Given name: George Ranft; born in New York, NY. Began as a dancer on stage and in nightclubs in New York. It is said that through his nightclub work he met many notorious characters. Raft moved into movies in the early 1930s, and played gangsters at first, then turned to playing good guys - tough good guys. He continued this persona throughout most of his career, though he did play other character types from time to time.

Given name: John Lee Ragland; born in Louisville, Kentucky. If he looks like a boxer, it's because he was for a while. He gave that up, finally, to try his hand as a comedian and ended up in "Panama Hattie" on Broadway. He went to MGM when they produced the screen version of the musical. He stayed at MGM, playing light comedy roles until his untimely death in 1946.

Given name: Thomas Rall; born in Kansas City, Missouri. Actor / dancer on stage and screen. Shown here with Betty Carr in a publicity still for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 1954.

Singer / composer, often with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra. Born in Colombia, South America.

NOTE: There is more than one Carlos Ramirez in films.

Given name: Margaret Teresa O'Reed; born in Butte, Montana. Actress / comedienne / singer on stage, screen and television. Worked in vaudeville with her family when a child; as a teenager sang with dance bands. Signed by Paramount in the mid-1930s. After 1950 she worked nightclubs and television, while still doing an occasional movie.

Given name: Ronald Wilson Reagan; born in Tampico, Illinois. Fortieth President of the United States; last of the great statesmen presidents. Began as a sports announcer turned actor, president of Screen Actors Guild, former governor of California, former President of the U.S. Married to Jane Wyman and later to Nancy Davis. Reagan was actually a reasonably good actor, contrary to the rumors that abound. And he played in some first-rate films. He also worked in television. And he was a great president!

Given name: Donna Mullenger; born in Denison, Iowa. Actress in films and on television. On contract to MGM beginning in 1941. Starred in "The Donna Reed Show" on television (1958 - 1966).

Given name: Mary Frances Reynolds; born in El Paso, Texas. Actress / singer / dancer; one of my personal favorites. Debbie moved from El Paso to Burbank, California when she was still a child. She won the Miss Burbank 1948 beauty contest, and Warner Bros. grabbed her. After only two films, she moved over to MGM, and took off to become one of MGM's leading musical comedy stars of the 1950s and 1960s. Debbie also recorded, and her singing was popular with teenagers of the 1950s. Debbie married Eddie Fisher (who subsequently left her) and is the mother of actress Carrie Fisher. Recently, she has been appearing in movies again, and doing some concert work. Yeah, I admit it - I'm in love with Debbie! She's the best!

Given name: Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal; born in Cleveland, Ohio. Child actor, played Jimmy McMahon in the Andy Hardy Series. Later became director, producer.

Given name: Joyce Sirola; born in San Antonio, Texas. Leading lady of the 1940s, usually as a teenager.

Given name: Marjorie Goodspeed. Actress on screen and television.

Born in Rockford, IL. Singer / dancer / actress. Began as a radio singer at age eight.

Given name Earnest Sharpe. American comic actor; born in Oklahoma. Probably best remembered today for his zany Italian characters in Top Hat and The Gay Divorcee. This guy cracks me up!! Photo: (l-r) Erik Rhodes, Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore in a scene from Top Hat.

Bing Crosby was a member of this singing group that generally appeared with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in the early 1930s.