Hello everyone, I hope you all had a nice weekend. Mine was a bit washed out from the big amounts of rain we are getting here. I'm not too much of a fan myself, this kind of weather makes me depressed. But I won't bore you with those sorted details now. I was thinking about what kind of post I could make on Monday and I was drawing a blank. I decided on having Music Mondays, but then I remembered that today is Mickey Rooney's 93rd Birthday! So instead of having a Music Monday today, I'm going to write a post about what Mickey Rooney means to me and what I think he means to the Old Hollywood community. I hope you will enjoy reading about him because sometimes I think people don't take him serious enough as an actor.
Mickey Rooney was born Joseph Yule Jr. on September 23rd, 1920. He grew up in show business since his dad ran a burlesque theater in the early days. A young Joe would watch his father on stage and all the dancers with awe, he loved the roar of the applause and the warm spotlight. He knew deep down that's where he was meant to be. One night he wondered out onto the stage to just see what it would be like, he loved it. Eventually his mother and father came around and allowed him to be a part of the shows. His parents had him made a special suit so he could welcome guests into the show, most people believing him to be a midget.
He eventually went to California with his mother after his parents divorced. He got some small parts in silent motion pictures billed as a midget once again. He was really just a very small child but the people in those days went with it. (Sort of bizarre really). His biggest role came when he was chosen for the part of Mickey McGuire in a series of silent shorts in 1925-1934. He was the star of the films and helped to make money for the family as his mother raised him by herself. During the time of the McGuire shorts, Joe's mother decided that he should change his name to Mickey to match his character's name. The Rooney came later on at Mickey's suggestion. So the newly dubbed Mickey Rooney was signed to MGM in 1934. After working in bit parts for the studio for years he finally landed a long running role as Andy Hardy in 1937. This would be his second successful run in a series of films that would gross the MGM studio millions.
Throughout the years Mickey worked with many different actors and actresses but his most beloved of all was Judy Garland who he met when they were just young kids on the MGM lot. They went to school together and made many films as well. They were the best of friends and they each agreed that they were like family. I have always adored the relationship between Mickey and Judy because it always seemed to genuine and real. They seemed like they were made for each other if you watch the musical numbers they did. They truly played off of one another and it shows how great they truly were. In other words, they brought out the best in each other.
Mickey Rooney has achieved many successes in his life and many other Old Hollywood actors from his time would agree. He is an actor different from anyone else. He possesses so many unique talents that seem almost unimaginable for just one man to have. He is able to play comedy, tragedy, sing, dance, and play numerous instruments. He is truly a tour de force! In my mind there is no one else that could even compare with him because he's on a plane of his own.
If you haven't seen any of his films, especially his earlier ones I would ask you to just take some time out to see this brilliant actor, he is something to watch. He can change the way you feel in an instant and it truly is a magical gift. Just a few of my favorite films of his are Boys Town with Spencer Tracy, Babes On Broadway with Judy Garland, Thoroughbreds Don't Cry again with Garland, Love Finds Andy Hardy, Stable Mates with Wallace Beery, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, Young Tom Edison, The Human Comedy, National Velvet with Elizabeth Taylor, Little Nemo (voice). There are so many amazing Rooney films that are to be seen still by me. But these are just a sampling of some of my favorites where I think he really shows his acting range and abilities.
If you have anything to add about Mickey Rooney for the talent that he was or one of your personal favorite Mickey films, leave it below as a comment. I would really like to know what other fans of Mickey think of his large body of work.
Until Later,
