Volume 16 , Issue 20

The Merry Macs

The Merry Macs were an American close-harmony pop music quartet active from 1920s until the 1960s. They were best known for their hits: Mairzy Doats, Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition and Sentimental Journey. The group also sang on recordings with Bing Crosby. They formed to play proms in Minneapolis, MN, consisted of the three McMichael brothers (Judd, Joe and Ted).

In 1931-32 the McMichaels toured with the orchestra of arranger-composer Joe Haymes, who renamed them The Personality Boys. By 1933 they added a female lead singer, Cheri McKay, and changed their name to The Merry Macs. At Haymes' recommendation, Victor Records engaged the group for one single that year, their first recording.

In 1936 they appeared on several national radio programs, and Cheri McKay was replaced by Helen Carroll. McKay trained her successor in the group's singing style. Another record session followed with Ray Noble's orchestra. The Merry Macs started appearing with Fred Allen on Town Hall Tonight starting on November 17, 1937 and remained until the end of the 1940 season.

In 1939 Mary Lou Cook (b. 1910) replaced Helen Carroll. This is the foursome that most listeners know from film appearances. The McMichael brothers and Cook appeared as a specialty act in Hollywood movies, including 1940's Love Thy Neighbor, and Universal Pictures gave The Merry Macs their own feature-film series in 1941. Their most famous film is Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942), an Abbott and Costello comedy in which The Merry Macs offer musical interludes. At the time, Cook was married to actor Elisha Cook, Jr.; she ended both her marriage and her affiliation with The Merry Macs at about the same time.

Marjory Garland (1923-1991) replaced Mary Lou Cook after Ride 'Em Cowboy was filmed. The Merry Macs continued to score on the hit parade. Their version of Mairzy Doats was a best-seller. Garland, who later married Judd McMichael, remained with the group until the 1960s.

Youngest brother Joe McMichael served in the armed forces and was killed in 1944. He was replaced by Clive Erard, then Dick Baldwin, and finally Vern Rowe. The foursome of Judd, Ted, Marjory and Vern continued performing until they retired from show business in 1964.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

---