daneldorado Posted November 4, 2006 He did indeed, Carol. But Edmund Gwenn did not appear on stage until he was 20, according to his bio. The fellow we are looking for was on stage, in vaudeville, as a young child. Nice try, though. Dan N. http://www.dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scotty Winter Posted November 5, 2006 Are you Gene Hersholt? Scotty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inglis Posted November 5, 2006 Thanks Dan I am always happy to know I have given some sort of good answer ,I will try again ! Carol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 5, 2006 Carol... Yes, your choices are always good. Please, do try again. Scotty: No, it isn't Jean Hersholt. I don't find that Hersholt ever essayed the role of Santa Claus. Also, it's true that Hersholt created the role of loveable Dr. Christian, but that was in the movies and radio. Our guy created a "beloved" role on stage. And he played Santa Claus in a movie. Why not try again? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inglis Posted November 6, 2006 Would it be Mickey Rooney? Dan! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inglis Posted November 6, 2006 Hi if I am right, just take a turn for me Dan as I have to go get kids to bed and then have quiet time with hubby I won't be back till Monday at some point and if I am wrong I will try again ! LOL Carol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 6, 2006 Hi again Carol... Nope, it isn't Mickey Rooney. Scanning through Rooney's credits on the IMDb just now, I see that he apparently supplied the VOICE of a character called "Santa" in THE HAPPY ELF (2005), a TV movie. But I don't believe he ever actually portrayed Santa Claus -- in the flesh -- on screen. Hmmm... nope. I just ran the character name of Santa Claus on the IMDb, and Rooney's name does not appear. Rooney DID make his stage debut as a young child -- 15 months old! But nothing in his bio indicates that he created a character on stage that was hailed as "loveable" by the critics. Rooney went into films in 1933, when he was 13 years old. The gentleman we are searching for was on stage from his childhood years to maturity, and it was there, on the Broadway stage, that he created a character acclaimed as "loveable" and also as "beloved." As he would say: Later I went into films, and in one movie I portrayed Santa Claus. Who am I? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted November 6, 2006 John Bunny? Here's the IMDB on him (searching "Santa"): John Bunny (Santa Claus) http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0120544/ . . . Ida's Christmas (1912) http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0002261/ If it's he, then let somebody else come up with the next one. Thanks. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 6, 2006 Thanks, Bill, for taking part in this quiz. However, John Bunny is not the answer. Our guy, remember, was a stage performer from a very early age. According to the Internet Movie Database, John Bunny was born in 1863, and then his bio says he worked as a grocery clerk before joining a touring mistrel show "in the late 1800s." Even if we were to assume that meant 1890, he would already have been 27 years of age. And what role did he ever create -- on stage -- that is widely regarded as "loveable?" But your post led me to read Bunny's bio (say that, five times, REAL fast), and I was surprised to learn that -- at five feet four -- he was even shorter than Charlie Chaplin! (CC was 5 ft. 5.) I have seen only one John Bunny film, and it was probably the one his bio mentions as A CURE FOR POKERITIS. However: Our mystery guest has a new "hint" for you: On the stage, I created a role that was acclaimed as "loveable" and "beloved." To my great joy, later on I got to recreate that same role in the movies! Okay, now you've GOT to know this one. Bill? Aftermath? Carol? Judith? Anybody? I'm laying it wide open for you now. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Message was edited by: daneldorado Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vallo13 Posted November 6, 2006 Am I -Alastair Sim? vallo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 6, 2006 vallo13 wrote: "Am I -Alastair Sim?" Nope, afraid not. Alastair Sim was a great Scottish actor who essayed the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, but never Santa Claus. Also, I can't find where he ever created a role on stage that was acclaimed as "loveable." He did portray Captain Hook in some productions of "Peter Pan," but of course Hook was a villain. Don't forget the new clue I just gave you: After creating a role on stage that was called "beloved," I later got to act the same role in the film version of that play. Who am I? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CharlieT Posted November 7, 2006 I don't have the slightest idea... but that never stopped me before. Lionel Barrymore? (Don't we all remember lovable ol' Mr. Potter?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 7, 2006 Mr. Potter wasn't loveable. But the critics say my character was. Who am I? Dan N. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted November 7, 2006 O-K!!!!!!!! Got it (Bless you, IMDB). Charles Winninger! Cap'n Andy in "Show Boat" was his big stage role he got to put to film (1936). Here's the rest: http://www.imdb.com/Bio?Winninger,+Charles Now, I leave the next one to someone else to make up. Getting ready to spend the second half of the week at the Western North Carolina Film Fair, near Asheville, about which I've written on other threads (1-40 at 1-26, just outside Asheville at Enka/Candler). Mary Badham from "To Kill a Mocking Bird" is one of the stars who'll be there. Last year Jane Withers was one of the biggest treats one could ever have met. She'll be hard to top, for a long time to come. