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Ray Bolger Biography (1904-)

Born January 10, 1904, in Dorchester, MA; son of James Edward and Anne (Wallace) Bolger; married Gwendolyn Rickard. Addresses: HOME--618 N. BeverlyDrive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Prior to breaking into the ranks of professional theatre, Bolger worked on the amateur boards in New England. Best known for his "rubbery" style of dancing, which was exemplified by his "elastic" performance as the scarecrow in theMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer spectacular The Wizard of Oz, Bolger has had an active career, encompassing all the aspects of popular entertainment.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

January 10, 1904

Dorchester, Massachusetts, United States

Famous Works

• Credits
• STAGE DEBUT--With the Bob Ott Musical Comedy Repertory Company, Boston, 1922.
• NEW YORK DEBUT--The Merry World, Imperial Theatre, June 8, 1926.
• Credits; PRINCIPAL STAGE APPEARANCES
• A Night in Paris, Casino de Paris, NY, 1926.
• Ritz-Carlton Nights, Palace Theatre, NY, 1926.
• Georgie, Heads Up, Alvin Theatre, NY, 1929.
• George White's Scandals, Apollo Theatre, NY, 1931.
• Life Begins at 8:40, Winter Garden Theatre, NY, 1934.
• Phil Dolan III, On Your Toes, Imperial Theatre, NY, 1936.
• Keep Off the Grass, Broadhurst Theatre, NY, 1940.
• Sapiens, By Jupiter, Shubert Theatre, NY, 1942.
• Three to Make Ready, Adelphi Theatre, NY, 1946.
• Charlie Wykeham, Where's Charley? St. James Theatre, NY, 1948-51.
• Professor Fodorski, All American, Winter Garden Theatre, NY, 1962.
• Phineas Sharp, Come Summer, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NY, 1969.
• Credits; MAJOR TOURS
• Vaudeville tour, 1924-26.
• The Passing Show of 1926, 1926.
• Ritz-Carlton Nights, 1927-28.
• USO Camp shows, 1943-45.
• Where's Charley?, national, 1951.
• The Ray Bolger Show, summer, 1965.
• Credits; CONCERT AND CLUB APPEARANCES
• Empire Room, Waldorf-Astoria, NY, February 1967.
• cabaret appearance, March, 1968.
• Von Wenzell Hall, Sarasota, FL, January, 1980.
• Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
• As himself, The Great Ziegfeld, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1936.
• Bill Delroy, Rosalie, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1937.
• Happy Moore, The Girl of the Golden West (cut from release print), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938.
• Hans, the Dancer, Sweethearts, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938.
• Hunk (Scarecrow), The Wizard of Oz, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.
• Sunny, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1941.
• The Harvey Girls, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1946.
• Look for the Silver Lining, Warner Brothers, 1949.
• Charley Wykeham, Where's Charley?, Warner Brothers, 1952.
• April in Paris, Warner Brothers, 1953.
• Toymaker, Babes in Toyland, Buena Vista, 1961.
• The Daydreamer, Embassy, 1966.
• The Runner Stumbles, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979.
• Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
• Raymond Wallace, The Ray Bolger Show (original title: Where's Raymond), ABC, 1953-55.
• Credits; EPISODIC
• The Partridge Family.
• The Love Boat.
• The Colgate Comedy Hour, CBS, 1950-51.
• The Bell Telephone Hour, NBC, 1960.
• The Judy Garland Show, CBS, 1963.
• Credits; SPECIALS
• Washington Square.
• The Entertainer, 1976.
• MINI-SERIES Captains and Kings.
• Credits; ALBUMS
• The Wizard of Oz, film soundtrack, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
• "Once in Love with Amy," from Where's Charley?.
• All American, original cast album, Columbia Special Products.