Talk:Bill Shirley

Indianapolis News November 15, 1932 IRVINGTON BOY, IN HOLLYWOOD, CLIMBS TOWARD MOVIE STARDOM Billy J. Shirley Registered with Fox, Paramount, Columbia Studios—Had Role in Phantom President --Just “One of Gang” to George W. Julian School Boys

Little Billy J. Shirley, who a few months ago was a school boy in Irvington, is now in Hollywood, climbing toward stardom in the movie world. Billy, age eleven, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Luther J. Shirley, 5377 Washington street, is registered with Fox, Paramount and Columbia studios. He had an extra part in George M. Cohan's recent picture, “The Phantom President,” and is now working on a picture as one of a group of orphan children. Neil Hamilton and Mae Clark have the principal roles. During the Christmas season he will appear with the Meglin Studio Kiddie Revue in a Los Angeles Theater. The Indianapolis youngster may be looked upon as a promising young player in Hollywood, but to the boys in the George W. Julian School, where he was enrolled, he is “just one of the gang.” Regularly they send him letters, telling him of the events that occur “back home.” Billy and his father exchange daily bulletins, the chief subject of which is Buddy, Billy's Boston bulldog, now in Mr. Shirley's care. Billy really started making a name for himself before he went to the west coast. His acquaintances and friends here remember him as the boy soloist with the Ogden Chorale, which sings at Christmas and Easter time on the steps of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. He accompanied members of the Sahara Grotto as soloist on trips to St. Petersburg, Fla. and Davenport, Ia. The roster of Hoosiers who have made or are making a name for themselves in film circles is long. Billy is one of the youngest and latest to have his written on the silver screen. His mother, Mrs. Inez Shirley, a musician in Indianapolis, is with him in Hollywood.

June 5, 1952 Indianapolis Times Mother Is Big Influence in Bill Shirley's Life By AGNES H. OSTROM, Times Women's Editor

DIG deeply in the lfie of any successful man and you'll find a woman's influence. In the case of Bill shirley, Indianapolis boy soprano who arrived home today as the singer star of “I Dream of Jeanie,” you don't have to delve far. It will be the attractive woman who appear tonight at the Republic picture's premiere in the Circle Theater in a specially purchased Irene white silk dress fashioned with a short lace tunic and worn under a black tie evening coat lined on one side o the center seam in “yummy” America beauty taffeta, on the other side with white.

IT IS HIS MJOTHER—Inez Shirley, who might well had a career as a pianist had she chose. She is the person who accompanied her son during the years he appeared as soloist in the Monument Circle Easter Sunday Services, played the piano for practices of the sponsoring group, Ogden Junior Chorale, Saturday after Saturday mornings – 5:30 sharp – in School 80. And was the adored object of many little firls' eyes (including this reporter's) as her talented, sizable fingers flew over the keys while she looked as if she'd stepped from Vegas. Perhaps she even then was dreaming of her son's future. For sure she made those little girls dream of being concert pianists and great ladies. It was she who 23 summers ago took her 19-year-old offspring just out of Shortridge High School on a vacation trip to the West Coast.. And stayed on while Andreas de Segurois, tahe stars' singing teacher, would accept Bill as a pupil for not less than six months.

IT IS SHE who now now rises at the crack of dawn to prepare here son's breakfasts she he' “on location”-- manages the five-room apartment on Hollywood's Sunset Strip, next door to Ciro's—acts as social and business secretary—keeps up-to-date the scrapbook—and has discreetly stepped into a background role with no apron string attachments as her son's became a man. “Gracious, I hardly know,” she admitted modestly yesterday sitting in the living room of the Indianapolis home her husband, Luther Shirley, maintains. “I'm thrilled. I'm grateful” Candidly Inez Shirley adds, “It's been a long struggle. There are lots of disappointments in Hollywood. A star made overnight may not last long while one who rises more slowly . . . I”m like most mothers out there—we just sit back in reflected glory.” She's not alone. Her contact company is the some 100 members of the Motion Picture Mothers Club . . . “Real film critics.” She's on the board of directors.

