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Leon Ames was born Harry Wycoff in Portland, Indiana, to Cora Alice (DeMoss) and Charles Elmer Wycoff. He had always wanted to be an actor and he did it the hard way, serving a long apprenticeship in touring amateur theatre companies -- even selling shoes for a while on 42nd Street in the 1920s. It took him until 1933 to make his debut on Broadway. His play at the Morosco Theatre, "It Pays to Sin," lasted for only three performances after receiving disastrous critical reviews. By then he had already appeared in his first movie, the sombre, expressionistic Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932), an Edgar Allan Poe adaptation, in which Leon played the dependable love interest of heroine Sidney Fox.

For the next three year, he appeared under his birth name (Leon Waycoff) in a variety of B-movies for "Poverty Row" studios like Mayfair, Showmen's Pictures, World-Wide, Empire and Majestic. His first film as 'Leon Ames' was the Shirley Temple vehicle, Stowaway (1932). For the next few years he served yet another apprenticeship, playing a variety of stalwart characters and the occasional bad guy in such cheerful potboilers as the anemic Murder in Greenwich Village (1937), the amusing Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) and the eminently forgettable Secrets of a Nurse (1938). There were also occasional highlights: he popped up in Ernst Lubitsch's last film at Paramount, Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938), with Gary Cooper and Myrna Loy, and even starred as the leading man of Cipher Bureau (1938) and Panama Patrol (1939), albeit at Grand National.

Leon's career improved dramatically after playing Judy Garland's father Alonzo (along with Mary Astor as the matriarch of the family) in MGM's classic, Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), directed by Vincente Minnelli. For the first time, Leon's acting abilities were well employed, especially his ability to deliver dryly humorous one-liners. Signed to a contract at MGM, Leon was now cast in pivotal character roles in more important A-grade output, usually as put-upon, loving fathers: A Date with Judy (1948), Little Women (1949), (where he again teamed up with Mary Astor), By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), to name but a few. For something completely different, he also played district attorney Kyle Sackett in the film noir, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and, against type, portrayed Paul Newman's thoroughly unpleasant father in From the Terrace (1960).

Leon continued in films well until his twilight years and was last seen as Kathleen Turner's grandfather in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986). On television, he had a popular run starring in Life with Father (1953) and Father of the Bride (1961) (played by Spencer Tracy on the big screen) as well as playing Wilbur Post's neighbor Gordon Kirkwood in Mister Ed (1961).

Leon had another claim to fame in being one of 19 actors, who -- after a clandestine meeting in June 1933 -- established the Screen Actor's Guild. For thirty years (commencing in 1945) he held a senior executive position as recording secretary and served as national president of the organization between 1957 and 1979. He also served on the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The dapper actor and avid unionist died at a Laguna Beach nursing home at the ripe old age of 91 on October 12, 1993.

Kenneth MacDonald was born Kenneth Dollins on September 8, 1901, in Portland, IN. He began his career as a stage actor in the 1920s and came to Hollywood in the early 1930s. He broke into motion pictures, but after several small roles, he found employment difficult to come by. He hit upon the idea of a little self-promotion, wrote a pamphlet called "The Case of Kenneth MacDonald" and distributed it to as many producers as he could find. The ploy worked; he started getting jobs at most of the studios in Hollywood, and became a regular fixture in Columbia's Charles Starrett series of "Durango Kid" westerns.

However, he is probably best remembered as a foil for many of Columbia's comedy teams in the studio's two-reelers, particularly The Three Stooges. His suave demeanor and rich, booming voice perfectly fit the role of the con man, crooked lawyer or criminal gang leader he often played, and he showed a surprising flair for physical comedy, taking a two-finger poke in the eyes from Moe Howard, a pie in the face from Larry Fine or an iron bar on the head from Curly Howard with the best of them. He left the Columbia shorts department in 1955 and semi-retired from acting.

From 1951-53 he was a frequent guest star, mostly as a sheriff, on the television series The Range Rider (1951). From 1957-66 he had a recurring role as Judge Carter on the television series Perry Mason (1957). He was also a frequent guest star as Col. Parker on the ABC television series Colt .45 (1957). Kenneth MacDonald died at age 70 at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, CA, on May 5, 1972 from a combination of brain and lung cancer.

Bill "Superfoot" Wallace is a living legend in the world of martial arts and professional kickboxing. A pioneer in the sport, he began his martial arts career as a Karate point-fighter. He competed along with such immortals as Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, and Skipper Mullins. After an incredible career in point-fighting, Wallace made his professional debut as a kickboxer in 1972. He quickly captured the World Middleweight Championship and retired as the undefeated champion after compiling a record of 23-0. With the urging of his friend Chuck Norris, Wallace has appeared in a number of motion pictures, mostly as the "heavy" in martial arts films. Wallace, a college graduate, continues to give exhibitions and trainings around the world.

Twyla Tharp was born on 1 July 1941 in Portland, Indiana, USA. She is a director and actress, known for Amadeus (1984), Hair (1979) and Great Performances: Dance in America (1976).

Jack Imel was born on 9 June 1932 in Portland, Indiana, USA. He was a producer, known for The Lawrence Welk Show (1955), The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) and Lawrence Welk: God Bless America (2003). He was married to Norma Jean Denney. He died on 30 April 2017.

John Guedel was born on 9 October 1913 in Portland, Indiana, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for People Are Funny (1954), Tell It to Groucho (1961) and Tornado (1943). He was married to Valerie Cote, Helen Parrish and Beth Pingree. He died on 15 December 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Pete Daily was born on 5 May 1911 in Portland, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Rhythm Inn (1951) and Yes Sir, Mr. Bones (1951). He died on 23 August 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Pete Dailey was born on 5 May 1911 in Portland, Indiana, USA. He died on 23 August 1986 in Burbank, California, USA.