Donald O'Connor

Donald O'Connor

Born: August 28, 1925
Died: September 27, 2003
in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Donald O’Connor (August 28, 1925 - September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. He is best known today for his role in Singin' in the Rain.

Movies for Donald O'Connor...

Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Title: Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: December 2, 2014
Type: Movie
Bing Crosby was, without a doubt, the most popular and influential multi-media star of the first half of the twentieth century, pulling audiences in with his intimate, laid-back voice and innate charm. Narrated by Stanley Tucci and directed by Robert Trachtenberg, this film explores the life and legend of this iconic performer, revealing a personality far more complex than the image the public had only thought they'd known.
bee
And the Oscar Goes To...
Title: And the Oscar Goes To...
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 1, 2014
Type: Movie
The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most coveted prize, AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... traces the history of the Academy itself, which began in 1927 when Louis B. Mayer, then head of MGM, led other prominent members of the industry in forming this professional honorary organization. Two years later the Academy began bestowing awards, which were nicknamed "Oscar," and quickly came to represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement.
bee
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
Title: Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 15, 2005
Type: Movie
Documentary on the 1953 musical "The Band Wagon."
bee
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Title: Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 24, 2002
Type: Movie
American Masters Series. Documentary on Gene Kelly that gives insight into his dancing, how he formed a style (first "blue collar dancer") and developed different cinematique techniques, such as brilliantly shot dancing sequences.
bee
What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'
Title: What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'
Character: Self
Released: September 24, 2002
Type: Movie
Movie and stage icon Debbie Reynolds hosts the making of "Singin' in the Rain". The short documentary includes Donald O'Connor, who played the comical "Cosmo Brown", Stanley Donen, one half of the directors next to Gene Kelly, and Kathleen Freeman, who played Phoebe Dinsmore, Lina Lamont's (Jean Hagen) voice coach.
bee
Hollywood at Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints
Title: Hollywood at Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2000
Type: Movie
Documentary explores that his of the famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Opened on May 18, 1927 as Grauman's Chinese Theater, it immediately drew attention from the public, and, more importantly, from those in the entertainment industry. Hosted by Raquel Welch.
bee
Out to Sea
Title: Out to Sea
Character: Jonathan Devereaux
Released: July 2, 1997
Type: Movie
Care-free Charlie cons his widower brother-in-law Herb into an expenses-paid luxury cruise in search of rich, lonely ladies. The catch is that they are required to be dance hosts! With a tyrannical cruise director, and the luscious Liz and lovely Vivian, our heroes have lots of mis-adventures before they finally return to port.
bee
Father Frost
Title: Father Frost
Character: Baba Yaga
Released: January 1, 1996
Type: Movie
Ruled by the all powerful Father Frost, the Forest of Enchantment is the most bizarre and remarkable place in the world! Natalie and Ivan's newlywed hopes of living happily ever after are shattered when they stumble into this mysterious and strange forest. The evil witch, Baba Yaga, can't stand love and sets out to curse their marriage. With incredible magical forces against them, the young couple must summon the great power of Father Frost to come to their aid before their love is lost forever.
bee
That's Entertainment! III
Title: That's Entertainment! III
Character: (archive footage)
Released: July 1, 1994
Type: Movie
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929 to Brigadoon, from the first musical talkies to Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain.
bee
Bandit's Silver Angel
Title: Bandit's Silver Angel
Character: Uncle Cyrus
Released: April 10, 1994
Type: Movie
Bandit (Brian Bloom) gets an unexpected and unwelcome visit from his eccentric Uncle Cyrus.
bee
Title: The Nanny
Character: Fred
Released: November 3, 1993
Type: TV
Fran, fresh out of her job as a bridal consultant in her boyfriend’s shop, first appears on the doorstep of Broadway producer Maxwell Sheffield peddling cosmetics, and quickly stumbled upon the opportunity to become The Nanny for his three children. But soon Fran, with her offbeat nurturing and no-nonsense honesty, touches Maxwell as well as the kids.
bee
Title: Frasier
Character: Harlow Safford
Released: September 16, 1993
Type: TV
After many years spent at the “Cheers” bar, Frasier moves back home to Seattle to work as a radio psychiatrist after his policeman father gets shot in the hip on duty.
bee
Toys
Title: Toys
Character: Kenneth Zevo
Released: December 18, 1992
Type: Movie
Leslie Zevo is a fun-loving inventor who must save his late father's toy factory from his evil uncle, Leland, a war-mongering general who rules the operation with an iron fist and builds weapons disguised as toys.
bee
Title: Tales from the Crypt
Character: Joseph Renfield
Released: June 10, 1989
Type: TV
Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C. Comics tales from back in the day. So shamble up to the bar and pick your poison. Will it be an insane Santa on a personal slay ride? Honeymooners out to fulfill the "til death do we part" vow ASAP?
bee
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Title: Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Character: Self
Released: May 16, 1988
Type: Movie
Stars celebrate Bob Hope's 50 years with NBC.
bee
A Mouse, a Mystery and Me
Title: A Mouse, a Mystery and Me
Character: Alex the Mouse
Released: December 13, 1987
Type: Movie
A Christmas special about a world-class mystery-writing mouse who spends Christmas Eve with his sleuthing partners tracking down a missing Santa. The special combines live-action footage with an animated character, Alex the mouse.
