# Barton MacLane

Barton MacLane (December 25, 1902 – January 1, 1969) was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his role as General Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC television comedy series I Dream of Jeannie, with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman.

## Early life

MacLane was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on Christmas Day, 1902. He attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he excelled at American football. His first movie role, in The Quarterback (1926), was a result of his athletic ability. He then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

## Career

He made his Broadway debut in 1927, playing the assistant district attorney in Bayard Veiller's The Trial of Mary Dugan. He then performed in the 1928 Broadway production of Gods of the Lightning and was part of the original cast of Subway Express as Officer Mulvaney in 1929. He appeared in the Marx Brothers' 1929 film debut The Cocoanuts. MacLane made his first credited film appearance in the 1931 romantic drama His Woman. The following year, he wrote the play Rendezvous, which he sold to Arthur Hopkins. The play was performed on Broadway, with MacLane in a featured role.

### Film work: 1930s–1950s

The success of Rendezvous landed MacLane a contract with Warner Bros. and brought him to the attention of several renowned film directors, including Fritz Lang, Michael Curtiz, and William Keighley. As a result, throughout the remainder of the 1930s, MacLane was highly active in film, with major supporting roles in such productions as The Case of the Curious Bride, G Men, The Prince and the Pauper, and Lang's You Only Live Once and You and Me. He also played the role of detective Steve McBride, opposite Glenda Farrell in seven of the nine films featuring the fictional newspaper reporter Torchy Blane.
During the 1930s and 1940s, MacLane worked alongside Humphrey Bogart in several films. He played Lieutenant Dundy, who interacted with Bogart's Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, writer/director John Huston's acclaimed film noir based upon Dashiell Hammett's novel. MacLane again collaborated with both Bogart and Huston on the Academy Award-winning 1948 adventure film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
MacLane's many other film credits during the 1940s include The Big Street, Victor Fleming's Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Fritz Lang's Western Union, Reginald Le Borg's The Mummy's Ghost, and Frank Borzage's The Spanish Main. He also played villains in two Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller – Tarzan and the Amazons and Tarzan and the Huntress. Some of MacLane's films during the 1950s include Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, The Glenn Miller Story, and Three Violent People. In 1955 MacLane appeared as Jim Mablett in the movie Foxfire co-starring Jane Russell.

### Television and final films

In the 1950s, MacLane began to appear regularly on television. Between 1953 and 1967, he guest starred on such programs as Conflict, Lux Video Theatre, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Laramie, The Monkees, and Gunsmoke. In 1958 he played Sen. Harriman Baylor in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll". In 1960 he played Eugene Norris, Perry's friend and small-town sheriff, in "The Case of the Violent Village". In 1964 he played Archer Osmond in "The Case of the Ruinous Road".
During the 1960–1961 television season, MacLane was a series regular on twenty-seven episodes of NBC's western, Outlaws, in which he played Marshal Frank Caine.$^{:802}$ His last feature film was Buckskin (1968).
In 1965, MacLane, who had played real-life Air Force General "Hap" Arnold in The Glenn Miller Story, was cast in the recurring role of fictional Air Force General Martin Peterson on I Dream of Jeannie. He appeared in 35 episodes of the TV series between 1965 and 1969. Three of MacLane's episodes were aired after his death in January 1969. His character was replaced on later episodes of the series by General Winfield Schaeffer, portrayed by Vinton Hayworth, until Hayworth's death in 1970. Coincidentally, Hayworth also died before all episodes featuring his character were broadcast.

## Personal life

Maclane played several musical instruments, including the violin, piano, and guitar. In 1939, MacLane married actress Charlotte Wynters. From the 1940s until his death, he maintained a cattle ranch in eastern Madera County, California, where he made his home when he was not acting. He adopted a daughter.

## Death

MacLane died of double pneumonia on New Year's Day, at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, a week after his 66th birthday. He had been admitted two weeks prior to his death.
MacLane was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

## Recognition

For his contribution to the television industry, MacLane has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6719 Hollywood Boulevard.

