Richard Van Tassel Des Autels[2][3](December 11, 1910 – September 2, 1968)[4] was an American film actor, radio announcer, and television news anchor.[5][6]
Van Des Autels | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Van Tassel Des Autels December 11, 1910 Paragould, Arkansas, U.S.[1] |
| Died | September 2, 1968 (aged 57) |
| Spouses |
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| Career | |
| Show |
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| Station(s) | KTSA, San Antonio, KTSM, El Paso KTAR-TV, Phoenix |
Early life and career
editThe only child of James A. Des Autels and Phoebe Van Tassel,[7][8] he was born in Paragould, Arkansas. The family later relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia and, in 1923, to El Paso, Texas.[7] Attending El Paso High School, Des Autels excelled at track and field and well as theatre,[9] his creative output including a chalk talk staged during his freshman year,[10] and, two years later, the libretto for a two-act comic opera entitled Brutuspanto, in which he also costarred with, among others, Harry Hickox.[11][12]
Following his graduation, Des Autels worked as program director at KTSA in San Antonio,[13] and later at KTSM in El Paso.[14]
In 1941, along with Mike Frankovich, Don Thompson and others, Des Autel provided play-by-play coverage on NBC Blue Network's PCPFL broadcasts.[15] The following year, he hosted I Solemnly Swear, a daily, 15-minute U.S. Navy recruiting program, on KFAC in Los Angeles.[16]
In 1947, Frank Graham and Des Autels co-hosted a well-received listener-participation giveaway show entitled Three Alarm.[17]
In 1948, Des Autels collaborated with producer-director Jerry Fairbanks, providing narration for NBC's Television Close-Ups, a series of 26 five-minute mini-documentaries, dealing primarily with historical subjects.[18]
From 1949 to 1950, Des Autels teamed with producer-director Les Mitchel and composer Del Castillo, serving as announcer—aka "Van, the Skippy Man"—on the dramatic anthology series Skippy Hollywood Theatre.[19][20] He was also the featured actor on the 2/13/49 episode, entitled "Double Talk".[21]
From 1961 through 1967, Des Autels was the news anchor at KTAR-TV in Phoenix.[22][23]
Personal life and death
editDes Autels was married at least twice; to Patricia Lucille Burnett from 1931 until at least 1938,[24][25] and, from October 1943 until his death, to Betty Jane McPherson (née Sheffer).[26][1]
On September 2, 1968, three days after being admitted to the U.S. Veterans Hospital in North Hollywood, Des Autels died of undisclosed causes,[27] although the Associated Press did note that he had moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles the previous year "for treatment of a chronic throat ailment."[6]
Filmography
editFilm
edit- Twentieth Century Vikings (short subject, 1947), as himself[28]
- Willie and Joe Back at the Front (1952), as Lieutenant colonel[29]
- Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952), as Upstate senator[29]
- How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), as Best man[29]
- The Robe (1953), as Chamberlain[29]
- The Crooked Web (1955), as Tom Jackson[29]
Television
edit- The Lone Ranger (1953), episode "The Devil's Bog" – Grant Huston (as Van Desautels)[30]
- Combat Sergeant (1956), 7/26/56 episode "Destined for Death" - President of the Court[31]
References
edit- ^ a b "Death Takes Van Des Autels". The El Paso Herald-Post. September 3, 1968. p. 20.
- ^ Webb, Graham (2020). Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 434.
- ^ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGX1-SF9V : 2 March 2020), Richard van Tassel Des Autels, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States; from "Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947." Database and images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Draft Registration, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, citing NARA Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975. Record Group Number 147. NAID: 7644723. Records of the Selective Service System. The National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.
- ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGRR-3FZ : 26 November 2014), Richard V Desautels, 02 Sep 1968; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
- ^ "1968's Deaths". Films in Review. February 1969. p. 124.
- ^ a b "Veteran KTAR Newscaster Dies". Arizona Republic. September 3, 1968. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Des Autels Funeral Thursday". The El Paso Times. February 8, 1966. p. 22.
- ^ "Services Pending for Mrs. Des Autels". The El Paso Times. June 11, 1962. p. 8.
- ^ "Juniors Win Track Meet at High School; Wilkey Is Individual Star". The El Paso Times. April 9, 1927. p. 5.
