Lon Clark

Born in Minnesota on January 12, 1911, Lon Clark became a formidable voice on the radio when he began his career on the soap opera, Bright Horizon in 1941. Clark played the part of Keith Richards on the show which also starred Richard Kollmar, Frank Lovejoy and Joan Alexander.

The Mysterious Traveler, first broadcast in 1943, involved stories that were "strange and terrifying" in nature and for a while was broadcast every night of the week. Maurice Tarplin was the host and narrator for the show and Lon was cast in a supporting role.

In 1945, Lon was chosen to play in the horror drama, Lights Out, which also cast the radio actors, Will Geer, Mason Adams and Betty Winkler. Later, in 1957, Clark was cast in the science fiction dramatic anthology, Exploring Tomorrow, starring Mandel Kramer and Bryna Raeburn.

One of the roles that Clark will be most remembered for is that of Nick Carter, a cunning sleuth in the crime melodrama, Nick Carter, Master Detective. First broadcast in 1943, the show was based on Victorian dime novels and featured Helen Choate as Nick’s assistant, Patsy, until 1946, when Charlotte Manson took over the role.

Nick Carter was known as The Return of Nick Carter during the early days of the show, which explained the hero’s origin in the weekly 1886 publication of Street and Smith. John Kane played the part of Scubby Wilson, "demon reporter," and each broadcast featured Nick, John and Patsy attempting to figure out baffling crime cases.

Other radio shows such as 2000 Plus, Words At War, Theater Five, The March of Time, The Kate Smith Hour and The Thin Man, regularly featured Lon playing roles next to Helen Hayes, Orson Welles, Art Carney and Fred Allen.

Later, Clark shared with friends that his love of radio began in 1928, when he first heard his voice as a member of a choir at Macthail School of Music in which he had a solo performance. "It was the first sound of my voice going over the air in radio."

Clark was hooked on the sound, and he and a friend put together a musical group that began broadcasting at local radio stations in Minneapolis. Later, he formed a dance band and played dramatic roles in "tent shows" that traveled from town to town. Clark’s acting experience went on to help him in his future theatrical forays into "off-Broadway" productions.

During the most productive years of Clark’s career he was heard on an average of twenty weekly radio broadcasts. The fact that he was an expert in speaking with foreign accents made him sought after for such radio shows as The March of Time and Report To the Nation.

Lon Clark passed away at the age of 86 in New York on October 9, 1998 and at the time was married to his wife, Michelle Trudeau Clark, had two sons, a brother and a grandson.

Happy listening my friends,