Stanley Wendell Farrar"Rites for Actor Farrar". The Berkeley Gazette. April 9, 1974. p. 3."California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGXB-NYNY : Wed Mar 06 08:13:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Stanley Wendell Farrar and Margaret Mary Farrar, 16 October 1940. (October 4, 1910"Born". The Berkeley Gazette. October 4, 1910. – April 5, 1974) was an American character actor in radio, film and television, perhaps best known as Mayor Terwilliger in the old time radio series The Great Gildersleeve. He was also the co-star and narrator of the 1953 adventure film, Perils of the Jungle, starring animal trainer/circus owner Clyde Beatty.Irvin, Richard (2022). Pioneers of "B" Television: Independent Producers, Series and Pilots of the 1950s. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 198. .
Early life and career A native of Berkeley, California, Farrar was one of three children born to Wendell Dale Farrar and Alma Carmin Boettiger."Deaths: Farrar". Oakland Post Enquirer. June 9, 1942. p. 23."Boettiger-Farrar". Oakland Tribune. October 4, 1937. p. 8. He attended University of California, Berkeley,University of California, Berkeley (1928). Register of the University of California 1928-29, Volume 2, Part XVII. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 189. and later the Faucit School of the Theatre in Oakland,"Schools and Colleges". Alameda Times Star. August 29, 1952. p. 5. a school founded and directed by London-born actress and director Ursula Faucit, the grandniece of actress Helena Faucit."Music and Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. October 6, 1923. p. 12. From 1930 to 1936, Farrar was regularly featured in the school's on-air outlet, the dramatic anthology series, The Faucit Theatre of the Air,"Faucit Players Attract Dialers; Drama Group Continues to Gain Listeners; Veteran Thespian Feature Gains in Popularity With Every Broadcast on KLX". Oakland Tribune. February 10, 1935. p. 6-S. at least one episode of which he also wrote, adapting J. S. Coyne's one-act comedy, One Night of Terror."Play to Offer Laughter and Thrills on KLX". Oakland Tribune. September 14, 1935. p. 21. He was also featured opposite the school's director on at least two occasions. In 1930 they co-starred in Faucit's own play, Not the Type,"Ursula Faucit Play Going On Air Tonight". Oakland Tribune. December 29, p. 18. and in 1935 Faucit was Bea to Farrar's Benedick in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing."Shakespeare Observance on KLX; Faucit Group to Honor Bard Over Air Lanes". Oakland Tribune. April 21, 1935. p. 6-S. The Faucit Theatre Players also performed live on occasion, such as their 1935 production of Schiller's Mary Stuart—with Farrar's portrayal of Lord Burleigh deemed "extremely good" by the Oakland TribuneI., H. M. (March 26, 1935). "Faucit Players Star in 'Mary Stuart of Scotland'". Oakland Tribune. p. 20B.—and their 1934 revival of Elmer Greensfelder's Broomsticks, Amen, of which the Tribune's Wood Soanes wrote:
Here is the stuff of which high tragedy is made, but Greensfelder succeeded in evolving only obvious melodrama. The fine performance by Stanley Farrar as Hoffnagel was the saving grace of the show. He pulled 'Broomsticks, Amen' along with a performance that was more professional than amateur, sincere, powerful, well balanced and acute.Soanes, Wood (December 5, 1934). "Theatre Guild Pleases With Broadway Hit; 'Broomsticks' Staged Creditably by Amateur Troupe at Hotel Oakland". Oakland Tribune. p. 10A.
Beginning on October 4, 1937, Farrar appeared with Howard Duff, Jack Edwards, Marjorie Smith and Herb Allen in the Mutual Broadcasting serial The Phantom Pilot. The show aired for 2 weeks as a "sustaining" series before being sponsored by Young and Rubicam."San Francisco". Radio Daily. October 7, 1937.Peterson, Austin (2000). Television is a Young Man's Game? I'm 94. Why Didn't Somebody Tell Me? : 67 Years in the Radio and Television Jungles and No Tarzan in Sight. New York: Writers Club Press. p. 47. .
In the spring of 1949, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Farrar had begun publishing The 24 Sheet, a news bulletin for actors.
