Lola Lane (born Dorothy Mullican; May 21, 1906 – June 22, 1981) was an American actress and one of the

Lane Sisters The Lane Sisters were a family of American singers and actresses. The sisters were Leota Lane (October 25, 1903 – July 25, 1963), Lola Lane (May 21, 1906 – June 22, 1981), Rosemary Lane (April 4, 1913 – November 25, 1974) and Priscilla ...

with her sisters Leota, Rosemary, and

Priscilla Lane Priscilla Lane (born Priscilla Mullican, June 12, 1915 – April 4, 1995) was an American actress, and the youngest sibling in the Lane Sisters of singers and actresses. She is best remembered for her roles in the films ''The Roaring Twenties'' ...

. She appeared on Broadway and in films from the 1920s to 1940s.

Early years

The daughter of a dentist, Lane was born in

Macy, Indiana Macy is a town in Allen Township, Miami County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 199 at the 2020 census. History Macy was laid out in 1860 at the time the railroad arrived in the neighborhood. The community was originally known ...

, and grew up in

Indianola, Iowa Indianola is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States, located south of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The population was 15,833 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County. Indianola is home to the National Balloon ...

. As a teenager, she played piano for silent films and sang in a flower shop. Vaudeville entertainer Gus Edwards discovered her and put her on the road to her professional career.One obituary said that Edwards discovered her in the flower shop: Another obituary said that she wrote to Edwards to ask for an audition: Lane and her sister Leota graduated from a conservatory at

Simpson College Simpson College is a private Methodist liberal arts college in Indianola, Iowa. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has about 1,250 full-time and 300 part-time students. In addition to the Indianola residential campus, Simpso ...

and were performing in New York by 1926. Edwards had discovered them performing in a benefit concert in Des Moines, Iowa.

Career

Edwards changed the actress's name and added her to his touring production, ''Ritz Carlton Nights''. In 1926, she and her sister Leota appeared in the ''Greenwich Village Follies'' in New York City. She went on to appear in vaudeville shows on the Orpheum, Loew, and Interstate circuits and later acted on Broadway in ''The War Song'' (1928), leading to her work in films when a talent scout saw her. After a screen test, she made her film debut in ''

Speakeasy A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, or a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies. Speakeasy bars came into prominence in the United States d ...

'' (1929). Most of Lane's films were

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

productions. They included ''

Four Daughters ''Four Daughters'' is a 1938 American romance film that tells the story of a happy musical family whose lives and loves are disrupted by the arrival of a charming young composer who interjects himself into the daughters' romantic lives. His cynic ...

'', ''

Four Wives ''Four Wives'' is a 1939 American drama (film and television), drama film starring the Lane Sisters (Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane (actress), Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane (actress/singer), Lola Lane) and Gale Page. The film was directed by Michael C ...

'', and ''

Four Mothers 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

'', in each of which she appeared with her sisters Priscilla and Rosemary. She also appeared in the Warner Bros. classic ''

Marked Woman ''Marked Woman'' is a 1937 American dramatic crime film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, with featured performances by Lola Lane, Isabel Jewell, Rosalind Marquis, Mayo Methot, Jane Bryan, Eduardo Ciannelli and ...

'' (1937) with

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

and

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

Personal life

On September 11, 1931, Lane married actor

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...

in Las Vegas, Nevada. They remained wed until 1933. She was also married to Henry Dunham, a yacht broker, and director

Roland West Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

. When he died, she was married to Robert Hanlon, a retired aircraft executive. As Democrats, Lane and her sisters supported the campaign of Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 presidential election. She converted to Catholicism in 1961.

Death

Lane died at her home in

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coas ...

, on June 22, 1981, at age 75. She was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara.

Recognition

Comic book writer

Jerry Siegel Jerome Siegel ( ; October 17, 1914 – January 28, 1996)Roger Stern. ''Superman: Sunday Classics: 1939–1943'' DC Comics/Kitchen Sink Press, Inc./ Sterling Publishing; 2006 was an American comic book writer. He is the co-creator of Superman, in ...

named

Lois Lane Lois Lane is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938). Lois is an award-winning journalist for ...

, the fictional reporter and Superman's girlfriend in DC Comics, after Lola Lane. In 1967 Lane received a

Pope Pius X Pope Pius X ( it, Pio X; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of C ...

medal for her efforts in religious training of mentally challenged people.

Filmography

*''

The Girl from Havana ''The Girl from Havana'' is a 1929 American pre-Code crime film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and written by Edwin J. Burke. The film stars Lola Lane, Paul Page, Kenneth Thomson, Natalie Moorhead, Warren Hymer and Joseph W. Girard. The film wa ...

