Ande Lamb
 |
Ande Lamb | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Anderson Bursley September 12, 1901 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1961 (aged 59) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1939–1960 |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Gillett Lewis (m. 1926; div. ?) Ruth C. Anderson (m. 1943; div. 1952 or 1953) |
| Children | 1 |
Ande Lamb (born Robert Anderson Bursley Jr.;[1][2] September 12, 1901 – March 16, 1961) was an American film and television writer, producer and director, active in the 1940s—primarily in B-films and serials—and 50s, when he penned numerous Hopalong Cassidy and Cisco Kid episodes. He was also the principal writer on Craig Kennedy, Criminologist.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]Born in New Orleans on September 12, 1901,[4] Lamb was the son of Robert Anderson Bursley Sr. and Edna M. Lamb, a musically and theatrically inclined New Orleans native who had until recently taught at the Fifth Ward School No. 1 in Ama, Louisiana.[5][6][7][8][9] Following her premature death in 1909,[10] Bursley Sr. married Elizabeth "Bessie" Surcouf in 1911.[11]
Bursley Jr.'s professional transition to "Ande Lamb" was first noted in 1937, regarding a collaboration with director Spencer Bennet on a projected—but, evidently, never realized—6-picture package of films based on racing driver Pete DePaolo's autobiography, Wall Smacker.[1] In August 1939, the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles played host to the premiere of Lamb's Thank Your Lucky Stars, touted as a satire of Hollywood, and reportedly slotted for a Broadway engagement that fall.[12] Such predictions proved overly optimistic, as the production was dealt a resounding thumbs-down by critics and audiences alike.[13][14][15]
Given a mixed but markedly warmer reception was Lamb's murder mystery Honeymoon Ghost, staged in 1944 at the Hampshire Playhouse in Los Angeles, and starring Maria Riva (then billed as Maria Manton)[16] While deeming the plot "complicated and slightly far-fetched," LA Times reviewer Katherine Von Blon went on to praise Lamb's "clearly-limned characters," adding that "many of the situations were rife with suspense and certain comic implication."[17]
Personal life and death
[edit]The first of Lamb's marriages, both of which ended in divorce, came in February 1926, preceding by more than a decade the transition from Bursley to his better-known pen name. The bride was Susan Gillett Lewis, and their union produced one child, a daughter, Diane Lewis Bursley.[18][19][20][21] In October 1943, Lamb married actress Ruth C. Anderson.[22][23][24] On December 16, 1952, the Los Angeles Mirror reported that Superior Court Judge William McKay had, that day, granted Ruth Lamb an interlocutory divorce decree, based on testimony that Mr. Lamb was, as the Mirror phrased it, "a lion as a husband," impacting both privacy and safety via alternating bouts of eavesdropping and beatings.[25]
On March 16, 1961, Lamb, aged 60, suffered a fatal heart attack in Hollywood.[3] His remains are interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.[26]
Not quite six and a half years later, Lamb's only child, the former Diane Bursley—having since become, respectively, Mrs. Robert Armstrong and Mrs. David Miller[27][28]—died even more prematurely, at age 39 of undisclosed causes, survived by her husband and son.[29]
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Police Bullets | Story, screenplay | |
| War Dogs | Original story | ||
| 1943 | Harvest Melody | Story | |
| 1944 | Follow the Leader | Story | "East of the Bowery" |
| Mystery of the River Boat | Story; adaptation | ||
| Riders of the Santa Fe | Original screenplay | ||
| 1945 | Jungle Queen | Original screenplay | |
| Brenda Starr, Reporter | Original screenplay | (As Andy Lamb) | |
| The Master Key | Screenplay | ||
| Trouble Chasers | Original story; screenplay | ||
| Renegades of the Rio Grande | Original screenplay | ||
| Jungle Raiders | Original screenplay | (As Andy Lamb) | |
| Who's Guilty? | Original screenplay | ||
| 1946 | Moon Over Montana | Dialogue director | |
| Hop Harrigan America's Ace of the Airways | Original screenplay | ||
| West of the Alamo | Dialogue director | ||
| Lone Star Moonlight | Original story; screenplay | ||
| 1947 | Unexpected Guest | Screenplay | |
| Hoppy's Holiday | Screenplay | ||
| The Case of the Baby Sitter | Screenplay | Short subject (As Andy Lamb) | |
| Mystery Range | Producer, director, writer | ||
| 1948 | Strange Gamble | Writer | (Uncredited) |
| 1950 | The Texan Meets Calamity Jane | Producer, director, writer |
Television
[edit]| Year | TV Series | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | The Lone Ranger | Writer | 3 Episodes |
| 1952–53 | Craig Kennedy, Criminologist | Writer | 26 Episodes |
| 1950–51, 1954–56 |
The Cisco Kid | Writer | 3 Episodes 7 Episodes |
| 1952–54 | Hopalong Cassidy | Writer | 8 Episodes |
| 1956 | The Man Called X | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1960 | Death Valley Days | Writer | 1 Episode |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Aaron D. Klein to Film Book by Auto Racer; Aaron D. Klein (Continued from Page Five). The Morning Call. p. 7. "The series will be based on action stories, the first take its title from Mr. DePaolo's book and to have auto racing as its theme. The other titles and their themes are as follows: "Cloud Buster" (air story); "Sea Trap" (motorboat racing); 'Speed Boat' (midget car races); 'Throttle Wide' (auto races); 'Written Into the Record,' dedicated to the Boy Scouts. [...] Scenarists are Robert Bursley, whose screen name is Ande Lamb, and Joseph Levering. Mr. Bursley has many bigname pictures to his credit as does Mr. Levering, whose experience in show business dates from before the advent of motion pictures."
