tcm remembers jackie cooper

As you all know, classic movie legend, Jackie Cooper, passed away last week. This coming Friday, May 13th, Turner Classic Movies will alter their schedule to honor Jackie Cooper by featuring several films. This is the official announcement and schedule I received from TCM in my email:

"Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will remember the life and career of actor-director Jackie Cooper on Friday, May 13, beginning at 6 a.m. (ET). The special tribute will showcase nine films from Cooper’s days as one of Hollywood’s most popular child stars. Included in the lineup are O’Shaugnessy’s Boy (1935), Treasure Island (1934) and the heart-wrenching boxing classic The Champ (1931), all three co-starring Wallace Beery. The day will also feature The Devil Is a Sissy (1936), co-starring Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney, and Tough Guy (1936), with Rin Tin Tin Jr.

The following is a complete schedule of TCM’s May 13 memorial tribute to Jackie Cooper (all times Eastern):

6 a.m. – Dinky (1935), with Mary Astor and Roger Pryor.
7:15 a.m. – Divorce in the Family (1932), with Conrad Nagel, Lewis Stone and Lois Wilson.
8:45 a.m. – O’Shaughnessy’s Boy (1935), with Wallace Beery, George “Spanky” McFarland and Henry Stephenson.
10:15 a.m. – Boy of the Streets (1937), with Maureen O’Connor, Kathleen Burke and Emmett O’Connor.
11:45 a.m. – Gallant Sons (1940), with Bonita Granville, Gene Reynolds and Gail Patrick.
1:15 p.m. – Tough Guy (1936), with Joseph Calleia, Harvey Stephens and Rin Tin Tin Jr.
2:45 p.m. – The Devil Is a Sissy (1936), with Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney and Ian Hunter.
4:30 p.m. – Treasure Island (1934), with Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Otto Kruger and Lewis Stone.
6:30 p.m. – The Champ (1931), with Wallace Beery, Irene Rich and Roscoe Ates."


Cooper was one a few exceptional child stars from the classic era, of course as one of the members of "Our Gang": The Little Rascals, but he also later transitioned into television and of course is much loved and remembered by myself and others as Perry White to Christopher Reeve's Superman in the 1970s and 80s. What is really impressive to me is his service to our country during WWII and after. He served in the US Navy and remained in the reserves for many years- diligently working in the reserves training other servicemen and in public relations. In fact, other than James Stewart, he was one the higest uniform ranking hollywood stars.

TCM also posted their always exceptional short video tribute, TCM Remembers Jackie Cooper:


Also for some added memories with Jackie- doing a hilarious fake voice- here he is as the celebrity guest on one of my favorite classic game shows, What's My Line:




Now listen to me, I tell you boys and girls - whichever one of you gets it out... is going to wind up with the single most important interview since... God talked to Moses!