Jackie Cooper at the SCCA Nationals at Westover NY on June 13, 1954. Photo copyright Robert F. Pauley and used with permission.
By Pete Vack
In 1951, a 30 year old Hollywood actor named John Cooper, Jr, aka Jackie, was driving from Los Angeles to New York City in his Jaguar XK120. Thoughts of his long lost father often crossed his mind as he drove the lonely miles across America. When John Jr. was still a toddler, John Cooper Sr. walked out on the family and simply disappeared. The strange loss of his father had a major negative impact on the actor. But life moves on and he kept on driving.
Somewhere outside of Kansas City, MO, it began to rain and the wind tore the top off the Jag. Soaking wet, Cooper drove through town and happened to find an upholstery shop that also repaired convertible tops.
Thankfully, a man came out to help and offered to make a new top for the Jag, and went right to work on the task. After an hour or so, the craftsman took a break and looked at Cooper. “Say, you’re Jackie Cooper, aren’t you?” Cooper admitted to being the Hollywood star.
The man thought for a minute and then told Cooper to look outside, pointed to an apartment window with a light and curtain. “Your father lives right up there.” [Read more…] about Jackie Cooper, Race Driver