Les Mitchel

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Les Mitchel
Born
Lester Mandiville Mitchel

(1904-10-27)October 27, 1904
Malinta, Henry County, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1975(1975-01-12) (aged 70)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Other namesLes Mitchell
Alma materUniversity of Toledo
Occupation(s)Radio and film producer, director and actor; television actor
Years active1923–1975
Spouse(s)Florence Lillian Aubry
1925–?
Elaine Beeson
1939–?
Madelon Baker
1942–1952; div.
Lovita Pauline Scrydloff (née Strohbach)
1953–?
Tracy Parsons
1971
Children3

Lester Mandiville Mitchel (October 27, 1904[1] – January 12, 1975[2]) was an American film actor and radio producer, director and actor, known for directing Stars over Hollywood and Backstage Wife, as well as hosting, producing and directing Skippy Hollywood Theatre.

Early life[edit]

Born in Malinta in Henry County, Ohio,[3][4] Mitchel was the son of Jeremiah Ezekiel Mitchel and Myrtle Lucy Fairbank.[1] He attended the University of Toledo.[1]

Radio career[edit]

Mitchel made his radio debut in Detroit in 1935,[5][6] later serving as producer, actor, writer and announcer on several Detroit stations.[7][8] He joined WBBM in Chicago as a producer in 1939 and four years later was appointed assistant program director in charge of commercial broadcasts in 1943.[5]

On May 31, 1942, on WBBM, Mitchel directed the Columbia Workshop's world premiere presentation of poet Kenneth Patchen's radio play The City Wears a Slouch Hat, accompanied by a five-member percussion ensemble performing John Cage's score, conducted by the composer. The cast included Mitchell's soon-to-be wife Madelon Grayson (né Baker), along with Les Tremayne, Forrest Lewis, Jonathan Hole, Frank Dane, and John Larkin.[9]

In August 1942, Mitchel succeeded Blair Walliser as director of The Romance of Helen Trent.[10] In June 1944, he was hired as director of The Dreft Star Playhouse.[11] At approximately the same time, Mitchel succeeded Paul Pierce as producer-director of Stars Over Broadway.[12][13]

From 1947 to 1950, Mitchel produced, directed and hosted Skippy Hollywood Theatre;[6][14] he also occasionally starred on the show.[15][16][17][18][19]

In 1951, he directed 26 episodes of Orson Welles's The Adventures of Harry Lime.[20]

As of October 1958, Mitchel was an instructor at the Virginia Rose School of Arts in Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles.[21] The following year he produced, directed, and starred in a revival of Death Takes a Holiday, playwright Walter Ferris's English-language adaptation of Alberto Casella's La morte in vacanza.[22][a]

Film and television[edit]

Mitchel's 1951 documentary short subject, Maya Are People, was acquired the following year by the San Diego Museum of Man and screened on April 22, 1952.[23]

A second short subject, People of Oaxaca[24][25] (likely made during the same visit to Mexico and presumably now lost), concerns the Zapotec peoples of Oaxaca in southern Mexico.[26][25] The film received what may have been its world premiere in November 1952 on WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where it aired on consecutive Saturday mornings, November 8 and 15.[27] It next surfaced in tandem with Mitchel's Maya on October 17, 1954, as the two formed the back end of a trio of shorts screened at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, New York.[28] It returned to the Gallery three weeks later, minus Maya and grouped intentionally with two utterly unrelated shorts.[29] Subsequent sightings extend at least as far as February 1959, when the film was screened at the main branch of the Cincinnati Public Library.[30]

Later career[edit]

Beginning in 1961 and continuing at least through 1973, Mitchel was a prominent figure in the Religious Science movement.[2][31][32] At the time of his death, Variety reported that this portion of his career was "headquartered, variously, in Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Alburquerque." Contemporaneous newspaper listings indicate that, for at least one six month period (December 1964–May 1965), Mitchel hosted a 30-minute, weekly, eponymous Sunday evening radio program on KTOK in Oklahoma City.[33][34] The Sacramento Bee confirms that he founded Religious Science Churches in Oklahoma City in 1964—during which time he also helped establish one in Albuquerque—and Cleveland in 1968,[24] before settling in Sacramento in 1971, where he succeeded the outgoing Rev. Lester M. Bashara as minister of the Sacramento Church of Religious Science.[35] Upon his death, he in turn was succeeded by his then wife, the former Tracy Parsons.[36]

Personal life and death[edit]

