"The biggest kick I got out of it was sleeping on a train."
So Jackie Cooper, hero of "Skippy," describes his first appearance under his new M. G. M. contract, with Wallace Beery in "The Champ."
"I got a bigger kick out of those venison steaks down there," suggested Beery.
They were talking over their memorable location trip into Mexico to film the picture. They worked at the Caliente race track in the famous casino, and in other interesting spots below the Mexican border.
"I wanted to go in Wally's plane," related Jackie, "but mother didn't like the idea, so I didn't even get up once. Wally took people up every day at noon - Mrs. Vidor and fellows of the troupe, but I got stung on that."
Jackie is air-minded. He can tell the makes of the planes he sees overhead, and has a whole flock of models. When he found that Beery was an aviator their friendship began in earnest, and throughout the picture they were enthusiastic playmates.
"Wally and I used to box in the ring - and go out and see who could tell the most makes of planes - and down in Mexico he took me to a lot of interesting places," relates Jackie of his big playmate. "He's a real guy."