Abbe Lane

Abbe Lane
Lane in 1961
Born Abigail Francine Lassman
(1932-12-14) December 14, 1932
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation Singer, dancer, actress
Spouse(s)

Abbe Lane (born Abigail Francine Lassman; December 14, 1932) is an American singer and actress.

Biography

Born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, Lane began her career as a child actress on radio, and from there she progressed to singing and dancing on Broadway.

Married to Xavier Cugat from 1952 until their divorce in 1964, Lane achieved her greatest success as a nightclub singer, and was described in a 1963 magazine article as "the swingingest sexpot in show business."[1] Cugat's influence was seen in her music which favoured Latin and rumba styles. In 1958 she starred opposite Tony Randall in the Broadway musical Oh, Captain!, but her recording contract prevented her from appearing on the original cast album of the show. Eileen Rodgers performed her songs for the cast LP; Lane later recorded her songs on a solo album. She made several recordings for RCA Victor and Mercury Records. The most successful of her albums was a collaboration with Tito Puente titled Be Mine Tonight released in 1958. Apart from working solo, Lane frequently appeared on talk shows with Cugat until 1963.

Abbe Lane with her husband Xavier Cugat

She attracted attention for her suggestive comments such as "Jayne Mansfield may turn boys into men, but I take them from there", and also commented that she was considered "too sexy in Italy". Her costume for an appearance on the Jackie Gleason Show was considered too revealing and she was instructed to wear something else. She appeared on the shows of Red Skelton, Dean Martin and Jack Benny without attracting controversy, however.[2]

In addition to her Italian films, Lane was a frequent performer on American network and syndicated television variety programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Paar Program, The Mike Douglas Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Joey Bishop Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson from the 1950s into the 1970s. She also played guest roles in such series as Naked City, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Flying Nun, F Troop, The Brady Bunch, Hart to Hart and Vega$. Her last movie appearance was in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) in the minor role of an airline stewardess.

She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6381 Hollywood Boulevard for her contribution to television.

Selected discography

As leader

  • Be Mine Tonight, with Tito Puente And His Orchestra (RCA Victor, 1957)
  • The Lady in Red, with Sid Ramin's Orchestra (RCA Victor, 1958)
  • Where There's a Man, with Sid Ramin And His Orchestra (RCA Victor, 1959)
  • Abbe Lane with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra (Mercury Records, 1961)
  • The Many Sides of Abbe Lane (Mercury, 1964)

As partnering artist

Compilation:

  • Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, The Best of Cugat (Mercury Records, 1961)
  • Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, Cugat Plays Continental & Popular Hits (Sepia Records, 2013)

Selected filmography

Bibliography

  • Lane, Abbe (1992). But Where Is Love?: A Novel. Warner Books. ISBN 978-0446515986.

References

  1. ↑ Thistle, Frank (1963). "The Swingingest Sexpot In Show Business". Adam. Knight Publishing. 7 (4).
  2. ↑ MacKenzie, Carina (23 June 2010). "Abbe Lane: Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times.
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