Hollywood, May 30.
Of course acting is all right. Jackie Cooper, aged 7, who immortalized "Skippy" on the screen, takes his career seriously. But guns, ah, guns, there is something to gladden a fellow's heart.
I hadn't talked to Jackie five minutes until I was permitted to view his young arsenal of cap pistols, carved wooden revolvers, and even one businesslike automatic. Jackie finally dashed across the street to borrow a rifle, as big as he is. To him it was a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
This split-pint hero of the screen was dresssed in blue linen sailor trousers. North of the equator he wore an undershirt.
"The blouse that goes with this is too sissy." he explained. "It's a life-saver suit, and it has one of those tires the guards throw to drowning people. I don't like it."
Jackie can be seen in support of Richard Dix in "Young Donovan's Kid" soon. His bedroom is literally papered with pictures of Dix.
"I call him 'Rich'" he explained casually. "He said I could."
Incidentally, Dix is his favorite actor.
"Mitzi Green is my favorite actress," he admitted. "I think she's a nice kid. I like Irene Rich, too. Do you think she is really 39? She sure doesn't look it."
Jackie's mother, known professionally as Mabel Leonard, gave some further highlights on the life story of this juvenile celebrity. Under the terms of his new contract with M-G-M, Jackie makes a salary that a bank president might envy. The youngster, however, doesn't know much about finances. He doesn't even have an allowance.
"Mother gives me a 'buck' once in a while," Jackie cut in.
When he completes a picture he is given a nice gift, something he really wants, cannon and dynamite barred.
He is easy to direct in pictures. To an amazing degree he senses what the director expects of him. He learns lines more easily than most adult stars, but it's all pretty tiring on such a young fellow.
Many is the night he has cried himself to sleep from nervousness and exhaustion, and Jackie isn't the type of a boy who cries without reason. Never again will his mother permit him to go right from one picture to another as he did in "Skippy," followed by "Young Donovan's Kid."
Jackie reads his fan mail, and answers some of it. He's good on the typewriter, but his own handwriting is something for cross word puzzle enthusiasts.
Best of all, you're not a bit disappointed in meeting "Skippy" in real life. He's all boy.