.?*??) ?.?*?)
Post by *~Mrs. Cooper ~* on May 6, 2007 2:48:51 GMT -5
I hope to get this all on tape soon, but in the meantime I'm just going to copy down some stories, synopsis', poems and articles from my scrapbook:
"...That if Gary Cooper (our favorite) foes snooty we'll just change over without any trouble to John Wayne"
The First Kiss
"This is the most romantic picture I've seen for many months. It was taken on the Maryland Shore, and has a lovely lazy atmosphere of boats and trees and gently decaying homesteads. Furthermore, it is the best part Gary Cooper has ever played, and he brings to it an unexpected ability. He seems to have a real feeling for the character of the boy who gathers up the last remnants of family pride and forces his shiftless brothers back into respectability. All because the girl he loves has called him 'poor white trash,' in a moment of anger. There's something tremendously appealing in this lonely desperate figure, who risks his personal honor and safety to make his family one he can be proud of. Fay Wray is the girl who is the cause of it all, and Lane Chandler and Leslie Fenton are two of the brothers. The third brother and the drunken father are excellent, too. Maybe this is an improbable story, but it's so beautifully done that you'll never notice that. And above all, it's romantic. Or am I just getting fatuous? Anyway, I know you'll like Gary Cooper. And that's despite of whether you have liked him before or not."
Oh gosh, I wish you guys could see these pictures! I gotta get my camera working again because you will all just faint!!
"One of Gary Cooper's favorite ambitions now is to go to India. I have an idea he may join Douglas Fairbanks over there."
"The name of Gary Cooper's chimpanzee has certainly caused a riot of discussion! Half of Hollywood claims it's Tallulah and the other half bets on Toluca. Here's the low-down, as reported to us. Gary called it <i>Tallulah</i> but the publicity department at Paramount (where Miss Bankhead and Mr. Cooper <i>both</i> work) thought that not so hot and rechristened the animal Toluca. Oh me! Oh my!"
"Gary Cooper isn't exactly the scintillating conversationalist, but he has that smile-when-you-say-that-stranger look and wears his clothes smartly and unostentatiously so he comes in for a lot of invitations."
Believe it or not, in this enlightening land of ours, there are some people who don't know Gary Cooper! (what?!) It was while the Cooper family was on location. Late in the evening, Gary strolled into an inn--and this, mind you, was in a town that boasts several motion picture theaters--and asked the night clerk: 'Anything left to eat?' The clerk peered over his specs, gazed up and down all of Gary's length and asked: 'You with the movie outfit that's working hereabouts? If so, go on into the dinin' room, they're having supper for 'em.' 'Uh huh,' grinned Gary, ' I'm with the gang...'"
Seven Days' Leave
There is no boy and girl romance in "Seven Days' Leave," no vamps and no clinches. There is a singularly beautiful romance in the true meaning of the word-- a love story that touches the heart. A lonely little charwoman, whom the frowsy women ostracize because she has no son at war, invents one through blind patriotism and a desire to 'belong.' The boy unexpectedly materializes. The original play, 'The Old Lady Shows Her Medals,' has not been butchered into a routine flicker, and no one tries to sell a theme song. Barrie's human characters are retained. Beryl Mercer, great character actress, is superb in the role she created in the theater. Gary Cooper's characterization of the boy is a signal achievement for him in the new field. All talkie"
"In Hollywood they are called 'dressing room sleepers.' They are the stars who have Malibu homes for the summer, but who have fitted their dressing rooms with beds, so that when they work late at the studio, they sleep there. Since most dressing rooms have showers, heat and all the comforts of home, there is little inconvenience attached to the practice. Gary Cooper, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis and Wynne Gibson are among the 'dressing room sleepers.'"
An excerpt from the letter he sent 'Miss Ruth Sweeney (the creator of the scrapbook):
BIOGRAPHY OF GARY COOPER
Revised 2/5/29
"Gary Cooper is six feet two inches tall (wait, I thought he always said 3 in his films), weighs 160 pounds and has reddish-brown hair and blue eyes (boy does he EVER).
Born in Helena, Montana, May 7th, the son of Charles II and Alice H. Cooper, both of who are still living.
