- Al Jolson, The Jazz Singer, 1927.
- Ray Bolger, The Wizard of Oz, 1938.
- Mickey Rooney, Girl Crazy, 1942. The Gershwin brothers’ musical dates back to 1930 and was filmed by RKO in 1932. Seven years later Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell were announced by MGM, (with Van Johnson’s singing debut, future director Richard Quine and Virginia Weidler, the moppet always one step behind Shirley Temple and Judy Garland) but the project never flew. This second Metro attempt was no better than RKO’s, even with, and for the very last time, Mickey and Judy Garland. Bug-eyed Eddie Cantor had been Metro’s first choice for the ’42 hero. He’s called, Danny Churchill, so, of course, someone had to ask him: “Hiya Church, how’s your steeple?
Birth year: 1892Death year: 1964Other name: Casting Calls: 3