“Forgotten Hollywood”- Child Star Jackie Cooper has Died…
May 5th, 2011Manny P. here..
One of the first great child actors when talkies emerged has died. Jackie Cooper’s career spanned seven decades, but he’s best remembered for his incredibly gifted performances during the earliest years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Cooper big break came from Hal Roach Studios when he was selected to become one of the members of the Our Gang comedy series. Acclaimed director Leo McCarey suggested the young actor be part of the troupe, and he was their first real star (before Spanky and Alfalfa).
In 1931, he was loaned to Paramount to appear in Skippy. His cinematic performance was so riveting, at 9-years of age, he became the youngest nominee for a Best Actor in Oscar history. Roach promptly sold the tot’s contract to MGM, where he made a series of memorable movies including The Champ, The Bowery, and Treasure Island.
Cast in small film roles after he served in the military during World War II, Cooper also starred in early television. He later turned to directing episodes of iconic shows as M*A*S*H and The White Shadow. He found a whole new audience when chosen as a replacement to an ailing Keenan Wynn as Perry White in the Superman movies that starred Christopher Reeve.
Cooper announced his retirement in 1989, although he still directed installments of the syndicated cable series Superboy. He occasionally engaged in first-hand stories on documentaries, and in retrospectives about Hollywood’s Studio Era.
Jackie Cooper was 88.
Until next time> “never forget”
~ HOUSE OF KINDNESS 
The Legends of Hollywood commemorative stamp series has recently included Katharine Hepburn, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Cary Grant. Add Gregory Peck to this impressive list. The star of motion pictures as Gentleman’s Agreement, The Yearling, Duel in the Sun, and Roman Holiday has been lionized by the U.S. Postal Service for his starring role from To Kill a Mockingbird (for which he received an Oscar for Best Actor in 1962). In 2003, the American Film Institute ranked Atticus Finch the #1 movie hero in American cinema. Harper Lee’s first and only novel turns 50 this year.
Among the folk in attendance: his widow Veronique, his children, Christopher Dodd (the President of the Motion Picture Association of America {MPAA} and former Connecticut senator), director Martin Scorsese, and actors Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, Laura Dern, and Sharon Stone, who emceed the ceremony. Also on hand was Mary Badham, who played Finch’s daughter Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. The event concluded with a nostalgic documentary on Peck.
Marilyn Monroe issued June 1, 1995 
Judy Garland issued June 10, 2006 
Fresh from her appearance at the TCM 2011 Film Festival, our special guest will also be promoting a memorabilia auction for the many MGM artifacts she has acquired over the years. Miss Reynolds will attend the auction at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on June 18th. Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History can also be purchased at their gift shop while you’re there.
Over the next couple of days, TCM will honor Disney’s Musical Legacy with theatre screenings of Fantasia; Silly Symphonies (selected short subjects hosted by Leonard Maltin); and the Hayley Mills / Sherman Brothers 1963 classic, Summer Magic.
If you own a 
The 53rd and 54th copy of Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History have been added by two branches of Hennepin County Library in Minnesota. Residents of Minneapolis and nearbye Minnetonka will now be able to read my paperback. In fact, I’ve learned that seven requests have been made by local patrons to add my book!
Hennepin County is named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. Two great waterfalls were discovered by Hennepin:
The Hammond Public Library in northwest Indiana is the 52nd branch to carry Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History. Located in Lake County, it’s considered part of the Chicago Metropolitan area.
However, the most enduring legacy for the town, and their most famous residents, are Jayne and Joan Boyd. They’re famously known as the Doublemint Twins. A savvy advertising campaign that began in 1956 by Chicago’s Wrigley Company, the Boyd sisters appeared in a number of television commercials until 1963. The successful promotion lasted into the 1980’s with a slew of various twins.
Google eBooks now provides a chance for you to preview my work, and select it for your
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