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{{Short description|American comedic actor (1902–1980)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Chester Lauck
| name = Chester Lauck
| image =Chester_Lauck.png
| image = Chester Lauck The Bashful Bachelor.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption = Lauck as Lum in ''[[The Bashful Bachelor]]'' (1942)
| birth_name =
| birth_name = Chester Lauck
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|02|09}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|02|09}}
| birth_place = Arkansas, U.S.
| birth_place = [[Alleene, Arkansas]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|02|21|1902|02|09}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|02|21|1902|02|09}}
| death_place = [[Seal Beach, California]], U.S.}}
| death_place = [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]], U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1931–1954
⚫
}}


'''Chester "Chet" Lauck''' (February 9, 1902 – February 21, 1980) was a comic actor who played the character of Lum Edwards on the classic [[United States|American]] [[radio]] [[comedy]] ''[[Lum and Abner]]''.
'''Chester "Chet" Lauck''' (February 9, 1902 – February 21, 1980) was a comic actor who played the character of Lum Edwards on the classic American radio comedy ''[[Lum and Abner]]''.


==Early life and career==
⚫
Chester Lauck was raised in [[Mena, Arkansas]] and graduated from [[Mena High School]] in 1920. In Mena, Chet met his future comedy partner [[Norris Goff]]. Though both began as [[blackface]] comics, they soon found success on local station KTHS with a recurring hillbilly skit, leading to a network series, recorded in [[Chicago, Illinois]], in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1268 |title=Chet Lauck (1902–1980) |publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas Culture & History |accessdate=December 27, 2012}}</ref>
Chester Lauck was born in Alleene, Arkansas and
⚫
raised in [[Mena, Arkansas]]. He graduated from [[Mena High School]] in 1920. In Mena, Chet met his future comedy partner [[Norris Goff]]. Though both began as [[blackface]] comics, they soon found success on Hot Springs, Arkansas radio station KTHS with a weekly rural comedy skit, basing their characters on acquaintances from Waters, Arkansas. This led to an NBC network radio series, broadcast first from [[Chicago, Illinois]], in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1268 |title=Chet Lauck (1902–1980) |publisher=The Encyclopedia of Arkansas Culture & History |access-date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> The radio series aired on Mutual, CBS, and ABC at various times during its 1931–54 run. It was sponsored by Quaker Oats, the Ford Dealers of America, Horlick's Malted Milk, Postum, Alka-Seltzer, and Frigidaire.


In addition to starring as storekeeper Lum (full name Columbus Edwards, with surname usually pronounced "Eddards"), Lauck also played several other recurring characters, including Cedric Weehunt, Grandpappy Spears, and Snake Hogan. Lauck reprised his radio role, opposite Goff, in seven [[motion pictures]] between 1940 and 1956. Lauck adopted grey hair and a moustache on-camera, to better match the picture most audiences would have of his radio character. {{citation needed|date=January 2010}}
In addition to starring as storekeeper Lum (full name Columbus Edwards, with surname usually pronounced "Eddards"), Lauck also played several other recurring characters, including Cedric Weehunt, Grandpappy Spears, and Snake Hogan. He reprised his radio role, opposite Goff, in seven [[motion pictures]] between 1940 and 1956. Lauck adopted grey hair and a moustache on-camera, to better match the picture most audiences would have of his radio character. {{citation needed|date=January 2010}}


In his later years, Lauck recorded new introductions for commercial cassette releases of the series and for syndication. For a brief time during the 1950s he bought and upgraded a ranch fifteen miles west of [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], later bought by Howard Hughes. It was turned into [[Spring Mountain Ranch State Park]].
For a brief time during the 1950s he bought and upgraded a ranch fifteen miles west of [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], later bought by Howard Hughes. It was turned into [[Spring Mountain Ranch State Park]].


In 1956, Lauck began working as an executive with Continental Oil in Houston, Texas, specializing in public relations and advertising. He appeared as himself as well as Lum in a series of television commercials for Conoco on the programs ''Whirlybirds'' (1957–60) and ''The Blue Angels'' (1960–61). On August 27, 1957, he appeared as a guest challenger on ''[[To Tell the Truth]]''.
He died on February 21, 1980, aged 78, and was buried in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]]. Chester Lauck is a member of the [[Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame]].<ref>[http://www.wikinfo.org/wiki.phtml?title=Chester_Lauck Chester Lauck biodata, Wikinfo]</ref>


Upon retirement from Continental Oil, Lauck moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas and co-founded an advertising agency with longtime associate Harlan Hobbs and son Chester Lauck Jr. Lauck Sr. was highly regarded as an after-dinner speaker and maintained a hectic schedule of appearances across the nation. During his California years, Lauck owned race horses which competed in Santa Anita. This expertise led to a 1970 appointment by Arkansas Governor Dale Bumpers in which Lauck became Commissioner of the Arkansas State Racing Commission.
==Selected filmography==

⚫
*''[[Partners in Time]]'' (1946)
In his later years, Lauck recorded new introductions for commercial cassette releases of the series and for syndication.