On August 26, 1953, Hollywood Citizen-News entertainment writer Zuma Palmer drew readers' attention to an uncommon occurrence: at a time when the prohibition of prerecorded network radio dramas had only recently been lifted, both Farrar and co-star Marian Richman appeared on Dr. Christian and simultaneously on the transcribed series, Family Theater.Palmer, Zuma (August 23, 1953). "Radio-Television: Question Dulles, Clark on POW's". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 12. Later that year, Farrar appeared onstage, co-starring with Lloyd Corrigan and Tommy Bernard—former radio son of Ozzie and Harriet and TV son of Charlie Ruggles"Dial Chatter". The La Crosse Tribune. June 19, 1953. p. 10."How It's Done". Los Angeles Mirror. July 19, 1951. p. 24.—in Corrigan's play The Upper Room, staged as part of an event held to benefit St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Van Nuys."Church Sets Two Plays for Benefit Party". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. November 19, 1953. p. 56.
In 1956, Farrar was elected treasurer, and, the following year, recording secretary of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists."Union calls for Federal Investigation of Pay TV". The Los Angeles Times. July 29, 1957. p. 18.
Personal life and death From March 22, 1936 until his death, Farrar was married to fellow actor Margaret Mary "Margo" Klink,"Wedding to Be Held This Afternoon". Oakland Tribune. March 22, 1936. p. S-5."Comedy to Be Repeated Twice". Oakland Tribune. August 15, 1935. p. 15. with whom he had three sons.
On April 4, 1974, while onstage at the Mendocino Arts Center, portraying Orgon in Molière's Tartuffe, Farrar suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He died shortly thereafter at Mendocino Coast Hospital in Fort Bragg,"The News in Brief. The Daily Breeze. April 7, 1974. p. 2.Morris, Diane (April 12, 1974). "In Memorium". The Mendocino Beacon. p. 3. survived by his wife, his sons, his mother and two brothers.
Works Radio Approximate date(s) Title Role Notes 1930 – 1936 The Faucit Theatre of the Air Various, inc. Lord Byron,"Sculptor Will Be Subject of Drama on KLX". Oakland Tribune. October 17, 1936. p. 18. Vincentio in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure,"Shakespeare Comedy to Be Given Over KLX; Faucit Group Will Give 'Measure for Measure' in Honor of Bard's Birthday". Oakland Tribune. April 22, 1934. p. 10-S. and Police Chief Axford in Fran Striker's "Warner Lester, Manhunter""Thriller Will Come to Close on KLX Tonight". The Oakland Tribune. April 17, 1933. p. 10. Dramatic anthology series created by British-born actress and teacher Ursula Faucit and broadcast on KLX in Oakland."KLX to Give Mystery Play Tonight, 8–9". Oakland Tribune. October 27, 1930. p. 18. 1944 Michael Shayne, Private DetectiveEp. October 30 Palmer, Zuma (October 30, 1944). "Radio". p. 18. 1945 The Adventures of Maisie 1946 – 1947 Conquest Dr. Carson (Narrator) Cooper, Tina (July 5, 1947). "'Conquest' Vivid Dramatic Series". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 10."Notes on 580". The Fresno Bee. August 6, 1946. p. 10. 1948 SuspenseEp. "The Last Chance" 1947 – 1958 The Great Gildersleeve Mayor Terwilliger Schulz, Clair (2013). Tuning In The Great Gildersleeve: The Episodes and Cast of Radio's First Spinoff Show, 1941–1957. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 220. ."P.-T. A. Activities". Hollywood Citizen-News. October 14, 1949. p. 8. See also: "Gildersleeve Show Will Be On Air Thursday". The Fresno Bee. October 7, 1956. p. 42-D. Palmer, Zuma (February 25, 1958). "'Aladdin' Not Up to Expectations". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 23. 1950, 1953 Dr. ChristianEps. "The No Good" and "Baby's Choice" Judge, Mr. Schuyler Palmer, Zuma (November 29, 1950). "Wakely and Ranch Work Not Strangers". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 20. 1952 The Railroad HourEp. "Right Dress" Admiral Musical Comedy by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, starring series host Gordon MacRae and Dorothy Warenskjold, with Lon McCallister, Sam Edwards, Herb Butterfield, and Kurt Martell.Sellers, Barbara (June 16, 1952). "Benefit Appearance Develops Into Break for Comic". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 20. 1953 Family TheaterEp. "The Wise Guy" Logan 1953 Stars over HollywoodEp. "Time for Christmas" Dept. store Santa Claus Palmer, Zuma (December 11, 1953). "Radio-Television: Amos 'n' Andy Rate High in Prison Poll". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 22. Early 1960s Horizons West 13-part AFRTS-commissioned series dramatizing the Lewis and Clark Expedition, starring Harry Bartell and John Anderson.French, Jack; Siegal, Daniel S. (2014). Radio Rides the Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air, 1929-1967. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. pp. 104, 105. .