- ^ "High School Notes". The El Paso Times. November 6, 1926. p. 18.
- ^ "To Give Operetta Written by Two High School Boys". The El Paso Evening Post. March 15, 1929. p. 20.
- ^ "High School Notes". The El Paso Times. April 4, 1929. p. 16.
- ^ "The Cavern Theater is Pleased to Present 'The Southern Radio Revue'". The Carlsbad Current-Argus. September 1, 1932. p. 2.
- ^ "KTSM to Increase System Broadcasts". The El Paso Times. August 21, 1934. p. 6.
- ^ "One Sponsor's 91 Gridcasts on Coast". Variety. September 24, 1941. p. 34. ProQuest 1285769479.
Associated Oil's sponsorship of Coast football this season calls for coverage of 91 games in a setup somewhat different from that used in the past. An even wider range of gridcasts is scheduled but airings will be confined to Don Lee and NBC Blue webs, plus a few indie outlets. No Columbia or NBC Red stations are included. [...] Signed as sportscasters have been Frank Bull, Mike Frankovich, Richard Van Desautels, Los Angeles; Doug Montell, Caroll Hansen, Hal Wolf, Don Thompson, Frisco...
- ^ "Purely Programs". Broadcast, Broadcast Advertising. October 12, 1942. p. 31. ProQuest 1014957298.
STRICTLY AD LIB is the daily quarter-hour Navy recruiting program, I Solemnly Swear, on KFAC, Los Angeles. Conducted by Chief Specialist Van Des Autels, formerly announcer-producer of that station, program is remoted from the Navy recruiting center in that city, with volunteers being interviewed and sworn in. Each broadcast also includes well known radio and film guest personalities.
- ^ Zhito, Lee (June 14, 1947). "Local Program Reviews and Analyses". The Billboard. p. 15. ProQuest 1040058713.
Airer is bankrolled by string of spot announcements. These are capably voiced by the emsees [sic], avoiding usual pitfalls of pressure selling. As daytime giveaway shows go, Three Alarm is well-patterned for an indie station. Emsees Graham and Des Autels are successful in keeping pace at a high pitch throughout, while retaining an informal tone. Music capably combines live and waxed talent. Fanfares and a couple of feature numbers are squeezed in to add to the entertainment quality. Show has been on KMPC for past few months during which time it has exhibited a strong mail pull.
- ^ Irvin, Richard (2022). Pioneers of "B" Television: Independent Producers, Series and Pilots of the 1950s. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-4766-4770-8
- ^ "Jane Wyatt Stars". The Montreal Gazette. December 3, 1949. p. 26.
- ^ "Annual Presentation of Easter Classic on 'Skippy Theatre'". The Shreveport Times. April 2, 1950. p. 29.
- ^ "WHBF—WHBF-FM–Air News". Quad-City-Times. February 13, 1949. p. 23.
- ^ "KTAR-TV". The Arizona Republic. November 10, 1961. p. 18.
- ^ "KTAR-TV: 2:55 P.M.—12:05 A.M." The Arizona Republic. April 19, 1967. p. 55.
- ^ "Summerford-Anderson Wedding Is Solemnized". The El Paso Times. November 18, 1931. p. 3.
- ^ "Final Performance of 'Biography' Booked". El Paso Herald-Post. December 7, 1938. p. 6.
- ^ "Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4L-K9SN : 22 July 2021), Richard van Tassel Des Autels and Betty Jane McPherson, 15 Oct 1943; citing Marriage, Clark, Nevada, United States, Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, Las Vegas; FHL microfilm 005241846.
- ^ "Radio Announcer Dies in Hospital". Progress-Bulletin. September 3, 1968. p. 2.
- ^ "Des Autels to Narrate". Hollywood Review. June 16, 1947. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e "Van Des Autels filmography". American Film Institute.
- ^ Andreychuk, Ed (2018). The Lone Ranger on Radio, Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7864-9972-4.
- ^ "Friday July 20". Ross Reports on Television. July 15, 1956. p. B.
Further reading
edit- "Safety Legion for Kids". Radio Daily. May 19, 1937. p. 6.
- "Public Relations Builds and Holds Good Will; 'News Lines from the Transit Lines'". Two Bells. April-May 1946. p. 13.