Alan Ladd

Alan Ladd

3rd September 1913 - 29th January 1964

The 29th January 2006 marks the 41st anniversary of the death of Alan Ladd and to remember him over the next few days I will be adding some of the wonderful stories that he appeared in.

Alan Ladd shot to Hollywood fame in 1941 after his portrayal of hit man Philip Raven in the movie This Gun For Hire. In January 1943 Lux Radio presented Alan Ladd in the same role as he had played in the film in their radio version of This Gun For Hire and this was not long after he had finished filming Lucky Jordan which was also later produced for radio by Screen Director's Playhouse in 1949 again starring Alan Ladd in the lead role along with Veronica lake.

He became Private Alan Ladd in January 1943 as he was drafted in to the United States Army. However suffering with an ulcer and double hernia he was discharged in November. Throughout the 1940s his tough-guy roles filled theaters and he was one of the very few males whose cover photos sold movie magazines.

Lucky for us many of his films were also produced for radio with Alan Ladd in his original screen role including for Lux Radio Theater in 1943 China. In 1944 Casablanca, Destroyer and Coney Island, in 1945 Disputed Passage and And Now Tomorrow, in 1946 Whistle Stop and OSS, in 1947 Two Years Before The Mast and finally in 1955 Shane which is probably his best remembered film role.

Screen Director's Theater also brought some of his films to radio including in 1949 Saigon, 1950 Chicago and in 1951 Lucky Jordan. On 21st April 1949 Screen Guild brought us their wonderful adaptation of The Blue Dahlia in which Ladd plays the part of ex-pilot bomber Johnny Morrison from the 1946 film.

Alan Ladd also starred in a few episodes of Suspense including in 1944 One Way Ride To Nowhere and The Defense Rests, in 1950 Motive For Murder and A Killing in Abilene.

But of course for us fans of old-time-radio Ladd's most famous role was from August 1948 until August 1949 as fiction writer Dan Holiday who advertised for adventure in Box 13. Box 13 was produced and transcribed by Mayfair productions, which was a syndicate company, set up by Alan Ladd and Bernie Joslin. There were 52 episodes produced and all can be heard on RUSC.

Tragically Ladd died in 1964 due to an accidental combination of alcohol and sedatives. He left behind his wife Sue Carol and their children Alana and David (who married Cheryl Ladd nee Stoppelmoor) and his son to his first marriage, Alan Ladd Jnr. 

For your pleasure in a RUSC tribute to Alan Ladd I will be adding shows starring Alan Ladd throughout the week beginning with his swooning movie star appearance on the Burns and Allen Show.   

Happy listening my friends,