Children who play leading roles on the screen must have had previous experience in films or on the stage.
This was the conclusion reached by Paramount officials who recently selected Jackie Cooper of Hal Roach's 'Our Gang' players, to portray the title role in 'Skippy,' the motion picture now being produced from Percy Crosby's comic strip and novel of the same name.
Previous to the selection of Cooper for the part, literally thousands of tests had been made at the New York and Hollywood studios of boys whose names and photographs had been submitted as the result of newspaper contests conducted throughout the country.
In every case it was found that such tests were unsuccessful. Inexperienced youngsters became self-conscious and bashful before the glaring lights and clicking cameras. They could not capture the happy-go-lucky attitude which has made "Skippy" famous throughout the world.
In desperation, the casting directors turned to the stage and screen, although they would have preferred a boy with no previous experience. They found that children trained in the theatrical profession were much more at home during the tests but that many of them were spoiled or precocious.
At last tests were made of the "Our Gang" youngsters and Jackie Cooper was found. He looked like Skippy. He acted like Skippy. He was Skippy. Everyone agreed that there was no choice in the matter. He had to play "Skippy." As a result, he has joined the other Paramount youngsters, three of whom - Mitzi Green, Robert Coogan and Jackie Searl - will have major parts in the forthcoming picture.