Today's offering showcases this very cool cast watch, script, and jean jacket owned and used by Mickey Rooney. One of the most enduring performers in show business history, Mr. Rooney appeared in a remarkable more than 300 films spanning a truly incredible 88 year career.
The items were from when Mr. Rooney starred in the musical Crazy For You from 1994-1995 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.
His script delightfully has his own handwritten performance notes in a number of places, and the jean jacket is emblazoned with his first name. The blue jean jacket has a brown leather collar.
Powering the watch is a quartz movement that never needs to be wound.
We have left the items just as we received them with the only exception of one of our Master Watchmakers installing a new battery and reinforcing a break in the watch to make it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function.
Accompanying it is a Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance from a well-known auction house and a Certificate of Authenticity from Connoisseur of Time.
The Enduring Brilliance of Mickey Rooney: A Legendary Journey Through Nine Decades of Entertainment
Mickey Rooney, born Joseph Yule Jr. on September 23, 1920, was an iconic American actor who left a significant mark on the film industry. With a career that spanned an incredible nine decades, Rooney appeared in over 300 films and stood as one of the last surviving stars of the silent-film era. His remarkable talent and enduring popularity made him the top box-office attraction from 1939 to 1941, firmly establishing him as one of the best-paid actors of that era.
Rooney's ascent to stardom came during his teenage years, where he became a fixture at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and delivered crowd-pleasing performances in a variety of roles. In the 1930s and 1940s, he portrayed the lovable character Andy Hardy in a series of 16 films, which came to epitomize the mainstream self-image of the United States. During this peak period of his career, from the ages of 15 to 25, Rooney appeared in an impressive 43 films, securing his position as one of MGM's most consistently successful actors.
Known for his versatility, Rooney's talent transcended the confines of youthful roles, and he evolved into a celebrated character actor in his later years. His brilliance as an actor earned him high praise from his peers, with acclaimed actor Laurence Olivier proclaiming Rooney as "the best there has ever been." Renowned director Clarence Brown, who worked with Rooney on films like National Velvet and The Human Comedy, went so far as to declare him "the closest thing to a genius" he had ever encountered.
Rooney's outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment did not go unnoticed. In 1982, he was honored with a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his exceptional portrayal of the title role in the television movie Bill. The same year, he received the esteemed Academy Honorary Award, recognizing his extraordinary career and contributions to the film industry.
Rooney's journey into show business began in Vaudeville as a child actor, and at the tender age of six, he made his film debut. From the ages of seven to 13, he starred as the title character in the immensely popular "Mickey McGuire" series of 78 short films. At 14 and 15, Rooney took on the iconic role of Puck in the theatrical production and subsequent film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. At the age of 16, he embarked on his defining role as Andy Hardy, capturing the hearts of audiences around the world. At 17, Rooney garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Whitey Marsh in Boys Town. His exceptional talent and dedication to his craft earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the young age of 19, making him the second-youngest nominee in that category. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Rooney was also awarded a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1939.
The outbreak of World War II led to Rooney's enlistment in the military. Serving for nearly two years, he dedicated his time and talents to entertaining over two million troops on both stage and radio, ultimately earning a Bronze Star for his performances in combat zones. Upon his return in 1945, Rooney faced the challenge of transitioning from juvenile roles to adult characters. Despite his undeniable talent, his diminutive stature of 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) limited his opportunities for leading roles. Nevertheless, Rooney embraced the chance to star in a series of low-budget but critically acclaimed films noir during the 1950s, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile actor. In recognition of his outstanding performances during this period, he received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in The Bold and the Brave in 1957 and The Black Stallion in 1980.
Rooney's career experienced a renaissance with notable supporting roles in films such as Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Pete's Dragon (1977), and The Black Stallion (1979). These roles demonstrated his enduring talent and versatility as an actor and brought him further acclaim. In the early 1980s, he made a triumphant return to Broadway in Sugar Babies, a role that earned him nominations for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.
Then in 1994-1995 Mr. Rooney starred in the musical Crazy For You at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, from which his items offered here were used.
In addition to his extensive film and stage work, Rooney made a significant impact on television, making countless appearances on dramas, variety programs, and talk shows. His versatility and enduring popularity ensured his continued presence in the entertainment landscape, captivating audiences of all generations.
Mickey Rooney's extraordinary life and career left a memorable legacy in the world of entertainment. From his early beginnings in vaudeville to his iconic roles on the silver screen, he captivated audiences with his immense talent and boundless charisma. Rooney's remarkable achievements, numerous accolades, and enduring contributions to the arts firmly established him as a true legend of the film industry.
Connoisseur of Time Celebrity Collection: I'm excited to have launched a collection that is composed of 85 watches and clocks owned or worn by 43 iconic celebrities and public figures. It may be the largest current collection of celebrity-owned watches in the world. It will be constantly changing and is currently headlined by timepieces owned by some of the most legendary Hollywood actors and actresses, musicians, comedians, and entertainers:
The King, Elvis Presley. (Just sold)
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
The King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.
The Artist Formerly Known as Prince
Hollywood icons Steve Martin, Red Skelton, Martin Sheen, Burt Reynolds, Betty White, Olivia Newton-John, Bob Hope, Greta Garbo, and Mickey Rooney.
Legendary musicians Johnny Cash, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Janet Jackson, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, Don Mclean, Leslie West, and Hank Williams, Jr.
Sports great and soccer legend Pelé, heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, all-time soccer defender Daniel Passarella, Yankee great Lefty Gomez, and Green Bay Packer Mike Bucchianeri along with the game ball, signed photo and watch from the college football "all star" Blue Gray Game in 1940.
Further filling the current collection are watches from King Edward VIII and the Duchess of Windsor, beloved Hollywood host Ed Sullivan, renowned illusionists Siegfried & Roy, Academy award-winning actresses Loretta Young and Doris Day, Emmy award-winning actress Valerie Harper, Golden Globe winning actor Richard Chamberlain, Phyllis McGuire of the chart-topping McGuire sisters, Elvira Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), fashion designer to the stars Nolan Miller, and a watch worn by multiple characters in the television series "For All Mankind."
It also includes rare watches given by heads of state: A prototype 18K gold Buren Microrotor gifted by His Royal Majesty Ibn Saud, former King of Saudi Arabia; a Felsa given by former Libyan Colonel and Head of State Muammar Al Qathafi; a Longines given by Highness Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa former Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain; a Baume & Mercier gifted by the King of Jordan. All three watches are new-old-stock in presentation shadow box frames with photos.
Recently sold was a watch given a handful of years after the Civil War concluded by the Vice President Elect to honor an Army commander who went on to receive the Medal of Honor.
This is a significant, exciting, and constantly changing new collection you won't want to miss! Stay tuned over the coming weeks for photos of other special pieces from the collection!
To view the first few already up for sale follow this link:
https://shop.connoisseuroftime.com/collections/our-celebrity-owned-historical-event-watches?page=1&sort_by=created-descending
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Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sweep Seconds
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Designed for: Men
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Case material: Blue acrylic and stainless steel
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Case condition: One are reinforced on the plastic bezel. Otherwise in excellent condition.
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Dimensions: 36mm including) by 40mm long lug tip to tip, 10mm thick
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Dial: Signed Crazy For You Canadian Premiere January, 5 1994, mint condition
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Movement type: Quartz
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Band: Blue plastic
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Crystal: Acrylic, excellent condition
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Serviced: One of our Master Watchmaker has installed a new battery and reinforced one area on the bezel making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
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Warranty: 1-year international C.O.T. warranty. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
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Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance from a well-known auction house
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Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee