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The first "Gongman" was Carl Dane, a circus strong man who was paid a one-time fee by General Film Distributors. Athletes who played the Gongman in the film sequence over the years included boxer Bombardier Billy Wells , the second "Gongman", who was actually the first contracted by J.A. Rank – a subtle but important difference.
Wells in 1912. William Thomas Wells, better known as Bombardier Billy Wells (31 August 1889 – 12 June 1967), was an English heavyweight boxer. Fighting under the name "Bombardier Billy Wells", he was British and British Empire Champion from 1911 until 1919, defending his title fourteen times.
The Rank Organisation (founded as the J. Arthur Rank Organisation) is a British entertainment conglomerate founded in 1937 by industrialist J. Arthur Rank.It quickly became the largest and most vertically integrated film company in the United Kingdom, owning production, distribution, and exhibition facilities as well as manufacturing projection equipment and chairs. [1]
The Rank Group plc is a gambling company based in the United Kingdom.Rank was involved in the cinema and motion picture industry until 2006, and continues to use the Gongman logo originally used by the Rank Organisation's film distribution subsidiary General Film Distributors.
Though he appeared as the wrestler Nikolas in Jules Dassin's film noir, Night and the City (1950), [1] Richmond was perhaps most recognisable as the shirtless gongman banging the enormous gong preceding the opening credits for films produced or distributed by the Rank Organisation. He was the fourth – and last – actor to take the job.
Athletes who played the Gongman in the film sequence over the years, included boxer Bombardier Billy Wells and wrestler Ken Richmond. Also, George Francis Moss Snr played the Gongman. [8] [better source needed] During the 20 years General Film Distributors had its original name, the company distributed over 450 mainstream films. [9]
Bombardier Billy Wells (1889–1967), heavyweight boxing champion and Rank Organisation "gongman", died in Ealing; his ashes were laid to rest in the crypt of St. Mary's Church in neighbouring Hanwell. William Willett (1856–1915), promoter of British Summer Time, lived in Acton. He is commemorated with a blue plaque. [2]
In May 1927, the duo's first film, Rookies, opened and was an instant success. In June 1927, MGM signed Dane to a long-term contract. In June 1927, MGM signed Dane to a long-term contract. He co-starred in the Dane & Arthur comedies and played character roles in dramatic films like The Trail of '98 .