Editing Gordon MacRae (section)

==Career==
===Singer===
MacRae was a baritone. Winning a contest enabled him to sing at the [[1939 New York World's Fair]] with the [[Harry James]] and [[Les Brown (bandleader)|Les Brown]] orchestras.<ref name=rv/>

===Broadway===
He made his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in 1942, acquiring his first recording contract soon afterwards. Many of his recordings were made with [[Jo Stafford]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>

===Radio===
On the radio in 1945, his talents were showcased on the ''Gordon MacRae Show'' on the CBS network in collaboration with the conductor [[Archie Bleyer]].<ref name="otrrpedia.net">{{Cite web |url=http://otrrpedia.net/getprogram1.php?item=2485 |title=Gordon MacRae Show, the |access-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309071138/http://otrrpedia.net/getprogram1.php?item=2485 |archive-date=March 9, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1946, his fifteen minute variety show ''Skyline Roof'' also featured emerging musical talent, including the accordionist [[John Serry Sr.]]<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection Series 4 Recordings: Item 8 audio disc "John Serry guest on the Gordon Macrea Show as "outstanding accordionist of the year" p. 18 in The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mLoUAQAAIAAJ&q=Gordon+MacRae+Skyline+Roof Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalogue of Over 1800 Shows. Terrace, Vincent. McFarland 1999 p. 306 ISBN 9780786403519 Gordon MacRae Skyline Roof on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/specialcollections/ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library include an audio recording of John Serry who is named in the recording of the August 22, 1946 show as the featured accordionist by Gordon MacRae on his live broadcast and performs with Archie Bleyer's Orchestra on the show, www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref> MacRae was also the host and lead actor on ''[[The Railroad Hour]]'', a half-hour [[anthology series]] made up of condensed versions of hit Broadway musicals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.otrsite.com/logs/logr1004.htm|title=Railroad Hour .. episodic log|website=Otrsite.com|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> The programs were later released as popular studio cast albums, most of which have been reissued on CD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://castalbums.org/people/Gordon-MacRae/2647|title=Gordon MacRae Discography|website=Castalbums.org|access-date=October 25, 2019}}</ref>

In 1946, he was in the revue ''[[Three to Make Ready]]'',<ref name="Larkin50"/> which ran for 326 performances.

===Film===
MacRae signed a contract with Warner Bros. in 1947. In 1948, he appeared in his first film, ''[[The Big Punch (1948 film)|The Big Punch]]'', a drama about boxing.<ref name="Larkin50"/> He followed this with a film noir with [[Virginia Mayo]], ''[[Backfire (1950 film)|Backfire]]'' (made in 1948, released 1950).

MacRae's first on-screen musical was ''[[Look for the Silver Lining (film)|Look for the Silver Lining]]'' (1949),<ref name="Larkin50"/> a biopic of [[Marilyn Miller]] ([[June Haver]]), where MacRae played Frank Carter. [[David Butler (director)|David Butler]] directed. MacRae was reunited with Haver and Butler in ''[[The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady]]'' (1950).<ref name="Larkin50"/> Warners put him in a Western, ''[[Return of the Frontiersman]]'' (1950). Then he starred with Doris Day in ''[[Tea for Two (film)|Tea for Two]]'' (1950), a reworking of ''[[No, No, Nanette]]'', also for Butler. Public response was enthusiastic. MacRae and Day were teamed again in ''[[The West Point Story (film)|The West Point Story]]'' (1950) starring [[James Cagney]] and Mayo, ''[[On Moonlight Bay (film)|On Moonlight Bay]]'' (1951), and the all-star [[Korean War]] tribute, ''[[Starlift]]'' (1951).<ref name="Larkin50"/>

MacRae was in a military school musical, ''[[About Face (1952 film)|About Face]]'' (1952) with [[Eddie Bracken]], then he and Day did a sequel to ''On Moonlight Bay'', ''[[By the Light of the Silvery Moon (film)|By the Light of the Silvery Moon]]'' (1953).<ref name="Larkin50"/> That same year, he starred opposite [[Kathryn Grayson]] in the third film version of ''[[The Desert Song (1953 film)|The Desert Song]]'' and teamed with [[Jane Powell]] in ''[[Three Sailors and a Girl]]'' (1953).<ref name="Larkin50"/> MacRae's best known film role was Curly in the big screen adaptation of ''[[Oklahoma! (film)|Oklahoma!]]'' (1955) alongside [[Shirley Jones]].<ref name="Larkin50"/> He and Jones were used on another [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]] adaptation, ''[[Carousel (film)|Carousel]]'' (1956), at 20th Century Fox (now [[20th Century Studios]]).<ref name="Larkin50"/> MacRae played [[Buddy De Sylva]] in ''[[The Best Things in Life Are Free (film)|The Best Things in Life Are Free]]'' (1956) for 20th Century-Fox.<ref name="Larkin50"/>

===Television===
MacRae was host and singer on ''[[The Gordon MacRae Show]]'' on NBC in 1956.<ref name=tt>{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present |date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|page= 338|edition=4th}}</ref> He appeared frequently on television, on such variety programs as ''[[The Ford Show|The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford]]''. He also appeared on drama shows such as ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''.

During Christmas 1958, MacRae and Ford performed the Christmas hymn "[[O Holy Night]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clevelandclassicmedia.blogspot.com/2007/12/o-holy-night-tennessee-ernie-ford-and.html|title="O Holy Night," Tennessee Ernie Ford and Gordon MacRae|website=Clevelandclassicmedia.blogspot.com|date=December 22, 2007|access-date=November 25, 2010}}</ref> Earlier in 1958, MacRae guest-starred on the short-lived NBC variety series ''The Polly Bergen Show''.

He starred in the TV musical ''[[The Gift of the Magi]]'' (1958). Thereafter, MacRae appeared on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', ''[[The Dinah Shore Chevy Show]]'', ''[[The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom]]'', and ''[[The Bell Telephone Hour]]''.

===Later career===
MacRae guest starred on ''[[McCloud (TV series)|McCloud]]''. He had supporting roles in the films ''[[Zero to Sixty]]'' (1978) and ''[[The Pilot (1980 film)|The Pilot]]'' (1980).<ref name="Larkin50"/>