Lowell Thomas

Lowell Thomas was born in Woodington, Ohio in April 1892. He went on to play many roles in film and television production during his long career. He directed ‘With Allenby in Palestin and Lawrence in Arabia’ (1919) , and indeed it was he who coined the phrase ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. He produced several American television series, and narrated for many films and TV programmes between 1930 and 1979. His early television credits include the series ‘Going Places with Lowell Thomas’ (1934-7) and later, ‘Yesterday’s Witness: A Tribute to the American Newsreel’ (1977).

Thomas commentated for just one story, ‘THE HISTORIC ROYAL VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES NIAGARA FALLS’ in British Movietone News No.523A of June 1939. It is possible that this story was made up from an American piece originally narrated by Thomas, with addition commentary added by Leslie Mitchell [qv].

Thomas died in August 1981 in Pawling, New York after a long and successful career.

Sources

http://uk.imdb.com/name/nm0859180/?fr=c2l0ZT11a3xteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9bG93ZWxsIHRob21hc3xodG1sPTF8bm09b24_;fc=1;ft=42;fm=1; Accessed 04/01/05: NoS Number 10017; British Movietone News Number 523A; Date released 15/6/1939.