In memoriam: Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney, with his wife Jan

Air Dates: April 12-15, 2014

This week RSF presents a special “In Memoriam” show, an exclusive New Mexico interview with the late Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney, accompanied by his wife actress and singer Jan Rooney. Filmed in July 2007, Rooney offers insights and stories about Hollywood royalty and recounts his encounter with real royalty, when he met Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain and kissed her hand.

Rooney describes his filming experiences in New Mexico, shooting “The Legend of O.B. Taggart” on the Bonanza Ranch with Ernest Borgnine, Ned Beatty, Larry Gaitlin and Randy Travis. He details how he came to give Marilyn Monroe her new name for her movie career, how he set it up for Frank Sinatra to become an actor as well as a singer, and how after filming “Boys' Town” with Spencer Tracy he was named “Mayor for Life” of Boys' Town.

Rooney and Jan tell stories of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and sing songs from the classic musicals we all love. Together they sing Gershwin's “Let's call the whole thing off,” having lots of fun with “you say neither, and I say neyether, potato, poyahto,” etc.

A decorated enlisted man, Rooney wears the Bronze Star given him by none other than General Patton and tells about doing “jeep shows” to entertain the troops during World War II. He celebrates his friend Lee Marvin, whom he calls one of our greatest Marines, and who is buried in the National Cemetery in Arlington.

 

Gene Hackman, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, Ann Miller, Sammy Davis Jr are all included in this great actor's reminiscences, as he romps through tales of his amazing life starting with his debut as a baby in his parents' burlesque act in venues lit by lanterns and continuing through a career that ended with him as an iconic Hollywood star who passed away this week. We mourn his loss and share this interview in tribute to Mickey Rooney!