen of
the 1980s built his early career by doing Don Lane impersonations)
Don was ably assisted during the run
of the program by Melbourne TV and radio
personality Bert Newton (Right).(Herald-Sun)."The Wheel"
(during which viewers could win prizes, including a car) became one
of the most eagerly anticipated moments of each show and Bert's playful
send-ups of interview guests and other characters were always a highlight
Bert Newton as.............
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| Gene Simmons from rock supergroup KISS (at left with red cape)(Nine Network) |
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| An honorary member of disco hit-makers the Village People (Left) (You Tube) |
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| Donny Osmond (at left with sister Marie) (You Tube) |
Greek singing sensation
Demis Roussos (Bert at left and the
real Demis Roussos at right) (Nine Network)
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| Melbourne television legend Ernie Sigley (Left on the cover TV Week 1974) (Bio information at the end of interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvhZVuPAUNw&list=RDSvhZVuPAUNw&start_radio=1  Kerry Packer (Left) (Google)- owner of the National Nine Television network and creator of World Series Cricket (You Tube)  ...a Hare (HAH-RAY) Krishna playing finger cymbals (You Tube)(Right) Hare Krishna marching in Melbourne's 2019 Australia Day parade (Dreamstime.com photo) |
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| "Gina" - Don's fiery first wife. As you can see, the resemblance to the lady herself (right) was quite uncanny (Nine Network & Getty Images) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQhIXFSJYfE (Bert looks back at some of the above comedy bits on the occasion of the 500th edition of the "Don Lane Show" %20EDIT%20(1).jpg) Honolulu Star Advertiser Dec 18, 1964 So.... we all know how those people sounded to Bert ....but how did Bert sound to others?.....Melbourne radio man John Allan (a one time colleague of Bert's) gave us a clue in a playful bit that he did on air with 3DB presenter Lawrence Money back in the 1980s...   Anything could.. and usually did happen.... Bert arrives for "The Wheel" on "elephant back"(Nine Network)  American daredevil Evel Knievel was always in the news back in the '70s performing some sort of 'death-defying" stunt. Here Bert, somehow, survives his own "(toilet) brush with death" by being "blown up" in an outhouse |
Clowning with Commercials:
(Left to right) Bert and Sue Donovan attempt to do a live commercial
as Don decides that the spot needs to be "more produced" (Nine Network)
All things paranormal, odd and unusual were big in the '70s. It was the era of "The Exorcist", the Bermuda Triangle and Chariots of the Gods. Delving deep into the world of the unknown, the Lane show featured regular segments about the "Other Side" that proved to be extremely popular. Spine-tingling tales of hellish hauntings, demonic possessions, UFOs, premonitions, seances (and haircuts) that went terribly wrong (with frightening results), spooks, goblins and fairies left many a viewer feeling...well.... decidedly odd and unusual (and having a compulsive need to check all rooms in the house before they went to bed)
(Original theatrical trailer for The Exorcist)
(Documentary about the Bermuda Triangle)
(Trailer for Chariots of the Gods)
(Chariot of the Gods theme music)
Fanning the flames of this fascination, an entertaining cavalcade of ghost-busters, clairvoyants , card-readers, table-tappers, spoon-benders, watch-stoppers, witches, psychics (or should that be psych-oze?) and general, assorted fruit cakes kept Don's audience (dare I say it?) screaming for more. Continuing his professional involvement in the area of fantasy, Channel 9's Melbourne weather forecaster, Kevin Arnett became the show's resident "Man of Mystery" who led the on-going investigation with wit, style and an obvious knowledge of the subject. Indeed, the mood was usually light and breezy .. ... except on one memorable occasion when the very small sceptic ,James Randi made the very big mistake of stepping on Don's size 14 Oxford brogues by attacking medium Doris Stokes who allegedly made contact with the spirits of those who had "passed over". Privately, Don had doubts about the veracity of Dottie's whole act . But she had become a friend of the program, was adored by his viewers and the lanky yank was fiercely loyal to his chums (no matter how misguided they may have been from time to time)
(Left) Kevin Arnett and (right) Don having
his watch stopped by world famous illusionist Uri Geller
who claimed to have genuine supernatural powers (Nine Network)
Doris Stokes:
(Left to right) One of Dot's top-selling books,
making her entrance on the Lane Show to thunderous
applause and making a member of the audience feel utterly
miserable by giving her a "happy" message from a long -departed
relative....who just happened to be watching the show from the "other side"
Lane with sceptic James Randi (right).
Things quickly became heated when Don accused Randi
of launching a cowardly attack on Doris Stokes during a radio
interview...then it happened...Don blew his lofty stack in spectacular style.....
In 1998 Don went back to the States
to retrace his early years in New York,
the Midwest, Las Vegas and Los Angeles
for the Nine Network's TV special "Don Lane's America"
Don's old school - De Witt Clinton High in the Bronx (You Tube)
(Left) A Team Clinton windcheater presented to Don by the current
Principal and (right) back on the old football field to "throw a pass".. (You Tube)
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(Left) Catching up with class of '52 contemporary,
Garry Marshall who went on to become one of America's
most successful producers of television sitcoms such as "Happy Days"
(Left) Chatting to a local historian in Harlem about the
great days of the famed black music venue the
Apollo Theater (Centre) and Don found that most of the top
Broadway shows were sold out.. so he had to consider "other options" (Right)
(James Brown Live at the Apollo in 1968)
("Motown returns to the Apollo" - some of the
great soul singers of the 1950s, '60s and '70s in concert)
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(Left) Sharing his thoughts about the "Old" Las Vegas and
(Centre) particularly the historic El Rancho casino (the first
gambling hotel opened in 1941) and also the "new" Las Vegas (Right)
("Don Lane's America"
Please Note: Uploaded from an old domestic home video recording
so technical quality isn't perfect. Sound improves around the 18.00 minute mark)
Don wins gold as most
popular male personality at the 1977
Logie Awards (Australia's equivalent to the Emmys)
(This is You Life - Gag version)
(This is Your Life - For Real)
(Tribute to Don Lane:
Hosted by Bert Newton and broadcast at the
time of Don's death in 2009 44.00 minutes - Includes
many archival film and video clips from his career over the years)
.. and.. finally...Don' son PJ Lane....pays a
musical tribute to his dad at the 2010 Logie Awards....
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