John Lotas (September 14, 1920 – August 18, 1995) was the original producer of Hal Holbrook’s “Mark Twain Tonight!” in New York City.

Biography

John Lotas was born on September 14, 1920, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Lotas discovered Hal Holbrook at the Lambs Club in Manhattan in the 1950s. In 1959, he presented Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight! at the 44th Street Theatre in New York City. The show ran for 174 performances. It later reopened on Broadway. Lotas was a voice-over talent for Paramount News and was an original follower and contributor to the Sri Atmananda Memorial School (Austin, Texas). For many years he headed Lotas Productions, a recording studio and production company in New York City. Lotas had a son and two daughters, Christopher, Sasha and Amanda. He died on August 18, 1995, after being struck by a car in Austin, Texas.