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By
Nicholas W. Inman
He
was one of the 2006 class of inductees for the Missouri Walk of Fame,
and his larger-than-life persona forever endeared him to the people of
Marshfield.
Mickey Carroll (Michael Finocchiaro) was born July 8, 1919, in north St. Louis, the son of Italian immigrants Joseph and Josephine Finocchiaro. His father was a stone carver, and the family ran a monument business for many years. Carroll operated the establishment until his retirement in 1996, and while owning the company he provided a tombstone for the real Dorothy Gale, niece of “Wizard of Oz” author, L. Frank Baum. He enjoyed his childhood years with his twin sister and four older siblings. While he was young, he stopped growing because of a hormone deficiency in the pituitary glands. This condition made him a hypopituitary dwarf and he never grew taller than 4 feet, 3 inches. At an early age, Carroll knew that he wanted to perform before large audiences. After watching some carnival performers, Carroll knew he wanted to be in the spotlight. Soon he was taking advantage of free dance lessons at the Fox Theater, and he also danced at the Muny Opera while in elementary school. Eventually, his brother (Bud) helped secure a position entertaining as part of a vaudeville act. Working in vaudeville allowed Carroll to exercise his talents in singing, dancing and as an emcee. This job provided another source of income for the family, as Carroll’s father had passed away when he was in his teens. While in vaudeville, he performed with George Burns, Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, Al Jolson and numerous other legendary performers. Carroll also had a godfather, Al Capone, who had a great deal of connections. Capone had become good friends with Joseph Finocchiaro while Finocchiaro was working as a police officer in New York City, prior to the family moving to St. Louis. Finocchiaro had arrested Capone on several occasions, and the two had become friends over a period of time. In 1927, while Capone was visiting St. Louis, Finocchiaro asked Capone to become his son’s godfather and the gangster agreed. Finocchiaro knew that Capone would be able to open doors for his son, and Capone made good on his godfather promise. He eventually gave Carroll emcee duties at two of his Chicago nightclubs, and he protected the young performer as well from all the problems associated with mob life. Carroll made a great living on the vaudeville stage and the night club circuit in the 1930s. “Sometimes I made as much as $1,000 a week,” he explained during his Walk of Fame acceptance speech. During his time in vaudeville, Carroll befriended a young Judy Garland. This friendship led to the defining role of his lifetime, as a munchkin in the “Wizard of Oz.” Garland called Carroll in 1939 and encouraged him to take the part, although Carroll was less than thrilled with the idea, feeling that it didn’t pay enough at the time. Carroll would take a pay cut from what he was making on the road, only agreeing to his contract after Garland’s mother offered to put him up for the eight-week period of shooting. Carroll would play the part of the town crier, marched as a munchkin soldier and was the candy-striped Fiddler who escorted Dorothy Gale, down the yellow brick road toward Emerald City. Carroll was one of more than 100 adults and children who played the small native citizens of Munchkinland. Carroll would also be noted for his “Call for Phillip Morris ads” and he would find work as a voice-over performer for movies and television. Carroll would also make appearances on the campaign trail as a warm-up for the Presidential campaigns of President Franklin Roosevelt and Harry S Truman’s whistlestop tours and he would perform for the King and Queen of England. He would also appear on the “Swingtime” radio show, which was created by Ed Lowry. For his work in the Wizard of Oz he would receive much acclaim, including his induction to the Missouri Walk of Fame. In November of 2007, Carroll and six other surviving munchkins would receive their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, amid much fanfare and celebration. His life’s mission would become to raise funds for charity through his Oz related appearances. He would be a major benefactor to Special Olympics, Basket of Hope, The Adoption Exchange, Amanda Cates Memorial Scholarship Fund, The Backstoppers Inc., Albert Pujols Family Foundation and The National Kidney Foundation. He also was fond of raising funds for the local police force. Carroll made many appearances a years, including autograph sessions or being a grand marshal in parades. He even had the honor of throwing the opening pitch (along with Shaquille O’Neil) for the St. Louis Cardinals, of which he was a huge fan. Carroll spent most of his adult years in his home in Bel-Nor, later when his health failed him he and his nephew (Frank J. Parenti) would relocate to the home of his longtime friend and caretaker, Linda Dodge in Crestwood. There he would receive around the clock care until his passing on May 7 at the age of 89. Carroll would sum up his life and career by saying “It’s not been me, it’s been about the Wizard of Oz. When they see me, they think of their childhood, and it always makes them smile from ear to ear.” Carroll was at the heart of everything good in his hometown and in his native state. His final appearance in Marshfield came in the fall of 2008 when he simply drove down to have his picture taken once more with his star in the sidewalk in front of the Webster County Museum. “I am really proud of that star,” he said. “When I speak to people I tell them about how nice it was that you all thought of me and how great everything is in Marshfield.” Carroll’s memorial service was held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Memorials can be made in Carroll’s honor to the Missouri Walk of Fame, c/o Marshfield Cherry Blossom Festival, P.O. Box 427, Marshfield, MO 65706. |