Ray Bolger
Biography: Ray Bolger began his career in vaudeville. He was half of a team called "Sanford and Bolger" and also did numerous Broadway shows on his own. He, like Gene Kelly, was a song-and-dance man as well as an actor. He was signed to a contract with MGM in 1936 and his first role was as himself in The Great Ziegfeld (1936). This was soon followed by a role opposite Eleanor Powell in Rosalie (1937). His first dancing and singing role was in Sweethearts (1938), where he did the "wooden shoes" number with red-headed soprano/actress Jeanette MacDonald. This got him noticed by MGM producers and resulted in his being cast in his most famous role, that of the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Surprisingly, even though the film was a success, Bolger's contract with MGM ended. He went to RKO to make Four Jacks and a Jill (1942). After this, Bolger went to Broadway, where he received his greatest satisfaction. In 1953 he turned to television and got his own sitcom, Where's Raymond? (1953), later changed to "The Ray Bolger Show". After his series ended, Bolger made frequent guest appearances on TV and had some small roles in movies. In 1985 he co-hosted That's Dancing! (1985) with Liza Minnelli. Bolger died in 1987 at the age of 83. Interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA, in the Mausoleum, Crypt F2, Block 35.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: January 10, 1904
Deathday: January 15, 1987
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Known For
The Wizard of Oz
1939-08-15
The Wizard of Oz
Overview: Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
Genres: Adventure Fantasy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-08-15
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Just You and Me, Kid
1979-07-13
Just You and Me, Kid
Overview: George Burns stars as a former vaudevillian who befriends a young runaway, played by 14-year old Brooke Shields, who is being chased by drug dealers.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-07-13
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Babes in Toyland
1961-12-14
Babes in Toyland
Overview: All roads lead to magical, merry Toyland as Mary Contrary and Tom Piper prepare for their wedding! But villainous Barnaby wants Mary for himself, so he kidnaps Tom, setting off a series of comic chases, searches, and double-crosses! The "March Of The Wooden Soldiers" helps put Barnaby in his place, and ensures a "happily ever after" for Tom and Mary!
Genres: Comedy Fantasy Family Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-12-14
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April in Paris
1952-12-24
April in Paris
Overview: A series of misunderstandings leads to a chorus girl traveling to Paris to represent the American theater, where she falls in love with a befuddled bureaucrat.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1952-12-24
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The Harvey Girls
1946-01-18
The Harvey Girls
Overview: On a train trip out west to become a mail-order bride, Susan Bradley meets a cheery crew of young women traveling out to open a "Harvey House" restaurant at a remote whistle-stop.
Genres: Music Western Romance Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-01-18
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That's Dancing!
1985-01-18
That's Dancing!
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-18
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The Great Ziegfeld
1936-04-08
The Great Ziegfeld
Overview: At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, sideshow barker Florenz Ziegfeld turns the tables on his more-successful neighbor Billings, and also steals his girlfriend. This pattern repeats throughout their lives, as Ziegfeld makes and loses many fortunes putting on ever-bigger, more spectacular shows
Genres: Music Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-04-08
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Rosalie
1937-12-24
Rosalie
Overview: West Point cadet Dick Thorpe falls in love with a girl, who turns out to be a princess from an European kingdom.
Genres: Music Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-12-24
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Sweethearts
1938-12-30
Sweethearts
Overview: The team behind a successful Broadway production tries to stop the married stars from transitioning to Hollywood.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-12-30
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The Making of the Wizard of Oz
1979-01-01
The Making of the Wizard of Oz
Overview: The time was 1938. The place, Hollywood. This is the story of one of the 456 films made that year, how it was made, and why it has endured.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-01-01
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Look for the Silver Lining
1949-07-30
Look for the Silver Lining
Overview: After getting her start in her parents' vaudeville act, Marilyn Miller is taken under the wing of dance sensation Jack Donahue. He senses the girl's enormous talent, and before long she's performing on Broadway. There, she is extremely successful and finds love with songwriter Frank Carter. Yet obstacles remain for the rising star, especially when he proposes marriage just before he's set to be deployed in World War I.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-07-30
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Where's Charley?
1952-05-20
Where's Charley?
Overview: Musical version of the comedy, "Charley's Aunt," by Brandon Thomas. As part of a simple enough ruse, a Cambridge student poses as his aunt but his scheme goes wrong, first when someone falls for the aunt, and then when the real aunt turns up.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1952-05-20
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The Runner Stumbles
1979-11-16
The Runner Stumbles
Overview: Dick Van Dyke stars as a priest accused of murdering a nun. Directed by Stanley Kramer, this 1979 drama also features Kathleen Quinlan, Maureen Stapleton, Ray Bolger, Beau Bridges and Tammy Grimes.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-11-16
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Sunny
1941-05-30
Sunny
Overview: Sunny is a 1941 film American film directed by Herbert Wilcox. It was adapted by Sig Herzig from the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical play Sunny. It stars Anna Neagle, Ray Bolger, John Carroll, Edward Everett Horton, Grace Hartman, Paul Hartman, Frieda Inescort, and Helen Westley.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-05-30
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Four Jacks and a Jill
1942-01-23
Four Jacks and a Jill
Overview: Karanina "Nina" Novak, is befriended by Nifty, the leader of a four-piece orchestra, and in return, secures an engagement for them at the Little Aregal Cafe, with herself as the vocalist, by pretending she once knew the King or Aregal back in the old country. Steve shows up pretending to be the King of Aregal, and complicates the growing romance between Nina and Nifty. When Steve runs off with Opa, the real King of Aregal (also Steve) appears and complicates things again.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-01-23
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The Daydreamer
1966-06-01
The Daydreamer
Overview: A young Hans Christian Andersen goes in search of knowledge in the Garden of Paradise in order to make his studies easier. Each time he falls asleep, he experiences in his dreams the different characters he would later write about in fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Emperor's New Clothes.
