The other day the name Mario Lanza came up, so I went to a forum dedicated to the late singer, and posted the following:

I recently looked up Enrico Caruso in an "Encyclopedia of Opera and Operetta" I have and found that Mario Lanza had played Caruso in a film bio. So I looked up Mario Lanza -- no entry. So I went to a book called "Opera in America" -- no mention. So I went to the Encyclopedia Britannica (1990) -- NOTHING. Now, I know that Lanza was almost exclusively a concert and film performer and took part in very few fully-staged operas, if any. My understanding is that he always had a bit of an inferiority complex when it came to acting and interacting with other singers in front of a live audience. Is this why all these "authoritative" sources exclude him? If so, it seems a real slighting of history. I would be interested in your reactions.

I was roundly ignored -- I have a feeling they were sensitive types who thought I was joining the opera mavens in belittling their hero. But in fact, I *was* genuinely astounded that Lanza isn't even mentioned in any of these sources. Knowing that Mudcatters are much less sensitive, and figuring there might be a couple of opera experts in the crowd, I ask the same question: has Mario Lanza been blackballed by all serious music authorities, simply because he went to Hollywood and made butt-loads of money? Because he certainly could sing. Anyone got an opinion?