Lowell Thomas

Lowell Thomas was born in Woodington, Ohio on 6 April 1892. He was the first roving newscaster, a film maker through the 1920s, a radio presenter in the 1930s, and an adventurer, who wrote more than 50 books.

Thomas started out as a reporter for the Chicago Evening Journal, and had a flair for making ordinary stories exciting. He was inspired by documentary film, and raised $50,000 from Chicago businessmen to travel to France, he did so accompanied by his wife and cameraman, Harry Chase.

Thomas and Chase later set off for the Middle East, and arrived in time to film General Allenby's historic entry in to Jerusalem in 1917. It was during this trip to Jerusalem that Thomas met the man who was to make them famous, T. E. Lawrence. Thomas and Chase were invited to Feisal's desert camp, where they shot moving and still pictures of Lawrence with the Arabs.

The romantic and adventurous tales of "Lawrence of Arabia" were an instant hit. Lowell Thomas' film showed to packed audiences in New York and then London. The show went on to Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia, India and Canada, meaning over four million people saw it. This made Thomas millions of dollars and turned Lawrence into a movie star. Lawrence had conflicting feelings towards his new found fame, and never forgave Thomas for exploiting his image, even calling him a 'vulgar man'.

Thomas continued to live an adventurous life, creating numerous additional films and radio broadcasts. He was also the first man to film the Dalai Lama in Tibet.

Thomas died at his home in Pawling, New York in 1981, and is buried in Christ Church Cemetery.