Joan Alexander Stanton (April 16, 1915 - May 21, 2009)

This is one of those blogs that I wish I didn't have to write. Joan Alexander Stanton is someone that I also felt a great deal of admiration for. She was an actress but her career was somewhat small. In the 40's she spent a great deal of time on radio programs such as "Dimension X", "Philo Vance", "Against the Storm" and "Perry Mason." On "Perry Mason" she played Mason's secreatary Della Street. In 1964 she made her only Broadway appearance in the production of Poor Richard. On television she appeared on the game show "The Name's the Same" from 1951 to 1955. For me though she will always be that light but stern voice on "The Adventures of Superman" which was on radio from 1940 until 1951. Joan provided the voice of girl reporter Lois Lane in more than 1,600 episodes. She also provided the voice of Lois in 17 animated Superman shorts produced by the Fleischer Studios between 1941 and 1943. In 1966, the animated series "The New Adventures of Superman" began it's four season run. Joan returned to play Lois during the 1966-1967 season before she was succeeded by voice actress Julie Bennett. Joan Alexander Stanton and Bud Collyer as Lois Lane and Clark Kent were perfect together. She played Lois as very sly and pushy but at the same time very vulnerable. In addition to Lois Lane, Joan also provided the voices of whatever minor female roles the script called for. Of course this Lois Lane just like all that would follow always went weak in the knees for Superman. Because most of the show took place during and after WWII there were many episodes devoted to addressing the issue of racism, prejudice and in some cases Nazi spies. Lois Lane showed her true colors as an all American girl who looked for peace and equality for everyone. Some notable storylines involving Lois Lane were "Drought in Freeville", "Dr. Bly and his Confidence Gang", "The Meteor From Krypton", "The Man Without a Face", "Superman vs. Kryptonite", "The Phantom of the Sea" and "The Mystery of the Walking Dead." In "Dr. Bly and his Confidence Gang" Joan also provided the voice of Lois Lane's doppleganger Dixie LaMarr, a girl mixed up in the underworld who shoots and kills a federal agent. Because of her uncanny resemblance to Lois her boss Dr. Bly makes arrangements for Lois to take the blame. Superman, Batman and Robin save the day. Joan Alexander Stanton was a woman of class, elegance and great talent and dignity. She was a wonderful actress and she set the standards on what an actress had to do to bring Lois Lane to life.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering the Cast of "Make Room for Daddy" / "The Danny Thomas Show" (583)

It was one of the longest running family sitcoms in television history.  Right there along side "I Love Lucy", "The Honeymooners", "Father Knows Best" and "My Little Margie" it was one of the most beloved programs of the day.  It began on ABC as "Make Room for Daddy" on September 29, 1953.  After 120 episodes the title changed to "The Danny Thomas Show" and in 1957 the program moved to CBS.  After a healthy eleven year run the show ended on April 27, 1964 after producing 351 episodes total.  In 1970 a majority of the cast returned for the show "Make Room for Granddaddy" which lasted from 1970 to 1971 producing 24 episodes.  The cast was headed up by Danny Thomas who played nightclub entertainer Danny Williams.  Jean Hagen played his wife Margaret, Rusty Hamer played his son Rusty and Sherry Jackson played his daughter Terry.  Jackson played Terry from 1953 to 1958 followed by Penny Parker who played the role from...
Read more

Doris Packer (May 30, 1904 - March 31, 1979)

She began in New York on Broadway and then started appearing on radio. Some of her radio credits include "Henry Aldrich" and "Mr. & Mrs. North." When she became a widow in 1953 she relocated to California where she began appearing on film and on television. Her first film was Meet Me at the Fair. She also appeared in The Perils of Pauline in 1967. She is best remembered as Mrs. Cornelia Rayburn, Beaver's Principal on "Leave it to Beaver." She also had a recurring role on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Her final film appearance was in Shampoo in 1975... Other Television Credits: "The Great Gildersleeve" "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre" "The Bob Cummings Show" "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" "I Love Lucy" "Lux Video Theatre" "The Jack Benny Program" "The Thin Man" "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse" "Maverick" ...
Read more