bee
A Time to Remember
Title: A Time to Remember
Character: Father Walsh
Released: November 25, 1987
Type: Movie
It is small town America in the 1950's. Twelve year-old Angelo Villano has one dream: to someday sing like his idol, Mario Lanza. His grandmother, Mama Theresa encourages him; and his beautiful voice catches the attention of the formidable but kind Father Walsh who arranges for him to receive formal training. This infuriates Angelo's widowed father, Frank, who wants his son to be a steelworker like him. Determined to "make a man out of him", Frank forbids Angelo from singing. When Angelo is chased by bullies into the path of an oncoming car, he recovers all but his voice, retreating into a silent world that no one can touch. One night, locked in the church basement, the frightened Angelo experiences a spectacular vision, a true Christmas miracle, that changes his life. And when his vision and his voice return during Christmas Eve Mass, no one can deny the beauty and blessing of his amazing gift.
bee
Title: Alice in Wonderland
Character: Lory Bird
Released: December 9, 1985
Type: TV
Sometimes she's too big. Or much too small. Sometimes things are backwards. And there's always too much pepper in the soup! Nothing is quite right since Alice chased a very unusual White Rabbit and stumbled into an adventure that grows curiouser and curiouser. One of the greatest childhood fantasies is captured in Irwin Allen's colorful production adapted from Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Originally aired over two nights in 1985 on CBS.
bee
Night of 100 Stars II
Title: Night of 100 Stars II
Character: Self
Released: March 10, 1985
Type: Movie
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was taped February 17, 1985, at New York's Radio City Music Hall, this sequel to the 1982 "Night of 100 Stars" special features 288 celebrities.
bee
That's Dancing!
Title: That's Dancing!
Released: January 18, 1985
Type: Movie
A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.
bee
Title: Murder, She Wrote
Character: Barry Barnes
Released: September 30, 1984
Type: TV
An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.
bee
Title: Highway to Heaven
Released: September 19, 1984
Type: TV
A probationary angel is sent back to Earth to team up with an ex-cop and help people.
bee
Alice in Wonderland
Title: Alice in Wonderland
Character: Mock Turtle
Released: October 3, 1983
Type: Movie
From the elaborate Broadway revival of the 1932 Eva Le Gallienne/Florida Friebus production comes a whimsical retelling of the Lewis Carroll classic.
bee
Title: Hotel
Released: August 21, 1982
Type: TV
Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty. Based on Arthur Hailey's 1965 novel of the same name, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling and set in the elegant and fictitious St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco. Establishing shots of the hotel were filmed in front of The Fairmont San Francisco atop the Nob Hill neighborhood. Episodes followed the activities of passing guests, as well as the personal and professional lives of the hotel staff.
bee
Pandemonium
Title: Pandemonium
Character: Glenn's Dad
Released: April 1, 1982
Type: Movie
A former high school student who always wanted to be a cheerleader decides to reopen the cheerleading program at her former high school after years of closure for being targeted by a serial killer.
bee
Title: Simon & Simon
Released: November 24, 1981
Type: TV
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series that originally ran from November 24, 1981 to January 21, 1989. The series was broadcast on CBS and starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two brothers who run a private detective agency together.
bee
Ragtime
Title: Ragtime
Character: Evelyn's Dance Instructor
Released: November 20, 1981
Type: Movie
A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence, and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.
bee
Title: The Big Show
Character: Self
Released: March 4, 1980
Type: TV
The Big Show is an American comedy-variety-musical television series produced and broadcast by NBC for several months in 1980. The series aimed to revitalize the moribund variety television genre, which had been in a downward spiral since the cancellations of The Ed Sullivan Show and The Carol Burnett Show a few years earlier. The Big Show took its title seriously, using a huge stage set and filling a 90-minute time-slot, with at least one two-hour installment broadcast. Although the first broadcast received high ratings, poor reviews and low ratings of succeeding episodes resulted in the program being cancelled after only a few months. The series nonetheless was nominated for six Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Costume Design. Regular performers included Joe Baker, Graham Chapman, Mimi Kennedy, Shabba-Doo and Pamela Myers. Guest hosts included Steve Allen, Nell Carter, David Copperfield, Geoffrey Holder, Gary Coleman, and Sid Caesar. Skaters who performed in the show included Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, John Curry, and Toller Cranston.
bee
Lucy Moves to NBC
Title: Lucy Moves to NBC
Character: Self
Released: February 8, 1980
Type: Movie
Contacted by Fred Silverman, the President of NBC, Lucille Ball accepts to go back to work as a producer. With the help of her faithful production assistant, Gale Gordon, she starts working on a new series titled "The Music Mart".
bee
The Big Fix
Title: The Big Fix
Character: Francis Joins The Navy
Released: October 6, 1978
Type: Movie
Private detective Moses Wine is hired by his former college girlfriend to investigate a political smear campaign and he sets out to find out who is responsible, with deadly results.
bee
Title: The Love Boat
Character: Oscar Tilton
Released: September 24, 1977
Type: TV
Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the "Love Boat", where Gopher, Dr. Bricker, Isaac, Julie, and Captain Stubing try their best to please them, and sometimes help them fall in love. Things are not always so easy, but in the end, love wins.