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 7, 2006 Right you are, Bill! Charles Winninger is the guy! He created the role of Cap'n Andy in the 1927 stage version of "Show Boat," and played the same role in the 1936 movie of the same name. And he played the role of Santa Claus in his last film. Good luck in Asheville! By the way, I agree that Jane Withers is a treat to be with. I took her to dinner one evening in 1980, and wrote an interview about her for a national magazine. She's great! Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ayresorchids Posted November 7, 2006 Just want to note for the record that, although it wasn't in the flesh, and though the production was created for television, Mickey Rooney did once portray Santa Claus. His life story was depicted in the Rankin and Bass stop-motion animated musical special "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (1970). It was narrated by a postman delivering letters to Santa, and he looked and sounded a lot like Fred Astaire (because he was voiced by same). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pintorini Posted November 13, 2006 > _ > > Message was edited by: > Snarfie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 16, 2006 I believe it's Bill McCrary's turn to try and stump us. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted November 16, 2006 from my earlier post: Now, I leave the next one to someone else to make up. Getting ready to spend the second half of the week at the Western North Carolina Film Fair, near Asheville, about which I've written on other threads (1-40 at 1-26, just outside Asheville at Enka/Candler). Mary Badham from "To Kill a Mocking Bird" is one of the stars who'll be there. Unfortunately, I was so busy this year in the dealer's room I didn't even get up to speak to any of the stars at their tables or to watch any panel discussions. One or two came into the room to visit with us, but.... If you've never been to any of the shows, check out "Classic Images" or "Big Reel" next time you're at one of the bookstores (or go online and order) and see when one is happening near you. Somebody think up another good "stumper" for us! Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 16, 2006 Okay. Let's try this one: Like many Hollywood performers, I was born in Canada. I made nearly 40 movies and appeared in a handful of TV shows over a 48-year period. I worked with all the big names of the day -- Bob Hope, Shirley Temple, Doris Day -- and even had my own TV show, for a while. After several years of film work, I went into semi-retirement, but came out again to appear in a big blockbuster movie, and continued to work in films and TV for another dozen years. Who am I? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted November 16, 2006 Like many Hollywood performers, I was born in Canada. I made nearly 40 movies and appeared in a handful of TV shows over a 48-year period. I worked with all the big names of the day -- Bob Hope, Shirley Temple, Doris Day -- and even had my own TV show, for a while. Richard Arlen? >>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035159/filmoyear << >>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035159/bio<< >>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035159/filmoseries<< Doesn't quite match up, but I thought maybe..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 16, 2006 Bill McCrary wrote: "Richard Arlen? Doesn't quite match up, but I thought maybe...." Richard Arlen served in the Canadian armed forces in WW I, but he was born in the American state of Virginia, not in Canada as was our mystery guest. Also: The IMDb shows no record of Richard Arlen ever appearing in a film or TV show with Bob Hope, Shirley Temple or Doris Day. Guess what I'm saying is: No. WHO is our mystery guest? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pintorini Posted November 16, 2006 Douglass Dumbrille? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daneldorado Posted November 16, 2006 pintorini wrote: "Douglass Dumbrille?" Man, I like your spirit... but no, Dumbrille is not the one. Like me, Douglass Dumbrille was indeed born in Canada and made his biggest mark in American films. He was the quintessential "heavy," a villain throughout the 1930s and '40s, even in ancient days, in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956). And, like me, Dumbrille did appear with Bob Hope and Shirley Temple. But he never appeared on film or TV with Doris Day. Also, Dumbrille never had his own TV show which bore his name. Nice, try, pintorini! That's the spirit. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill_McCrary Posted November 16, 2006 Okay - trying again (still relying on IMDB, since I truly would never have guessed): Ben Blue? >>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089478/<< Appearance(s) on the Shirley Temple tv show, Where Were You when the Lights Went Out with Doris Day; lots of tv appearances with Bob Hope. Plus there was a "Ben Blue Show" in 1950, so says IMDB. >>http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=%22BobHope%22%2B%22BenBlue%22<< I still relinquish the making of a new one to somebody else - assuming I've found Mr Blue out! Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
