HERE

"Once a song-and-dance man, always a song-and-dance man." James Cagney

I was born in Kentucky to former Vaudeville dance team
Howard and Dorothy Babin, who performed as
"Dot and Dash." ============>>>>

I showed an early affinity for dancing, singing
and play acting.

We moved to Los Angeles when I was three and I started ballet and tap classes and involuntarily wearing strange outfits onstage at age 4.

My first professional gig was in 1948 at age 5. We lived in Pasadena, California and I made $25.00, which was pretty good for a kid in that era, wearing top hat and tails and doing imitations (James Cagney, Eddie Cantor, Ted Lewis) in a Vaudeville song and dance act at the Civic Auditorium for a Policeman's Benefit.

At Pasadena Civic Auditorium in 1948.

I played several roles on the radio show "The Enchanted Lady (including Prince Charming and Buster Beetle!) as well as the child lead, Chris Martin, on the radio show "Dr. Paul" and began winning various modeling awards such as "Best Boy Model" and "Most Photogenic Boy."

Parents, me (age 4), grandparents out on the town at Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom's Club.

A very young Prince Charming

I am the city slicker kid on the left from "Queen For A Day" 1950.

By 1949 I added films, TV, Theatre and commercials to the radio, live performances and modeling.

At The Pasadena Playhouse in my first stage lead, my third play, in "The Strawberry Circle".

Early credits

COMMERCIALS:

Chef Boyardee (Radio) Kid's Voice, "Oh boy, it's Chef Boyardee!" (2 years)

General Mills (TV) Space Patrol

Cheerios (TV) The Lone Ranger

etc.

THEATRE:

The Willow and I Pasadena Playhouse, 1949 with George Nader and Ann Doran.

The Pied Piper Pasadena Playhouse, directed by founder Gilmore Brown, with Earl Holliman.

The Strawberry Circle Pasadena Playhouse, East Wing, my first stage lead at age 8.

Various other Los Angeles stage venues such as THE BLISS HAYDEN THEATRE.

FILM:

Yank In Korea I played Lon McAllister's son.

Queen For A Day Feature version of the popular TV show, with Darren McGavin; Leonard Nimoy's first film!

M Remake of the Peter Lorre German film, this one directed by Joseph Losey.

The Greatest Show On Earth Best Film Oscar. Director: Cecil B. deMille, starring Jimmy Stewart, Betty Hutton and hordes of others.

Apache Look for an unrecognizable blond kid wearing dark makeup, a black, pageboy wig with a feather in the headband and - mukluks!

Hans Christian Andersen Director: Charles Vidor, starring Danny Kaye.

TELEVISION:

The Colgate Comedy Hour 13 episodes, 1950-1954 starring Eddie Cantor, Bob Hope, Martin & Lewis, Abbott & Costello, etc.

The Ruggles Recurring role, Oliver Quimby: wealthy, intellectual neighbor kid -a bit like Marty on the MMC "Spin and Marty".

The Donald O'Connor Show 2 episodes, dancing with Don in one episode.

The Alan Young Show 2 episodes.

The Roy Rogers Show Premier episode, playing the title character: "The Minister's Son."

The All Star Revue Starring Ed Wynn Western sketch with kids and Ed. Tough guy Lonnie scares Ed, but is thwarted.

The Range Rider First TV lead as the title character, "The Holy Terror."

Father Knows Best 1955, right before signing the Disney contract.

RADIO:

The Enchanted Lady A weekly children's radio show that ran for 2 years on KAGH, Altadena, CA, 1948-50.

Stars Over Hollywood I played Tiny Tim on the national broadcast of "A Christmas Carol."

Dr. Paul Popular CBS radio soap; I played the child lead, Chris Martin, for over 100 shows, 1950-53.

Visit The Lonnie Burr Collection of radio scripts and performances at the voluminous Thousand Oaks (California) Library.
23 of my radio scripts and 19 recorded performances, all aired on over 500+ stations, and related material.

<<<< 1949 with my first dance partner

and >>>>>>> 1950 with my second partner. [I moved around a lot!]

Modeling at age 6. The latest in cowboy fashion!

Is it me? The hat looks too big, the bat seems too small.

My first play, "The Willow And I", at the Pasadena Playhouse 1949.

1954, age 11, shortly before the
beginning of the MMC.

Return to Before & After MMC