Mitchel was married at least five times: to Florence Lillian Aubry in 1925;[37][38] to Elaine Beeson, as of 1939;[39] to Madelon Grayson (née Baker) from 1942 to 1952,[40][41] to Lovita Pauline Scrydloff (née Lohbach) in March 1953,[42][43] and, from 1971 until his death, Tracy Parsons,[44] with whom he had a daughter, Leslie Mitchel.[24] Mitchel had at least two other children, including a daughter, Delores, with his first wife,[38] and a son, Jerry, with his second.[45]

A longtime resident of Sunland-Tujunga,[46] Mitchel attained a double distinction in 1950: becoming both the neighborhood's first honorary mayor[b] and the president of the local chamber of commerce.[49][50][51]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1949 Once More, My Darling None Dialogue director (uncredited)[52]
1950 The Return of Jesse James None Dialogue director,[53] assistant producer[54] (uncredited)
1951 Maya Are People Self (uncredited) Documentary short subject, directed by Mitchel[55]
1951 People of Oaxaca Self (uncredited) Documentary short subject, directed by Mitchel[24][25][27][26]
1957 Outlaw's Son Bill Somerson [56]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Dragnet, episode "The Big Revision" Unknown [57]
1956 The Roy Rogers Show, ep. "Head for Cover" Unknown [58]
1956 The Roy Rogers Show, ep. "Paleface Justice" Unknown [58]
1956 Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, ep. "Emergency on Scarface Flat" Basil Ogden [58]
1956 The Roy Rogers Show, ep. "Fighting Sire" Outlaw [58]
1957 The Adventures of Jim Bowie, ep. "The Beggar of New Orleans" Gorley [citation needed]
1958 Dragnet, ep. "The Big Gent" Unknown [57]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Ferris's adaptation was the basis for the like-named 1934 film starring Frederic March.
  2. ^ The honorary mayoralty continued through at least 1952.[47][48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Armstrong, Alice Catt (1950). Who's Who in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles, CA: Who's Who Historical Society. p. 145. ISSN 0508-6930.
  2. ^ a b "Obituaries: Les Mitchel". Variety. January 22, 1975. p. 94. ProQuest 1401273197. Les Mitchel, former actor and motion picture-radio director, died Jan. 12 in Sacramento, where he had made his home since 1971. In recent years, he had been active in church work, starting in 1961 and headquartering variously in Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Alburquerque.
  3. ^ "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q236-4FK1 : Thu Oct 26 12:48:53 UTC 2023), Entry for Lester Mandiville Mitchel and Jeremiah Mitchel, 27 Oct 1904.
  4. ^ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database 61903/1:1:V25Z-KMZ, Norman S. Macdonnell, November 8, 1916, Los Angeles, California, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
  5. ^ a b "Les Mitchell to Freelance". Radio Daily. August 24, 1943. p. 5.
  6. ^ a b Hackett, Walter (December 21, 1947). "Walt Visits Skippy Hollywood Show". Lansing State Journal. p. 65.
  7. ^ "Behind the Microphone". Broadcasting. February 1, 1936. p. 40.
  8. ^ "WTOL Completes Staff, Headed by M. E. Kent; Dedicated on Feb. 27". Broadcasting. March 1, 1938. p. 26.
  9. ^ Fetterman, William (1996). John Cage's Theatre Pieces : Notations and Performances. Amsterdam, Netherlands : Harwood Academic Publishers. p. 8. ISBN 3-7186-5643-4.
  10. ^ "Les Mitchell Succeeds Lieut. Blair Walliser". Variety. August 12, 1942. p. 33. ProQuest 1285796070. Les Mitchell, WBBM-CBS producer in Chicago, is the new director of the 'Romance of Helen Trent,' succeeding Blair Walliser, who becomes a lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard. Mitchell has produced numerous shows for CBS, including 'Manhattan Mother,' 'Stepmother' and the current WBBM war service program, 'The Midwest Mobilizes.'
  11. ^ "'Tomorrow' Exit Cues Dreft Show Switch". Variety. June 21, 1944. p. 32. ProQuest 1285838202. Dreft 'Star Playhouse,' currently heard 9:45-10 A.M. (CWT) over NBC will move to 11:30-11:45 slot, July 3, replacing 'Brave Tomorrow which bows out June 30. [...] Carl Stanton, of Dancer, Fitzgerald and Sample, is the producer with Les Mitchell directing. Show will get full network.
  12. ^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 634. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3.
  13. ^ Ferris, Earle (July 6, 1944). "Who's News?". Gonzales Tribune. p. 1.