Lived in Helena until nine years old. Then taked to England where he attended grammar school at Dunstable, Bedfordshire. After three and one-half years there, returned to Helena, and entered high school.
At the age of 13, shortly after returning to America, he suffered injuries in automobile accident that compelled him to leave school and to recover his health, he went on his father's cattle ranch in Montana, to ride the range. It was at this time that he gained the first experience which qualified him for later stardom in pictures.
For two years he rode hard, living the life of a cowboy, spending every hour of the day and night out in the open. His health returned rapidly and in addition gave him a rugged physique of great strength.
In 1917, he went to the middle west and entered Iowa collage at Crinnell, Iowa. He remained there two years, then decided to return to Montana and went to work as a cartoonist for on of the Helena papers.
In 1924, on Thanksgiving Day, he came to Los Angeles with his sketch book under his arm, determined to become a commercial artist. But this venture was none too successful. At one of the several advertising firms where he sought employment, he was offered the opportunity, not to paint, but to sell display space. After three months of this sort of struggling, the lure of motion pictures seized him, and he joined the ranks of aspiring extras.
For more than a year, he played atmosphere, and then came his first chance at a real part. He was hired by Hans Tiesler, an independent producer, on the far-famed 'Poverty Row,' of Hollywood to play a bit in a two-reeler. Eileen Sedgwick was his first leading woman.
After the release of this short film, Cooper's path became easier, until the offer came to play Abe Lee in 'The Winning of Barbara Worth.' Cooper's youth and engaging personality stood out so prominently in this production that his work attracted of B. P. Schulberg, general manager of west coast production for Paramount.
Cooper was summoned to the Paramount studio and there was given the first camera-less screen test on record. Upon arriving at the studio, he was informed that Mr. Schulerg would see him and when he stepped into the letteres office, found himself confronted by the complete array of the studio's department executives. Before Cooper had the chance to recover from the shock of his position more than to flash his engaging but embarrassed smile on the assemblage, Mr. Schulberg excused him and after he was gone, turned to his sides and said, 'Well, gentlemen?'
Every comment was favorable and half an hour later, Cooper was once more required to enter the office and this time was extended a long term contract, which he accepted.
His first work for Paramount was a newspaper reported in 'It,' Clara Bow's first starring vehicle. Then he was cast as Ted Larrabee, the harum-scarum here of 'Children of Divorce,' in which Esther Ralston and Clara Bow were co-starred. He played Cadet White in 'Wings.'
As a result of his work in these productions, the studio officials decided to create Cooper a s now western star and he made his stellar debut in 'Arizona Bound.' His next Paramount starring vehicle was 'Nevada.' Then he was given the title role in "Beau Sabreuer,' and later appear in the 'The Legion of the Condemned,' 'Doomsday,' and was loaned the First National for the lead opposite Colleen Moore in 'Lilac Time.' Cooper appeared opposite Esther Ralston in 'Half a Bride,' then was co-starred with Fay Wray in 'The First Kiss.' His next vehicle was 'The Shopworn Angel' with Nancy Carroll. Then he played and sang in 'Wolf Song,' which role was followed by a part in the Emil Jennings' picture, 'Betrayal.' 'Black Eagles' came next."
Wow, it is so strange to be typing this letter and think, "Some secretary at Paramount wrote this exact same thing nearly 80 years ago...and I'm typing this on a forum on the computer." It's also amazing to think that this gal, Miss Ruth, was probably just an obsessed teenager at the time, in the mid 1920's and just started putting all this stuff together. She finished the book in 1961 and then it just got lost. Little did she know that someone would find it on ebay, pay $30 (which was quite a bit back then) and now uses it to tell all her friends about the guy who's been dead for 46 years...I know I get really sentimental about it all, I just can't help it; the old smell if getting to me and makes me emotional!
I'll continue with a couple more pages but then I have to head to bed; I'll update more tomorrow...
"Before Countess Di Frasso could answer the question, 'How could you reduce so quickly?' someone said: 'Not hearing from Gary Cooper!' ...The Countess, however, gave me one of those looks when I asked if it were true. 'You don't really that, do you?' she said ......I do, though....."
