Billy Lee, whose real name was William Schlenaker, was born
in Nelson, Indiana. As a toddler, young William lived a quiet life on his
family's farm, but that all changed when he turned three years old. Billy and
his parents moved to California around 1933. Billy's parents enrolled him, at
age 3, in The Meglin School For Kiddies in Los Angeles. The supervisor of the
school, Ethel Meglin, took a special interest in Billy Lee, noting, as his
parents had, that Billy was a very bright and cooperative child, quick to learn
and full of enthusiasm. Mrs. Meglin, who was Billy's personal dance instructor,
got Billy Lee started in movies by age 4, only a few months after he was
enrolled at the school. Billy's first role was in a "Little Rascals"
short, "Mike Fright", as himself (as a tap dancer), and he gives
quite an impressive example of his talent. From there it was on to Billy's
first feature film, "Wagon Wheels" (1934), wherein Billy landed his
first acting role, which his dance instructor, believing in his talent, had him
audition for. Billy also has a solo singing part in the movie. This takes place
when the primary cast, including Randolph Scott, takes turns singing lead on
the movie's theme song. So it was that, at age four, young William went from
being a young Indiana farm boy to Billy Lee, young Hollywood actor. In 1937,
Billy Lee appeared with famous child singer Bobby Breen in Make a Wish (1937),
playing Breen's best camp buddy, "Pee Wee". The two boys sang
"Polly Wolly Doodle" as a duet. Billy may be best known for his starring
role in the very moving 1940 movie The Biscuit Eater (1940). He continued
acting throughout the 1930s, appearing in over 30 movies and working alongside
some of Hollywood's finest, including Lon Chaney Jr., Roy Rogers, Charles
Boyer, Randolph Scott, Olivia DeHavilland, and Broderick Crawford, to name just
a few. Billy also appeared in a few short subjects. One Hal Roach short in
particular cast Billy, now age 11, in the starring role of "Pinhead"
in the 1941 musical comedy film Reg'lar Fellers (1941) along with Carl
"Alfalfa" Switzer as "Bump". The characters in this film
were based on the popular "Reg'lar Fellers" comic strip. This film
not only provided Billy with a chance to play in a lead comedic role but also
allowed him to show off his drumming skills during one musical number that had
been recorded by "Billy Lee's Band" according to the credits. In the
film, Billy is the only real musician when he is accompanied by the other kids
performing as Pinhead's band. Billy also sings the closing song of the film, "Hooray
For Fun". Another short in which Billy landed the lead was called War Dogs
(1942) (aka "Unsung Heroes"). Billy plays the doting son of his
aging, decorated military officer dad, who has turned to drink after his
request to rejoin the service to help in the war effort (WW2) is turned down by
the military. Billy's last film appearance came in 1943, when he was 13
(surprise, surprise) in a movie called, Eyes of the Underworld (1942) in the
role of Mickey Bryan, devoted son of police chief Richard Bryan, played by Richard
Dix. After this film, Billy Lee became one of the many fine young actors who,
once reaching his teens, found that retiring from film making was something
that was just chosen for you. Billy Lee lived until 1989; he died eight months
after his 60th birthday of a sudden heart attack. Signed in Silver pen.
Pictured here with Eddie Quillan, and signed by both