- ^ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPWT-TJP7 : Tue Feb 18 22:00:21 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert or Andi Bursley or Lamb, 16 March 1961.
- ^ a b "Obituaries: Ande Lamb". Variety. March 29, 1961. p. 63. ProQuest 1017059768.
Ande Lamb, 60, vet motion picture and tv writer, died of a heart attack in Hollywood March 16. He wrote many of the feature and tv Hopalong Cassidy scripts, and worked on the 'Cisco Kid' and 'Craig Kennedy' series.
- ^ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGXB-CQDV : Fri Apr 04 00:33:53 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert A Bursley and Ina May Hawkins, 15 Feb 1942.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8N6-XRC : Wed Jul 10 00:25:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert Anderson Bursley and Robert Anderson Bursley, 03 Feb 1926.
- ^ "Gretna Gossip: Items of Interest in Jefferson Parish Precincts". The Times-Picayune. February 17, 1899. p. 3. "Mr. Robert A. Bursley, one of the most popular of Jefferson's citizens, and the assessor of the parish, and Miss Edna Lamb, a winsome New Orleans belle, and daughter of Captain W. W Lamb, were united in the holy bond of matrimony yesterday morning at St. Theresa's church, on Camp street, Rev. Father Massardier officiating."
- ^ "Society Notes – Louisiana: Ama, La.". The Times-Democrat. May 24, 1896. p. 18. "The principal social event of the week here was the closing exercises of the Fifth Ward School No. young 1, presided over by the pupular and able Miss Edna Lamb [...] The programme was as follows: [...] instrumental duet, "La Jota,' Misses A. M. Fortier and Edna Lamb; recitation, 'Somebody's Mother,' Master Stuart Landry; Instrumental solo, 'La Harpe Etoliene,' Miss Edna Lamb."
- ^ "Personal and General Notes". The Times-Picayune. May 1, 1898. p. 7. "Last Saturday night was a gala one at Waggaman, when people from every quarter of the parish flocked there to attend the entertainment given the benefit of the Catholic church. Programme opened up with a spirited and artistic rendition of "Qui Vive Gallop" on the piano by Misses Edna Lamb and Mamie Fortier. This was followed by a humorous dialogue entitled 'Courtship Under Difficulties,' in which Miss Edna Lamb, Miss Louise Fortier and Dr. S. D. Gustine were the participants."
- ^ Lamb, Edna M. (August 1, 1898). "BY THE WAY CHAT; Little Tales Told by Members of the Talk Club: After Many Years". The Times-Picayune. p. 8.
- ^ "Died". The Times-Democrat. June 3, 1909. p. 2. "BURSLEY- Wednesday, June 2, 1909, at 6:85 o'clock p. m., EDNA LAMB, wife of Robert Bursley. Funeral services at St. Stephen's Church, Napoleon avenue and Camp street, This (Thursday) Afternoon at 8 o'clock. Interment private."
- ^ "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRV7-QPD : Tue Mar 05 04:01:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert A Bursley and Bessie Elenore Surcouf, 14 Jan 1911.
- ^ "Trite But True, Mr. Lamb". Los Angeles Daily News. August 21, 1939. p. 18. "Laugh and the world laughs with you, is the belief of Ande Lamb, author of the slapstick comedy 'Thank Your Lucky Stars,' opening Saturday night at the Belasco theater. Lamb feels certain that audiences want to be amused and kept happy and for this reason he feels certain that his brain child will meet with approval in Los Angeles. Starred in the production is Virginia Pine, while among those supporting her are Eddie Gribbon, film comedian; Lew Lauria and Rita Own, comic dancer of the Ziegfeld Follies."
