Comedy, News, Music, Variety (1930s-1950s)

Golf and pony fanatic and all-around funny guy, Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr. to a couple of vaudevillians (a comic and a chorus gal). He made his film debut as a midget in 1926, at the age of six, in the movie Not to Be Trusted. The next year, he got into the big time when he starred in a serial, based on the comic, Mickey McGuire.

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His mother wanted to change his name to Mickey McGuire for publicity but the author of the comic refused this stunt. Instead, she changed it to Mickey Rooney. Close enough.

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Always one to show off and get into trouble, Mickey’s career advanced even further during a comedic game of table tennis. David O Selznick caught his improvised act and plugged him at MGM, which eventually landed him a role in Manhattan Melodrama. He was well known for his role as Andy Hardy, and starred in The Hardy Family. Mickey went on to play in over 200 movies, costarring with many great leading ladies (such as Judy Garland and Lana Turner). This collection includes some of the old time radio shows he starred in such as Shorty Bell, as well as his guest appearances on Bing Crosby, Suspense, Good News, and more.

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For more Mickey Rooney shows, see The Hardy Family and Shorty Bell.