One of the brightest stars in Hollywood faded out on Sunday when Mickey Rooney passed away. The magic that he displayed on the silver screen was such that we could not get enough of him.

Rooney was perhaps known best for his role as Andy Hardy, a teen-age boy who was always smitten by the love bug with the new girl in town. We gushed at those films because the Hardy family portrayed the American family as good and decent with problems such as our own.

But I think it was his movies with Judy Garland that audiences all over America fell in love with. The story line was always the same: They had to put on a show. And what movies they were! We were spellbound by the huge production numbers with their singing and dancing.

Rooney could do anything. His acting was superb. He could play drums, a little piano and some other instruments. He was nominated for four Oscars and received two for film achievements. Along the way, he also won an Emmy and a Tony.

Sadly, it was reported a few years ago that he was a victim of elder abuse.

Rooney was honored twice at Gruman’s Theater. His handprints are there. He has four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are over 2,400 people with only one star or two stars. Rooney has four. Only Gene Autry has more.

No star at MGM made more money for that studio then Rooney did during the 1930s and 1940s.

He has joined Judy now, and I imagine they are putting on a show with St. Peter sitting in the front row, smiling and tapping his feet.

Roland PrebleGardiner