 Friendly rival at MGM, Howard Keel was apparently forging ahead of Mario. But the Lanza fan mail was already starting its climb to present record of 500-plus letters each day. He'd gone into his second film, Toast of New Orleans. | 
His grateful studio now handed Mario a bonus: the beautiful Beverly Hills house formerly owned by Joe Pasternak. Its grounds, with pool and tennis courts, gave Colleen room for play; Mario's Mom (above) and Pop moved in for good. |
Grandparents always loved to be baby-sitters for Colleen, so Mario and Betty could travel. Trip to Honolulu in spring of 1950 celebrated break to come. | 
Long planned, this was a dream role such as few stars ever get. Nobody but Mario could play The Great Caruso, Lasky knew; MGM knew he must do it. |
Timing her arrival as perfectly as her sister's, Elissa came on scene December 2, 1950, just after her father had finished his most important picture role. | 
At Hollywood opening of The Great Caruso, the Lanzas were accompanied by Lasky, whose deal with Metro included own services as associate producer. And film was off on its record-breaking career, including new high of $1,5000,000 at Radio City Music Hall in N. Y. |
The Lanza voice had been on wax ever since Art Rush got him RCA - Victor contract (and another with Columbia Concerts) back in 1947. Now he hit jackpot with Be My Love, selling over a million discs in just one year. | 
Concert tour in 1951 shattered more records; Cincinnati's Music Hall had hundreds of standees; near-riot in a Scranton store (left) amazed Mario and manager Sam Weller (with glasses), music-lover who'd had faith in an unknown. |
Radio show on NBC, with Ray Sinatra as bandleader, upped Lanza's expected take for 1951 to more than $750,000. As usual when he sings for concerts, records, radio or film sound-tracks (post-synchronized), he put on weight,. Gossips hinted he was feuding with Metro, deliberately making himself unphotogenic. | 
But he soon began trimming down to camera weight, first on Oregon fishing trip and then in more gym work-outs. So latest film, Because You're Mine, sees Lanza in top form. |