Artist:Mickey Calin
Song:Cool
Album:West Side Story: Original Broadway Cast Recording
Most film fans should be familiar with actor Michael Callan in films like Gidget Goes Hawaiian. But he started out on Broadway as a dancer and as Mickey Calin he played Riff in the 1958 musical West Side Story. He was born Martin Calineff Nov. 22, 1935 in Philadelphia. As a teen he performed in local clubs. He moved to New York and changed his name to Mickey Calin. He appeared in the 1954 Broadway musical The Boyfriend and the 1955 musical Catch a Star. He also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show with his dance partner Grace Genteel. Then he won the role of Riff in West Side Story. Cool was one of two songs where Calin sang lead. And he and The Jets danced. He was spotted by Columbia Pictures talent scout Joyce Selznick (David O. Selznick's niece) and Calin signed a seven year contract with Columbia. They changed his name to Michael Callan. At the time Columbia signed a bunch of young actors that they were going to turn into stars. Most of them didn't make it. Callan had a long career but he was never a big star. His first film for Columbia was the 1959 western They Came to Cordura starring Gary Cooper. Callan was unable to appear in the film version of West Side Story because of his Columbia contract. His biggest films at the time were Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and The New Interns (1964). He signed a new contract after that. He appeared in Cat Ballou. With his dancing talent, one would think Callan would turn up in a musical. Nope. His only musical appearance was in the 1968 ABC TV production of Kiss Me, Kate starring Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence. Callan did TV guest shots for years and appeared in occasional films until his 2007 retirement. But before all that, he was Mickey Calin in West Side Story. Here's a video of Mickey Calin performing Cool from the 1958 Broadway musical West Side Story.
No comments:
Post a Comment