Lanken was a film critic for the
Montreal Gazette from 1967 to 1977, and was then a freelance journalist who wrote regularly for
Canadian Geographic, among other publications such as
Glengarry Life, the annual volume of the Glengarry Historical Society. Lanken wrote
Montreal Movie Palaces: Great Theatres of the Golden Era 1884 - 1938, which includes photographs by
Brian Merrett and Julie Greto. In 2007 he wrote the career biography of folksingers
Kate & Anna McGarrigle. == Personal life and death ==