Happy (Belated) Birthday to "The Mick"

Mickey Rooney turned 92 years young yesterday, which means he has been in show business for over 90 years, a career that has extended over 10 decades!  Now that's impressive.  As a  young man he possessed a boundless energy that I am sure has kept him going all this time.  Just in case you haven't seen them, a couple recommendations for a movie to watch to get some idea of Mickey's talent.  Check out A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) to watch Mickey at his most frantic as the fairy Puck.  At the other end of the spectrum, there is The Human Comedy (1943) wherein Mickey gives possibly his best and most restrained performance as the youth who supports his family on the home front during WWII.  And to give you a good idea of a typical Mickey Rooney role, watch Hide-Out (1934) with Mickey playing the young brother of Maureen O'Sullivan who pesters everyone, including Robert Montgomery.  

                 Hide-Out (1934), The Mick with Maureen O'Sullivan

On a purely personal note, back in the 80s I was watching a movie in a small theater in Thousand Oaks, CA, which had maybe a dozen customers for a weekday matinee.  A short time into the movie, an old man sitting four rows behind my spouse and me began discussing the performances with his partner, a loud discussion he was sharing with the entire audience.  Not being very patient with people who disturb me in a theater, I turned around and asked/told him to in effect, SHUT UP!  He did, the movie went on to its peaceful conclusion and we got up to leave.  There was the old man, already walking out and almost to the exit.  He looked familiar.  We followed him out in time to see him get into this humongous white cadillac with the license plate, THE MICK.  Yeah, I told Mickey Rooney to shut up ... and he did.  Sorry, Mick.