  14. ^ Taliaferro, Walt (July 21, 1949). "Les Mitchel Selfish—He Gives Time to Beginners". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 29.
  15. ^ Palmer, Zuma (November 28, 1949). "Trip to England Bears Good Fruit; Triple Task". Los Angeles Citizen-News. p. 20.
  16. ^ "Annual Presentation of Easter Classic on Skippy Theatre". The Shreveport Times. April 2, 1950. p. 29.
  17. ^ Van Pelt, Rita (December 15, 1949). "Listen for Phone! Hundred-Dollar Call". The Washington Post. p. 26. ProQuest 1533173451. Les Mitchell [sic], not usually heard on the Skippy Hollywood Theater program because of his producing and directing chores, will step before the microphone as a star when the Theater brings to the air 'Best Performance,' the story of an egotistical and ruthless screen star at 10:30 tonight. The station is WAGA-CBS.
  18. ^ "Radio and Television". The Memphis Scimitar. July 20, 1950. p. 20. "Les Mitchel, producer and director of the Skippy Hollywood Theater, takes the leading role in 'Perfect Gentleman' on tonight's program, portraying a self-made man who has risen to the top in business and hires a pretty coach to tutor him in the social amenities."
  19. ^ "Radio and Television". Tampa Bay Times. September 21, 1950. p. 26. "Les Mitchel, producer-director-host of CBS' Skippy Hollywood Theatre,' will star in its production, 'Stormbound,' tonight at 10:30 over WDAE. Mitchel plays an author whose book creates a nationwide turmoil. The book, according to the author, was written about an actual occurrence when he was stormbound and rescued by people from a lost continent, supposed to be living on Mount Shasta. Featured with Mitchel is Lurene Tuttle."
  20. ^ Ames, Walter (July 1, 1951). "Crime Pays---On TV and Radio in Britain; Cantor Will Bow Out". Los Angeles Times. pt. IV, pg. 8.
  21. ^ Rich, Allen (October 17, 1958). "Listening Post and TV Review". Valley Times. p. 22.
  22. ^ Von Blon, Katherine (June 24, 1959). "'Death Takes a Holiday' Done on Metro Stage". The Los Angeles Times. p. 29.
  23. ^ "Anthropology Films Will Be Shown at SD's Balboa Park". Times-Advocate. April 5, 1952. p. 3.
  24. ^ a b c d "Obituaries: Dr. Lester Mitchel". The Sacramento Bee. January 14, 1975. p. B2.
  25. ^ a b c Krahn, Frederic A., ed. (1953). Educational Film Guide, Volume 11. H. H. Wilson Company. p. 926.
  26. ^ a b "Mexico Filmed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 8, 1954. p. 50. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "WGAL-TV, Channel 4: Saturday, November 8, 1952". Intelligencer Journal. November 8, 1952. p. 14. Retrieved February 27, 2024. See also:
  28. ^ "Gallery Schedules, Films, Tour Today". Democrat and Chronicle. October 17, 1954. p. 10B. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  29. ^ "Museum to Show 3 Movies Today". Democrat and Chronicle. November 7, 1954. p. 6B. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  30. ^ "Mirror of the City". The Cincinnati Enquirer. February 19, 1959. p. 5-A. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "Discover Your Power: 10 Weeks to a Great New Life". The Daily Oklahoman. October 4, 1966. p. 46.
  32. ^ "The Church of Religious Science". The Sacramento Bee. February 3, 1973. p. 15.
  33. ^ "Radio Logs". The Daily Oklahoman. November 29, 1964. p. TV-22.
  34. ^ "Radio Logs". The Daily Oklahoman. May 30, 1965. p. TV-22
  35. ^ "Rev. Bashara Accepts Post in St. Louis". The Sacramento Bee. February 13, 1971. p. 13.
  36. ^ "Woman Pastor". The Sacramento Bee. January 25, 1975. p. A13.
  37. ^ "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ72-GLS : Sat Oct 21 06:15:52 UTC 2023), Entry for Lester Mitchell and Jerry, 31 Jul 1925.
  38. ^ a b "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL7-T9XG : Sun Oct 15 14:41:18 UTC 2023), Entry for Dolores Joyce Mitchell and Lester Mandeville Mitchell, 14 Aug 1927.
  39. ^ "Station Manager". WTOL. 1939.
  40. ^ "Behind the Mike". Broadcasting. October 19, 1942. p. 35. ProQuest 1014949613. LES MITCHELL [sic], producer of WBBM, Chicago, and Madelon Grayson, radio actress, were married Oct. 10 by Dr. Preston Bradley, radio preacher. O. J. Neuwerth, WBBM producer, was best man.
  41. ^ "Can't Live With 'Genius,' Says Wife; Gets Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. December 12, 1952. p. 41.
