Harry Leonard (Albershart) Lane (1909 - 1973)

Ancestors

Biography

• Starred in many "Western" genre movies, including as "Red Ryder" (in the franchise of the same name), with co-sars Robert "Bobby" Blake, and George "Gabby" Hayes.
• Was the voice of the talking horse on the television series Mister Ed.

Life Events

The man later known as "Allan 'Rocky' Lane" was born on the 22nd September 1909 , in Penn Township, Mishawaka, Saint Joseph County, Indian, United States, as Harry Leonard Albershart, or Albershardt, (sources differ, but Albershart was how he signed his own name in October 1940) in Mishawaka, Indiana ^[1] to William Herman Albershardt and Linnie Anne Dayhuff. ^[2]

On the 15th April 1910, the 7-month-old Harry was living with his family at 224 E Joseph, in Penn Township, Mishawaka. Those home at the time were his father: William (33), a laborer at the rubber works; his mother: Linnie Anne (23); and his sister: 3-year-old Helen May.^[3]

He grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. About 1925 his sister Helen married Clarence Wolven. By 1930 his mother had married secondly to William J. Costello (b: c1884 Ireland).

By age 20 he had been a photographer, model and stage actor. He was an American studio leading man and the star of many cowboy B-movies in the 1940s and 1950s. His last roles were in voice over acting. Though never credited on-screen, he provided the speech for Mister Ed, the talking horse (1961–1966).^[4] In 2003 he won the TV Land Award posthumously for the category "Favorite Pet-Human Relationship" as Mister Ed. ^[5]

He married actress Gladys Emma Leslie as her third(?) husband about 1933. The marriage ended in divorce.

When he registered for the draft on the 16th October 1940, Allan was living in Beverly Hills, California, and working for the Howard Auto Company. He gave his name in dual form, as Harry Leonard Albershart (and so he signed the form), and noted himself as also known as "Allan Lane". He listed as his next of kin, his mother: Anna Costello.^[6]

He married about 1945 to Sheila Ryan (b: 08 Jun 1921, d: 04 Nov 1975). They were divorced the next year.

He passed away on 27 Oct 1973 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California ^{[7] [8]} and was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "Who's Who In Hollywood!" by Terry Rowan in 2015 p212 isb#9781329074491
2. ↑ Indiana, Marriages 1810-2001 on ancestry.com citing Marriage Registration; FHL#001503395; p622 licence: 10 Jul 1903 Indiana for William H Albershart & Linnie Ann Dayhuff.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK5K-C92 : accessed 30 September 2021), Harry Leonard Albershart in household of William H Albershart, Penn, St Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 155, sheet 1A, family 13, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 377; FHL microfilm 1,374,390.
4. ↑ Listen to Mister Ed
5. ↑ Wikipedia entry
6. ↑ WWII Registration for Draft — National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 18. Name: Harry Leonard Albershart (Allan Lane); Gender: Male; Race: White; Age: 31; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 22 Sep 1909; Birth Place: Mishawaka, Indiana, USA; Residence Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA; Employer: Howard Auto Co; Height: 6 1; Weight: 185; Complexion: Light; Hair Color: Blonde; Eye Color: Blue; Next of Kin: Anna Costello
7. ↑ California, Death Index 1940-1997 on ancestry.com for Harry Albershart, b: 22 Sep 1909 Indiana; ss##569163228; d: 27 Oct 1973 Los Angeles County, California.
8. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index 1935-2014 on ancestry.com for Allan Lane, b: 22 Sep 1909; ss#569-16-3228 issued: CA; res: Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA 90309; d: Oct 1973.
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #3824 for Allan “Rocky” Lane, b: 22 Sep 1909 Mishawaka, St.Joseph County, Indiana, USA; d: 27 Oct 1973 Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA; buried: Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

• 1910 USA Census of Penn, St.Joseph County, Indiana; on ancestry.com citing FHL#1374390; NARA# T624_377; ed#0155; p1A; on E Joseph Street; for Harry Leonard Albershart [Allan (Rocky) Lane; which included ...

Father's Name: William H Albershart; Father's Birthplace: Indiana; Mother's Name: Linnie Anne Albershart; Mother's Birthplace: Indianay IN 33 Albershart William H., occ: labourer at rubber works

IN 23 Albershart Linnie Anne (wife)

IN 03 Albershart Helen May

IN 7/12 Albershart Harry Leonard (son)

• "Allan 'Rocky' Lane aka Harry Leonard Albershart" on ancestry message forum

See also:

• Wikipedia : Allan Lane
• Wikidata: Item Q211998, en:Wikipedia