Media History Digital Library (1944)

KoJiaai Wz'Ylalhj. SEATED in a dusty law office, Horace McNally one dull afternoon, decided he was going to be an actor. He carefully stowed his law books, locked the office, threw the key down a storm drain and enrolled in a dra¬ matic school. Six months later, he made his first stage appearance in The Man Who Killed Lincoln, Immediately, he became a Broadway favorite. He was screen tested by Metro-GoldwynMayer in New York and signed to a contract, but didn't leave Broadway for almost two years. In that time, he became one of New York's important stage personalities, playing the role of the doctor in Johnny Belinda and another important part in The Wookey. His sudden success, however, wasn't just a matter of luck. Before taking up the study of law, Horace McNally was recognized as a fine actor, and authority on the stage. In college, he wrote several nationally recognized short plays, appeared in numerous college and radio shows and learned no less than 26 roles from Shakespeare's plays. He decided that he wanted something more secure than acting and, as a result, took a course in law at Fordham University. Emerg¬ ing, he became what he describes as the world's worst lawyer. It was after two years struggling with briefs and torts that he tossed aside six years of training and two years of work in one afternoon, to become an actor. Dramatics, McNally admits, were uppermost in his mind throughout his legal studies. The sudden decision to abandon law to those bet¬ ter suited to the task was merely a realization of his true destiny. Shortly after his momentous decision, Mc¬ Nally made another — he married. His wife, Rita Louise, had encouraged him to continue with dramatics, and, as soon as he made a Broadway success, they married. He has a son, Horace, Jr., ten months old. He admits he's pretty much of a family man. His chief recreation is playing with that son. Dark and ruggedly handsome, McNally is a far cry from the matinee idol type. He stands at six feet, one inch, and weighs over 180 pounds. Dramatics weren't his only extra¬ curricular activity at Fordham. As the rec¬ ords show, he was the leading ground gainer for his school football team for two consecutive years. Playing at halfback, he was fast, shifty, and a good open field runner. Born in New York City on July 29, Mc¬ Nally never left that metropolis during the first ten years of his life. He was raised on the crowded streets and in the public schools of the hustling city. That his education was a complete one, was seen to by his father, Edward J. McNally, principal of a public school. His mother, Florence, is still living in New York. McNally has a wide variation of roles to his credit and is being considered for many important parts in the near future. His first screen role was that of the "heavy" in Grand Central Murder, featuring his former pal of the New York stage. Van Heflin. This was followed by Eyes In the Night. Living quietly with his family in their modest Bel-Air home, McNally still retains the active interest in athletics he developed in college. He is one of filmland's better golfers and also is an accomplished swimmer. As for that son of his, young Horace, Jr., he'll be Fordham's star halfback or McNally doesn't know his football players. As far as personal preferences are con¬ cerned, McNally doesn't care for the glitter and glamour of Hollywood. His associates are mostly acquaintances from the Broadway stage. He reads a great deal, mostly bi¬ ographies, plays poker once a week with some of his cronies and golfs on Sunday. His favorite motion picture is Borneo and Juliet and he sincerely believes that Shakes¬ peare has hardly been tapped as a source of material for motion pictures. Though his first appearances on the screen showed him as a deep dyed villain, MetroGoldwyn-Mayer executives are confident he will prove even more successful in heroic roles. LIFELINES Born, Horace McNally, July 29, New York, N. Y., son of Edward J. and Florence McNally. Educated, public schools and Fordham University, New York. Height, six feet, one inch. Weight, 185 pounds. Hair, black. Eyes, brown. Occupations, lawyer, actor. Plays: Man Who Killed Lincoln, 1939; Johnny Belinda, 1940; The Wookey, 1941. Pictures: Grand Central Murder, For Me and My Gal, War Against Mrs. Hadley, Eyes in the Night, 1942; The Man From Down Under, 1943; An American Romance, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, 1944. [94]