The Lane Sisters (Mullican Girls)

MULLICAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 10/31/2017 at 16:44:22

THE LANE SISTERS
(written by Emerson Winters in the History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerald Schultz & Don L. Berry, 1953)
The Lane Sisters are Leota, Martha, Dorothy, Rosemary and Priscilla. In Hollywood they became movie stars; in Indianola they were five beautiful, talented girls, the daughters of Dr. L. A. and Cora Mullican. They went to the Indianola public schools and their unusual talents were always in demand at parties and entertainments. The Warren County fair was always more enjoyable when the Lane sisters had a part in the entertainment. They gave liberally and their early experiences here must have been a great help to them later in Hollywood.
Leota graduated with honors from the Simpson College Conservatory of Music when she was eighteen, and her recital compared favorably with the concerts of many national artists who have appeared here. Dorothy, who changed her name to Lola, played the piano at the Empress theatre when there was no sound on the films. Rosemary, a Simpson college graduate, is a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Martha is the only sister who married an Indianola boy. Priscilla is the youngest Lane sister and her talent in dramatic acting is exceptional.
Dr. Mullican, a genial, happy man, practiced dentistry here for a number of years and later was appointed postmaster by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mrs. Mullican managed the public careers of her daughters. She was a kind, intelligent mother who took her daughters to Broadway, then to Hollywood and placed their names before the world. After the sisters made the name of Lane famous, Mrs. Mullican also changed her name legally to Lane. She died early in 1952.