During the studio system era, actors and actresses were full employees of the studio they were signed to. They would receive weekly checks and benefits regardless of whether they were actively working on a specific project. Therefore it behooved the studios to keep their talent before the cameras. One of MGM's biggest stars was Mickey Rooney, so they eagerly sought a franchise for him to star in. That franchise was the Andy Hardy series.
Andy Hardy was an all American boy whose life was full of gorgeous gals and crazy hi jinks. His frequent co-star Judy Garland appeared in three of the Hardy pictures, often performing songs.
The franchise fizzled out by 1946, though MGM attempted to reboot it in 1958. The reboot failed as well.
"... Back then I was making a movie a week and I was the number one star in the world!"
Ten years after the failure of the Andy Hardy reboot, Mr. Rooney was reduced to making movies like Skidoo and the former security of the studio system was a distant memory.
