Shorty Bell, Cub Reporter

Drama (1948)

During its short three month stint, Shorty Bell became one of the most memorable characters of 1948. Played expertly by Mickey Rooney, Shorty Bell was a boisterous cocky fellow who wanted to break into the newspaper game. While Shorty's job was really "drivin' a truck that delivers the bundles hot off the presses, he still got tangled in the action, trying to prove himself worthy of a journalistic career.

His weakness was his temper, willing to fight over the slightest insult. Sadly, Shorty Bell didn't get much of a chance as a old time radio show, as the network only scheduled it for three months airtime. After which, Mickey Rooney went on to star in the replacement show, a talent contest titled Hollywood Showcase. Mickey also went on to star in The Hardy Family

For more newspaper-crime reporting, see also: Big Town, Big Story, Casey Crime Photographer, Europe Confidential, Front Page Farrell, Night Beat, and Shorty Bell Cub Reporter.