Jackie Cooper (1921-2011)


Figure 1.--Jackie is seen here wearing what look like above-the-knee suspender knickers and ankle socks. He looks to be about 7-years old. It is a movie costume of course, but I'm not sure what the film was. I think it is "Skippy".

Jackie was born John Cooper, Jr., on September 15, 1921 in Los Angeles. He was a nephew of film director Norman Taurog. He began appearing in Bobby Clark and Lloyd Hamilton comedies and later was in eight episodes of "Our Gang" comedies. During the 1930s he was one of Hollywood's most popular child stars, in a long series of tear jerkers. He was dominated for a Academy Award for best actor as a result of his performance in "Skippy" (1930). I once saw a TV show where Ken Murry showed his home movies, shot in Hollywood. He had a nice scene, I think taken during the filming of "Skippy" when he was about 9 or 10 years old. Jackie was in a soapbox derby race with Groucho and Harpo Marx. He wore a nice short pants (knee length) suit with an open neck shirt. He looked very smart, I think it must have been the suit he normally wore, not his costume for "Skippy." He was teamed with Wallace Berry in several successful films; "The Champ" (1931), "The Bowery" (1933), and "Treasure Island" (1934). He was a manly little fellow and once complained during the making of "Dinky" (1935) that in the fight scene the other children were cautioned to be careful not to hurt him. He complained to his mother "I don't want fellows like these to treat me like a sissy!" He seems to have worn shorts as a boy as a lot of the publicity shots show him him wearing shorts. At about 13 he began taking his acting a bit more seriously and became a bit embarrassed about his previous roles. The one he was most proud of, however, was "Treasure Island."

Family Background

Born John Cooper, Jr., on September 15, 1921 in Los Angeles. He was a nephew of film director Norman Taurog. Jackie in fact was born into a Hollywood family with blood flowing through its veins. His father, C. J. Bigelow, was a studio production manager, while his mother, Mabel Bigelow, won prominence as a stage pianist.

Film Career

Jackie broke into show business at age 3, appearing as an extra along with his grandmother, who used to tote him along while looking for film work. Jackie received his first chance at a movie career by passing a singing audition for a bit part in a movie that was to be directed by his Uncle Norman Taurog. Soon afterwards, at the age of three, he appeared in a number of educational short comedies and a few "Our Gang" features.He began appearing in Bobby Clark and Lloyd Hamilton comedies and later was in eight episodes of Our Gang comedies. Then, in 1929, Jackie took part in "The Fox Movietone Follies" when his mother, who was a secretary at the Fox Film Company, added his name to a list of children who were to be called for the shorts.

After his appearance in a few more Our Gang comedies, he landed his first big role in the movie "Skippy," which reunited him with his uncle. During the 1930s he was one of Hollywood's most popular child stars, in a long series of tear jerkers. He left the Roach studio to appear in "Skippy" for Paramount, after which his film career took off, gaining true film star status. He was dominated for a Academy Award for best actor as a result of his performance in Skippy (1930). I once saw a TV show where Ken Murry showed his home movies, shot in Hollywood. He had a nice scene, I think taken during the filming of "Skippy" when he was about 9 or 10 years old. Jackie was in a soapbox derby race with Groucho and Harpo Marx. He wore a nice short pants (knee length) suit with an open neck shirt. He looked very smart, I think it must have been the suit he normally wore, not his costume for Skippy (1930). He was teamed with Wallace Berry in several successful films; The Champ (1931), The Bowery (1933), and Treasure Island (1934). The Oscar-winning tear jerker Champ was a remake of the Jackie Coogan silent film about a broken-down prizefighter who attempts a comeback for his son. It was later redone with Ricky Schroeder. Jackie was nominated for the best actor Academy Award for his performance in Skippy which was directed by his uncle. He was a manly little fellow and once complained during the making of Dinky (1935) that in the fight scene the other children were cautioned to be careful not to hurt him. He complained to his mother "I don't want fellows like these to treat me like a sissy!"

At about 13 he began taking his acting a bit more seriously and became a bit embarrassed about his previous roles. The one he was most proud of, however, was Treasure Island (1934) which was also one of his mos successful films.

Our Gang

Jackie appeared in only fifteen Our Gang films, but remains one of the best remembered. His episodes included: Boxing Gloves, Bouncing Babies, Moan & Groan Inc., Shivering Shakespeare, The First Seven, Years, When The Wind Blows, Bear Shooters, A Tough Winter, Pups Is Pups, Teacher's Pet, School's Out, Helping Grandma, Love Business, Little Daddy, and Bargain Day.


Figure 2.--Jackie is seen here in his 1934 film 'Lone Cowboy'.

Films

Jackie was one of the most popular child stars during the 1930s. He and Shirley Temple were the first child stars of the early Talky Era. Amercan audiences during the Depression cried and laughed at his antics in a sucession of mostly tear jerkers. Jackie was very prolific, despite the fact that he did not begin making films with important roles other than "Our Gang" films until he was 8-9 years old. During the 1930s he was one of Hollywood's most popular child stars, in a long series of tear jerkers. The two most important folms were 'The Champ' and 'Treasure Island'. Unfortunately his films are rarely shown on television today. I think his best effort was 'Treasure Island'.

Television

As an adult, Jackie revived his career on television. He had some success with two popular series: 'The People's Choice' (1955-58), 'Hennesey' (1959-1962). His last effort was 'Mobile One' (1975), but it did not prive very populsr.


Figure 3.--I'm not sure how Jackie was normally dressed at home. This appears to be a home shot, but I do not know to what extent it was posed. He appaers to be wearing a unusual combination of a "T"-shirt with dress shorts and leather shoes.

Boyhood Clothing

We do not have a great deal of information on the every day clothes that Jackie wore. Most of the images we have found are from him films. A few casual publicity photographs provide some insights on the clothes he wore. We note what to look like photographs at home as well as on a variety of outings. He seems to have worn shorts as a boy as a lot of the publicity shots show him him wearing shorts. We notice that in a studio short called "The Christmas Party" short about 1931 that Jackie throws a party for his football chums, many wearing knickers. His mother isn't very sysmpathetic--curious for a publicity shoot. Jackie wears a heavy sailoir coat with what looks like short pants and keesocks. He has some friendly banter with a lady at the studio. Interesting because it sounds rather candid. Finally the studio hosts the party with notables like Clarl Gable serving as waiters. A lot of the child guests are show with interesting glimmpses of period clothing.

Hair Styles


Assessment

Jackie was a competent little actor. He was certainly prolific, making more films than most child stars. He is not, however one of my favorite child actors. His acting is a little strained--an awful lot of piting in his films. I'm not sure that this is because he could do it and naturaly turned to this in his acting or if he was instructed to do all that pouting. While we may not be all that impressed today, audiencs in the 1930s loved him.

Adult Life

His film career declined as he got older. He signed up for a World War II naval training program (1942). He and some other trainees got in trouble for drinking and under azge girls. Attitides were different at the time and the judge seems to have blaned the girl znd her parents for not raising her correctly. Eventully Cooper flunked out of the program, missing a m\number of classes. Cooper after his World War II service, attempted a come back in "B" films, but with little success. He then tried summer stock and Broadway. He made a more succesful comeback on television. He also did some directing. Many recognize him for his last movie role as editor Perry White in the Superman series of films. He kept his kids out of show business, saying nothing could make up for what they lost. He passed away at agge 88 years (2011).

Sources

Cooper, Jackie. Please Don't Shoot My Dog.






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Created: January 25, 2001
Last updated: 2:59 AM 5/6/2011