'' (1929) .... Joan Anders *''

Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 ''Fox Movietone Follies of 1929'', also known as ''Movietone Follies of 1929'' and ''The William Fox Movietone Follies of 1929'', is an American black-and-white and color film, color pre-Code musical film released by Fox Film Corporation. Plot ...

'' (1929) .... Lila Beaumont *''

'' (1929) .... Alice Woods *''

The Costello Case ''The Costello Case'' is a 1930 American pre-Code crime film directed by Walter Lang. Cast * Tom Moore as Mahoney * Lola Lane as Mollie * Roscoe Karns as Blair * Wheeler Oakman as Mile-Away-Harry * Russell Hardie as Jimmie * William B. Davidso ...

'' (1930) .... Mollie *'' Good News'' (1930) .... Patricia Bingham *'' The Big Fight'' (1930) .... Shirly *''

Let's Go Places ''Let's Go Places'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical film made by the Fox Film Corporation. Directed by Frank R. Strayer, the film uses a screenplay by William K. Wells which is based on a story by Andrew Bennison. It was choreographed by Dan ...

'' (1930) .... Marjorie Lorraine *''

Ex-Bad Boy ''Ex-Bad Boy'' is a 1931 American comedy film directed by Vin Moore and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. and Dale Van Every. The film stars Robert Armstrong, Jean Arthur, Jason Robards, Sr., Spencer Charters, Grayce Hampton and Lola Lane. The film ...

'' (1931) .... Letta Lardo *'' Hell Bound'' (1931) .... Platinum Reed *''

Public Stenographer ''Public Stenographer'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code romantic comedy. Stenographer Ann McNair (Lane) en route to a job mistakenly gets in the wrong car and ends up at a wild party thrown by Jim Martin (Collier). While in pursuit of McNair, Martin i ...

'' (1933) .... Ann McNair *'' The Woman Who Dared'' (1933) .... Kay Wilson *''

Burn 'Em Up Barnes ''Burn 'Em Up Barnes'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code movie serial produced and distributed by Mascot Pictures, along with a feature version of the serial bearing the same title. It was a loose remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name. Cas ...

'' (1934) .... Marjorie Temple * ''

Ticket to a Crime ''Ticket to a Crime'' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Ralph Graves, Lois Wilson and Lola Lane.Langman & Finn p.270 A private detective and his assistant solve a murder at a country club. Cast * Ralph Gr ...

'' (1934) .... Peggy Cummings *''

Port of Lost Dreams ''Port of Lost Dreams'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring William Boyd, Lola Lane and George F. Marion.Pitts p.100-1 Cast * William Boyd as Lars Christensen * Lola Lane as Molly Deshon / Molly Clark Chris ...

'' (1934) .... Molly Deshon/Molly Clark Christensen *''

The Woman Condemned ''The Woman Condemned'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Dorothy Davenport, best known as a silent actress and the wife of actor Wallace Reid. Plot A radio star takes a vacation and is later found murdered. Barbara Hammond is ac ...

'' (1934) .... Jane Merrick *''

His Night Out ''His Night Out'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by William Nigh and written by Harry Clork and Doris Malloy. The film stars Edward Everett Horton, Irene Hervey, Jack La Rue, Robert McWade, Lola Lane and Willard Robertson. The film was ...

'' (1935) .... Lola *''

Death from a Distance ''Death from a Distance'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Russell Hopton, Lola Lane and George F. Marion. The film's sets were designed by the art director Edward C. Jewell. It was the first feature fi ...

'' (1935) .... Kay Palmer *''

Alias Mary Dow ''Alias Mary Dow'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Sally Eilers, Ray Milland and Henry O'Neill.Quinlan p.331 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ralph Berger. Premise In order to comfort his dy ...

'' (1935) .... Minna *''

Murder on a Honeymoon ''Murder on a Honeymoon'' is a 1935 American mystery film starring Edna May Oliver and James Gleason. This was the third and last time Oliver portrayed astute schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers; the two previous films were ''The Penguin Pool Murder ...

'' (1935) .... Phyllis La Font *''In Paris, A.W.O.L.'' (1936) .... Lola *''

Hollywood Hotel The Hollywood Hotel was a famous hotel, society venue of early Hollywood, and landmark, formerly located at 6811 Hollywood Boulevard, on the north side, extending from Highland Avenue to Orchid Avenue, in central Hollywood, Los Angeles, Califor ...

'' (1937) .... Mona Marshall *''

The Sheik Steps Out ''The Sheik Steps Out'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Irving Pichel and written by Adele Buffington and Gordon Kahn. The film stars Ramon Novarro, Lola Lane, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Burke, Stanley Fields and Billy Bevan. The fi ...