"According to latest reports, the Gary Cooper-Lupe Velez romance will not terminate in marriage. At least, that is what Gary recently told his former classmates while attending a reunion at Grinnell College, his Alma Mater." (More articles on her earlier in his career).
"Gary Cooper slipped out of town last week and went a-visiting in Arizona within the vicinity of Seligman. There is a syndicate intered in Gary and his project of establishing a string of Gary Cooper dude ranches through the west. He has one that is active now. In Montana, which his father manages under his supervision. I am told that Gary's trup to Arizona was for the purpose of investigating an 80,000 or so acre ranch that rambles into hills and mountains. I am also told that he is enthusiastic about the property and that probably within the next month his syndicate will close the deal that will make this another Gary Cooper dude ranch. That boy will know what to do when his picture days are over."
Goebel, Kirkwood and Gary Cooper pay speed fines:
"Three prominent Angelenous were today pondering the advisability of observance of speed laws. The trio who paid fines in Hudge Dudley Valentines traffic court for speeding in Los Angeles were Art C. Goebel, Los Angeles to Honolulu air flight winner, who paid $5 for driving 38 miles an hour on Santa Monica boulevard; Gary Cooper, film star, who paid a $5 fine for speeding on Sunset Boulevard and James Kirkwood, film leading man, who was fined $5 for driving 40 miles an hour on La Brea avenue."
"You must have heard what Lilian Harvey said when someone asked her how she liked Gary Cooper. 'You mean that tall boy with the beautiful face?' was her reply."
My favorite:
Evening with Gary
"You may have your noisy racketeers
To make the public wary,
But I will take for happiness
An evening spent with Gary.<p>
Chavalier has to grin a lot
And Fairbanks leap and prance
But Gary has them all washed up
With just his melting glance.
Some say his eyes are blue, some gray;
I can't tell, I will confess
But I don't care what others day,
I like their tenderness.
I'd walk through Bagdad unafraid,
And if a thug grew bolder,
I'd never even turn a lash,
If I had Gary's shoulder.
Though sometimes I doze at the movies
And I wake in a sort of stupor,
Believe you me, I don't close an eye
When watching Gary Cooper."
"...That if Gary Cooper (our favorite) foes snooty we'll just change over without any trouble to John Wayne"
The First Kiss
"This is the most romantic picture I've seen for many months. It was taken on the Maryland Shore, and has a lovely lazy atmosphere of boats and trees and gently decaying homesteads. Furthermore, it is the best part Gary Cooper has ever played, and he brings to it an unexpected ability. He seems to have a real feeling for the character of the boy who gathers up the last remnants of family pride and forces his shiftless brothers back into respectability. All because the girl he loves has called him 'poor white trash,' in a moment of anger. There's something tremendously appealing in this lonely desperate figure, who risks his personal honor and safety to make his family one he can be proud of. Fay Wray is the girl who is the cause of it all, and Lane Chandler and Leslie Fenton are two of the brothers. The third brother and the drunken father are excellent, too. Maybe this is an improbable story, but it's so beautifully done that you'll never notice that. And above all, it's romantic. Or am I just getting fatuous? Anyway, I know you'll like Gary Cooper. And that's despite of whether you have liked him before or not."
Oh gosh, I wish you guys could see these pictures! I gotta get my camera working again because you will all just faint!!
"One of Gary Cooper's favorite ambitions now is to go to India. I have an idea he may join Douglas Fairbanks over there."
"The name of Gary Cooper's chimpanzee has certainly caused a riot of discussion! Half of Hollywood claims it's Tallulah and the other half bets on Toluca. Here's the low-down, as reported to us. Gary called it <i>Tallulah</i> but the publicity department at Paramount (where Miss Bankhead and Mr. Cooper <i>both</i> work) thought that not so hot and rechristened the animal Toluca. Oh me! Oh my!"
"Gary Cooper isn't exactly the scintillating conversationalist, but he has that smile-when-you-say-that-stranger look and wears his clothes smartly and unostentatiously so he comes in for a lot of invitations."
