As the star of the classic Republic Pictures chapterplay Radar Men from the Moon (1952), George Wallace earned a special place in the hearts of serial fans everywhere as the original Commando Cody, "Sky Marshal of the Universe." But there's even more to the actor's story than just being a man in a rocket suit.

Born June 8, 1917, in New York City, Wallace was raised in New Jersey. He spent eight years in the Navy, and saw action in both Pacific and European theaters. After the service, he journeyed to Hollywood and embarked on a show business career.

He made his film debut in Submarine Command (1951); his subsequent movie credits include The Fat Man (1951), Million Dollar Mermaid (1952), The Big Sky (1952), The French Line (1954), Destry (1954), Night of the Hunter (1955), Forbidden Planet (1956), Texas Across the River (1966), Skin Game (1971), The Stunt Man (1980), Things Are Tough All Over (1982), Protocol (1984), Just Between Friends (1986), Punchline (1988), Postcards from the Edge (1990), A Rage in Harlem (1991), Defending Your Life (1991), and My Girl 2 (1994).

Wallace has also had an extensive stage career. When a New York production of "Pajama Game" needed a replacement for leading man John Raitt, Wallace filled the role. On Broadway, he appeared in "New Girl in Town" and Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Pipe Dream." With his wife, Jane Johnstone, he starred in Hal Prince's "Company." He was also seen in "The Jackie Robinson Story," with David Alan Grier in the title role.

At the time of this interview, George Wallace had just completed work on the Warner Brothers sitcom Alright, Already. It seems that there is no end to the high-flying adventures of the original Commando Cody.

FAX: How did you get your start in show business?

WALLACE: I got into it in a very strange way. I was a bartender here in Hollywood, in a place called The Sand Bar, up where Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard meet.

Before that, I was in the Navy for eight years, during World War II. I stayed in California after I got out of the Navy. I took up singing in the Navy; in off hours, there would be some guys with guitars, and we would have musical interludes. When I became a bartender, I used to sing with the jukebox. The customers would come in and ask for requests, and tip me a quarter or whatever. One night, a man gave me his card and said, "Call me tomorrow." That man turned out to be Jimmy Fidler, a famous Hollywood columnist.

I went to see him, and he said, "How would you like to sing at a Jewish benefit?" I said, "I not Jewish." He said, "Who cares?" He introduced me to Mickey Katz, the father of Joel Grey. Mickey used to play a wailing clarinet, and he used to play for City of Hope and B'nai Brith benefits. Mickey taught me a couple of songs in Yiddish, and we started doing all the benefit shows. That's how my career started.

FAX: You were in one of Rock Hudson's first films, The Fat Man [1951].

WALLACE: Yes. I also did The Lawless Breed [1952] with Rock. There was a scene between an actor by the name of Race Gentry, myself, and Rock. Rock played an outlaw who kept a small pistol in his belt. I'm giving his son a bad time in a saloon, then in comes Rock and a big fight breaks out. After that picture, I ran into him quite a few times.

FAX: Around this time, didn't you do some crew work at MGM?

WALLACE: I was a greensman, which they don't have anymore. The greensman was the guy who looked after all the plants they used in films.We had our own nursery on the lot and grew everything from scratch-trees, grass, flowers, plants.

I got the greensman's job because had I left the to go to work at the Florentine Gardens, which was a Hollywood night spot-and still is. In the Navy, I was the light heavyweight camp of the Pacific Fleet [1939-1940], so I got work as a bouncer. One of the Florentine Gardens patrons was the head of the MGM nursery-an ex-Navy man, as I was-and he said, "Why don't you quit bouncing and get a real job at MGM?"

FAX: Sounds like you had quite a career detour before you started acting.

WALLACE: After the gigs with Jimmy Fidler, I took singing lessons. I started studying with a teacher named Lillian Sloan. I had a great arrangement worked out with her. She knew I had been a greensman, so she asked me if I would take care of the grounds of her home for two free lessons a week. She also recommended that I take drama classes, and find out about acting. So on my G.I. Bill of Rights, I went to Ben Barnes Dramatic School in Hollywood. Stuart Whitman was in my class, and so was Nicky Blair, who later became a successful restauranteur. [Producer] Ross Hunter taught classes there.

FAX: What was your first film role?

WALLACE: My first picture was Submarine Command [1951] with William Holden, Nancy Olson, and William Bendix. Our scenes were filmed aboard an actual submarine at the Naval Base in San Diego. Holden was easy to work with and thoroughly professional.

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