Crane Jackson

Crane Jackson (aka Daniel David Dreis) graduated from Florida State University studying Drama and Communications. He grew up in south Florida and became a radio DJ working in Sheveport (LA) and Washington (DC) following graduation. Catching the acting bug, he did several years of summer stock, then moved to NYC to work in various off-Broadway plays and made several appearances on daytime dramas. Moving to Hollywood in 1967, he converted a small bowling alley into a small actor's theater and developed "The Uncommon Theater Series" beginning with a production of "Moby Dick Remembered." He started several theaters throughout Hollywood over the years. In early 1972, Jackson won a waiver from the Actor's Equity Association to charge admission. Soon, several of his plays won Drama Critics Awards. This was at a time when Actors Equity only excused small theaters from union membership if they limited productions to nine performances and charged no admission. Then in May, 1972, Crane helped prevent union plans to scrap workshop waivers entirely. While he loved acting, Jackson produced more than 125 plays over 30 years, and as an actor, he had small roles in films and on TV. In more recent years, and under his real name, David Dreis, he edited and published in Los Angeles "The RAPPORT Magazine," a quarterly book review publication. He died in April 2002 and is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marta Dreis.