Believe it or not, in this enlightening land of ours, there are some people who don't know Gary Cooper! (what?!) It was while the Cooper family was on location. Late in the evening, Gary strolled into an inn--and this, mind you, was in a town that boasts several motion picture theaters--and asked the night clerk: 'Anything left to eat?' The clerk peered over his specs, gazed up and down all of Gary's length and asked: 'You with the movie outfit that's working hereabouts? If so, go on into the dinin' room, they're having supper for 'em.' 'Uh huh,' grinned Gary, ' I'm with the gang...'"
Seven Days' Leave
There is no boy and girl romance in "Seven Days' Leave," no vamps and no clinches. There is a singularly beautiful romance in the true meaning of the word-- a love story that touches the heart. A lonely little charwoman, whom the frowsy women ostracize because she has no son at war, invents one through blind patriotism and a desire to 'belong.' The boy unexpectedly materializes. The original play, 'The Old Lady Shows Her Medals,' has not been butchered into a routine flicker, and no one tries to sell a theme song. Barrie's human characters are retained. Beryl Mercer, great character actress, is superb in the role she created in the theater. Gary Cooper's characterization of the boy is a signal achievement for him in the new field. All talkie"
"In Hollywood they are called 'dressing room sleepers.' They are the stars who have Malibu homes for the summer, but who have fitted their dressing rooms with beds, so that when they work late at the studio, they sleep there. Since most dressing rooms have showers, heat and all the comforts of home, there is little inconvenience attached to the practice. Gary Cooper, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis and Wynne Gibson are among the 'dressing room sleepers.'"
An excerpt from the letter he sent 'Miss Ruth Sweeney (the creator of the scrapbook):
BIOGRAPHY OF GARY COOPER
Revised 2/5/29
"Gary Cooper is six feet two inches tall (wait, I thought he always said 3 in his films), weighs 160 pounds and has reddish-brown hair and blue eyes (boy does he EVER).
Born in Helena, Montana, May 7th, the son of Charles II and Alice H. Cooper, both of who are still living.
Lived in Helena until nine years old. Then taked to England where he attended grammar school at Dunstable, Bedfordshire. After three and one-half years there, returned to Helena, and entered high school.
At the age of 13, shortly after returning to America, he suffered injuries in automobile accident that compelled him to leave school and to recover his health, he went on his father's cattle ranch in Montana, to ride the range. It was at this time that he gained the first experience which qualified him for later stardom in pictures.
For two years he rode hard, living the life of a cowboy, spending every hour of the day and night out in the open. His health returned rapidly and in addition gave him a rugged physique of great strength.
In 1917, he went to the middle west and entered Iowa collage at Crinnell, Iowa. He remained there two years, then decided to return to Montana and went to work as a cartoonist for on of the Helena papers.
In 1924, on Thanksgiving Day, he came to Los Angeles with his sketch book under his arm, determined to become a commercial artist. But this venture was none too successful. At one of the several advertising firms where he sought employment, he was offered the opportunity, not to paint, but to sell display space. After three months of this sort of struggling, the lure of motion pictures seized him, and he joined the ranks of aspiring extras.
For more than a year, he played atmosphere, and then came his first chance at a real part. He was hired by Hans Tiesler, an independent producer, on the far-famed 'Poverty Row,' of Hollywood to play a bit in a two-reeler. Eileen Sedgwick was his first leading woman.
After the release of this short film, Cooper's path became easier, until the offer came to play Abe Lee in 'The Winning of Barbara Worth.' Cooper's youth and engaging personality stood out so prominently in this production that his work attracted of B. P. Schulberg, general manager of west coast production for Paramount.
Cooper was summoned to the Paramount studio and there was given the first camera-less screen test on record. Upon arriving at the studio, he was informed that Mr. Schulerg would see him and when he stepped into the letteres office, found himself confronted by the complete array of the studio's department executives. Before Cooper had the chance to recover from the shock of his position more than to flash his engaging but embarrassed smile on the assemblage, Mr. Schulberg excused him and after he was gone, turned to his sides and said, 'Well, gentlemen?'
Every comment was favorable and half an hour later, Cooper was once more required to enter the office and this time was extended a long term contract, which he accepted.
