Charles Band connection?

In the 1985 movie "Trancers" produced and directed by Charles Band, there's a character called "Chris Lavery" that runs a tanning salon.

In "Trancers" the character of Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson), a 40s style detective from the future (wait what?) meets up with Lavery to try to save his life.

Upon meeting Lavery, Deth comments; "nice tan, real Christmasy", just like Robert Montgomery does in "Lady in the Lake".

I've always wondered what the connection for Band or some of the writers of Trancers that they wanted to pay homage to a less than well known Phillip Marlowe movie.

I should have asked Band when I saw him at a Full Moon Road Show recently, but it completely slipped my mind.

Anyone know something about this tidbit of movie trivia?