## Selected filmography

* The Quarterback (1926) as Football Player (uncredited)
* The Cocoanuts (1929) as Bather (uncredited)
* His Woman (1931) as Crewman (uncredited)
* State's Attorney (1932) as Court Reporter (uncredited)
* The Thundering Herd (1933) as Pruitt
* Man of the Forest (1933) as Henchman Mulvey
* To the Last Man (1933) as Neil Stanley
* Tillie and Gus (1933) as Commissioner McLennan
* Big Executive (1933) as Harry the Guide
* Lone Cowboy (1933) as Policeman Baxter
* Hell and High Water (1933) as Dance Hall Manager
* All of Me (1934) as First Cop (uncredited)
* The Last Round-Up (1934) as Charley Benson
* Black Fury (1935) as McGee
* The Case of the Curious Bride (1935) as Detective Lucas
* G Men (1935) as Collins
* Go Into Your Dance (1935) as Duke Hutchinson
* Stranded (1935) as Sharkey
* Page Miss Glory (1935) as Blackie
* The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935) as Police Chief Bisonette
* Dr. Socrates (1935) as Red Bastian
* I Found Stella Parish (1935) as Clifton Jeffords
* Frisco Kid (1935) as Spider Burke
* Man of Iron (1935) as Chris Bennett
* Ceiling Zero (1936) as Al Stone
* The Walking Dead (1936) as Loder
* Times Square Playboy (1936) as Casey, Vic's Butler / Trainer
* Bullets or Ballots (1936) as Al Kruger
* Bengal Tiger (1936) as Cliff Ballenger
* Jailbreak (1936) as Detective Captain Rourke
* Smart Blonde (1937) as Steve McBride
* God's Country and the Woman (1937) as Bullhead
* You Only Live Once (1937) as Stephen Whitney
* The Prince and the Pauper (1937) as John Canty
* Draegerman Courage (1937) as Andrew Beaupre
* San Quentin (1937) as Lt. Druggin
* Fly-Away Baby (1937) as Steve McBride
* Ever Since Eve (1937) as Al McCoy
* Born Reckless (1937) as Jim Barnes
* Wine, Women and Horses (1937) as Jim Turner
* The Adventurous Blonde (1937) as Steve MacBride
* Blondes at Work (1938) as Lieutenant Steve McBride
* The Kid Comes Back (1938) as 'Gunner' Malone
* Gold Is Where You Find It (1938) as Slag Martin
* You and Me (1938) as Mickey Bain
* Prison Break (1938) as Joaquin Shannon
* The Storm (1938) as Capt. Cogswell
* Torchy Gets Her Man (1938) as Steve McBride
* Stand Up and Fight (1939) as Crowder
* Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939) as Police Lieutenant Steve McBride
* I Was a Convict (1939) as Ace King
* Big Town Czar (1939) as Phil Daley
* Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) as Steve McBride
* Mutiny in the Big House (1939) as Red Manson
* Gangs of Chicago (1940) as Jim Ramsey
* Men Without Souls (1940) as Blackie Drew
* The Secret Seven (1940) as Sam O'Donnell
* Melody Ranch (1940) as Mark Wildhack
* High Sierra (1941) as Jake Kranmer
* Come Live with Me (1941) as Barney Grogan
* Western Union (1941) as Jack Slade
* Barnacle Bill (1941) as John Kelly
* Hit the Road (1941) as James J. Ryan
* Manpower (1941) as Smiley Quinn
* Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) as Sam Higgins
* Wild Geese Calling (1941) as Pirate Kelly
* The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Lieutenant Dundy
* All Through the Night (1942) as Marty Callahan
* The Big Street (1942) as Case Ables
* Highways by Night (1942) as Leo Bronson
* Man of Courage (1943) as John Wallace
* A Gentle Gangster (1943) as Mike Hallit
* Bombardier (1943) as Sgt. Archie Dixon
* Song of Texas (1943) as Jim Calvert
* The Underdog (1943) as John Tate
* The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case (1943) as Detective Rief
* Nabonga (1944) as Carl Hurst
* Marine Raiders (1944) as Sgt. Maguire
* The Mummy's Ghost (1944) as Inspector Walgreen
* Secret Command (1944) as Red Kelly
* Cry of the Werewolf (1944) as Lt. Barry Lane
* Gentle Annie (1944) as Sheriff Tatum
* Tarzan and the Amazons (1945) as Ballister
* Scared Stiff (1945) as George 'Deacon' Markham
* The Spanish Main (1945) as Capt. Benjamin Black
* Mysterious Intruder (1946) as Detective Taggart
* Santa Fe Uprising (1946) as Crawford
* San Quentin (1946) as Nick Taylor
* Tarzan and the Huntress (1947) as Paul Weir
* Jungle Flight (1947) as Case Hagin
* Cheyenne (1947) as Webb Yancey
* The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) as Pat McCormick
* Relentless (1948) as Tex Brandow
* Silver River (1948) as 'Banjo' Sweeney
* The Dude Goes West (1948) as Texas Jack Barton
* The Walls of Jericho (1948) as Gotch McCurdy
* Angel in Exile (1948) as Max Giorgio
* Unknown Island (1948) as Capt. Tarnowski
* Red Light (1949) as Strecker
* Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) as Police Lt. John Reece
* Rookie Fireman (1950) as Captain Jess Henshaw
* Let's Dance (1950) as Larry Channock
* The Bandit Queen (1950) as Jim Harden
* Best of the Badmen (1951) as Joad
* Drums in the Deep South (1951) as Sgt. Mac McCardle
* Bugles in the Afternoon (1952) as Capt. Myles Moylan
* The Half-Breed (1952) as Marshal Cassidy
* Thunderbirds (1952) as Sgt. Durkee
* Kansas Pacific (1953) as Cal Bruce
* Cow Country (1953) as Marvin Parker
* Captain Scarface (1953) as Captain Scarface
* Sea of Lost Ships (1953) as Capt. Jack Matthews
* Jack Slade (1953) as Jules Reni
* The Glenn Miller Story (1954) as General Arnold
* Jubilee Trail (1954) as Deacon Bartlett
* Rails Into Laramie (1954) as Lee Graham
* Hell's Outpost (1954) as Sheriff Olson
* Treasure of Ruby Hills (1955) as 'Chalk' Reynolds
* The Silver Star (1955) as Henry 'Tiny' Longtree
* Foxfire (1955) as Jim Mablett
* Jail Busters (1955) as Captain Jenkins, Head Guard
* Last of the Desperados (1955) as Mosby, Gang Leader
* Jaguar (1956) as Steve Bailey
* Backlash (1956) as Sgt. George Lake
* Wetbacks (1956) as Karl Shanks
* The Man is Armed (1956) as Det. Lt. Dan Coster
* Naked Gun (1956) as Joe Barnum
* Three Violent People (1956) as Yates
* Hell's Crossroads (1957) as Pinkerton Agent Clyde O'Connell
* Sierra Stranger (1957) as Lem Gotch
* Naked in the Sun (1957) as Wilson
* Girl in the Woods (1958) as Big Jim
* Girl on the Run (1958) as Francis J. Brannigan
* Frontier Gun (1958) as Simon Crayle
* The Geisha Boy (1958) as Maj. Ridgley
* Gunfighters of Abilene (1960) as Seth Hainline
* Noose for a Gunman (1960) as Carl Avery
* Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Police Commissioner
* Law of the Lawless (1964) as Big Tom Stone
* The Rounders (1965) as Tanner
* Town Tamer (1965) as James Fenimore Fell
* Arizona Bushwhackers (1968) as Sheriff Grover
* Buckskin (1968) as Dr. H. 'Doc' Raymond

