While the Don Lane show psychic Doris Stokes, PJ Lane says that his father would not stand for a skeptic who called her a liar.
It was one of the largest Sistersy Fits on television in the 1970s.
When skeptic and former magician James Randi appeared The Don Lane Show To expose how famous illuionists and self-proclaimed clairvoyants fooled the public, it descended in an argument, language and a walk-off.
Lane had accused Randi of mentioning UK born medium Doris Stokes a liar on radio. The exchange followed a series of performances on the nine variety show of “The Gracie Fields of the Psychic World” that fascinated the audience and led to sold -out performances throughout Australia.
PJ Lane, son of the late Don Lane, says that although Randi tried to show how clairvoyed, such as Uri Geller, tests and spoons would bow, his father wanted to talk about the claims he made about Doris Stokes.
“It was not about the magic, and that is what he said in that interview with James Randi. He says:” I am not talking about Uri Geller. I am not saying if they are right or wrong, but Doris Stokes was very popular, “he says TV tonight.
“He says,” You went on the radio and said that Doris Stokes is a liar and a fraud. Who are you to say this? You now attack someone personally. ” ‘
Nevertheless given The Don Lane Show Had Doris Stokes made a housekeeper, would James Randi ever get an honest run when he sat down to disprove her?
“No, he wasn’t,” PJ Lane admits, “but what I understand, James Randi had an idea before he went inside. He got the heads and said,” It wasn’t just Don. So then James Randi comes in and tries to support what he says by doing the most important bending tricks and doing all those things.
“(But Don said)” I don’t want to see your most important bending tricks. Take me what you said. Don’t let me see how things are like with Uri Geller. It’s not what we are here. ” ‘
“Those people who were his friends, he would defend to the end.”
PJ Lane says: ‘You were his best friend or his enemy, and those people who were his friends would defend until the end. It was not about whether Doris Stokes was legitimate and could talk to the dead. I don’t think there was anything to do, but about what (Randi) said.
“When you see the full interview, you will see how it has developed.”
The Don Lane Show Ran from 1975-1983. Two-week on nine out of nine It was the highlight of Variety Television in Australia, with live music performances, A-list Hollywood stars, Daredevil stunts and the Must-see improvised comedy by Bert Newton.
The US, born in the US, was the Ringmaster of all this, a TV gastheer and singer who came to Australia for the first time in Bronx in the sixties and had a talent to make his guests shine.
His son, PJ Lane, an artist and former pro-basketball player, now celebrates his father’s legacy with a live touring show I love your faces: Don Lane’s story.
“It is a brand of entertainment that we rarely see nowadays, that golden era of variation. I am not only talking about show girls, but the music was spectacular, and it was just so well done how they put everything together. There is also the nostalgic element, and for those people who want to get their solution from the time, they will certainly get their fix,” says PJ. “
“Dad learned his profession in the showrooms in Vegas, which he eventually got later, he worked early on those small rooms where a man just lost $ 20,000 on Blackjack and as a reward would give him two tickets to see Don Lane. So here is this man who just lost $ 20,000,” for 20 Grand, you can be better. “
His biggest break came after appearing on Cyclone Tracy Benefit Concert to replace Ernie Sigley who had criticized network boss Kerry Packer in the air.
“Dad received a phone call the next morning after the concert:” It’s Kerry Packer. Grab your bags, go downstairs in Melbourne … When Ernie Sigley walks to my office and closes the door, you can come out and you can come and do your thing. ” And in fact, as soon as Ernie entered Kerry Packer’s office, he had a whole crew at Channel Nine Go and removed all his things … It was organized by Don Lane for a few episodes, and then it became The Don Lane Show. “
Yet a variety host is not the father who knew PJ, but rather a sport broadcaster. The lanky American was hired by ABC to comment NFL And NBL.
“He flourished in that role,” PJ recalls. “Until the day he died, he received more fan mail from doing the NFL On the ABC then in its entire Don Lane Show!
“He always said that when he first came to this country in the 60s, someone would approach him and said,” Hey, Don Lane, I am a big fan, can I have your signature? ” Then it was in the 1970s, “my mother is a big fan. NFL. ‘
“I didn’t grow up with the Showbizz -Man. I grew up with the sports commentator”
“That is the man I grew up with. I didn’t grow up with the Showbizz -Man. I grew up with the sports commentator and the sports coach. The man who did the basketball broadcast and was a partial owner in the Sydney Kings.”
“There were no rocky times at all. He was a good father”
Raised by his mother, who sees his father at the weekend, PJ Lane insists that his relationship with his father was always strong.
“There were no rocky times at all. He was a good father,” Lane continues. “I always say that he was exactly the same person off the screen as on the screen -just add a few shooting words to the mix. He was just as charismatic everywhere he went, and he was so all the time. I left the school in Sydney, and I spent my last two years in Los Angeles, and his finally was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time that was the first time.
One house was full of boxes of memorabilia, tires, photos, costumes, many of them remained unopened for years.
“I think it was because he just missed it so badly. He didn’t want to open it again. It just meant too much.”
“He was never convicted, but he was accused of importing marijuana”
His cabaret show includes the early years of Lane, The Don Lane ShowAnd the story of PJ Lane as a son. It also does not shy away from dark chapters.
“There are times when we have to discuss. Of course there is his first wife, Gina, who killed her ex-husband by shooting him in the face.
“His life has always been about comebacks”
“So the story is the story. We tell it for what it is. To hide those moments that were low for him, would not be accurate for how it was, right? Of course there is redemption, as he puts in his book. He said that his life has always been about comebacks, whether it has been his professional life or a love life, he has always been able to come back.”
Appropriate, such as The Don Lane Show It contains show stoppers, including 76 Trombones And The music man, Showgirls and a live band.
“The owner of the TV station had more money than God”
“The show was so expensive. You can’t have that anymore. Think of the budgets of a 16 -piece orchestra, 12 dancers. You could do that on the day the owner of the TV station had more money than God, and just put TV on TV what he wanted to see.
“But this ensures that these photos come to life. The numbers we recreate are exactly that feeling that you would get with the Tony Bartuccio dancers and the orchestra.
“That is the thing that was the show. It was not only entertainment in your face. It was real. It was emotional, those unwritten moments. His attraction was that he spoke camera, and everyone got the real him. If you met him on the street, one on one, you got the exact same charismatic man you see on the screen.”
I love your faces: Don Lane’s story
The Juniors Kingsford NSW
Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m.
Club Central Menai NSW
Sunday, November 9 2:30 pm
The Palms, Crown Melbourne
Thursday, November 13 2 p.m.
Friday, November 14, 7.30 p.m.
Evan Theater Penrith NSW
Sunday, February 8, 2 p.m.
#Dad #defend #drama #Don #Lane #James #Randi #Clash #tonight