bee
Title: Hunter
Released: February 18, 1977
Type: TV
Global espionage with an American agent and his sexy partner.
bee
That's Entertainment, Part II
Title: That's Entertainment, Part II
Character: (archive footage)
Released: May 16, 1976
Type: Movie
Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire present more golden moments from the MGM film library, this time including comedy and drama as well as classic musical numbers.
bee
It's Showtime
Title: It's Showtime
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 31, 1976
Type: Movie
A collection of film clips profiling animal actors.
bee
Title: The Bionic Woman
Released: January 14, 1976
Type: TV
After fully recovering from her near fatal bout of bionic rejection, Jaime Sommers, the first female cyborg, is assigned to spy missions of her own.
bee
Title: Ellery Queen
Released: September 11, 1975
Type: TV
Ellery Queen is an American television detective mystery series based on the fictional character Ellery Queen. It aired on NBC during the 1975-76 television season and stars Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, David Wayne as his father, Inspector Richard Queen, and Tom Reese as Sgt. Velie. Created by the writing/producing team of Richard Levinson and William Link, the title character "breaks" the fourth wall to ask the audience to consider their solution.
bee
The Lion Roars Again
Title: The Lion Roars Again
Character: Self (uncredited)
Released: January 1, 1975
Type: Movie
A chronicle of the 1975 International Press Conclave hosted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer over two days in May 1975.
bee
Title: Tony Orlando and Dawn
Character: Self
Released: December 4, 1974
Type: TV
CBS gave the group a television variety show (entitled Tony Orlando and Dawn) from the summer of 1974, after The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour ended its run, until December 1976. The show was in the same vein as its predecessor (with sketches featuring sarcastic back-and-forth banter between Orlando, Hopkins and Vincent, similar to the sarcastic dialogue between Sonny and Cher) and became a Top 20 hit. They are most famous for "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" &  "Knock Three Times"!
bee
That's Entertainment!
Title: That's Entertainment!
Character: Self - Host / Narrator
Released: June 21, 1974
Type: Movie
Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
bee
Title: Police Story
Released: March 20, 1973
Type: TV
Police Story is an anthology television crime drama. The show was the brainchild of author and former policeman Joseph Wambaugh and represented a major step forward in the realistic depiction of police work and violence on network TV. Although it was an anthology, there were certain things that all episodes had in common; for instance, the main character in each episode was a police officer. The setting was always Los Angeles and the characters always worked for some branch of the LAPD. Notwithstanding the anthology format, there were recurring characters. Scott Brady appeared in more than a dozen episodes as "Vinnie," a former cop who, upon retirement, had opened a bar catering to police officers, and who acted as a sort of Greek chorus during the run of the series, commenting on the characters and plots.
bee
Title: The Julie Andrews Hour
Character: Self
Released: September 13, 1972
Type: TV
The Julie Andrews Hour is a television variety series starring Julie Andrews that was produced by ATV and distributed by ITC Entertainment. It aired on the ABC network in the United States. In order to secure Andrews for the series, Sir Lew Grade and ABC offered her an extremely lucrative contract. In 1963, when another major star, Judy Garland was signed to a weekly television variety series, it failed to catch on with the public. One of the main reasons for its demise was its constant change of format and the fact that critics and audiences felt that Garland was not shown off to her best advantage. In order to avoid that error, Andrews asked producer Nick Vanoff what the premise of the show would be about. Vanoff immediately answered her by saying "Julie Andrews...without Julie Andrews there is no 'Julie Andrews Hour'". The show premiered on ABC Wednesday, September 13, 1972 at 10:00 P.M. ET to rave reviews. Unfortunately, its time slot proved to be daunting because it was up against the popular CBS detective series, Cannon. Another reason for the low ratings was that the lateness of the hour was not conducive to family viewing since children were in bed by that time. On Thanksgiving Eve, November 22, 1972, "The Julie Andrews Hour" devoted an entire episode saluting Walt Disney. To make it more of a "family special", ABC switched the time slot of "The Julie Andrews Hour" that night to 8:30 P.M. and The ABC Wednesday Movie Of The Week to 9:30 P.M. The ratings improved a little so ABC then made a decision to alternate Andrews' time period each week This continued until January, 1973 when the series was moved to Saturday nights at 9:00 P.M. The ratings went from bad to worse as Andrews' chief competition was The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show on CBS. "The Julie Andrews Hour" was finally canceled by ABC after its 24th episode in April, 1973.
bee
Title: Columbo
Character: Clarence Millard (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: September 15, 1971
Type: TV
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
bee
Title: Great Performances
Character: Self
Released: January 28, 1971
Type: TV
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
bee
Title: Great Performances
Character: Mock Turtle
Released: January 28, 1971
Type: TV
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
bee
Title: The Pet Set
Character: Self
Released: January 25, 1971
Type: TV
Each episode of this part talk show, part docuseries begins with animal-loving celebrities showcasing their pets. The showcase transitions into a documentary segment on the species previously showcased, followed by a discussion with an animal expert, and concluding with host Betty White and sometimes her guest stars outside with a wild animal.