Genres: Animation Adventure Family Fantasy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1966-06-01
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The Entertainer
1976-03-10
The Entertainer
Overview: A vaudeville entertainer approaches middle age still not having attained success or stardom.
Genres: TV Movie Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-03-10
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Peter and the Magic Egg
1983-02-01
Peter and the Magic Egg
Overview: A boy named Peter must save Easter. An evil character named Tin Whiskers takes over the town and re-names everything including the streets to have tin in the name. He has several animal friends who help him and Mother Nature even gives him help.
Genres: Animation Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-02-01
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That's Entertainment!
1974-06-21
That's Entertainment!
Overview: Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50 year history.
Genres: Documentary Family Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-06-21
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Make Mine Laughs
1949-08-03
Make Mine Laughs
Overview: A kind of filmed vaudeville show, using old material from RKO films and some new.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1949-08-03
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The Dark Side of the Rainbow
2000-07-01
The Dark Side of the Rainbow
Overview: The movie The Wizard of Oz (1939) with the soundtrack replaced by Pink Floyd's album The Dark Side of the Moon (1973); several uncanny moments of synchronisation and a generally darker tone than the original film.
Genres: Adventure Fantasy Family Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2000-07-01
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That's Entertainment! III
1994-07-01
That's Entertainment! III
Overview: 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.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-07-01
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Judy Garland: By Myself
2004-02-25
Judy Garland: By Myself
Overview: As Hollywood biographies go, Judy Garland's story is one of the saddest success stories you'll ever hear. The sanitized studio version of her life presented a smiling kid with the big voice, who, alongside Mickey Rooney, just wanted to put on a show. But drugs, overwork, even psychological abuse at the hands of the studio is now part of the Garland legend. But despite the number of Garland books and documentaries, one account has always been missing -- Garland herself never managed to write a memoir. She did make several attempts at an autobiography, often recording stories on a tape recorder. Judy Garland: By Myself (2004), finally fills in the blanks - using Judy's personal recordings to tell the story in her own words.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-02-25
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Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
1938-12-31
Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power
Overview: This short begins at Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam). The electricity generated here by the Colorado River is sent to Hollywood, where movie studios need it to make movies. After a tour of the MGM studios' power plants, we see short advertisements for upcoming MGM releases.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-12-31
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A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954-09-28
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Overview: Live television broadcast of the world premiere. Described by various participants as the biggest world premiere in memory, even bigger than the Academy Awards.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1954-09-28
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Stage Door Canteen
1943-06-24
Stage Door Canteen
Overview: A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous stars of the theater and films appear and host a recreational center for servicemen during the war. The soldier meets a pretty young hostess and they enjoy the many entertainers and a growing romance
Genres: Comedy Music Romance War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-06-24
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The Whimsical World of Oz
1985-01-01
The Whimsical World of Oz
Overview: A promotional piece for the Disney film "Return to Oz", that also traces the history of the Oz books and films.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-01
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To Oz! The Making of a Classic
2009-09-23
To Oz! The Making of a Classic
Overview: A look into how L. Frank Baum's classic novel was transformed into one of the most beloved films of all time including archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and rare musical outtakes.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-09-23
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Annie
1982-05-21
Annie
Overview: An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.
Genres: Comedy Drama Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-05-21
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990-02-20
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Overview: Documentary about the making of the 1939 MGM classic film The Wizard of Oz. Includes interviews of cast and crew members, their families and fans of the film.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-02-20
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Back Stage Party
1961-12-17
Back Stage Party
Overview: Party, enterianment, and Behind the scenes
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-12-17
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Three on a Date
1978-02-17
Three on a Date
Overview: The adventures and mishaps of four couples, winners on a TV game show, along with their young chaperone, on a Hawaiian holiday.
Genres: Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-02-17
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Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
2009-01-01
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Overview: A two-hour in-depth exploration into the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-01-01
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The Dark Side of Oz
1995-08-15
The Dark Side of Oz
Overview: Pink Floyd Meets The Wizard of Oz
Genres: Adventure Family Fantasy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-08-15
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Harold Arlen's Home Movies on set of The Wizard of Oz
1939-12-31
Harold Arlen's Home Movies on set of The Wizard of Oz
Overview: The Wizard of Oz composer Harold Arlen was a life-long camera buff, and this 16mm color footage was taken during portrait sittings for the film, as well as on the Emerald City set and outside a studio soundstage.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-12-31
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