  42. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86Z-9DC : Thu Oct 19 16:53:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Lester Mandeville Mitchel and Lovita Pauline Scrydloff, 19 Dec 1953.
  43. ^ "New Incorporations". The Hollywood Reporter. June 4, 1947. p. 10. ProQuest 2338130489. All American Films, Inc.; motion pictures and TV photoplays; attorney, Simon Taub; Directors, Les Mitchell, Lovita Mitchell, Phyllis Fredean
  44. ^ "Nevada Marriage Index, 1956-2005", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVJ3-Q6L : 20 September 2019), Lester M Mitchel and Tracy Parsons, 4.
  45. ^ "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K49M-BSX : Tue Nov 28 18:40:04 UTC 2023), Entry for Lester M Mitchell and Elaine Mitchell, 1940.
  46. ^ "All in the Business". Pasadena Independent. June 24, 1949. p. 23.
  47. ^ "Twin Cities Open Boys' Ball Loops; Kiwanis Club Launches Boys' Ball League". Valley Times. June 27, 1951. p. 11.
  48. ^ "Over Our Valley: Poppy Day Saturday in S-T Area". North Hollywood Valley Times. May 22, 1952. p. 19.
  49. ^ Dickinson, Vonnie (May 3, 1955). "Valley Mayors: Mayor's Job Open in Sunland - Tujunga; Twin Cities First". Valley Times.
  50. ^ "Mitchel Head of C. of C.". Valley Times. December 31, 1949. p. 3.
  51. ^ "Les Mitchel Named Booster Group Head". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. January 5, 1950. p. V-11.
  52. ^ "STUDIO PERSONNELITIES". Boxoffice. April 2, 1949. p. 44. ProQuest 1505840661. Universal-International: Les Mitchel, producer, director and m.c. of NBC's 'Hollywood Theatre' program, makes his film debut as dialog director on 'Come Be My Love.'
  53. ^ "Radio-TV Briefs". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. May 5, 1950. p. 22. Retrieved February 28, 2024. See also:
    • "Dialogue Director". The Press of Atlantic City Radio Guide. May 14, 1950. p. 1.
    • Steinhauser, Si (May 28, 1950). "Voices & Faces: Ed Wynn Looks at Television as Medium for Good or Harm". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 57. ProQuest 2271887491. Les Mitchel, producer-director of CBS Skippy Hollywood Theatre, has signed with Lippert Productions as dialogue director of its newest film, 'The Return of Jesse James.'
  54. ^ "Production". Broadcasting, Telecasting. May 22, 1950. p. 66. ProQuest 1401184859. Les Mitchel, producer-director of CBS Skippy Hollywood Theatre, named assistant producer of Lippert Productions, Los Angeles, forthcoming feature movie 'The Return of Jesse James.'
  55. ^ Alexander, Geoff (2014). Films You Saw in School: A Critical Review of 1,153 Classroom Educational Films (1958–1985) in 74 Subject Categories. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7864-7263-5
  56. ^ "Film Reviews: Outlaw's Son". Variety. July 10, 1957. p. 6. ProQuest 1286095781. Deputy Marshal Ralph Stryker – Robert Knapp; Bill Somerson – Les Mitchel; Phil Costain – Guy Prescott [...] Among large cast, young Stafford, Eddie Foy III, Miss Rogers, John Pickard, Robert Knapp, Les Mitchel and Guy Prescott turn in capable performances despite roles sometimes being abbreviated to little meaning.
  57. ^ a b Hayde, Michael J. (2001). My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized But True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb. Nashville, TN: Cumberland House. p. 277, 283. ISBN 1-58182-190-5.
  58. ^ a b c d Lentz, Harris M. (1996). Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903-1995, Volume 2. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 1710, 1712. ISBN 0786402180.

Further reading[edit]

  • "Caton Launches 'Drunkard'; Has Plans for Tent Show". The Billboard. April 27, 1935. p. 24.
  • "Radio and Education". Broadcasting. August 1, 1939. p. 66. ProQuest 1014941405. More than 50 radio students of Northwestern U attended a demonstration of radio technique at WBBM, Chicago, July 28 given under the supervision of Stan Thompson, assistant program director. 'Play Selection and Production' was discussed by Joe Ainley, radio director of Aubrey, Moore and Wallace, Chicago agency. Radio production was discussed by Al Chance and Les Mitchell, of the WBBM production staff. The Students watched rehearsals of History in the Making and Gateway to Hollywood Summer Theatre.
  • "Radio Writers, Directors To Tour the Pacific". Broadcasting, Broadcast Advertising. July 23, 1945. p. 66. ProQuest 1285664227.

External links[edit]

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