- ^ Boynoff, Sarah (August 28, 1939). "Don't Thank Your Lucky Stars". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 17. "Despite the optimism of producer Ralph D. Paonessa and director-author Ande Lamb, who hope to take 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' to New York, the closest that play will come to Broadway is Los Angeles. It opened Saturday night at the Belasco and it is so unmitigatedly bad that this may turn out to be an obituary instead of a review. For all around deficiency in writing, production, direction and acting, this little opus is absolutely tops. Ostensibly a satire on how Hollywood stars are born, complete with attempted caricatures of newspapermen, publicity writers, agents, secretaries and other movie denizens, 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' is a cheap attempt at rewriting all preceding plays of this genre."
- ^ S., J.L. (August 28, 1939). "New Stage Play Given". The Los Angeles Times. p. 34. "'Thank Your Lucky Stars,' new stage play by Ande Lamb, which attempts to satirize the agency business in Hollywood, opened Saturday night at the Belasco Theater to an audience that received the offering apathetically. Spectators were eminently justified in their reception for the production in its present shape carries little punch and the players are either too bombastic or go to the other extreme."
- ^ Helm (August 30, 1939). "Legitimate: Plays Out of Town - Thank Your Lucky Stars". Variety. p. 42. ProQuest 1475948288.
Another puerile effort at harpooning the picture biz. Weak script nullifies any acting accomplishments and abounds with childish innuendo in satirizing characters and customs of the film industry, also being bogged down with pointless and bromidic dialog.
- ^ Von Blon, Katherine (September 21, 1944). "'Biography' Due Oct. 2 at Pasadena Playhouse; 'Janie' Casting; Maria Featured". The Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
- ^ Von Blon, Katherine (October 3, 1944). "Ghost Goes on Honeymoon". The Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
- ^ "Vital Record: Marriage Licenses". The Los Angeles Times. February 4, 1926. p. 16. "BURSLEY - LEWIS. Robert Anderson Bursley, 25: Susan Gillett Lewis, 18."
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8N6-XRC : Wed Jul 10 00:25:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert Anderson Bursley and Robert Anderson Bursley, 03 Feb 1926.
- ^ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL4-2T87 : Sun Mar 10 13:37:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Diane Bursley and Robert Anderson Bursley, 28 October 1927.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8K2-XPC : Sat Mar 09 17:08:20 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert Virgil Armstrong and Diane Lewis Bursley, 21 January 1948.
- ^ "To Wed". Hollywood Citizen News. October 22, 1943. p. 9. "Couples who today have announced their intention to wed are: [...] Ande A. Lamb and Ruth C. Anderson, both of 1012½ N. Serrano."
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K82V-GYJ : Wed Jul 10 00:43:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Ande A Lamb and Robert A Lamb, 19 Oct 1943.
- ^ "United States, Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGK-PRLR : Tue Mar 18 08:18:23 UTC 2025), Entry for Ande A Lamb and Ruth C Lamb, April 1, 1950.
- ^ Mirror Photo (December 16, 1952). "Lamb Was Lion". Los Angeles Mirror. December 16, 1952. p. 4. "Mrs. Ruth Lamb, 35, told Superior Judge William McKay her husband, Ande Lamb, 46 [sic], was a lion as a husband. She said he eavesdropped on her conversations and beat her. Judge McKay granted an interlocutory divorce decree today."
- ^ "Pray for the Dead". The Tidings. March 31, 1961. p. 11. "Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Requiem Masses were offered recently for the following: [...] BURSLEY, Robert A., 1264 Sycamore Ave., March 20. Holy Spirit. Interment, Holy Cross. Pierce Bros."
- ^ "Weddings". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. January 26, 1948. p. 8. "ARMSTRONG-BURSLEY: Diane L. Bursley, 12116½ Hoffman St., Studio City Robert V. Armstrong, 7358 Vineland Ave."
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1849-1957", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86X-CF6 : Sun Mar 10 15:47:16 UTC 2024), Entry for David Elvis Miller and Diane Mary Armstrong, 13 September 1954.
- ^ "Funerals". Valley Times. August 30, 1967. p. 3. "DIANE M. MILLER, age 39, of Santa Susana, passed away Monday, August 28, 1967. Survived by husband, David E. Miller, son Stephen. Funeral services will be Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Reardon Simi Valley Mortuary, Rev. Alton Peterson officiating. Interment Simi Valley Cemetery."