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43-456: The original Bill was passed in 1939 by the State of California in response to the plight of Jackie Coogan , who earned millions of dollars as a successful child actor only to discover, upon reaching adulthood, that his mother and stepfather had spent almost all of his money. Since then, it has been revised a few times, most recently on December 7, 2019. As it stands, money earned and accumulated under

86-529: A glider pilot because of his civilian flying experience. He graduated from the Advanced Glider School with the glider pilot aeronautical rating and the rank of flight officer , he volunteered for hazardous duty with the 1st Air Commando Group . In December 1943, the unit was sent to India. He flew British troops, the Chindits , under General Orde Wingate , on March 5, 1944, landing them at night in

129-714: A 1962–63 NBC series, McKeever and the Colonel . He finally found his most famous television role as Uncle Fester in ABC 's The Addams Family (1964–1966). He later voiced Uncle Fester in The Addams Family animated series (1973–1975) and reprised the character in the TV film Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977). He appeared four times on the Perry Mason series, including

172-413: A car accident five months earlier. Coogan soon discovered, though, that nearly the entire amount had been squandered by his mother and stepfather, Arthur Bernstein, on fur coats, diamonds and other jewelry, and expensive cars. Bernstein had been a financial advisor for the family and married Coogan's mother in late 1936. Coogan's mother and stepfather claimed Jackie enjoyed himself and simply thought he

215-475: A child actor, Coogan worked with Near East Relief and toured across the United States and Europe in 1924 on a "Children's Crusade" as part of his fundraising drive. His efforts provided more than $ 1 million in clothing, food, and other contributions ($ 14.8 million in 2021 dollars), and he was honored by officials in the United States and Greece. He also had an audience with Pope Pius XI . A Catholic , Coogan

258-566: A contract under the code remains the sole legal property of the minor child. The law requires a child actor's employer to set aside 15% of the earnings in a trust (often called a Coogan Account) and codifies issues such as schooling, work hours, and time off. The current version of the law is codified in sections 6750–53 of the California Family Code and section 1700.37 of the California Labor Code . The law provides that any of

301-603: A good job, an excellent job, with Dickens in the picturized Oliver Twist , and destined to keep the house full, if the crowds that packed the place yesterday mean anything. But whether it is Mr. Dickens or little Jackie Coogan that is drawing them in, of course, is a question. There's Fagin too, vividly present in the person of Lon Chaney." ---New York Times. "The GREATEST FILM TRIUMPH of the DECADE. A MATCHLESS CAST of SCREEN CELEBRITIES SUPPORTING JACKIE in THIS, HIS FINEST ACHIEVEMENT. Starring

344-466: A minor renders services as an "actor, actress, dancer, musician, comedian, singer, or other performer or entertainer, or as a writer, director, producer, production executive, choreographer, composer, conductor, or designer." Under the current law, the court may also approve contracts that involve the transfer of intellectual property. In September 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an expansion to

387-562: A music score specially created for it by Vaughn De Leath . In the 1970s, a new musical score by John Muri was added to the restored print, and it was released in 1975 at a special screening at Filmex in Los Angeles. Prints can be found at Blackhawk Films, the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Library of Congress. The film is readily available on DVD. On June 30, 2009, a Region Free DVD of

430-574: A number of names with picture value in the supporting cast, there is hardly anything in their performance that stands out. They appear to be rather lacking when weighed against some of the stage characterizations that have been presented of the better known roles of the Dickens work. This is particularly true of the interpretation of Fagin presented by Lon Chaney and the Bill Sikes of George Siegmann." ---Variety "Charming, delightful, thoroughly Dickens...(Fagin)

473-588: A police officer in the Elvis Presley comedy Girl Happy in 1965. In 1940, Coogan played the role of "a playboy Broadway producer" in the Society Girl program on CBS radio. He also starred in his own program, Forever Ernest , on CBS from April 29 to July 22, 1946. Coogan enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor that December, he requested a transfer to Army Air Forces as

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516-561: A small jungle clearing 100 miles (160 km) behind Japanese lines in the Burma Campaign . After the war, Coogan returned to acting, taking mostly character roles and appearing on television. From 1952 to 1953, Coogan played Stoney Crockett on the syndicated series Cowboy G-Men . In 1959, he guest-starred in a first-season episode of Peter Gunn . He also appeared on NBC 's The Martha Raye Show . He appeared, too, as Corbett, in two episodes of NBC's 1960 series The Outlaws . In

