Curmudgeon

He was the man with a frown that never turned upside down. His name was Charles Lane. His crabby face was a staple to film and television for 77 years! Born in San Francisco in 1905 he was an American character actor who worked steadily except for a period of time when he worked as an insurance salesman until he started studying acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Charles Lane was a great friend of Lucille Ball and she cast him many times on her various productions. During the golden age of television if some one needed a crabby man or a nasty old geezer Charles Lane was your man. He also worked in movies. He had roles in "It's a Wonderful Life", "Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" and "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes". 
His roles were always the ornery curmudgeons but in reality he was a fun loving and amusing man who was loved by the casts he worked with. He lived for many years in Brentwood, CA with his long time wife Ruth. His son Tom announced his death at the age of 107. He died in his bed taking his last breath in his bead room. "He closed his eyes and just died." his son said.

You're Soaking In It

The television landscape had a staple for many decades. It was a woman loved by millions who was able to give sell you her product without making herself annoying. This woman was Jan Miner but she was known to you and I as Madge the Manicurist. Her famous phrase "You're Soaking in it." was heard world wide for over 30 years.

Jan Miner was born and raised in Boston, MA and studied acting with Lee Strasberg. She worked for years on radio at one time she played Della Street on the radio version of Perry Mason. It was television that really brought her fame as sassy manicurist Madge who soaked her clients fingers in Palmolive dish liquid. She may well have been the first manicurist many people ever saw.
She did other work over the years acting in movies such as the Lenny Bruce Biopic. playing Bruce's mother opposite Dustin Hoffman.
Jan Miner died after a period of failing heath in 2004.