
Rudy Vallee
Born July 28, 1901 · Island Pond, Vermont, USA
Rudy Vallee started his career as a saxophone player and singer and later became a band leader. In the 1920s and early 30s he had a hit radio program, The Fleishmann's Yeast Hour (where he was hated by his cast and crew due to his explosive ego-driven personality). In the early 1930's he was ranked with the likes of Bing Crosby and the tragic Russ Columbo in the Hit Parade. A huge hit on radio in 1933 with his program, initially known as 'The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour,' Vallee was considered a slave driver by his staff. He was known to instigate fist fights with virtually anyone who got on his nerves. During the run of his show he slugged photographers, threw sheet music in the faces of pianists' heads and if provoked, would sock hecklers in the nose. While audiences loved him, he was hated by most of his staff. As a very popular star in night clubs and on records, as well as in movies, he helped other singers like Alice Faye - who was for a while his band singer - and Frances Langford to start their careers. In his early movies he often played the romantic lead, but he switched later to stuffy and comic parts. He also appeared on Broadway. The mid-60's Broadway hit "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was filmed in 1967 with him in his original Broadway role.
Movies

Unfaithfully Yours

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

The Palm Beach Story

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Live a Little, Love a Little

The Night They Raided Minsky's

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

Going Hollywood: The '30s

The Helen Morgan Story

Gold Diggers in Paris

I Remember Mama

Slashed Dreams

Glorifying the American Girl
More Movies

My Dear Secretary

So This Is New York

Men Who Rate a 10

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Man Alive

Father Was a Fullback

Things You Never See on the Screen

It's in the Bag!

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

The Admiral Was a Lady

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

Second Fiddle

Breakdowns of 1938

The Phynx

George White's Scandals

The Fabulous Suzanne

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Mother Is a Freshman

Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

Time Out for Rhythm

International House

Happy Go Lucky

People Are Funny

Kitty from Kansas City

Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform

Lydia

11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"

Ricochet Romance

The Perfect Woman

The Vagabond Lover

The Golden Twenties

Sweet Music

Jazz Ball

Rodeo Dough

Betty Co-ed



