bee
Title: The Don Knotts Show
Character: Self
Released: September 15, 1970
Type: TV
The Don Knotts Show was a variety program aired by NBC as part of its 1970-71 lineup. Long relegated to the role of sidekick, which he had portrayed for many years in several television series and films, Don Knotts was the headliner here. Each week, he and his guests put on standard TV variety fare of the era. Two recurring features were a skit about the effort involved in putting a weekly television series on the air, much in the spirit of The Jack Benny Show, and The Front Porch, in which Don and a guest would sit in rocking chairs and quietly discuss their philosophies of life. Notable regulars in his cast included Elaine Joyce and Gary Burghoff, who had previously portrayed "Radar O'Reilly" in the film version of M*A*S*H and was about to achieve his greatest fame in reprising that role for the television version of it.
bee
Title: The Donald O'Connor Show
Character: Host
Released: November 18, 1968
Type: TV
The Donald O'Connor Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Donald O'Connor that aired in the the 1968-1969 season.
bee
Title: The Carol Burnett Show
Character: Self - Guest / Various Characters
Released: September 11, 1967
Type: TV
The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway. It originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 278 episodes and originated from CBS Television City's Studio 33. The series won 25 prime time Emmy Awards, was ranked No. 16 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time in 2002 and in 2007 was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All Time."
bee
Title: ABC Stage 67
Character: Hermes
Released: September 14, 1966
Type: TV
ABC Stage 67 is the umbrella title for a series of 26 weekly shows that included dramas, variety shows, documentaries, and original musicals. It premiered on American Broadcasting Company on September 14, 1966 with Murray Schisgal's The Love Song of Barney Kempinksi, directed by Stanley Prager and starring Alan Arkin as a man enjoying the sights and sounds of New York City in his last remaining hours of bachelorhood. Arkin was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By An Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama and the program was nominated as Outstanding Dramatic Program. Future programs included appearances by Petula Clark, Bobby Darin, Sir Laurence Olivier, Albert Finney, Peter Sellers, David Frost, and Jack Paar. ABC's effort to bring culture to the masses was a noble but unsuccessful experiment. Scheduled first against I Spy on Wednesdays and then The Dean Martin Show on Thursdays, the show consistently received low ratings. Its last production, an adaptation of Jean Cocteau's one-woman play The Human Voice starring Ingrid Bergman, aired on May 4, 1967. "Stage 67" was not actually a part of the primary ABC facilities in Los Angeles. It was produced at the old Monogram Studios backlot that was later sold to KCET.
bee
That Funny Feeling
Title: That Funny Feeling
Character: Harvey Granson
Released: August 14, 1965
Type: Movie
Joan Howell, a young and pretty maid-for-hire, meets and begins dating wealthy New York City businessman Tom Milford. Embarrassed about bringing him back to her tiny apartment that she shares with her roommate Audrey, Joan brings Tom over to a fancy apartment that she cleans on a daily basis not knowing that it's his place. Tom plays along with the charade despite not knowing who Joan really is, while she tries to tidy up Tom's place not knowing who he really is. Written by Matthew Patay
bee
Title: The Judy Garland Show
Character: Himself
Released: December 8, 1963
Type: TV
The Judy Garland Show is an American musical variety television series that aired on CBS on Sunday nights during the 1963-1964 television season. Despite a sometimes stormy relationship with Judy Garland, CBS had found success with several television specials featuring the star. Garland, who for years had been reluctant to commit to a weekly series, saw the show as her best chance to pull herself out of severe financial difficulties. Production difficulties beset the series almost from the beginning. The series had three different producers in the course of its 26 episodes and went through a number of other key personnel changes. With the change in producers also came changes to the show's format, which started as comedy/variety but switched to an almost purely concert format. While Garland herself was popular with critics, the initial variety format and her co-star, Jerry Van Dyke, were not. The show competed with Bonanza, then the fourth most popular program on television, and consistently performed poorly in the ratings. Although fans rallied in an attempt to save the show, CBS cancelled it after a single season. TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".
bee
Title: Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Character: Benjamin Boggs
Released: October 4, 1963
Type: TV
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic, and comedy.
bee
Title: Vacation Playhouse
Character: Donald Dugan
Released: July 22, 1963
Type: TV
The concept of the series was the showing of unaired and unsold television pilots that did not make the television lineup for CBS. The show was successful during its first few seasons due to the fact that the show's concept, airing unsold and unaired television pilots, was a popular concept in the 1960s. But during its last two seasons on the air, the series did find some trouble due to the fact that the series were running out of pilots to air and, in their 4th season, they began airing repeats from the three seasons prior. During its 1966 summer run, the series aired eights new pilots and two repeats and during its last year airing five new pilots and four repeats.
bee
Marilyn
Title: Marilyn
Character: Self ("There's No Business...") (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: April 18, 1963
Type: Movie
This 1963 documentary, released less than a year after Marilyn Monroe's death, showcases the star in memorable scenes from her 20th Century Fox films, including wardrobe tests and clips from her last, uncompleted project, "Something's Got To Give". Hosted and narrated by Rock Hudson.