'' (1937) .... Phyllis 'Flip' Murdock *''

'' (1937) .... Dorothy 'Gabby' Marvin *''

'' (1938) .... Thea Lemp *''

Mr. Chump ''Mr. Chump'' is a 1938 American Musical film, musical comedy film directed by William Clemens (film director), William Clemens and written by George Bricker. The film stars Johnnie Davis, Lola Lane (actress/singer), Lola Lane, Penny Singleton, Do ...

'' (1938) .... Jane Mason *''

When Were You Born ''When Were You Born'' is a 1938 murder mystery film directed by William C. McGann and starring Anna May Wong as an astrologer who helps the police. Each of the twelve principal characters was born under a different astrological sign. Plot On an ...

'' (1938) .... Nita Kenton√ (Cancer) *''

Torchy Blane in Panama ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens (film director), William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly (actor), Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy (actor), Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fi ...

'' (1938) .... Torchy Blane *''

'' (1939) .... Thea Lemp Crowley *''

Daughters Courageous ''Daughters Courageous'' is a 1939 American drama film starring John Garfield, Claude Rains, Jeffrey Lynn and featuring the Lane Sisters: Lola Lane, Rosemary Lane and Priscilla Lane. Based on the play ''Fly Away Home'' by Dorothy Bennett and I ...

'' (1939) .... Linda Masters *''

Girls of the Road Girls of the Road is a 1940 American action film, based on an original screenplay by Robert Hardy Andrews, directed by Nick Grinde, and produced by Wallace MacDonald. The main characters of the 61–minute Columbia Pictures feature film were ten f ...

'' (1940) .... Elly *''

Gangs of Chicago ''Gangs of Chicago'' is a 1940 crime film, starring Lloyd Nolan, Barton MacLane, Lola Lane, Ray Middleton, Astrid Allwyn, and Horace McMahon. Alan Ladd has a small uncredited role. Plot After the death of his corrupt father, young Matty Burn ...

'' (1940) .... June Whitaker *''

Zanzibar Zanzibar (; ; ) is an insular semi-autonomous province which united with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands ...

'' (1940) .... Jan Browning *''

Convicted Woman ''Convicted Woman'' is a 1940 crime film starring Rochelle Hudson and directed by Nick Grinde Nick Grinde (January 12, 1893 – June 19, 1979) was an American film director and screenwriter. He directed 57 films between 1928 and 1945. Bi ...

'' (1940) .... Hazel Wren *''

'' (1941) .... Thea Lemp Crowley *'' Mystery Ship'' (1941) .... Patricia Marshall *''

Lost Canyon ''Lost Canyon'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Harry O. Hoyt. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jay Kirby, Lola Lane, Douglas Fowley and Herbert Rawlinson, is a remake of ''Rustlers' Valley'' ...

'' (1942) .... Laura Clark *''

Miss V from Moscow ''Miss V from Moscow'' is a 1942 American spy thriller film directed by M789 and DJ_Z, Noel Madison and Paul Weigel.Fetrow p.313 Synopsis The Miss V of the title is Vera Marova, a Soviet spy sent to Paris to impersonate her lookalike, a Germ ...

'' (1942) .... Vera Marova, posing as Greta Hiller *''

Buckskin Frontier ''Buckskin Frontier'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Norman Houston and Bernard Schubert. The film stars Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt, Albert Dekker, Lee J. Cobb, Victor Jory, Lola Lane, Max Baer and Joe ...

'' (1943) .... Rita Molyneaux *'' Identity Unknown'' (1945) .... Wanda *'' Steppin' in Society'' (1945) .... The Duchess *'' Why Girls Leave Home'' (1945) .... Irene Mitchell *''

Deadline at Dawn ''Deadline at Dawn'' is a 1946 American film noir, the only film directed by stage director Harold Clurman. It was written by Clifford Odets and based on a novel of the same name by Cornell Woolrich (as William Irish). The RKO Pictures film rele ...

'' (1946) .... Edna Bartelli *''

They Made Me a Killer ''They Made Me a Killer'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by William C. Thomas, and written by Daniel Mainwaring, Winston Miller and Kae Salkow, based on story by Owen Franes. It stars Barbara Britton and Robert Lowery (actor), ...

'' (1946) .... Betty Ford

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Lola 1906 births 1981 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Indiana Actresses from Iowa American film actresses California Democrats Catholics from Indiana Converts to Roman Catholicism Iowa Democrats People from Indianola, Iowa People from Miami County, Indiana