Charlie Chaplin & Jackie Coogan Reenact “The Kid” 1935
No wonder Charlie Chaplin looks bewildered. Recognize the other person in the photograph? None other than Jackie Coogan, whom Charlie Chaplin made famous fifteen years ago in the famous picture, “The Kid” – Jackie had never seen the film, so the other day he renewed an old friendship with the comedian, Charlie had the picture run for him, and then sat down on a curb and talked things over as this exclusive photo shows. – photo: Acme March 26 ,1935
In an 1934 interview with Grace Kingsley, Coogan states that he incredibly had never seen The Kid. Coogan says he “remembers nothing of his experiences filming with Chaplin, except running away one day and hiding, when everybody thought he had fallen into the pool.”
These were days when once a film had its initial run in the theater, there was no way to see it again unless it was re-released. So it is entirely plausible that Coogan had never seen The Kid. Watching at Chaplin’s screening room, Coogan looked on in wonder seeing himself as a five-year-old and cried during poignant scenes.
Chaplin’s dramatic role as a a foster father was an act of devotion. Chaplin would relinquish a one million salary and spend nearly a year writing, directing and acting in The Kid (1921).
As a drama filled with pathos, the story was out of the realm of Chaplin’s previous comedy films. Chaplin conceived the story for The Kid year’s before, but no studio would put up the money to make it. So Chaplin made his first feature directorial effort at his own studio.
Chaplin discovered Jackie Coogan and his father Jack Sr. performing on a vaudeville stage and loved what he saw. He cast Coogan in a short A Day’s Pleasure (1919) and began filming The Kid in 1920 when Coogan was just five-years-old.
Jackie Coogan’s performance as the abandoned child raised by Chaplin in The Kid brought the now six-year-old accolades and wealth. During the 1920s Coogan made 15 films earning thousands of dollars per week.
A Series Of Downfalls
On May 3, 1935 Coogan was the sole survivor of a car crash that killed four others including his father Jack Sr. and his best friend actor Junior Durkin. From there things turned from bad to worse.
When Coogan turned 21 in 1935, he believed his wealth was on solid footing as his father had conservatively managed young Jack’s money. As a minor Jackie received only $6.25 a week spending money. But now as an adult, he would come of age and gain control over his money.
Eventually Coogan asked his mother Lillian and new step-father Arthur Bernstein (who was previously the manager of Coogan Enterprises) when they would turn over his money to him.
Lillian’s reply was, “You haven’t a cent belonging to you. It’s all mine and Arthur’s and so far as we are concerned you will never get a cent.”
Coogan was shocked to discover that they had squandered his lifetime earnings of what he estimated to be about four million dollars. That is the equivalent of over $50 million today.
in 1938 Coogan sued his mother and step-father. On August 16, 1939 a settlement was reached and Coogan collected only $126,000 after lawyers fees.
Until that time there was no law that a child’s earnings belonged to the child. The case brought about The Coogan Law, which though flawed with loopholes, would ensure that a minor’s earnings would belong to the child, not the parents.
Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan)
Coogan was married four times, his first wife being Fox star Betty Grable. That marriage lasted from 1938-1939. His final marriage to Dorothea “Dodie” Hanson would last from 1952 until Coogan’s death in 1984.
Coogan would volunteer for hazardous duty in World War II, serving as an Army Air Forces glider pilot.
Jackie Coogan is still relevant today because of his television role as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (1964-1966).
