Love and laughs

Young Chang

Mickey Rooney wants to say goodbye before his wife, Jan Chamberlin,

hangs up. Chamberlin says to hold on, he’s coming back to the phone.

Laughter echoes from their West Lake home -- audible evidence of a

happy marriage and incessant fun despite more than 20 years of matrimony

-- and suddenly Rooney’s on.

“By---ye!” he exclaims.

He gives the phone back to his wife. She lets out an equally jubilant

goodbye.

Chamberlin calls Rooney her “cutie pie.” Rooney says his wife’s just

“wonderful.” The two agree they have amazing chemistry singing and

dancing the oldies like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” together on

stage. When asked why this is, Rooney becomes almost indignant.

“‘Cause we love each other!” he yells playfully.

Rooney, who’s starred in more than 200 films and a few Broadway

musicals, seems to have found his partner in more ways than one in his

latest and longest-wed wife, Chamberlin. After seven widely publicized

marriages -- Ava Gardner was his first, Martha Vickers was his third --

the Emmy, Tony and two-time Oscar winner is as happy as a newlywed just

embarking on life.

Except he’s in his 78th year of showbiz, one of the last to survive a

group of friends including Charlie Chaplin and James Cagney, and the same

age as his mother-in-law Helen Chamberlin, who he calls throughout the

day to check up on.

“Why slow down?” Rooney said. “I say, don’t retire. Inspire!”

And that’s exactly what he’ll do with Chamberlin on Saturday. The two

will be featured at Orange Coast College’s “Command Performance”

accompanied by comedian Pete Barbutti, the Drifters and clarinetist Henry

Cuesta with the Henry Cuesta Big Band.

“Believe me, I’m honored my husband will allow me on the same stage

with him after the phenomenal ladies he’s worked with in the past,”

Chamberlin said, humbly. “I just have a lot of fun with my hubby.”

A vocalist with lead roles in productions including “Jesus Christ

Superstar,” “Hair,” “Marriage-go-Round” and “Play it Again, Sam,” one of

Chamberlin’s claims to fame is her rendition of Patsy Cline songs.

Her film career includes roles in “Elmer,” “Gone Astray,” “Potpourri”

and “Guitar Picks.” Chamberlin has a few television credits to her name

as well.

But in most areas of her life, including love, she is musically

inclined. Just look at how she met Rooney.

In the late ‘70s, during a light afternoon party her then-agent threw,

Chamberlin arrived and spotted Rooney playing the piano, for fun.

“I just sort of melted at how beautifully he played,” she said.

Today the couple tours the country performing together, goes to the

movies, watches Clark Gable oldies and reminisces on their fun,

story-filled pasts.

Rooney, who was born Mickey McGuire, shared one this week -- the one

about how Mickey Mouse came to be named after him (yes, he claims this is

really true.)

He was seven years old, working on the comedy series “Mickey McGuire”

in Hollywood. He left the set to get lunch -- a cheese sandwich -- and,

on the way, passed by Walt Disney’s office. Rooney remembers poking his

head in and saying, “Hi, I’m Mickey McGuire.” Disney invited him in, sat

him on his lap and showed the young boy a picture of a mouse, then penned

Mortimer Mouse.

Rooney said, “That’s a terrific mouse, Mr. Disney.”

Disney said, “How would you like it if I named this after you?”

Rooney said, “That’s fine, but I gotta get a cheese sandwich down the

corner.”

FYI

WHAT: “Command Performance”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview

Road, Costa Mesa

COST: $25-$33

CALL: (714) 432-5880