Which Actor's Dad Served on San Leandro's Council?

(Editor's note: Tony Santos emailed me one day to test my knowledge of the city. He posed the question: Which actor's dad served on the San Leandro City Council? Stumped, I asked Tony for the answer which follows. Take a guess before you read it.)

Let me answer the question and I feel it is interesting. I came across this one years ago and checked into it. For many years I have checked into former members of Town Council and City Council.

Here is the answer: Farley Granger, Jr. He acted in two Alfred Hitchcock movies, "Rope" and "Strangers on a Train." He died on March 29, 2011, at age 85.

His father, Farley Granger, Sr., served on San Leandro's Town Council from November 1, 1915 through about April 17, 1922, although I am not sure when he came off the council.

Farley Junior's biography says he was born in San Jose in 1925.

A Time Magazine obituary fills in some of the blanks on father and son.

The elder Granger was a car dealer in San Jose who went bust during the Great Depression. He moved his family to Los Angeles where "a talent scout for the Samuel Goldwyn studio spotted the teenage Farley, Jr., in a play and signed him" up.

Farley Granger, Jr. made his first film at the age of 18 and his last serious film at age 28, according to Time, living the rest of his life acting occasional stage roles.

The New York Times reviewed his autobiography, "Include Me Out," which combines his acting reminiscences with tales of bisexual exploits.

The NY Times interviewer asked him a series of questions, including whether he preferred "Rope" or "Strangers."

“ ‘Strangers,’ ” (Granger told the Times) without hesitation. “I think it was a more complete film. I think ‘Rope’ was more an experiment for Hitchcock.”

Can you add anything to the tale? Leave a comment.

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