Fulton Burley (June 12, 1922 â€" May 7, 2007) was an Irish-Canadian
performer, most widely known for his work in Disneyland. Born in
Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Fulton came
to the United States in 1943 after a telephone audition landed him the
singing lead in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe Revue on Broadway. He
later marveled at his "Irish" luck saying, "The peculiar thing is I
was at the Golden Horseshoe for 25 years, and I had started [my
professional career] at the Diamond Horseshoe."At age 7, he performed
in church weddings, and by 14, on radio in Windsor, where he worked
three mornings a week before school. He, also, went on to sing with
the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.Fulton attended J. C. Patterson
Collegiate Institute in Windsor, followed by Wayne State University in
Detroit, where he studied law with a minor in music. Ultimately, he
dropped his law studies to pursue a career in entertainment and
eventually won a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), where he
appeared as a supporting actor in films such as "Without Love" with
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn and "Homecoming" with Clark Gable
and Lana Turner.During World War II, he served as a member of the 40th
Special Services Division, under the command of actor Melvyn Douglas,
traveling to China, Burma and India. After the War, Fulton spent
several years touring the United States with a number of musical
productions, during which he developed his keen instinct for light
comedy and a legendary repertoire of jokes.
performer, most widely known for his work in Disneyland. Born in
Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Fulton came
to the United States in 1943 after a telephone audition landed him the
singing lead in Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe Revue on Broadway. He
later marveled at his "Irish" luck saying, "The peculiar thing is I
was at the Golden Horseshoe for 25 years, and I had started [my
professional career] at the Diamond Horseshoe."At age 7, he performed
in church weddings, and by 14, on radio in Windsor, where he worked
three mornings a week before school. He, also, went on to sing with
the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.Fulton attended J. C. Patterson
Collegiate Institute in Windsor, followed by Wayne State University in
Detroit, where he studied law with a minor in music. Ultimately, he
dropped his law studies to pursue a career in entertainment and
eventually won a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), where he
appeared as a supporting actor in films such as "Without Love" with
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn and "Homecoming" with Clark Gable
and Lana Turner.During World War II, he served as a member of the 40th
Special Services Division, under the command of actor Melvyn Douglas,
traveling to China, Burma and India. After the War, Fulton spent
several years touring the United States with a number of musical
productions, during which he developed his keen instinct for light
comedy and a legendary repertoire of jokes.
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