Arthur Lucan

Arthur Lucan (born Arthur Towle on 16 September 1885 in Boston, Lincolnshire - died 17 May 1954) was an English actor who gained fame as "Old Mother Riley" on stage, radio and also screen, with a series of comedy films between the late 1930's and early 1950's.

Lucan was appearing in Dublin where he met and married in 1913 fifteen year old Kitty McShane. Together with his wife, they were an incredibly successful double act. Their subsequent billing from then on was, "Lucan and McShane".

Lucan, as "Old Mother Riley" was last seen on stage at the "Theatre Royal", Barnsley on May 14 1954. The following Monday he was to appear in revue at "The Tivoli", Hull. Ellis Aston was the first on stage to compere the forthcoming show, unbeknown to Ellis, Lucan had collapsed behind the scenes and died shortly after in his dressing room.

Lucan was a member of the Savage Club. In recent years, the Club has held Old Mother Riley evenings, as a tribute to Lucan's talent.

In 1983, Alan Plater wrote a play, "On Your Way, Riley", about the life of Arthur Lucan, with songs by Alex Glasgow. [ [http://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/archive/onyourwayriley1983.htm On Your Way, Riley] , 1983, playbill and details, "The Queen's Theatre" website. Accessed 27 September, 2007.]

Filmography

Actor

*Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (1952)
*Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951)
*Old Mother Riley, Headmistress (1950)
*Old Mother Riley's New Venture (1949)
*Old Mother Riley at Home (1945)
*Old Mother Riley Detective (1943)
*Old Mother Riley Overseas (1943)
*Old Mother Riley's Ghosts (1941)
*Old Mother Riley in Business (1941)
*Old Mother Riley's Circus (1941)
*Old Mother Riley in Society (1940)
*Old Mother Riley Joins Up (1940)
*Old Mother Riley, MP (1940)
*Old Mother Riley in Paris (1938)
*Kathleen Mavourneen (1937)
*Old Mother Riley (1937)

Writer

*Old Mother Riley Detective (1943)
*Old Mother Riley Overseas (1943)
*Old Mother Riley's Ghosts (1941)
*Old Mother Riley's Circus (1941)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0524031|name=Arthur Lucan