His first work for Paramount was a newspaper reported in 'It,' Clara Bow's first starring vehicle. Then he was cast as Ted Larrabee, the harum-scarum here of 'Children of Divorce,' in which Esther Ralston and Clara Bow were co-starred. He played Cadet White in 'Wings.'
As a result of his work in these productions, the studio officials decided to create Cooper a s now western star and he made his stellar debut in 'Arizona Bound.' His next Paramount starring vehicle was 'Nevada.' Then he was given the title role in "Beau Sabreuer,' and later appear in the 'The Legion of the Condemned,' 'Doomsday,' and was loaned the First National for the lead opposite Colleen Moore in 'Lilac Time.' Cooper appeared opposite Esther Ralston in 'Half a Bride,' then was co-starred with Fay Wray in 'The First Kiss.' His next vehicle was 'The Shopworn Angel' with Nancy Carroll. Then he played and sang in 'Wolf Song,' which role was followed by a part in the Emil Jennings' picture, 'Betrayal.' 'Black Eagles' came next."
Wow, it is so strange to be typing this letter and think, "Some secretary at Paramount wrote this exact same thing nearly 80 years ago...and I'm typing this on a forum on the computer." It's also amazing to think that this gal, Miss Ruth, was probably just an obsessed teenager at the time, in the mid 1920's and just started putting all this stuff together. She finished the book in 1961 and then it just got lost. Little did she know that someone would find it on ebay, pay $30 (which was quite a bit back then) and now uses it to tell all her friends about the guy who's been dead for 46 years...I know I get really sentimental about it all, I just can't help it; the old smell if getting to me and makes me emotional!
I'll continue with a couple more pages but then I have to head to bed; I'll update more tomorrow...
"Before Countess Di Frasso could answer the question, 'How could you reduce so quickly?' someone said: 'Not hearing from Gary Cooper!' ...The Countess, however, gave me one of those looks when I asked if it were true. 'You don't really that, do you?' she said ......I do, though....."
"According to latest reports, the Gary Cooper-Lupe Velez romance will not terminate in marriage. At least, that is what Gary recently told his former classmates while attending a reunion at Grinnell College, his Alma Mater." (More articles on her earlier in his career).
"Gary Cooper slipped out of town last week and went a-visiting in Arizona within the vicinity of Seligman. There is a syndicate intered in Gary and his project of establishing a string of Gary Cooper dude ranches through the west. He has one that is active now. In Montana, which his father manages under his supervision. I am told that Gary's trup to Arizona was for the purpose of investigating an 80,000 or so acre ranch that rambles into hills and mountains. I am also told that he is enthusiastic about the property and that probably within the next month his syndicate will close the deal that will make this another Gary Cooper dude ranch. That boy will know what to do when his picture days are over."
Goebel, Kirkwood and Gary Cooper pay speed fines:
"Three prominent Angelenous were today pondering the advisability of observance of speed laws. The trio who paid fines in Hudge Dudley Valentines traffic court for speeding in Los Angeles were Art C. Goebel, Los Angeles to Honolulu air flight winner, who paid $5 for driving 38 miles an hour on Santa Monica boulevard; Gary Cooper, film star, who paid a $5 fine for speeding on Sunset Boulevard and James Kirkwood, film leading man, who was fined $5 for driving 40 miles an hour on La Brea avenue."
"You must have heard what Lilian Harvey said when someone asked her how she liked Gary Cooper. 'You mean that tall boy with the beautiful face?' was her reply."
My favorite:
Evening with Gary
"You may have your noisy racketeers
To make the public wary,
But I will take for happiness
An evening spent with Gary.<p>
Chavalier has to grin a lot
And Fairbanks leap and prance
But Gary has them all washed up
With just his melting glance.
Some say his eyes are blue, some gray;
I can't tell, I will confess
But I don't care what others day,
I like their tenderness.
I'd walk through Bagdad unafraid,
And if a thug grew bolder,
I'd never even turn a lash,
If I had Gary's shoulder.
Though sometimes I doze at the movies
And I wake in a sort of stupor,
Believe you me, I don't close an eye
When watching Gary Cooper."