559-440: A supper (asking "Please, sir...I want some more?"). As a result, Mr. Bumble apprentices him off to Mr. Sowerberry, an uncaring undertaker who mistreats the boy so badly that one day he rebels for the first time in his life, then runs away to London to seek his fortune. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Bumble is summoned to a private meeting with a sinister man calling himself Mr. Monks who inquires information about Oliver, and easily bribes

602-411: A very young woman outcast of unknown history dies giving birth to a boy. Nine years later, the boy in particular who has been given the unlikely name of Oliver Twist by the cruel parish beadle Mr. Bumble, after losing out in a secret draw with the other orphan boys, gets into trouble with the workhouse authorities for daring to asking for more supper - if you can call one pathetically small bowlful of gruel

645-533: Is the Dodger and another boy who steal a handkerchief from a kindly old gentleman. At his trial however, the victim Mr. Brownlow takes pity on the boy and arranges for him to be released into his custody. At Mr. Brownlow's home located in one of the wealthier sections of London, Oliver experiences true kindness for the first time in his life. Unfortunately fearing exposure, Fagin and Sikes have him tracked down and kidnapped through Nancy, who immediately regrets her part in

688-553: The California Child Actor's Bill , widely known as the "Coogan Act". Coogan continued to act throughout his life, later earning renewed fame in middle age portraying Uncle Fester in the 1960s television series The Addams Family . John Leslie Coogan was born in Los Angeles , California, in 1914 to John Henry Jr. and Lillian Rita (née Dolliver) Coogan. He began performing as an infant in both vaudeville and film, with

731-589: The 1939 enactment of the California Child Actor's Bill, often referred to as the "Coogan Law" or the "Coogan Act". It required that a child actor's employer set aside 15% of the earnings in a trust (called a Coogan account) and specified the actor's schooling, work hours, and time off. Coogan appeared with then-wife Betty Grable in College Swing , a 1938 musical comedy starring George Burns , Gracie Allen , Martha Raye , and Bob Hope . He appeared as

774-509: The 1960–1961 season, he guest-starred in the episode "The Damaged Dolls" of the crime drama The Brothers Brannagan . In 1961, he guest-starred in an episode of The Americans , an NBC series about family divisions stemming from the Civil War . He also appeared in episode 37, titled "Barney on the Rebound", of The Andy Griffith Show , which aired October 31, 1961. Coogan had a regular role in

817-554: The 1982 documentary Hollywood's Children . After suffering from heart and kidney ailments , Coogan died of heart failure on March 1, 1984, at the age of 69, in Santa Monica , California. Coogan had a long history of heart trouble and hypertension and had previously suffered several strokes . He had been undergoing kidney dialysis when his blood pressure dropped. Coogan was taken to Santa Monica Hospital , where he died from cardiac arrest . At Coogan's request, his funeral

860-624: The Artful Dodger, who offers to take the orphan to his home which is located in one of the filthiest London slums. There the Dodger and several other boys like him are living under the care of an odd and seemingly benign old Jewish miser named Fagin, who gladly takes Oliver in. Little does the innocent orphan suspect that his newfound benefactor is in reality a crafty local crime lord, who has taken all these boys to order to train them to steal and to pick pockets for him and his brutal, thieving partner-in-crime Bill Sikes. Fagin subtly introduces Oliver to

903-526: The abandoned child raised by his Tramp character in the silent comedy-drama The Kid (1921). In 1922, Coogan was cast in the title role in Oliver Twist , directed by Frank Lloyd . Coogan was one of the first stars to be heavily merchandised. Peanut butter, stationery, whistles, dolls, records, coins and figurines were among the Coogan-themed merchandise on sale. Coogan had been privately tutored until

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946-468: The abduction. During all this Mr. Monks finally tracks Oliver down to Fagin's den and hires Fagin and Sikes to help him prevent the secret of Oliver's parentage from coming to light, and tells him to keep the boy with the gang. Nancy gets wind of their scheme though, and at the risk of her life arranges a midnight rendezvous at London Bridge with Mr. Brownlow, whom she informs about Monks and of his plans for Oliver, and arranges with him to rescue Oliver from