==Death==
Lauck died in a hospital in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]], on February 21, 1980, aged 78.<ref name="nytobit">{{cite news |title=Chester A. Lauck, 'Lum' on Radio |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/02/23/archives/chester-a-lauck-lum-on-radio.html |access-date=April 21, 2022 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=February 23, 1980 |page=26|url-access=subscription}}</ref>


==Honors==
==Honors==
Lauck was inducted into the [[National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame]] in the radio division.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=NAB Hall of Fame | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Awards7&CONTENTID=11047&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm | work =National Association of Broadcasters | pages = | accessdate = 2008-05-03 | language = }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Lauck was inducted into the [[National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame]] in the radio division.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past award recipients |url=https://www.nab.org/events/awards/pastawardwinners.asp?id=1926 |access-date=2020-03-17 |publisher=National Association of Broadcasters}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1940|| ''[[Dreaming Out Loud (film)|Dreaming Out Loud]]'' || rowspan="7"|Lum Edwards ||
|-
|1942|| ''[[The Bashful Bachelor]]'' ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1943|| ''[[Two Weeks to Live]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[So This Is Washington]]'' ||
|-
|1944|| ''[[Goin' to Town (1944 film)|Goin' to Town]]'' ||
|-
⚫
|1946|| ''[[Partners in Time]]'' ||
|-
|1956|| ''[[Lum and Abner Abroad]]'' || (final film role)
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 30: Line 63:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.compedit.com/lum_and_abner.htm 1979 interview with Lauck]
* {{IMDb name|0490713}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Lauck, Chester
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American actor
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 9, 1902
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Arkansas, U.S.
| DATE OF DEATH = February 21, 1980
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Seal Beach, California]], U.S.
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lauck, Chester}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lauck, Chester}}
⚫
[[Category:1902 births]]
⚫
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Male actors from Arkansas]]
[[Category:American male radio actors]]
[[Category:American male radio actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:People from Mena, Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Mena, Arkansas]]
[[Category:People from Orange County, California]]
[[Category:People from Seal Beach, California]]
[[Category:University of Arkansas alumni]]
[[Category:University of Arkansas alumni]]
⚫
[[Category:1902 births]]
⚫
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 17:00, 25 March 2024

Chester Lauck
Lauck as Lum in The Bashful Bachelor (1942)
Born
Chester Lauck

(1902-02-09)February 9, 1902
Alleene, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 21, 1980(1980-02-21) (aged 78)
Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1954

Chester "Chet" Lauck (February 9, 1902 – February 21, 1980) was a comic actor who played the character of Lum Edwards on the classic American radio comedy Lum and Abner.

Early life and career[edit]

Chester Lauck was born in Alleene, Arkansas and raised in Mena, Arkansas. He graduated from Mena High School in 1920. In Mena, Chet met his future comedy partner Norris Goff. Though both began as blackface comics, they soon found success on Hot Springs, Arkansas radio station KTHS with a weekly rural comedy skit, basing their characters on acquaintances from Waters, Arkansas. This led to an NBC network radio series, broadcast first from Chicago, Illinois, in 1931.[1] The radio series aired on Mutual, CBS, and ABC at various times during its 1931–54 run. It was sponsored by Quaker Oats, the Ford Dealers of America, Horlick's Malted Milk, Postum, Alka-Seltzer, and Frigidaire.

In addition to starring as storekeeper Lum (full name Columbus Edwards, with surname usually pronounced "Eddards"), Lauck also played several other recurring characters, including Cedric Weehunt, Grandpappy Spears, and Snake Hogan. He reprised his radio role, opposite Goff, in seven motion pictures between 1940 and 1956. Lauck adopted grey hair and a moustache on-camera, to better match the picture most audiences would have of his radio character. [citation needed]

For a brief time during the 1950s he bought and upgraded a ranch fifteen miles west of Las Vegas, later bought by Howard Hughes. It was turned into Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

In 1956, Lauck began working as an executive with Continental Oil in Houston, Texas, specializing in public relations and advertising. He appeared as himself as well as Lum in a series of television commercials for Conoco on the programs Whirlybirds (1957–60) and The Blue Angels (1960–61). On August 27, 1957, he appeared as a guest challenger on To Tell the Truth.

Upon retirement from Continental Oil, Lauck moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas and co-founded an advertising agency with longtime associate Harlan Hobbs and son Chester Lauck Jr. Lauck Sr. was highly regarded as an after-dinner speaker and maintained a hectic schedule of appearances across the nation. During his California years, Lauck owned race horses which competed in Santa Anita. This expertise led to a 1970 appointment by Arkansas Governor Dale Bumpers in which Lauck became Commissioner of the Arkansas State Racing Commission.

In his later years, Lauck recorded new introductions for commercial cassette releases of the series and for syndication.

Death[edit]

Lauck died in a hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on February 21, 1980, aged 78.[2]

Honors[edit]

Lauck was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in the radio division.[3]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1940 Dreaming Out Loud Lum Edwards
1942 The Bashful Bachelor
1943 Two Weeks to Live
So This Is Washington
1944 Goin' to Town
1946 Partners in Time
1956 Lum and Abner Abroad (final film role)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chet Lauck (1902–1980)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas Culture & History. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  2. ^ "Chester A. Lauck, 'Lum' on Radio". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1980. p. 26. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Past award recipients". National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved 2020-03-17.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chester Lauck.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chester_Lauck&oldid=1215521716"