After more than eight and a half decades in show business, Mickey Rooney knows a thing or two about putting on a show.
When he's joined on stage by his wife of more than 30 years -- a gifted singer and actress in her own right -- something magical happens.
"We're still on the road and enjoying every minute of it," Jan Rooney said in a recent joint interview with The Times Leader.
"But we truly do have fun, and I think part of the reason it has been successful is that we truly love getting on that stage and listening to that audience -- to the laughs, to the chuckles we get and the standing ovations.
"Believe me, being on the road isn't always the easiest thing to do, so you almost have to love what you're doing in order to endure the grueling schedules we've put ourselves through," she said.
The stage and screen veterans, who received a shared star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their live performances (to go along with Mickey's three others), will perform three shows at the Mount Airy Casino Resort this weekend.
"Let's Put On A Show!" is described as autobiographical and includes duets on classic material such as "Love Is Here To Stay," songs associated with Mickey's musicals with Judy Garland (including Mr. Rooney's self-composed song about Ms. Garland that Mrs. Rooney "guarantees will bring tears to the eyes"), Jan singing classic pop and country standards, Mickey playing some marvelous piano (which is what he was doing when the couple met back in 1974) and numerous stories about life in Hollywood.
The Rooneys, backed by a live trio of top-rate musicians who played with the likes of Frank Sinatra, will do matinees today and Sunday and an 8 p.m. performance Saturday. All shows will be at Gypsies Lounge and Nightclub inside the Mount Pocono complex.
Mickey Rooney, who was born Joe Yule Jr. on Sept. 23, 1920, in Brooklyn, made his first stage appearance at age 2 when he crawled out on stage during his parents' vaudeville act (his parents, Joe Yule and Nell Carter, were quite famous in those days). He made his motion-picture debut at age 4 and a year later began playing a character named Mickey "Himself" McGuire in 78 short film comedies based on a tough little cartoon character. He outgrew that role at age 12 and headed out on the road, adopting the name Mickey Rooney. After signing with MGM and becoming the biggest box-office draw of 1938-1940 with his famous "Andy Hardy" movies, he was nominated for Oscars in 1939 for his work with Spencer Tracy in "Boys Town" and in 1943 for "The Human Comedy." After appearing with Elizabeth Taylor in 1944's "National Velvet," he joined the Army and was awarded a Bronze Star for his "Jeep Shows," which gave much needed entertainment to the troops on the front lines. He revived his career after the war, eventually appearing in more than 350 films, for which he was awarded an honorary Oscar (one of the highest awards in motion pictures), in 1983. In 1982, he conquered television, starring in "Bill," and was awarded an Emmy, a Golden Globe and the Peabody Award for his performance. Jan Rooney was born in Hollywood, raised in the San Fernando Valley and made her first recording at the age of 3. She became a successful multifaceted performer, with careers as a singer, actress in both films and TV, a voice-over artist, radio co-host and commercial spokesperson. She met Mickey Rooney at his agent's house in 1974 and in 1978 became the eighth Mrs. Rooney. The couple has been performing together off and on for 30 years and has been touring the world with two-person revues for the past 10 years. "We're so happy together, and we love what we're doing," Mickey Rooney said. "We do it for the enjoyment of the people, and we hope they love it." Mr. Rooney said the couple has just completed its ninth film together, this one co-starring their good friend Ernest Borgnine. Asked if he ever entertains the thought of retiring, he said, "You know I have said it many times before, and I will say it again to you: You don't retire, you inspire."
Seems about the only thing the couple disagree upon is whether or not they have appeared in the Poconos before. She said they were there five or six years ago but she doesn't remember the details. He said they were never there. Either way, if you go to one of the shows this weekend, you are in for a special treat and will be in the company of a true living legend. // var ranNum = Math.round(Math.random()*1000000); document.write('http://content.yellowbrix.com/images/content/cimage.nsp?ctype=full_story&story_id=147771627&id=thirdage&ip_id=McClatchy-Tribune+Business+News&source_id=The+Times+Leader+%28Wilkes-Barre%2C+Pa.%29&category=Entertainment&random=' + (ranNum));// ]]>//
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