## Television credits

| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse | Captain Hansen | "The Man Nobody Wanted" |
| 1955 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Chief Brooks | "Two-Bit Gangster" |
| 1956 | Crossroads | | "The Strange Bequest" |
| 1956 | Cheyenne | Martin Storm | "The Storm Riders" |
| 1956 | The Kaiser Aluminum Hour | Dan Royal | "Man on the White Horse" |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Clanton | "The Target", with Kelo Henderson cast as Ike Clanton |
| 1957 | Telephone Time | Pete Devlin | "Plot to Save a Boy" |
| 1957 | Circus Boy | Pinkerton Detective Nolan | 1 episode, "The Tumbling Clown" |
| 1958 | Kraft Television Theatre | Potter | "Code of the Corner" |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip | Brannigan | "Girl on the Run" |
| 1959 | Black Saddle | General Orester Fowler | "Client: Braun" |
| 1959 | Walt Disney Presents | Bob Scanlon | 2 episodes: "The Robber Stallion" and "Wild Horse Revenge" |
| 1959-1964 | Perry Mason | Senator Harriman Baylor / Sheriff Eugene Norris / Harold Minter / Archer Osmond | 4 episodes |
| 1960 | Walt Disney Presents | Rawls Kettrick | The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca miniseries, episode "Friendly Enemies at Law" |
| 1960 | Laramie | Cameron Gault | "Street of Hate" |
| 1960 | Overland Trail | Big Jed Braddock | "Lawyer in Petticoats" |
| 1960 | Tightrope | Vince Baron | "Gangster's Daughter" |
| 1960-1961 | Outlaws | Marshal Frank Caine | 27 episodes |
| 1962 | Laramie | Mel Bishop | "The High Country" |
| 1963 | Laramie | Ed Bishop | "The Wedding Party" |
| 1963 | Laramie | Owen Richards | "Trapped" |
| 1965-1969 | I Dream of Jeannie | General Peterson | 35 episodes, (final appearance) |
| 1966 | The Munsters | Big Roy | "Herman Picks a Winner" |
| 1966 | Gunsmoke | Herkimer Crawford | "Honor Before Justice" |
| 1967 | Gunsmoke | Willard Kerner | "Noose of Gold" |
| 1967 | Hondo | Markham | "Hondo and the Gladiators" |
| 1967 | The Monkees | Bart | S2:E13, "Monkees in Texas" |