# Help identify actor in WWII publicity shot **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566 "2009-02-26T21:39:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/1 "2009-02-26T21:39:32Z")
I am writing a biographical feature for our newspaper on a person who was a local fire chief. Back in World War II he was a Marine stationed on a base in Southern California where he worked on the base fire crew. In 1941 and 1942 he was also involved with various movie and radio stars due to “Hollywood Canteen” sorts of activities. I have a group photo taken in that time period with my subject and some Big Names, but I haven’t been able to identify them all At the far left of the photo is movie star Pat O’Brien, then an unknown, probably another on-duty Marine. In the center is former heavyweight champion Max Baer, then comes my subject, with an Errol-Flynn-style moustache, then tough guy character who looks like one of the Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids. Huntz Hall, maybe? Finally, kneeling down in front is a young blondish curlyhaired guy I just can’t place, but know he’s another actor. Any ID help with the actor on the far right and the one kneeling would be greatly pappreciated. I really wish Eve were here, but she had plenty of first-class backup. If anybody can do it, the Dope can. Thanks for looking. Hometownboy The link is [http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/Hometownboy/WithPatOBrienMaxBaerothers.jpg](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/Hometownboy/WithPatOBrienMaxBaerothers.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/2 "2009-02-26T22:20:37Z")
I’ve emailed this to my grandfather, who used to work for Paramount Pictures and has a phenomenal memory, and I’ll let you know if/when he responds with an answer. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/3 "2009-02-26T22:27:40Z")
The kneeling guy in the front is Jackie Cooper. I can’t place the guy on the right, but I don’t think it’s Huntz Hall. It may be, but I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/4 "2009-02-26T22:31:32Z")
Guy in front is [Jackie Cooper](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Jackie_Cooper_in_Gallant_Sons_trailer.jpg/280px-Jackie_Cooper_in_Gallant_Sons_trailer.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/5 "2009-02-26T22:33:16Z")
Check out a movie called “The Navy Comes Through.” I bet you’ll be able to figure out who the guy on the right is. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/6 "2009-02-26T22:56:28Z")
The guy on the right reminds me of Allan Melvin-- he wasn’t famous in 1942, but he DID serve in the Navy about that time-- that would be a big coincidence though… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/7 "2009-02-26T23:04:49Z")
That’s [George Murphy](http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=fc4cbba653850fd2&q=%22george%20murphy%22%20actor&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522george%2Bmurphy%2522%2Bactor%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG), singer-dancer, future SAG prez _and_ U.S. Senator. He served in the Navy in WWI, but I don’t think he was in in WWII, despite the watchcap and peacoat. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/8 "2009-02-26T23:58:31Z")
Well done, **Beware of Doug**! And [here’s a super-size closeup](http://www.doctormacro1.info/Images/Murphy,%20George/Murphy,%20George_01.jpg) for you, plus [a bio from SAG](http://www.sag.org/george-murphy). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/9 "2009-02-27T01:10:52Z")
I’d never heard of George Murphy until I listened to Tom Lehrer’s record _That Was The Year That Was_. Shows how a song can get dated!!! [http://www.lyrics007.com/Tom%20Lehrer%20Lyrics/George%20Murphy%20Lyrics.html](http://www.lyrics007.com/Tom%20Lehrer%20Lyrics/George%20Murphy%20Lyrics.html) ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/10 "2009-02-27T05:29:17Z")
Hot Ziggety! Once again the Dope comes through. I LOVE this place. Please, everyone, award yourselves extra bonus points. Grateful thanks from Hometownboy ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/11 "2009-02-27T14:45:42Z")
Ha, quite a coincidence. I just saw George Murphy in “Broadway melody of 1940”. Did a good job as Fred Astaire’s dance-act partner. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![huddyhuddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ce73a5/32.png) [@huddyhuddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/huddyhuddy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-actor-in-wwii-publicity-shot/487566/12 "2011-08-27T12:33:06Z")
Hi, Thought of sending you his passport scan from 1950… To where can I send it to? Cheers, Neil