Who hit the gong in the J Arthur Rank films?

Who hit the gong in the J Arthur Rank films?

Ken Richmond
Ken Richmond, the 6-foot-5, ripple-armed wrestler who for decades was seen striking the gong that heralded the opening credits for dozens of films produced by the J. Arthur Rank Studio in England, died on Aug.

What boxer did J Arthur Rank gong?

Carl Dane
Arthur Rank Film Distributors”, “J. Arthur Rank presents” or “‘The Rank Organisation” appeared over the gong. The 1st ‘Gongman’ was Carl Dane, a circus strong man who was paid a 1-off fee by General Film Distributors….Gongman.

Industry Logo of the Rank Organisation
AUM The Rank Group

Where is the Rank gong?

The papier-mâché gong displayed at the London Film Museum There are many conflicting accounts on the history of one of the most famous British trademarks, the Rank Gongman. Many believed, incorrectly, that Bombardier Billy Wells was the first.

Who was Arthur Rank?

Arthur Rank, Baron Rank, (born December 22 or 23, 1888, Hull, Yorkshire, England—died March 29, 1972, Winchester, Hampshire), British industrialist who became Great Britain’s chief distributor (and one of the world’s major producers) of motion pictures.

What does the J stand for in J Arthur Rank?

Joseph Arthur Rank, 1st Baron Rank (22 December 1888 – 29 March 1972) was a British industrialist who was head and founder of the Rank Organisation.

Which movie has the highest rating?

Best of Rotten Tomatoes

Rank Tomatometer Title
1. 99% It Happened One Night (1934)
2. 98% Modern Times (1936)
3. 98% The Wizard of Oz (1939)
4. 96% Black Panther (2018)

Why did J Arthur Rank Bang a gong?

J Arthur Rank, a flour mogul and devout Methodist, originally sought a wolf to rival MGM’s lion but the only available specimen was mangy. It was at this stage that somebody suggested, “bang a gong” and, after that, every film started with a gong that filled two-thirds of the screen.

When did the Rank gong stop being used?

1980 marked the end of Rank feature films produced at Pinewood Studios. The final feature film made by Rank with the Gongman on the opening was “Silver Dream Racer” starring David Essex. After that point the trademark gong was still used, now with Rank Film Distributors overlaid.

Who was the Gongman in the rank film?

Then in 1948, it was deemed that Wells should be replaced and his successor was Phil Nieman, who was filmed at Gainsborough Studios, Shepherd’s Bush. Nieman’s image headed J Arthur Rank’s films until he too was replaced in 1955 by the most famous Gongman of them all, Ken Richmond.

Who was j.arthur rank and what did he do?

Sir Christopher Frayling, English Heritage Blue Plaques panellist, said: “For over a quarter of a century – between the 1940s and the 1960s – the name ‘J. Arthur Rank’ was virtually synonymous with the British film industry. His companies owned over half the British film studios and more than 1,000 cinemas.”