Description
Book SynopsisA biography of the little-known private life of Jackie Coogan the famous child star whose family set the style for many other stage parents who found fame and fortune through their child's stardom.
Trade ReviewA constant surprise and a compulsive read. Highly recommended. -- Kevin Brownlow
Diana Serra Cary has written the most penetrating and perceptive biography yet on a child star.... She accomplishes this because she knows first-hand what it was like growing up famous in the 1920s and having the adoration of the movie-going public.... The author's style is irresistible.... Her sprinkling of vaudeville jargon makes that period in life more vivid than an ordinary retelling by a less informed writer. She supplements her insider info with interviews she has conducted with Coogan's personal friends, family and coworkers.... This is an extremely well-written, well thought out, meticulously researched volume....No other writer could have done Jackie Coogan justice. How I wish there were more writers like Diane Serra Cary. -- Laura Wagner * Classic Images *
Thoroughly researched and highly detailed. * Union Tribune *
Jackie Coogan's story has been rescued, presented with great skill and pathos... -- Tom Nolan * The L A Times Book Review *
Best known for his role as Charlie Chaplin's sidekick in The Kid (1921), Jackie Coogan achieved stardom and considerable wealth before the age of 10. He later sued his parents (unsuccessfully) in an attempt to recover his squandered fortune. In this biography, Cary describes Coogan's private life and examines the conduct of his parents. A full-time writer and professional speaker, Cary is a former child star who was known as "Baby Peggy." This reprint is the first paperback edition of a volume originally published in 2003. * Reference and Research Book News, May 2007 *
Diana Serra Cary understands child stars, having been there herself, but she also brings research and literary flair to her depiction of Jackie Coogan and the era that crowned him its Boy King. -- Ronald L. Davis, author of
The Glamour Factory and Professor Emeritus of History, Southern Methodist University
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Chapter 1 "Baby Lillian" Chapter 4 Chapter 2 On the Road Chapter 5 Chapter 3 The Man in the Front Row Seat Chapter 6 Chapter 4 The Genius Chapter 7 Chapter 5 Inside the Cathedral Chapter 8 Chapter 6 "Owning the Store" Chapter 9 Chapter 7 Fame, Friends, and Family Chapter 10 Chapter 8 The Boy King Chapter 11 Chapter 9 The Regency Chapter 12 Chapter 10 In the Limelight Chapter 13 Chapter 11 "Introducing Dad" Chapter 14 Chapter 12 Death and Drama in the Real World Chapter 15 Chapter 13 Fatal Turn Chapter 16 Chapter 14 Aftershocks Chapter 17 Chapter 15 The Great Betrayal Chapter 18 Chapter 16 Picking Up the Pieces Chapter 19 Chapter 17 Behind Enemy Lines Chapter 20 Chapter 18 Second Honeymoon Chapter 21 Chapter 19 Uncle Fester, Big Daddy, and King Lear Chapter 22 Chapter 20 The "Coogan Legend": An Assessment Chapter 23 Filmography Chapter 24 Bibliography Chapter 25 Index Chapter 26 About the Author