bee
Title: The Mike Douglas Show
Character: Self - Co-Host
Released: December 11, 1961
Type: TV
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
bee
The Wonders of Aladdin
Title: The Wonders of Aladdin
Character: Aladdin
Released: October 31, 1961
Type: Movie
Young Aladdin has a series of wild adventures after he discovers a magic lamp containing a genie.
bee
Cry for Happy
Title: Cry for Happy
Character: Murray Prince
Released: March 3, 1961
Type: Movie
Army photographers on leave in Japan take over a geisha house.
bee
Title: Startime
Released: October 6, 1959
Type: TV
Startime is an anthology show of drama, comedy, and variety, and was one of the first American television shows broadcast in color. The program was aired Tuesday nights in the United States on the NBC Television network in the 1959-60 television season.
bee
Title: Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Character: Self - Guest Host
Released: July 29, 1957
Type: TV
Tonight Starring Jack Paar is an American talk show hosted by Jack Paar under The Tonight Show franchise from 1957 to 1962. It originally aired during late-night. During most of its run it was broadcast from Studio 6B inside the RCA Building. The same studio would also host early episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Its theme song was an instrumental version of "Everything's Coming Up Roses", and the closing theme was "So Until I See You" by Al Lerner.
bee
The Buster Keaton Story
Title: The Buster Keaton Story
Character: Buster Keaton
Released: May 1, 1957
Type: Movie
An inaccurate retelling of the life of silent filmmaker and comedian Buster Keaton.
bee
Title: The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Character: Self
Released: October 5, 1956
Type: TV
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on NBC from October 1956 to June 1963. The series was sponsored by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors and its theme song, sung by Shore, was "See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet", which continued to be used in Chevrolet advertising for several more years after the cancellation of the show.
bee
Anything Goes
Title: Anything Goes
Character: Ted Adams
Released: April 27, 1956
Type: Movie
Bill Benson and Ted Adams are to appear in a Broadway show together and, while in Paris, each 'discovers' the perfect leading lady for the plum female role. Each promises the prize role to the girl they selected without informing the other until they head back across the Atlantic by liner - with each man having brought his choice along! It becomes a stormy crossing as each man has to tell his 'find' that she might not get the role after all.
bee
Title: Tony Awards
Character: Self - Presenter
Released: April 1, 1956
Type: TV
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre.
bee
Francis in the Navy
Title: Francis in the Navy
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: August 24, 1955
Type: Movie
In the U. S. Army intelligence office, bumbling lieutenant Peter Stirling receives a coded message from his friend, Francis, a talking mule. The note urges Pete to hurry to the Coronado, California naval base, where Francis is about to be sold as surplus. Pete rushes to the train station, but before he can board, nurse Betsy Donevan mistakes him for her shell-shocked brother, Navy boatswain Slicker Donevan. She tries to forcibly remove his uniform so he will not get into trouble for impersonating an Army officer. Finally she realizes that Pete is not Slicker but merely his mirror image.
bee
There's No Business Like Show Business
Title: There's No Business Like Show Business
Character: Tim Donahue
Released: December 16, 1954
Type: Movie
Molly and Terry Donahue, plus their three children, are The Five Donahues. Youngest son Tim meets hat-check girl Vicky and the family act begins to fall apart.
bee
Title: The Donald O'Connor Show
Character: Donald O'Connor
Released: October 9, 1954
Type: TV
The Donald O'Connor Show is an American musical situation comedy television series starring singer/dancer Donald O'Connor. It appeared on NBC from October 9, 1954, to September 10, 1955, alternating on the Saturday evening schedule with The Jimmy Durante Show; both were sponsored by Texaco.
bee
Title: The Jimmy Durante Show
Character: Self
Released: October 2, 1954
Type: TV
The Jimmy Durante Show is a 51-episode half-hour comedy/variety television program presented live on NBC from October 2, 1954 to June 23, 1956.
bee
Francis Joins the WACS
Title: Francis Joins the WACS
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: July 30, 1954
Type: Movie
Peter Stirling (with his old friend the talking mule) is recalled to active duty...in the WACs!
bee
Walking My Baby Back Home
Title: Walking My Baby Back Home
Character: Clarence "Jigger" Millard
Released: December 6, 1953
Type: Movie
A young man from a wealthy New York family pursues a career as the leader of a dance band.
bee
Francis Covers the Big Town
Title: Francis Covers the Big Town
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: June 10, 1953
Type: Movie
A man who has a talking mule gets a job on a newspaper, and both get mixed up in a murder trial.
bee
Call Me Madam
Title: Call Me Madam
Character: Kenneth Gibson
Released: March 25, 1953
Type: Movie
Washington hostess Sally Adams becomes a Truman-era US ambassador to a European grand duchy.
bee
I Love Melvin
Title: I Love Melvin
Character: Melvin Hoover
Released: March 20, 1953
Type: Movie
Melvin Hoover, a budding photographer for Look magazine, accidentally bumps into a young actress named Judy LeRoy in the park. They start to talk and Melvin soon offers to do a photo spread of her. His boss, however, has no intention of using the photos. Melvin wants to marry Judy, but her father would rather she marry dull and dependable Harry Black. As a last resort, Melvin promises to get Judy's photo on the cover of the next issue of Look, a task easier said than done.