989-622: The age of 10 and then sent to a military academy and prep schools until he was 16. He entered Santa Clara University in 1932, flunked out, and transferred to the University of Southern California , intending to obtain a business or law degree. In May 1935, 20-year-old Coogan was the sole survivor of a car crash on the winding San Diego-Imperial Valley Highway, in eastern San Diego County that killed his father, his 19-year-old best friend, actor Trent ("Junior") Durkin , their ranch foreman Charles Jones, and actor and writer Robert J. Horner. The party

1032-542: The gang's clutches. But her efforts are discovered by Fagin and Sikes, the latter brutally murdering her for interfering. After a thrilling rooftop chase, Sikes accidentally hangs himself and Fagin is arrested by the police while Oliver is happily reunited with Mr. Brownlow, who successfully tracks Monks down. Monks confesses that Oliver is his long lost step brother, and the true heir to a vast fortune left by their late father. Oliver forgives Monks and persuades Mr. Brownlow, who has become his guardian, not to turn him over to

1075-436: The greedy official into yielding him a gold locket that was the only thing of value found on Oliver's mother after her death, as well as the only proof that she along with her son are actually from a wealthy family. Mr. Monks charges Mr. Bumble to remain silent about their transaction and goes on to London to track Oliver down. As for Oliver himself, on the road to London he is befriended by a cocky street urchin calling himself

1118-467: The law to cover child social media content creators. This article relating to law in the United States or its constituent jurisdictions is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This California -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This labor -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Jackie Coogan John Leslie Coogan (October 26, 1914 – March 1, 1984)

1161-746: The mid-1970s. Coogan also appeared in the first season of Barnaby Jones , in the April 1, 1973 episode titled "Sing a Song of Murder". Coogan was married four times and had four children. His first three marriages to actresses were short-lived. Betty Grable and he were engaged in 1935 and married on November 20, 1937, and they divorced on October 11, 1939. On August 10, 1941, he married Flower Parry (d. 1981). They had one son, John Anthony Coogan (writer/producer of 3D digital and film, also known as Jackie Coogan Jr.), born in Los Angeles; they divorced on June 29, 1943. Coogan married his third wife, Ann McCormack, on December 26, 1946. A daughter, Joann Dolliver Coogan,

1204-473: The movie was released by Alpha Video . "Director Lloyd deserves credit for the manner in which he has handled the production, in the sets, the selection of types and the preservation of the atmosphere of this novel...Jackie Coogan is ideal as Oliver Twist, and shows that he is a sterling little actor...Lon Chaney is fine as Fagin, though this role has been somewhat subordinated; his make-up and acting are exceptional." ---Moving Picture World "Although there are

1247-415: The parties may petition a court to approve an entertainment contract, and if the court does so, somewhat different rules apply. Most important, the child cannot escape its responsibilities under the contract by disaffirming them, which a child normally has the power to do. Later revisions extended the scope of minors' entertainment contracts that the court can approve to include contracts according to which

1290-451: The police. His quest for love has ended in fulfilment. The film was considered lost , until a print surfaced in Yugoslavia in 1973. The print lacked English language intertitles, which were subsequently restored by Blackhawk Films with the help of Jackie Coogan and Sol Lesser, more than 50 years after it was made. It is held by: When the film was originally released in 1922, it had

1333-784: The role of political activist Gus Sawyer in the 1963 episode, "The Case of the Witless Witness" and TV prop man Pete Desmond in the final episode, "The Case of the Final Fadeout", in 1966. He was a guest several times on The Red Skelton Show , appeared twice on The Brady Bunch ("The Fender Benders" and "Double Parked"), I Dream of Jeannie (as Jeannie's uncle, Suleiman – Maharaja of Basenji), Family Affair , Here's Lucy , and The Brian Keith Show , and continued to guest-star on television, including multiple appearances on The Partridge Family The Wild Wild West , Hawaii Five-O and McMillan and Wife , until his retirement in

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1376-484: The title role (uncredited) in the 1917 film Skinner's Baby . Charlie Chaplin discovered him in the Orpheum Theatre , a vaudeville house in Los Angeles, on the stage doing the shimmy , a then-popular dance. Coogan's father was also an actor. Coogan was a natural mimic and delighted Chaplin with his abilities. Chaplin cast him in a small role in A Day's Pleasure (1919). The following year, Chaplin cast Coogan as

