+ Mario Lanza (January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor, actor, and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian immigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16. He was born Alfred Arnold Cocozza. He changed his name to Mario Lanza when he appeared at the Berkshire Music Festival in Tanglewood, Massachusetts, in July–August 1942. His mother's maiden name was Maria Lanza. After appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in 1947, Lanza signed a seven-year contract with MGM's head, Louis B. Mayer, who saw his performance and was impressed by his singing. Prior to this, the adult Lanza had sung only two performances of an opera. The following year (1948), however, he would sing the role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly in New Orleans. His movie debut was in That Midnight Kiss (1949) with Kathryn Grayson and Ethel Barrymore. The following year, in The Toast of New Orleans, his featured popular song "Be My Love" became his first million-selling hit. In 1951, he played the role of Enrico Caruso (1873–1921), his tenor idol, in the biopic, The Great Caruso, which produced another million-seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year" (a song which used the melody of Sobre las Olas). The Great Caruso was the top-grossing film that year. The title song of his next film, Because You're Mine, was his final million-selling hit song. The song went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. After recording the soundtrack for his next film, The Student Prince he embarked upon a protracted battle with Studio Head Dore Schary arising from artistic differences with director Curtis Bernhardt, and was eventually dismissed by MGM. Lanza was known to be "rebellious, tough, and ambitious", and during most of his film career, he suffered from addictions to overeating and alcohol which had a serious effect on his health and his relationships with directors, producers and, occasionally, other cast members. Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper writes that "his smile, which was as big as his voice, was matched with the habits of a tiger cub, impossible to housebreak". She adds that he was the "last of the great romantic performers". He made three more films before dying of an apparent pulmonary embolism at the age of 38. At the time of his death in 1959 he was still "the most famous tenor in the world". Author Eleonora Kimmel concludes that Lanza "blazed like a meteor whose light lasts a brief moment in time".-WikiPedia Click here to read more about Mario Lanza Show
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 21 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
06.10.1951 | first song granada |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "Granada." The first show of the series. See cat... | |
06.17.1951 | mario lanza show 02 first song funiculi, funicula |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "Funiculi, Funicula." | |
06.24.1951 | mario lanza show 03 first song my song, love |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first tune is, "My Song, My Love." Guest Connie Hines sings, "Too Yo... | |
07.01.1951 | mario lanza show 04 first song funiculi, funicula |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "Funiculi, Funicula." This is not the same broad... | |
07.22.1951 | mario lanza show 07 first song the world is mine tonight |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "The World Is Mine Tonight." | |
07.29.1951 | mario lanza show 08 first song all the things you are (jerome kern special) |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. An all-Jerome Kern program. The first selection is, "All The Things You ... | |
08.05.1951 | mario lanza show 09 first song cosi, cosa |
+ BS net. The first selection is, "Cosi, Cosa." Lanza does a fine "Because." | |
08.12.1951 | mario lanza show 10 first song loveliest night of the year |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "The Loveliest Night Of The Year." | |
08.19.1951 | mario lanza show 11 first song i've got you under my skin |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "I've Got You Under My Skin." | |
08.26.1951 | mario lanza show 12 first song ah sweet mystery of life |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life." | |
09.09.1951 | mario lanza show 14 first song night and day |
+ The first selection is, "Night and Day." | |
09.16.1951 | mario lanza show 15 first song with a song in my heart |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "With A Song In My Heart." | |
09.23.1951 | mario lanza show 16 first song song of songs |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first selection is, "Song Of Songs." | |
09.30.1951 | mario lanza show (17) first song i'm alone |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The last show of the season, the last show of the series on CBS. The pro... | |
01.14.1952 | mario lanza show (32) first song donkey serenade |
+ NBC net, KFI, The first selection is, "Donkey Serenade." The program closing has been deleted. | |
02.29.1952 | mario lanza show xx first song e lucevan le stelle (all from the great caruso) |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first song is an aria from, "Tosca." All the songs on the program ar... | |
03.07.1952 | mario lanza show xx first song yesterdays |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first song is a beautiful performance of, "Yesterdays." A good sho. | |
03.14.1952 | mario lanza show xx first song danny boy |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. A program dedicated to Ireland. The first song is, "Danny Boy." | |
03.28.1952 | mario lanza show xx first song the moon was yellow |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first tune is, "The Moon Was Yellow," being sung by Mario for the fi... | |
04.04.1952 | mario lanza show (44) first song april in paris |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first song is, "April In Paris." Guest Ginny Simms sings, "Great Day... | |
06.06.1952 | mario lanza show (53) first song besame mucho |
+ Sponsored by: Coca-Cola. The first song is, "Besame Mucho." Guest Rosemary Clooney sings, "Tender... |
MARIO LANZA
Leave a comment