bee
Title: The Oscars
Character: Self
Released: March 19, 1953
Type: TV
An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially the Academy Award of Merit, that is better known by its nickname Oscar.
bee
Francis Goes to West Point
Title: Francis Goes to West Point
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: July 1, 1952
Type: Movie
Francis the talking mule gets his owner in and out of trouble while he is taking basic training at West Point.
bee
Singin' in the Rain
Title: Singin' in the Rain
Character: Cosmo Brown
Released: April 9, 1952
Type: Movie
In 1927 Hollywood, a silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.
bee
Francis Goes to the Races
Title: Francis Goes to the Races
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: May 1, 1951
Type: Movie
In this funny sequel to the popular Francis the Talking Mule, the talkative Mule and his pal Peter get a job working on a horse-breeder's ranch. They end up saving it from financial ruin when Francis, who has the inside track with the racehorses, provides Peter with names of the winners before the races are run. Sure enough Peter finds himself with a fistful of cash and uses it to buy a racehorse for the farm. Unfortunately, the horse he chooses is suffering from a debilitating lack of confidence. When not dealing with the mare, Peter finds time to court the horse breeder's niece and trying to avoid the gangsters who want in on the winnings.
bee
Double Crossbones
Title: Double Crossbones
Character: Davey Crandall
Released: April 26, 1951
Type: Movie
Falsely accused by the corrupt Governor Elden of Charleston of fencing stolen pirate booty, young Davey Crandall and friend Tom Botts buy passage on the ship of local buccaneer Bloodthirsty Ben. They avoid being killed by faking a case of the pox, which causes the panicked captain and crew to desert the ship. The two find themselves alone, and when a lucky cannon shot hits a mast on a British ship, they find themselves mistaken for pirates. They sail to Tortuga, where they recruit such notorious corsairs as Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonney, and Blackbeard to lay siege to Chaleston and expose the villain Elden.
bee
The Milkman
Title: The Milkman
Character: Roger Bradley
Released: October 17, 1950
Type: Movie
A dairy owner's son takes a job as milkman with a rival company.
bee
Title: The Colgate Comedy Hour
Character: Self
Released: September 10, 1950
Type: TV
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show starred many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae, Ben Blue, Robert Paige, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Broadway dancer Wayne Lamb and Spike Jones and His City Slickers.
bee
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Title: Curtain Call at Cactus Creek
Character: Edward Timmons
Released: May 25, 1950
Type: Movie
Traveling entertainer gets mixed up with bank robbers.
bee
Title: The Bob Hope Show
Character: Self
Released: April 9, 1950
Type: TV
The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC rotated with other variety shows in a Sunday night block known as "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (Sept. 1950 to Dec. 1955). Also known as, "The Chevy Show with Bob Hope." When the first special debuted in October of 1950 it was the most expensive television program made up to that point - costing an astronomical $1,500 a minute to produce. Bob Hope had his own television show and radio show at the same time. For the next three seasons, The Bob Hope Show was broadcast once a month on Tuesday nights, giving Milton Berle a week off. Bob ended his radio show in April, 1956. Bob Hope also had another show by a similar name, "The Bob Hope Show (All Star Revue)". In addition, he performed in "Specials" for many years. It is the longest running variety program in television's history with a record of 45 years of televised entertainment.
bee
Francis
Title: Francis
Character: Peter Stirling
Released: February 8, 1950
Type: Movie
The truthful soldier Stirling didn't know how to lie about his source of information, the talking army Mule, Francis, so he was treated as a lunatic and led to one after another hilarious situations, where the mule was the only one that appeared in his right mind. In the process of all this, the mule assisted in uncovering a spy, Mareen, who pretended to be lost among the jungles, but was actually...
bee
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Title: Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Character: William Waldo Winfield
Released: September 14, 1949
Type: Movie
At a college, a group of ex-GIs clash with their wives about over playing football.
bee
Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
bee
Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
bee
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Title: Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin'
Character: Wilbur McMurty
Released: June 1, 1948
Type: Movie
A fast-talking salesman is "kidnapped" by a town, which intends to use him in its annual race with a rival community.
bee
Are You With It?
Title: Are You With It?
Character: Milton Haskins
Released: March 19, 1948
Type: Movie
Milton Haskins, a math genius known for his infallibility with numbers, quits his job with an insurance company when he discovers he made a mistake, and hooks up with a traveling carnival. His knowledge of mathematics makes him a natural as an assistant at the wheel of fortune. His fiancée begs him to return to his job but he refuses, so she joins the carnival and becomes a striptease artist. When Milton attempts to drag her off the stage, a brawling mêlée breaks out and the entire troupe is arrested by the local police. The carnival is sold but Milton reveals that the new owner has conspired to defraud the insurance company. The insurance company has to accept the carnival in lieu of the money owed, and they allow Milton and his fiancée, Vivian, to stay with and help run the carnival.
bee
Something in the Wind
Title: Something in the Wind
Character: Charlie Read
Released: July 21, 1947
Type: Movie
A grandson of a recently deceased millionaire mistakes a beautiful female disc jockey for her aunt, who once dated the grandfather.
bee
Patrick the Great
Title: Patrick the Great
Character: Pat Donahue Jr.
