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George F. Brasno (December 23, 1911 – August 15, 1982) was an American actor who appeared in a few films through the 1930s and 1940s. He and his sister Olive Brasno were first recognized as a brother and sister little-people singing team in a partnership with Buster Shaver's vaudeville act. He was also billed as George Shaver.[1]
George Brasno | |
|---|---|
 Brasno in Charlie Chan at the Circus, 1936 | |
| Born | December 23, 1911 |
| Died | August 15, 1982 (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Saint Marys Cemetery, East Brunswick, New Jersey, US |
| Other names | George Shaver |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1933–1945 |
Career
editBrasno was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Brasno, born in the community of Old Bridge, New Jersey, and later resided in South River. Brasno and his sister Olive Brasno started out as a brother and sister dwarf act performing with the Johnny Jones Exposition. Buster Shaver saw them, and they joined his vaudeville act.[2] In 1937, George and Olive Brasno were offered roles in the film The Wizard of Oz (1939) but they declined because they were making more money on the road with their singing act.[3]
Despite turning down the opportunity, they starred in a few movies and shorts between public appearances such as: The Great John L. (1945), Little Miss Broadway (1938), Arbor Day (1936), Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936), Carnival (1935), The Mighty Barnum (1934), Shrimps for a Day (1934), and Sitting Pretty (1933).
For several years, the pair was joined by brother Richard to form an entertainment trio.[2]
Billed as George Shaver, Brasno appeared on Broadway as part of the family trio in Are You With It? (1945).[1]
Death
editGeorge Brasno died in South River, New Jersey on August 15, 1982. He was 70 years old.[3]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Sitting Pretty | A Neighbor | Uncredited |
| 1934 | Shrimps for a Day | Dick as a child | Short Film |
| 1934 | The Mighty Barnum | Gen. Tom Thumb | |
| 1934 | Vaudeville | George - Small Singer | Short Film; credited as Olive & George |
| 1935 | Carnival | Midget | Uncredited |
| 1936 | Charlie Chan at the Circus | Tim | |
| 1936 | Arbor Day | Boy Midget | Short Film |
| 1938 | Little Miss Broadway | Self | Credited as George |
| 1945 | The Great John L. | Tom Thumb | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^ a b "George Shaver". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ a b Shultise, Walter S. (December 16, 1945). "The Brasnos, Midget Trio Of East Brunswick, Now In Musical on Broadway". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Jersey, New Brunswick. p. 2. Retrieved 23 January 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Kemp, Heather Wendt for Weird NJ. "Weird NJ: The Brasnos – Old Bridge’s movie heroes", Asbury Park Press, April 23, 2017. Accessed December 26, 2017. Persons short in stature historically have found work in the entertainment industry. The members of the Brasno family of Old Bridge were able to benefit from this trend. They were a family of six, four of whom were little people. As 'proportional' dwarfs, or 'midgets' as they were commonly known in the 1930s, siblings Olive and George Brasno were offered Munchkin roles in The Wizard of Oz.... Not foreseeing that the movie would become a classic, Olive and George declined MGM’s offer, choosing instead to continue with their own more lucrative vaudeville act, 'Buster Shaver, Olive and George.'"