When Douglas Fairbanks Sr. died on December 12, 1939, newspapers pointed out that he was one of the three biggest moneymakers of Hollywood just 14 years earlier. After 1925 Fairbanks starred in only seven more films, with his final film being 1934’s The Private Life Of Don Juan.
Here is the original news caption: Continue reading
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 Continue reading
Crook Klutz (1913-1979) and 24 Other “Unique” American Names
Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan)
A useful tool for genealogists, the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) contains over 92 million death records for individuals with United States Social Security numbers. There are many portals to give you access to the list. On some web portals for the SSDI you can enter just the first name, which can yield interesting results.
Either their parents thought they were being funny or in some cases they were just cruel. Maybe the person had their name legally changed. Who knows.
Besides Crook Klutz, the ones that stood out in no particular order:
24. Dummy Boy 1896-1969 (Not a name you’d want to call out in public.)
23. Hitler Johnson 1933-1986 (Nice. Definitely a way to distinguish yourself from the other Johnson’s in your town.)
22. Uncle Caves 1911-1977
21. Strange Amos 1884-1966 (How did the parents know?)
20. Fatty Claw 1884-1973
19. Lurch Williams 1906-1979 (The only person ever named Lurch.)
18. Danger Dangervil 1943-2005
17. Weird Adkins 1917-1964
16. Shitley J. Metcalf 1949-2012 (No way.)
15. Poison Repp 1913-1964
14. Phony Brooks 1903-1966 (Did Phony have a hard time making friends?)
13. Murder Williams 1926-1983
12. Fester King 1896-1971 [also another Fester King 1915-1974, Senior and Junior perhaps?] (Everyone should have an Uncle Fester.)
11. Flipper Butts 1919-1975 (Perfect name for the adult entertainment industry.)
10. Moron Bobo 1896-1974 (The last name alone would probably lead to a difficult life, adding the first insures it.)
9. Jack Ass 1958-2003 (Could have had a franchise on that name.)
8. Hernia Dalton 1906-1976 (Ow.)
7. Very Bland 1979-1999
6. Big Wife 1888-1982
5. Funny Smith 1919-1986 (Was he? Or is “Funny” a she?)
4. Zoo Parks 1897-1981
3. Will Moron Read 1927-1989 (I don’t know. How did he do in school?)
2. Pimp Freeman 1893-1983 (That is kind of cool in a weird way.)
1. Jesus Christ 1941-2007. (Guess you missed him. He was here. I’ve always wondered if Jesus were to return would anyone recognize him? Apparently not.)