MICKY DOLENZ-- Before They Made A Monkee Out Of Him!

"Mickey Braddock" as Corky in "Circus Boy".

MICKY DOLENZ born George Michael Dolenz, March 8^th 1945 to George and Janelle Dolenz. He went by Mickey until around 1964, when he dropped the “e”.

          In 1956 Micky acted in commercials for Kellogg’s cereals and Oscar Meyer Wieners.

          Monday the 17^th of September, 11 year old Micky appeared on NBC’s “The Today Show” to promote his own network TV show “Circus Boy” debuting Sunday the 23^rd. He worked under the stage name Mickey Braddock at this time and for the next several years. The series ran until Thursday September11th 1958. The show ran for two seasons, the first on NBC, the second on ABC. On February 9^th1957, before the end of the second season, Micky appeared before 14,000 youngsters Saturday February 9^th at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for Boy Scout Week.

          Thursday, November 27^th 1958 he appeared on an episode of Zane Grey Theater an anthology program. Micky played Ted Matson in The Vaunted.

          1959, Micky played a character on an episode of Playhouse 90 written by Rod Serling.

           In 1961, at age 16, Micky, who had just gotten his driver’s license won for best overall custom car, at the Rod and Custom Motorama car show.

           In 1962, Micky appeared briefly on The Steve Allen Show, as an audience member. He was interviewed briefly by Allen regarding his sign and t-shirt that read “Little Black Things Club”.

           1963 saw him form his first band, The Spartans, which featured Micky on vocals and guitar. The group lasted about six months.

           In 1964 he formed a new band The Missing Links, in which he also sang and played guitar. Humorously, the group was renamed Micky and the One-Nighters for one night. They performed with singer Eddie Hodges for several weeks at The Sugar Shack Club in Denver, Colorado. They also performed at Denver’s La Pitcher. Apparently, they were an oldies band. Also, in this year, he returned to acting, with two appearances on NBC TVs “Mr. Novack”.

          During this period, Micky recorded his first single, “Huff Puff / Don’t Do It” for the Challenge label. The single would not be released until 1967 to cash in on his Monkees fame.

          In 1965, Micky began attending Los Angeles Technical College, majoring in architecture. He also performed often as a singer at The Red Velvet Club, often on open mike nights. He also began seeking acting roles with an increased vigor. His agent got him try outs for two promising TV series before the end of the year. Of the two, the one he really wanted was about a wacky rock ‘n’ roll band. He wasn’t disappointed.