"And
that's the way I have always lived, for the laughs -- today. N-O-W.
No
Other Way." -- Mickey Rooney
The
former Joe Yule, Jr. made his stage debut at the age of 18 months and quickly
became one of Hollywood's top child stars. By 1939, 'Mickey Rooney'
was the biggest box-office attraction in the world. He was a close
friend to Charlie Chaplin, Errol Flynn and James Cagney -- and had relationships
with screen-godesses Lana
Turner and Ava
Gardner. He came up with the stage name 'Marilyn
Monroe' for Norma Jean Baker, discovered Sammy
Davis, Jr., and even claims to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney's
naming of a certain animated mouse.
Sir Laurence Olivier called Mickey Rooney the single best actor America
has ever produced. He's been married eight times (see
below), received an Emmy, a Tony and 2 Oscars, has appeared in
over 200 feature films, and is an avid inventor (puppy pop, kitty cola,
Weenie Whirls, Mickey Melon, etc.) of dozens of self-described "moneymaking
schemes." Mr. Rooney celebrated his 82nd birthday on September 23,
2002.
My friends (Larry and Matt) and I prefer
the older, disheveled, slightly whacked-out Mickey Rooney -- whose bizarre
antics and stories enliven even the dullest talkshows and who's now (sadly)
relegated to 
starring in such cinematic delights as 'Silent
Night, Deadly Night - Part 5,' 'Women's
Prison Escape' and 'Revenge
of the Red Baron.' We first joined/formed this private Cult of
Rooney after witnessing a couple of his daytime talkshow appearances, first
on a classic 1993 Jerry Springer, closely followed by a guest
spot on Sally Jessy Raphael. Since then, we've taken it upon
ourselves to seek out and document his every talkshow appearance -- be
it on Late Night with Conan O'Brian (see right), Charles Grodin
or Larry King Live. We've already amassed quite a collection,
and we'd love to hear from other devotees.
"You always dream of marrying your high school sweetheart and getting a box of detergent and going off into the sunset. Well, oft times it doesn't happen that way." -- Mickey Rooney
Current and former Mrs.
Rooney's:
'January (Jan) Chamberlin'
(1978 - present)
'Carolyn Hockett' (1969 - 1974)
(divorced)
'Marge Lane' (1967 - 1967) (divorced after
only 100 days)
'Barbara Ann Thomason' (1958 - 1966)
(murdered)
'Elaine Mahnken' (1952 - 1958) (divorced)
Martha Vickers (1948 - 1951)
(divorced)
'Betty Jane Rase' (1944 - 1948) (divorced)
Ava Gardner (January 1942 - May 1943) (divorced,
at
right)
Rooney on his marriages: Confessions of a Much Married Man
Mickey
Rooney Resources:
Complete
Filmography
Mickey
Rooney biography from Baseline's Encyclopedia of Film
Mickey
Rooney Television Schedule -- from TV Now ... find out when his movies
are showing
Mickey
Rooney's finest film moments -- (arguably) his 10 best silver screen
performances
Photo
Gallery -- interesting and uncommon
Rooney pics
Rooney
Quotes -- where "kids are goats" and "age is only experience"
Rooney Articles, Interviews,
and Reviews:
excerpt
from 'Playboy' -- a bet involving Rooney, Phil Silvers, Jackie Cooper
and a hooker
Rooney's
trip to land of 'Oz' -- HIGHLY entertaining interview with Rooney
'The
Search for Sonny Skies' -- amusing review of The Mick's first novel
Confessions
of a Superbrat -- excellent interview/profile from The Daily Telegraph
(UK)
Short
Stories; Well some are quite long, but it's always a treat to visit
Mickey Rooney
Mickey
Rooney: Hollywood, Religion and His Latest Show --
web article by Kira Albin
'One
of the Boys' -- the short lived NBC
series featuring Rooney, Dana Carvey and Nathan Lane
'The
Mickey Rooney Show' (aka 'Hey Mulligan') -- NBC sitcom - 39 Filmed
Episodes, 1954-55
Rooney
Shows Old Charm -- recent review of Mickey and Jan's touring show
Rooney Websites and Links:
The
Official Website of Mickey Rooney -- all fancy-like!
A
Tribute to Mickey Rooney -- great page from the About Classic Movies
site
E!
Online Fact Sheet: Mickey Rooney
Elizabeth's
Mickey Rooney Page -- nicely done website/tribute
Mickey
Rooney, Jr. -- former Mouseketeer, actor, and singer
Crystal's
Mickey Rooney Page -- a tribute to
the classic star
Paradise
-- new film with Mickey Rooney now in production
If
you have comments, questions or suggestions,
email
us at TheRooneyX@prodigy.net
(please read the Frequently-Asked-Questions
page first)
visitors haven't yet "had enough of Rooney"
The
Mickey Rooney Experience was
last
revised on December 10, 2002