Released: May 4, 1945
Type: Movie
A famous stage actor hopes to land the lead role in a big new Broadway musical, but he's unaware his teenage son has already been given the part.
bee
Bowery to Broadway
Title: Bowery to Broadway
Character: Specialty dancer
Released: November 3, 1944
Type: Movie
Two Bowery vaudevillians find success in producing shows on Broadway, but when one of them suddenly departs to work for a beautiful woman, a feud erupts.
bee
The Merry Monahans
Title: The Merry Monahans
Character: Jimmy Monahan
Released: September 15, 1944
Type: Movie
The film concerns a family vaudeville troupe headed by patriarch Pete Monahan. Because of his love affair with the bottle, Pete manages to get himself and his family blacklisted from every major vaude house in the country. Though Pete's kids Jimmy and Patsy love their dad, they're forced to break away from the act and go off on their own to survive. Eventually, the whole gang is reunited in a shamelessly lachrymose musical finale.
bee
This Is the Life
Title: This Is the Life
Character: Jimmy Plum
Released: June 1, 1944
Type: Movie
18-year-old Angela, reared in a New England town by her Aunt Betsy, receives an inheritance which she uses to go to New York, ostensibly for voice training, but she is pursuing Major Hilary Jarret, an Army surgeon with whom she has become infatuated. Her departure depresses her childhood friend Jimmy Plum. Dr. Plum devises an errand on which to send his love-sick son to New York, where Jimmy discovers Angela thinks she is Jarret's fiancée. Jimmy also renews acquaintances with a group of show people, including Sally McGuire, who attempts to console him. Jimmy meets Jarret's divorced wife, Harriet, famed photographer. Jimmy engineers a meeting of Jarret and Harriet with Angela present, which forms the beginning of an understanding that Jarret is not for her. Jimmy is inducted into the Army.
bee
Follow the Boys
Title: Follow the Boys
Character: Donald O'Connor
Released: May 5, 1944
Type: Movie
During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.
bee
Chip Off the Old Block
Title: Chip Off the Old Block
Character: Donald Corrigan
Released: February 1, 1944
Type: Movie
The son of a strict Navy officer falls for the daughter of a musical-comedy star.
bee
Top Man
Title: Top Man
Character: Don Warren
Released: September 17, 1943
Type: Movie
In this WW II musical, a young man suddenly finds himself in charge of his family when his father is called to war. To help the flagging spirits of local factory workers, the plucky lad, his siblings and his schoolmates put on a lively little show. With a little work, he even convinces Count Basie to come with his band.
bee
Mister Big
Title: Mister Big
Character: Donald J. O'Connor
Released: May 28, 1943
Type: Movie
Students at the Davis School of the Theatre are assigned "Antigone" as their class play, but they conspire to do a swing musical instead.
bee
It Comes Up Love
Title: It Comes Up Love
Character: Ricky Ives
Released: April 9, 1943
Type: Movie
This modest bit of comedy and romance in the adolescent vein is about a couple of spirited juveniles, Donald O'Connor and Gloria Jean, who carry on a flirtation parallel with that of their elders, Louise Allbritton and Ian Hunter.
bee
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Title: When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Character: Frankie Flanagan
Released: December 24, 1942
Type: Movie
By popular consensus, Allan Jones' best Universal mini-musical of the 1940s was the timely When Johnny Comes Marching Home. Jones is cast as war hero Johnny Kovacs, who wearies of the adulation heaped upon him and takes refuge under an assumed name in a theatrical boarding house. Here he befriends orchestra leader Phil Spitalny and his all-girl aggregation, including the inimitable Evelyn and Her Magic Violin. When Army officials trace Johnny to the boarding house, his new friends assume that he's a deserter and try to convince him to return to duty.
bee
Get Hep to Love
Title: Get Hep to Love
Character: Jimmy Arnold
Released: October 2, 1942
Type: Movie
Orphan prodigy singer runs away from her oppressive aunt and tricks a rural couple into adopting her.
bee
Give Out, Sisters
Title: Give Out, Sisters
Character: Don
Released: September 1, 1942
Type: Movie
The Andrews Sisters headline this musical. They play the lead act at a popular nightclub. The trouble begins when they hire a few students from a financially foundering dance school for their newest production. One of the dancers, a rich young socialite, desperately wants to be in it too, but her prurient maiden aunts refuse to allow her to disgrace their family by becoming a common chorine. She and the club owner (who must have the aunt's permission because the girl is underage) try to convince them, but it's not easy.
bee
Private Buckaroo
Title: Private Buckaroo
Character: Donny
Released: June 12, 1942
Type: Movie
The film tells the story of army recruits following basic training, with the Andrew Sisters attending USO dances. The film is a mixture of comedy and songs.
bee
What's Cookin'?
Title: What's Cookin'?
