Richard Van Tassel Des Autels ^{[2] [3]}(December 11, 1910 – September 2, 1968) ^[4] was an American film actor, radio announcer, and television news anchor. ^{[5] [6]}

Early life and career

The only child of James A. Des Autels and Phoebe Van Tassel, ^{[7] [8]} he was born in Paragould, Arkansas. The family later relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia and, in 1923, to El Paso, Texas. ^[7] Attending El Paso High School, Des Autels excelled at track and field and well as theatre, ^[9] his creative output including a chalk talk staged during his freshman year, ^[10] and, two years later, the libretto for a two-act comic opera entitled Brutuspanto, in which he also costarred with, among others, Harry Hickox. ^{[11] [12]}

Following his graduation, Des Autels worked as program director at KTSA in San Antonio, ^[13] and later at KTSM in El Paso. ^[14]

In 1941, along with Mike Frankovich, Don Thompson and others, Des Autel provided play-by-play coverage on NBC Blue Network's PCPFL broadcasts. ^[15] The following year, he hosted I Solemnly Swear, a daily, 15-minute U.S. Navy recruiting program, on KFAC in Los Angeles. ^[16]

In 1947, Frank Graham and Des Autels co-hosted a well-received listener-participation giveaway show entitled Three Alarm. ^[17]

In 1948, Des Autels collaborated with producer-director Jerry Fairbanks, providing narration for NBC's Television Close-Ups, a series of 26 five-minute mini-documentaries, dealing primarily with historical subjects. ^[18]

From 1949 to 1950, Des Autels teamed with producer-director Les Mitchel and composer Del Castillo, serving as announcer—aka "Van, the Skippy Man"—on the dramatic anthology series Skippy Hollywood Theatre. ^{[19] [20]} He was also the featured actor on the 2/13/49 episode, entitled "Double Talk". ^[21]

From 1961 through 1967, Des Autels was the news anchor at KTAR-TV in Phoenix. ^{[22] [23]}

Personal life and death

Des Autels was married at least twice; to Patricia Lucille Burnett from 1931 until at least 1938, ^{[24] [25]} and, from October 1943 until his death, to Betty Jane McPherson (née Sheffer). ^{[26] [1]}

On September 2, 1968, three days after being admitted to the U.S. Veterans Hospital in North Hollywood, Des Autels died of undisclosed causes, ^[27] although the Associated Press did note that he had moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles the previous year "for treatment of a chronic throat ailment." ^[6]

Filmography

Film

• Twentieth Century Vikings (short subject, 1947), as himself ^[28]
• Willie and Joe Back at the Front (1952), as Lieutenant colonel ^[29]
• Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952), as Upstate senator ^[29]
• How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), as Best man ^[29]
• The Robe (1953), as Chamberlain ^[29]
• The Crooked Web (1955), as Tom Jackson ^[29]

Television

• The Lone Ranger (1953), episode "The Devil's Bog" – Grant Huston (as Van Desautels) ^[30]
• Combat Sergeant (1956), 7/26/56 episode "Destined for Death" - President of the Court ^[31]

References

Further reading

• "Safety Legion for Kids". Radio Daily. May 19, 1937. p. 6.
• "Public Relations Builds and Holds Good Will; 'News Lines from the Transit Lines'". Two Bells. April-May 1946. p. 13.

External links

• Van Des Autels at IMDb