George Brasno

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
Born(1911-12-23)December 23, 1911
Old Bridge, New Jersey, US
DiedAugust 15, 1982(1982-08-15) (aged 70)
South River, New Jersey, US
Resting placeSaint Marys Cemetery, East Brunswick, New Jersey, US
Other namesGeorge Shaver
OccupationActor
Years active1933–1945

Career

Brasno 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]

For several years, the pair was joined by brother Richard to form an entertainment trio.[2]

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).

Billed as George Shaver, Brasno appeared on Broadway as part of the family trio in Are You With It? (1945).[1]

Death

George Brasno died in South River, New Jersey on August 15, 1982. He was 70 years old.[3]

Filmography

Film
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
  1. "George Shaver". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.'"
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