Character: Tommy
Released: February 20, 1942
Type: Movie
J. P. Courtney wants to update the music on the radio program he sponsors, but his wife, Agatha Courtney, is the final authority and addicted to the classics and won't allow him to replace Professor Bistell and his symphonic orchestra. Conspiring with his daughter Sue and her friends, Marvo the Great, the Andrews Sisters, Anne Payne and bandleader Woody Herman, they devise a sabotage plot that gets rid of Professor Bistell, and a new sound is soon heard on the program.
bee
On Your Toes
Title: On Your Toes
Character: Phil Jr. as a Boy
Released: October 14, 1939
Type: Movie
A Russian dance company agrees to stage the new ballet written by a vaudeville hoofer.
bee
Death of a Champion
Title: Death of a Champion
Character: Small Fry
Released: August 24, 1939
Type: Movie
Oliver Quade is a pitchman who follows state fairs that feature dog shows---which limits his territory more than a little---at which he sells encyclopedias...and does it well as he possesses a photographic memory that amazes the rubes. The Champion, in the title, is a Great Dane who has won the title at the Rubeville State Fair, and it isn't long before the Champion turns up dead, which is because somebody---motive unknown at the moment---has killed the Champion. This is repeated at other shows along the way and Quade's bright young assistant, "Small Fry", fancies himself as an amateur detective, and starts nosing around into the mystery and drags Quade along with him.
bee
Night Work
Title: Night Work
Character: Butch Smiley
Released: August 4, 1939
Type: Movie
The Fitch family is managing an apartment building when the grandfather of their adopted son Butch decides the family isn't worthy of raising his grandson.
bee
Beau Geste
Title: Beau Geste
Character: Beau Geste (as a Child)
Released: July 24, 1939
Type: Movie
When three brothers join the Foreign Legion to escape a troubled past, they find themselves trapped under the command of a sadistic sergeant deep in the scorching Sahara. Now the brothers must fight for their lives as they plot mutiny against tyranny and defend a desert fortress against a brutal enemy.
bee
Million Dollar Legs
Title: Million Dollar Legs
Character: Sticky Boone
Released: July 13, 1939
Type: Movie
At Middleton College, controlled by rich donor Melton, only paying sports are allowed. But Freddie Frye, conniving student body president, has to get a letter in some sport to win back his girl Susie; he schemes to revive crew boat racing. Sinking boats, no money, and his own waistline stand in his way. Can they win the big race with State University?
bee
Unmarried
Title: Unmarried
Character: Ted Streaver (age 12)
Released: May 20, 1939
Type: Movie
Pals Pat Rogers and Slag Bailey try to collect a debt from Slag's recently deceased boxing promoter but wind up collecting his child, instead, and raising him as their own son.
bee
Boy Trouble
Title: Boy Trouble
Character: Butch
Released: January 27, 1939
Type: Movie
A fussy shopkeeper's life drastically changes when his wife takes in two homeless boys.
bee
Tom Sawyer, Detective
Title: Tom Sawyer, Detective
Character: Huckleberry Finn
Released: December 24, 1938
Type: Movie
The further adventures of Twain's most beloved fictional characters of Tom Sawyer and his friend, Huckleberry Finn.
bee
Sons of the Legion
Title: Sons of the Legion
Character: Butch Baker
Released: September 18, 1938
Type: Movie
Sons of The Legion is a film about a group of young men looking to start a squadron in their Legion Post. However, because the boy's father wrongfully received a dishonorable discharge after World War I, his father cannot join the Legion and in turn his son cannot join the squadron [wikipedia]
bee
Sing, You Sinners
Title: Sing, You Sinners
Character: Mike Beebe
Released: September 2, 1938
Type: Movie
Of the singing Beebe brothers, young Mike just wants to be a kid; responsible Dave wants to work in his garage and marry Martha; but feckless Joe thinks his only road to success is through swapping and gambling. It seems the only thing all three can join in is their singing act, which Mike and Dave hate. Finally, all Joe's hopes are pinned on a race horse he's acquired swapping, but it's a bigger gamble than his family knows.
bee
Men with Wings
Title: Men with Wings
Character: Young Pat Falconer
Released: July 16, 1938
Type: Movie
Reporter Nicholas Ranson is jubilant when, on 17 Dec 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright take their first airplane flight. Back home in Underwood, Maryland, however, his uncle Hiram F. Jenkins, owner and editor of the local newspaper, refuses to print the story. Nicholas quits and continues to work on his own airplane, with the devoted help of his little daughter Peggy. Peggy is actually the first in her family to fly when her friends, Patrick Falconer and Scott Barnes, induce her to get inside a large kite they have made, and run with it in a field until she is airborne. The kite is caught in a tree, however, and Peggy gets a black eye. Later, Nicholas dies when his experimental airplane crashes, leaving his wife and children alone. By Peggy's adulthood, planes are capable of flying at an altitude of 11,000 feet, and speeds of nearly 100 m.p.h. Peggy continues her father's obsession with flight by helping Scott and Pat to build a plane.
bee
It Can't Last Forever
Title: It Can't Last Forever
Character: Kid Dancer (uncredited)
Released: July 15, 1937
Type: Movie
Russ Matthews, a theatrical agent who is not above pulling off a hoax or two or more to further the career of his clients (and himself), and a newspaper gossip-columnist, Carol Wilson, get involved with gangsters when one of Larry's radio-program future-predicting cons gets out of hand.
bee
Melody for Two
Title: Melody for Two
Character: Specialty Act
Released: May 1, 1937
Type: Movie
A singing bandleader signs on with an all-girls band.