Partial filmography
Fear in the Night (1946) – Bank patron (uncredited) The Lone Ranger Ep. "Man of the House" (1950) – Casper Dingle"Highlights of Television Programs for the Week: Tomorrow". The Philadelphia Inquirer Society and Amusements. July 16, 1950. p. 9.The Lone Ranger (November 8, 2016). "The Lone Ranger - Man of the House". YouTube. Hard, Fast and Beautiful (1951) – Dr. Hopkins (uncredited) Racket Squad EP. "The Case of the Vain Woman" (1951) – Dr. Mason Front Page Detective Ep. "Troubles With Doubles" (1951)"Talent Showsheet". Ross Reports on Television. September 15–21, 1951. p. 7. Ep. "Twice Dead" (1951)"Talent Showsheet". Ross Reports on Television. November 11–17, 1951. p. 10. The Adventures of Kit Carson Ep. "Law of the Frontier" (1951) – Cleve Sadler (as Stanley Farrer)Lentz, Harris (1997). Television Westerns Episode Guide: All United States Series, 1949-1996. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 233. .ValyouEntertainment (January 15, 2024). "Adventures Of Kit Carson: Law Of The Frontier, 4K Color Colorized UHD better than HD". YouTube. 1:06, 25:01. The Ruggles Ep. January 3 (1952) – Ben Milligan"Television Programs". Hollywood Citizen-News. January 3, 1952 p. 22. Fireside Theatre Ep. "The Haunted Wedding" (1952)Stretch, Bud (May 6, 1952). "Air Waves". Camden Courier-Post. p. 22. Space Patrol Ep. "Mission to Mercury" (1952) – LennanBassior, Jean-Noel (2005). Space Patrol: Missions of Daring in the Name of Early Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 383. . Gang Busters Ep. "The Dennis Case" (1952) – WythersonGrams, Martin (2004). Gang Busters : The Crime Fighters of American Broadcasting. Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing. pp.641, 644. . Ep. "The Unholy Three" (1952) – Grocery Manager Biff Baker, U.S.A. "Mona Lisa" (1952) – Muller Perils of the Jungle (1953) – Grant Cunningham (narrator) The French Line (1953) – French Man (uncredited) Our Miss Brooks Ep. March 12 (1954)"Talent Showsheet March 8–14, 1954: Friday March 12". Ross Reports. March 7, 1954. p. D. Ford Theatre Ep. "A Season to Love" (1954)"Talent Showsheet May 3-9, 1954: Thursday May 6". Ross Reports. May 2, 1954. p. C. Mr. District Attorney Ep. September 4 (1954)"Talent Showsheet September 6-12, 1954: Saturday September 4" [sic]. Ross Reports on Television. Adolph Menjou's Favorite Stories Ep. "The Lost Years" (1954)"Talent Showsheet September 13-19, 1954: Monday September 13". Ross Reports on Television. September 12, 1954. p. B. This Is the Life Ep. "The Suspicious Heart" (1954) – Doctor"TV Highlights of the Week: Sunday, November 14". The Lincoln Times. November 8, 1954. p. 8. Day of Triumph (1954) – Unknown role (uncredited) How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) – Professor"Stanley Farrar Filmography". American Film Institute. The Public Defender Ep. "Clifford Pike" (1955)"Talent Showsheet May 2–8, 1955: Thursday May 7". Ross Reports. May 1, 1955. p. C. Stage 7 Ep. "Verdict" (1955)"Multiple and Across-the-Board Shows Friday May 13 Thru Friday May 20: Sunday May 22". Ross Reports. May 15, 1955. p. E. You Are There Ep. "The Attack on Pearl Harbor" (1955) Tales of the Texas Rangers