Michael Bartlett
Actor
Born August 25, 1903 - North Oxford, MA 
The singer that took over in the fall of 1935 was Michael Bartlett, and sadly, all of his shows are among the lost. Considered to be one of movieland's finest singers, he was heard five Sundays as successor to Frank Parker. Jack Benny's program gave Frank Parker a chance to become radio's favorite tenor, his quick-witted sense of humor added to his popularity and that spelled doom for Bartlett. Who according to S.H. Steinhauser in the Pitssburgh Press of Octomber 20, 1935 states: September 26, Michael Bartlett was Paul Whiteman's guest artist and Jack Benny had asked some radio editor friends to wire their opinion of Bartlett's work. Our reation was that no matter how great Bartlett was in the movies, he was no Frank Parker. That message wired to Jack, he came back with "You'll eat your words after Mike broadcasts once with me." and a box of cigars was our bet that Bartlett would not last 13 weeks, the term of his contract. the bots in the office are smoking cigars now. Which incidentally, gets right down to bed rock in thsi business of radio and movies trying to dish up the same material. And to quote an authority than whom ther is no better, we fefer to Lawrence Tibbet: "A song may constitute good screen fare but it may not be good radio material. And that goes for a singer as well. I have often refused to sing my movie songs, even when my sponsor asked me to do them. On the air and on the screen are two very different places." So "Mike" Bartlett, as Benny calls him, will go back to the business of making grand movies, co-starring with Grace Moore. Whatever the case, he was speedily replaced by Kenny Baker on November 3, 1935.
Bartlett is brought in like gangbusters as Mary's love interest, which is kept in high gear for the few shows he was on (except, of course, for the last one).


Radio. Michael Bartlett soared to new heights and popularity as a radio favorite. He had his own nation-wide radio program from October 1933 to August 1934. He replaced tenor Frank Parker as a temporary singer on the Jack Benny Hour in 1935—had a 13 week contract.  His singing Through the Years and Ah!  Sweet Mystery of Life on one of the Benny Shows brought an avalanche of fan mail. He left the Benny Show on October 27, 1935, when he signed a long-term contract with Columbia Pictures. On April 16, 1936, through the magic of radio, millions of South Americans listened to a Hollywood musical show that featured Bartlett, Bing Crosby, Francis Lederer, Dixie Dunbar, and Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse character.  Leo Carillo was the master of ceremonies.  Bartlett appeared on all the major radio programs, including Mary Pickford’s Pickfair, Hollywood Hotel, Lux Radio Theater, Paul Whiteman Hour, Whiteman’s Music Hall, Great Moments in Music, Your Hit Parade, and the Bell Telephone Hour.  In 1940 and 1941, he appeared opposite Marion Claire on the Chicago Theater of the Air in the Chocolate Soldier, Blossom Time, and Bittersweet.