It was a pleasure to know Mickey Rooney. I had seen him intermittently over the years, and family members had known him in past years. What I did not know until our last visit was that Mickey Rooney was an Elvis fan!
The Mick was surprised to learn that I was kin to Elvis, and I, in turn, was surprised to learn that Mickey's late son, Tim, was a student of karate with Elvis while the latter was living in California.
Sadly, Tim Rooney died following a five year battle with dermatomyositis on September 24, 2006. His career as a child actor included films and TV shows, but only after a miraculous recovery from childhood polio, which had left him paralyzed for two years. He and older brother, Mickey Rooney Jr., were two of Disney's original Mouseketeers in TV's original "The Mickey Mouse Club"
My last meeting with Mickey before he passed was quite sad because he was not too well and was struggling. When I mentioned to Mickey that Elvis was a fan of both he and Judy Garland, whom Mickey could barely speak of without tearing up, his blue eyes lit up. Then a question came up: did Elvis and Judy ever perform together? Mickey didn't know, but the only answer seems to be that they may have rehearsed together as Judy was slated to appear on Elvis' 1969 television event, and, likewise, Elvis was slated to appear on the Judy Garland show. No definite proof of either appearing is obtainable other than through word of mouth. It is curious that the intention of both was to appear, but something must have occurred to halt the idea. Elvis enjoyed the "Wizard of Oz" and loved the song, "Over the Rainbow," which he sang in private, and though he never recorded it professionally, it was recorded in private. His reason for not recording the much-beloved song was because, like many, he believed the song always and forever belongs to Judy Garland.
It is a fact that Elvis did meet Judy's fifth and final husband, Mickey Deems, when Deems managed the then famous New York Discoteque, "Jillys." Elvis promised something to Deems in the way of memorabilia for a museum he (Deems) was opening, and gladly contributed a pair of Mardi Gras Mask cufflinks to the entreprenuer. Viewing these same cufflinks in a friend's private collection was an thrilling moment for me.
As for Mickey Rooney, tempting him with an Elvis' family recipe for potato salad, which I am sure he looked forward to trying, was a joy! And Mickey didn't forget! Here is an excerpt from an email Mickey had sent to me:
"SORRY I HAVE TO RUN..WILL CATCH UP ASAP WE WILL BE BACK SOMETIME IN JANUARY. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH.
P.S. WOULD STILL LOVE TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE ELVIS RECIPES!! YUMMY!! THANKS SO MUCH. HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS XXOO"
The legend, Mickey Rooney, is gone now. He is missed by his family, by his friends, by the world, and by...me.
The late Tim Rooney, below, son of Mickey, was a friend of Elvis and often saw him when Elvis was living on Hillcrest Drive.