1419-491: The world of crime, getting him to participate with the other boys in a deceptively innocent game in which they each have to pick handkerchiefs and other articles out of the old man's many great coat pockets without him feeling anything. Oliver succeeds on his first try, and Fagin rewards him with a coin. Shortly afterwards, Oliver meets Sikes' doxy Nancy who takes an instant liking to the boy on sight. Eventually Oliver gets caught in his first pickpocketing mission, even though it

1462-644: Was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills . As a child star, Coogan earned an estimated $ 3,000,000 (equivalent to $ 66,670,000 in 2023) to $ 4,000,000 (equivalent to $ 88,893,000 in 2023). When he turned 21 in October 1935, his fortune was believed to be well intact. His assets had been conservatively managed by his father, who had died in

1505-466: Was an American actor and comedian who began his film career as a child actor in silent films . Coogan's role in Charlie Chaplin 's film The Kid (1921) made him one of the first child stars in the history of Hollywood. He later sued his mother and stepfather over his squandered film earnings and provoked California to enact the first known legal protection for the earnings of child performers,

1548-634: Was at the height of his career during the filming, having played the title role in Charles Chaplin 's The Kid the previous year. Chaney was at the height of his career as the silent film's "Man of A Thousand Faces". He would play the title role the following year in The Hunchback of Notre Dame , and three years later The Phantom of the Opera . During the 1830s, in a country workhouse somewhere in England,

1591-416: Was at times too theatrically portrayed by Lon Chaney. This is a picture that the entire industry can well be proud of." ---Film Daily "The result is a motion picture thoroughly worthwhile and of very definite appeal...Lon Chaney who is these days adding rapidly to his fame as a real character genius, makes Fagin one of the most impressive of his gallery of portraits." ---Exhibitors Trade Review "They've done

1634-408: Was born in Los Angeles. They divorced on September 20, 1951. Dorothea Odetta Hanson, also known as Dorothea Lamphere (but best known as Dodie), was a dancer and became Coogan's fourth wife in April 1952. They were together over 30 years until his death in 1984. She died in 1999. They had two children together; daughter Leslie Diane Coogan was born in Los Angeles, while son Christopher Fenton Coogan

1677-749: Was born in Riverside County, California. Christopher died in a motorcycle accident in Palm Springs, California in 1990. Leslie Coogan has a son, actor Keith Coogan , who was born Keith Eric Mitchell. He began acting in 1975 and later changed his name two years after his grandfather's death, in 1986. His roles include the oldest son in Adventures in Babysitting and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead . Footage of Jackie with his grandson Keith can be seen in

1720-692: Was directed by Frank Lloyd . It was selected as one of the best pictures of 1922 by New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Walter J. Israel handled the costuming. Studio interiors were filmed at the Robert Brunton Studios in Hollywood. The film's tagline was "8 Great Reels that make you ask for more. Will Hays says Jackie Coogan Films are the sort the World needs." A still exists showing Fagin training his wards to be pickpockets. Coogan

1763-659: Was open to the public and was attended by several fans. John Astin , Coogan's co-star from The Addams Family , delivered the eulogy . Coogan was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City . His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 1654 Vine Street, just south of Hollywood Boulevard . Oliver Twist (1922 film) Oliver Twist is a 1922 American silent drama film adaptation of Charles Dickens ' 1838 novel Oliver Twist , featuring Lon Chaney as Fagin and Jackie Coogan as Oliver Twist. The film

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1806-586: Was playing before the camera. She insisted, "No promises were ever made to give Jackie anything", and claimed he "was a bad boy". Coogan sued them in 1938, but after his legal expenses, he received just $ 126,000 (equivalent to $ 2,727,000 in 2023) of the $ 250,000 (equivalent to $ 5,411,000 in 2023) remaining of his earnings. When Coogan went broke during the litigation, he asked Charlie Chaplin for assistance; Chaplin handed him $ 1,000 (equivalent to $ 22,000 in 2023) in cash without hesitation. The legal battle focused attention on child actors and resulted in

1849-511: Was returning from a day of dove hunting just over the Mexican border. With Coogan's father at the wheel, the car was forced off the mountain highway near Pine Valley by an oncoming vehicle and rolled down an embankment. Durkin had been a costar of Coogan's in the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn films. Jackie, who had been thrown from the rumble seat, suffered two broken ribs and bruises. While

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