Richard Van Tassel Des AutelsWebb, Graham (2020). Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 434."California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGX1-SF9V : 2 March 2020), Richard van Tassel Des Autels, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States; from "Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947." Database and images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Draft Registration, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, citing NARA Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975. Record Group Number 147. NAID: 7644723. Records of the Selective Service System. The National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.(December 11, 1910 – September 2, 1968)"California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGRR-3FZ : 26 November 2014), Richard V Desautels, 02 Sep 1968; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento. was an American film actor, radio announcer, and television news anchor."1968's Deaths". Films in Review. February 1969. p. 124.

Early life and career The only child of James A. Des Autels and Phoebe Van Tassel,"Des Autels Funeral Thursday". The El Paso Times. February 8, 1966. p. 22."Services Pending for Mrs. Des Autels". The El Paso Times. June 11, 1962. p. 8. he was born in Paragould, Arkansas. The family later relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia and, in 1923, to El Paso, Texas. Attending El Paso High School, Des Autels excelled at track and field and well as theatre,"Juniors Win Track Meet at High School; Wilkey Is Individual Star". The El Paso Times. April 9, 1927. p. 5. his creative output including a chalk talk staged during his freshman year,"High School Notes". The El Paso Times. November 6, 1926. p. 18. and, two years later, the libretto for a two-act comic opera entitled Brutuspanto, in which he also costarred with, among others, Harry Hickox."To Give Operetta Written by Two High School Boys". The El Paso Evening Post. March 15, 1929. p. 20."High School Notes". The El Paso Times. April 4, 1929. p. 16.

Following his graduation, Des Autels worked as program director at KTSA in San Antonio,"The Cavern Theater is Pleased to Present 'The Southern Radio Revue'". The Carlsbad Current-Argus. September 1, 1932. p. 2. and later at KTSM in El Paso."KTSM to Increase System Broadcasts". The El Paso Times. August 21, 1934. p. 6.

In 1941, along with Mike Frankovich, Don Thompson and others, Des Autel provided play-by-play coverage on NBC Blue Network's PCPFL broadcasts. The following year, he hosted I Solemnly Swear, a daily, 15-minute U.S. Navy recruiting program, on KFAC in Los Angeles.

In 1947, Frank Graham and Des Autels co-hosted a well-received listener-participation giveaway show entitled Three Alarm.

In 1948, Des Autels collaborated with producer-director Jerry Fairbanks, providing narration for NBC's Television Close-Ups, a series of 26 five-minute mini-documentaries, dealing primarily with historical subjects.Irvin, Richard (2022). Pioneers of "B" Television: Independent Producers, Series and Pilots of the 1950s. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 68.

From 1949 to 1950, Des Autels teamed with producer-director Les Mitchel and composer Del Castillo, serving as announcer—aka "Van, the Skippy Man"—on the dramatic anthology series Skippy Hollywood Theatre."Jane Wyatt Stars". The Montreal Gazette. December 3, 1949. p. 26."Annual Presentation of Easter Classic on 'Skippy Theatre'". The Shreveport Times. April 2, 1950. p. 29. He was also the featured actor on the 2/13/49 episode, entitled "Double Talk"."WHBF—WHBF-FM–Air News". Quad-City-Times. February 13, 1949. p. 23.

From 1961 through 1967, Des Autels was the news anchor at KTAR-TV in Phoenix."KTAR-TV". The Arizona Republic. November 10, 1961. p. 18."KTAR-TV: 2:55 P.M.—12:05 A.M." The Arizona Republic. April 19, 1967. p. 55.

Personal life and death Des Autels was married at least twice; to Patricia Lucille Burnett from 1931 until at least 1938,"Summerford-Anderson Wedding Is Solemnized". The El Paso Times. November 18, 1931. p. 3."Final Performance of 'Biography' Booked". El Paso Herald-Post. December 7, 1938. p. 6. and, from October 1943 until his death, to Betty Jane McPherson (née Sheffer)."Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4L-K9SN : 22 July 2021), Richard van Tassel Des Autels and Betty Jane McPherson, 15 Oct 1943; citing Marriage, Clark, Nevada, United States, Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, Las Vegas; FHL microfilm 005241846.

On September 2, 1968, three days after being admitted to the U.S. Veterans Hospital in North Hollywood, Des Autels died of undisclosed causes,"Radio Announcer Dies in Hospital". Progress-Bulletin. September 3, 1968. p. 2. although the Associated Press did note that he had moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles the previous year "for treatment of a chronic throat ailment.""Veteran KTAR Newscaster Dies". Arizona Republic. September 3, 1968. p. 3.

Filmography Film Twentieth Century Vikings (short subject, 1947), as himself"Des Autels to Narrate". Hollywood Review. June 16, 1947. p. 4. Willie and Joe Back at the Front (1952), as Lieutenant colonel"Van Des Autels filmography". American Film Institute. Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952), as Upstate senator How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), as Best man The Robe (1953), as Chamberlain The Crooked Web (1955), as Tom Jackson

Television The Lone Ranger (1953), episode "The Devil's Bog" – Grant Huston (as Van Desautels)Andreychuk, Ed (2018). The Lone Ranger on Radio, Film and Television. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company p. 64. . Combat Sergeant (1956), 7/26/56 episode "Destined for Death" - President of the Court"Friday July 20". Ross Reports on Television. July 15, 1956. p. B.

References

Further reading "Safety Legion for Kids". Radio Daily. May 19, 1937. p. 6. "Public Relations Builds and Holds Good Will; 'News Lines from the Transit Lines'". Two Bells. April-May 1946. p. 13.

External links