Lanny Ross made his theatrical bow at the age of four, performing with his father in
Ben Greet's professional Shakespearean company. During his primary education in a Canadian convent and various Seattle and New York schools, young Ross confined his appearances to choir work, including term as head monitor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NY. His career began in radio in 1928 and included a five-year run with
Annette Hanshaw on the
Maxwell House Show Boat program. His recording career began in 1929. He did so well on the radio that he gave up the legal profession and set forth on a singing career. Ross went on to success in
vaudeville, nightclubs, and motion pictures. His radio programs included
Troubadour of the Moon,
Maxwell House Showboat,
Packard Mardi Gras,
Lucky Strike Hit Parade, and his own
Lanny Ross Program, sponsored by Franco-American over the CBS Network. Ross introduced the standard popular song "
Stay as Sweet as You Are" (w.
Mack Gordon, m.
Harry Revel) in the 1934 film
College Rhythm. He recorded the song with
Nat Finston and the Paramount Recording Orchestra in Los Angeles on October 21, 1934. It was released on Brunswick 7318 (matrix LA-247-A) and became Ross' most successful record. He was signed by
Paramount Pictures as a threat to the studio's leading singing star,
Bing Crosby. Ross starred in
Melody in Spring and
College Rhythm; he was slated to co-star with
W. C. Fields in the 1935 film
Mississippi, but he was replaced by Crosby. Paramount then released Ross, who returned to radio. Ross was later featured in
The Lady Objects (1938) for
Columbia Pictures. In 1939 he lent his singing voice to
Max Fleischer's animated feature, ''
Gulliver's Travels. Ross co-wrote the song "Listen to My Heart" with Al J. Neiburg and Abner Silver. It was performed in the 1939 short film Tempo of Tomorrow'' by Patricia Gilmore singing with the
Richard Himber Orchestra. Ross took to the stage in 1941, drawing critical acclaim for his acting in
Petticoat Fever,
Pursuit of Happiness, and
Green Grow the Lilacs. In 1943
Sol Lesser produced the motion picture
Stage Door Canteen, based on the actual
Stage Door Canteen serving military personnel in New York during wartime. Lesser made the film as a patriotic, goodwill venture, which earned almost four million dollars. He turned over the money to the
American Theater Wing to establish canteens in other cities. While half the film was made in Hollywood, the other half was made in New York, where Lanny Ross and other stars were based. Ross sang the Oscar-nominated ballad "We Mustn't Say Goodbye". It was his last motion-picture appearance; his career was interrupted by military service. ==Army officer==