Given name: Angela Maxine O'Brien; born in Los Angeles, California. Extremely popular and talented child actress of the 1940s; perhaps the most popular of all time after Shirley Temple.

Margaret was a young model by the age of three. Her mother had her try out at several studios, and she was picked up by MGM and made her debut as an auditioning child in the Judy Garland - Mickey Rooney vehicle, Babes on Broadway. She was noticed, and just months later her first feature film was under way: Journey for Margaret. She was received well by the public, but it was her role as Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis (again with Judy Garland) that made Margaret a major star. She won an Outstanding Child Actress Oscar for her work in that film at the ripe old age of seven.

Margaret continued to turn in wonderful performances for the remainder of the decade, but as she grew into womanhood, her popularity declined. She made several appearances as an ingenue but, sadly, was not well received.

For more details, see the Margaret O'Brien Featured Actress page.

Given name: William Joseph Patrick O'Brien; born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Very popular actor of the '30s and '40s, often playing Irish cops and priests.

Born in Los Angeles, California. Singer / actress / comedienne in many musicals; known for her dead-pan delivery when singing.

Big-band singer in films of the 1940s, generally with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra.

Given name: David O'Connor; born in Chicago, Illinois. Dancer / singer / actor. Began performing in vaudeville with his family during the late 1920s and 1930s. Began working in films in 1937, making his debut in the film Melody for Two. Signed with Paramount in 1938. Signed with Universal in 1942 and was often teamed with Peggy Ryan.

His first entry in the Francis (the talking mule) series was in 1949 with the film Francis. Five sequels were made in the 1950s. Donald also appeared in many other films during this period, including Singin' in the Rain with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds (1952), I Love Melvin with Debbie Reynolds (1953) and others. He also worked television and night clubs. He has to be one of the most enrgetic dancers ever to appear on screen. Just watching him can wear you out!

Born in Orange, New Jersey. Popular character actor in more than 150 films!

Given name: Lewis D. Offield; born in Sedalia, Missouri; moved to Oklahoma when still very young (he took his stage name from "Oakie," the nickname for Oklahomans). Amiable comedian in musicals and comedies. Started in films with the advent of sound in the late 1920s. Worked in radio as well, including his own weekly radio show called "Jack Oakie's College," which was the first show to put Little Judy Garland under regular cast contract in 1937. Oakie worked for Paramount in the 1930s, 20th Century-Fox in the 1940s. Began fading in the 1950s, and retired from films altogether when he began losing his hearing. Oakie is a fun and memorable character in many musicals.

Given name: Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; born in Tasmania; grew up in India. Moved to England in the late 1920s and began her film career. In the mid-1930s, she began doing work in Hollywood, as well as England. Subsequently, she became a star in both countries. Her star began to fade in the 1940s, and she finally retired in the 1960s.

Given name: Edna May Nutter; born in Malden, Massachusetts. Actress / comedienne; often playing head-strong spinsters.

Legendary jazz trombonist / orchestra leader; one of the original New Orleans jazz musicians.

Born in Wheathampton, England. Began on the British stage, moved to Broadway in the early 1920s and on to Hollywood in the late 1920s. Extremely versatile and prolific character actor (and occasional lead) in comedies, musicals and dramas. One of my personal favorites!