OREM — Legendary screen and stage star Mickey Rooney says he isn't sure if his first time performing in Orem will be his last time. He isn't even sure how much longer he'll be on tour.
The only thing he's sure about is that he's still enjoying it.
"We have a lot of fun," the 79-year-old Rooney told the Deseret News. He's scheduled to appear at Mountain View High School Friday, Dec. 8, as part of the SCERA Encore season slate.
"I say, don't retire!" Rooney said. "Inspire! I love working. I'm still going because I'm still enjoying it. We love entertaining. We were in the Hollywood parade last night." He is speaking of himself and his wife of 26 years, Jan, her son Chris Abert and a traveling troupe.
Together they sing and do a variety of impersonations, the likes of which he won't reveal before the show. "We don't want to give it all away," he said.
The songs are mostly from the 1940's and 1950's. Jan's are Patsy Cline favorites. And the length of the show will vary — depending on Rooney's mood and audience reaction.
"We change the length around. We don't always do the same thing," he said. "We take an open approach."
Rooney has never been to Orem, but he's been close.
"I've been up there for Sundance, is that Utah?" he asked.
He isn't making any special adjustments in his show for the conservative Utah audience because he doesn't believe there's any need. "We don't have anything risque in our show," he said.
Rooney scoffs at exaggerated accounts of his early entry into show business. News reports say he crawled out on stage at the age of one for his first appearance in the middle of his parents' vaudeville act in 1921.
"That's ridiculous," he said. "I didn't start in the business until I was five."
Even with that "late start," Rooney's career is impressive.
Born with the name Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, N.Y., he later took the name Mickey Rooney after his film debut as a midget in "Not to Be Trusted" and after acting as Mickey McGuire in 78 short comedies.
Rooney's first defining role was in the Andy Hardy series as the title character. In 1939, he paired up with Judy Garland in "Babes in Arms," and was nominated for an Academy Award — the first time a juvenile actor competed with an adult for the award. That same year, he won a special Academy Award for "Boy's Town" and his Andy Hardy movies. Later, he was also nominated for "The Human Comedy" (1943), "The Bold and the Brave" (1956) and "The Black Stallion" (1979). Rooney was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1983.
In 1943, he appeared in "National Velvet" with Elizabeth Taylor — his first adult role. He then joined the Army.
And after WWII, Rooney rebuilt his movie career with appearances in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" (1954) and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961). In 1979, he starred on Broadway in "Sugar Babies."
Rooney and Donald O'Conner toured 20 cities in 1989 with "Two for the Show," which they co-wrote. And in 1990, they took Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys" on a 13-city tour.
Rooney also starred in the Family Channel's "Adventures of the Black Stallion" (1990-93) and provided a voice for "Babe: Pig in the City" (1998).
He has embraced all facets of the entertainment industry— appearing on television, in nightclubs and movies throughout his career.
Overall, he has more than 300 films to his credit.
Rooney also plays many instruments and composes songs. He's a golfer, a sportsman and is often described as "a perpetual motion machine."
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com