MRS. SHIRLEY wanted to come for Bill's premiere but hesitated. Then Gary Cooper's mother advised. “Don't ever miss the first one - - that's it.” Inez Shirley, who looks every inch an Hoosier idea of a movie star's mother but still philosophies about success for her son, money matters and the future like a good Hoosier, won't see too much of Bill here. She'll enjoy the quite of 824 N. Audubon Rd. while Bill will remain with the cast troupe. By Wednesday she'll be in Hollywood acting as chairman of the Mothers Club final luncheon of the season in the Arthur Lake home. And Bill—after a stopover in Louisville—will go on to Sacramento for a summer stock role in “Chocolate Soldier.” July 7 he'll start another musical on Republic's lot with Ray Middleton and Murial Lawrence, co-stars of “I Dream Of Jeanie.” Roles in this picture Mrs. Shirley thinks were ready-made for the troi. She's enthusiastic, too, about “Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd,” starring Charles Laughton in which Bill plays. It's scheduled for a December release. Meanwhile she's busy talking to and setting old friends. And Saturday will be honor guest when her chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Sorority here entertains at a luncheon in Ayre's Tearoom. Then she'll fly West to continue to be the woman's influence in Bill Shirley's life.

From the 1938 Shortridge High School Annual (Madelyn Pugh would go on to be a co-writer of “I Love Lucy.” Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most prominent American authors of the 20th Century):

Seniors who are members of the [Student] Council are Bill Stautz, Madelyn Pugh, Howard Wilcox, Margaret Zaph, and Edward Ziegner. Jack Anderson and Mary Scott Morse are the senior alternates.

Junior members are Jack Brown, Dorothy Beem, Bill Shirley, and Barbara Fuller. Junior alternates are Bob Bracken and Sylvia Pittman.

Sophomore members are Jean Elliot, Mary Glossbrenner, and Kurt Vonnegut. Freshman members are Norma Smith and Bob Hendrickson.

Indianapolis Star Tuesday, August 29, 1989 Bill Shirley, 68, dies; former actor, singer Services for William J. “Bill” Shirley, 68, Los Angeles, an Indianapolis native who was a Hollywood actor in the 1940s and 1950s, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in Shirley Brothers Irving Hill Chapel, with calling from 3 p.m. To 8 p.m. Wednesday. He died Sunday. A winner of the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout program, he was a 1940 graduate of Edward Clark Academy, an acting school in Los Angeles. At age 19, he signed his first movie contract, a seven-year agreement with Republic Studios in 1941. Among the 11 movies he appeared in were: Doctors Don't Tell, Rookies on Parade, Hi Neighbor, Ice Capades Revue, Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd and Flying Tigers with John Wayne. Mr. Shirley also performed with Roy Rogers, George Jessel and Jane Withers. In 1952, he played the lead role in I Dream of Jeanie, a film about the life of composer Stephen Foster and he appeared at the movie's Midwest premier in Indianapolis. After 1956, Mr. Shirley did promotional shows for sponsors such as Oldsmobile, Coca-Cola, RCA Corp., National Cash Register Co., Chevrolet, Ford Motor Co. and General Electric Co. An accomplished singer and entertainer, he sang in many nightclubs across the country including the Copacabana and Latin Quarter in New York and the Tropicana and Riviera clubs in Las Vegas. In 1959, his singing and speaking voice was dubbed for Prince Philip's voice in Walt Disney's animated version of Sleeping Beauty. In 1964, his singing voice was again dubbed for the character Freddie, singing On the Street Where You Live, in the movie My Fair Lady. Well known on the theater circuit, he returned to his hometown to perform for crowds at Starlight Musicals in 1953 in South Pacific and again in 1960 in The Great Waltz. Mr. Shirley got his start with the Children's Civic Theater and the Irvington Playhouse. He eventually too his act from Indianapolis to Broadway, performing in plays such as Pardon Our French. The last 10 years, Mr. Shirley worked with Litton industries in Los Angeles in the real estate department. He retired in May. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

98.222.235.145 (talk) 16:54, 9 May 2014 (UTC) Dan O'Brien, dan@rubewaddell.net 317-215-4390

StarTrekInfo60 (talk) 16:23, 9 September 2014 (UTC)Very short newspaper article and picture of seven-year-old Bill (must pay to view full image): http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37465355/StarTrekInfo60 (talk) 16:23, 9 September 2014 (UTC)