James Cagney Was My Babysitter

Imagine you are an 8-year-old introvert informed by your father that you will spend the afternoon at a famous actor’s house—a famous actor you’ve never met! In fact, this famous actor from Hollywood’s golden age will be your babysitter. From the spooky car ride up a narrow driveway in Benedict Canyon to the creaky opening of the front door that reveals an elderly James Cagney, you are captivated! The star of The Public Enemy, Yankee Doodle Dandy, White Heat, Mister Roberts and many other Hollywood classics is nothing like you’d expect. He’s not brash; he’s not a killer; he isn’t loud and he doesn’t sing and dance. He is quiet and gentle and full of imagination. This isn’t a scary gangster—this is Santa Claus!
In one afternoon away from the pressures of a perfectionist father, you relax and fall under the spell of a wonderful babysitter who makes you feel special and encourages you to enter an imaginary world where leprechauns come to life and owls speak to you from the trees. Hours later, you leave James Cagney’s house changed from a timid child into an enthusiastic young man who’s infused with self-confidence and ready for life’s next adventure.

Shirley Jones is an actress who has appeared in memorable classic motion pictures, including Oklahoma! and The Music Man. She earned an Academy Award for her performance in the 1960 feature Elmer Gantry. Shirley’s credits in television include four seasons as the singing mother of The Partridge Family. Author Ryan Cassidy is her son. Johnny Ray Miller is the author of the critically acclaimed 'When We're Singin'--The Partridge Family & Their Music, and an advocate for the musical legacy of David Cassidy. He was a concert promoter for both Cassidy and Davy Jones in 2009. Johnny also has worked on long-running television shows, including Desperate Housewives, King of Queens, and CSI: NY. With a B.A. in Theater and Journalism, Johnny has spent 25 years producing and directing theater in Northeast Ohio, including his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol that ran for 10 years, and acting in more than 100 stage productions. Ryan Cassidy, the youngest son of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, followed in the footsteps of his three famous brothers, David, Shaun, and Patrick, embarking on an acting career. He appeared on The Facts of Life, but soon became much more interested in working behind the camera. He worked in the art department for Jim Henson Productions as set dresser on Muppets Tonight, later working on The King of Queens, Summerland, According to Jim, E.R., Southland, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He currently works on N.C.I.S. Ryan also sits on the board of directors for the Los Angeles Police Museum. Randy Brenner’s watercolor “Displaced” can be seen in the Conserving the Magic of our Planet exhibit at Walt Disney Family Museum. He has worked with The Hollywood Reporter and other magazines, Los Angeles Zoo, and created playbill cover art for STAR Education’s Spring Extravaganza. The Philadelphia native has been painting since he was 5 years old. He received a Gimbels’ Blue Ribbon Award, and studied art at Temple University. In Los Angeles, he studied animation and watercolor with Johann Klingler, a top Disney animator responsible for much of the animation on Lion King, Tarzan, and Hunchback.