Now that y'mention it, didn't Bing Crosby play a fictional songwriter in "Holiday inn"? (I think that's where the song "White Christmas" had its debut.) If I recall right, he and Danny Kaye were just barely making a living (post-WWII), writing, arranging, and putting on shows. May have been a lot more realistic portrayal of the business as it really works.

Joe
www.soundclick.com/bands/7/joewrabek_music.htm
www.myspace.com/joewrabek
The Writer's Blog: http://nakedspacehamsters.blogspot.com