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The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney  By  cover art

The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney

By: Richard A. Lertzman,William J. Birnes
Narrated by: Pete Cross
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Publisher's summary

Mickey Rooney began his career almost a century ago as a one-year-old performer in burlesque and stamped his mark in vaudeville, silent and talking films, Broadway, and television. He acted in his final motion picture just weeks before he died at age 93. He was an iconic presence in movies and the poster boy for American youth. Yet by World War II, Mickey Rooney had become frozen in time. His child-star status haunted him as the gilded safety net of Hollywood fell away, and he was forced to find support anywhere he could, including multiple marriages, affairs, alcohol, and drugs. This Old Hollywood biography presents Mickey Rooney from every angle, revealing the man Laurence Olivier once dubbed the best there has ever been.

©2015 Richard A. Lertzman and William J. Birnes (P)2016 Dreamscape Media, LLC

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What listeners say about The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Complicated personal life amazing professional lif

This book covers the waterfront. Lots of scandals, but they are put in context of his life. Mickey did what he wanted; and he was a highly respected performer. Apparently, Mickey could be crude. The writing is ok; needs better editing; some passages are repeated, which was disconcerting. I liked learning about Mickey Rooney's life and struggles. And was astonished to find out what high regard his talent inspired.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wow

Very interesting with lots of film history. Did not know it would be rated PG-13 to R though. Lots of detail into his life (some TMI) and lots of dropping the F bomb. If you want to keep the fantasy of Andy Hardy don't read this book. If you want a truthful look at who Mickey Rooney was then this is the book to do it. The rose colored glasses come off with this telling of the film legend's life. Very well written.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very enlightening

What did you love best about The Life and Times of Mickey Rooney?

Lots of details both positive and negative about Mr. Rooney.

What did you like best about this story?

The unbiased information and details of his life.

Have you listened to any of Pete Cross’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Excellent presentation.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend to anyone interested in seeing Hollywoods early days through the eyes of this man as a youth and adult.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • RS
  • 02-13-16

Entertaining and enlightening.

Captures the essence of the greatest talent in Hollywood history. Details the professional success and personal foibles that repeatedly derailed his life. No matter, the cliche "the show must go on" really meant something.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

I really enjoyed this biography. The book was well written and apparently well researched. It was brutally honest without being offensive and it gave Rooney fans a great appreciation for Mickey's talent. I was sorry that Mickey came off as a womanizer and uncaring father, but his own childhood may have been at fault. It was too bad that Mickey lived for ninety years and appeared to have learned absolutely nothing about business or taking good advice. He had all the right people in his life who could have prevented most of his problems; yet, he took pains to surround himself and trust those who used and abused him. The narrator was perfect. I loved it when he assumed Mickey's voice without trying to imitate him. The narrator really made the story of this complexed man worth the journey. I recommend this book highly.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

No End in Sight

Well written. very repetitive. way too long. very poor narration
The guy was a brilliant entertainer, but a shit stain as a human being.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Story teller

Pete Cross is my favorite Narrator so far this was a beautiful story told very well.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Mickey Rooney book

The book is very repetitive, covering the same topics in several places without any differing insights. The narrator does a good Mickey Rooney impression.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book

His life was like a never ending train wreck. The book captured it well for the reader

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good listen/Read!

Really enjoyed this book/listen!
If you love Mickey Rooney you’ll enjoy this listen! He was something else!

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