Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1954)

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Though he's a Connecticut Yankee, young Ben goes west again in “ Hell's Outpost ” That was Ben Cooper’s nickname in “Johnny Guitar,” but fans chose to change it. They call him terrific! In the language of show business, a “turkey’7 is a hopeless flop. Cast as a character called Turkey in “Johnny Guitar,” Ben Cooper turned this jinx word into a good-luck charm. His success came as a complete surprise to both Ben and his studio. It was one of those amazing incidents that every so often remind Hollywood who’s boss around here. Who? Why, you, of course. In another Western a few years ago, a husky young man rode across the screen briefly in the role of Jesse James. He was an unknown; he had been given no advance publicity. But when “Fighting Man of the Plains” was released. Photoplay and 20th were deluged with letters demanding, “Who played Jesse James?” It was Dale Robertson, and that flood of fan mail made him a star. As for young Ben Cooper, he was just one of Scott Brady’s gang in the Joan Crawford movie — a spunky lad who met a pathetic death. But as soon as the pic( ture was released, hundreds of letters bef gan pouring into the Photoplay offices. Even in a minor role, heralded by no big ] build-up. Ben Cooper’s wistful smile spelled “star material” to the fans, who can’t be fooled. As the picture continued its run, not a day went by but dozens of readers asked, “Who played Turkey ? . . . How old is he? ... Where can I write to him?” When twenty-one-year-old Ben Cooper checks in for a new film at Republic, in North Hollywood, he brings along an imposing lot of experience for so young an actor. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, brought up in New York City, he went out for his first professional role when he was only eight. The stage version of “Life with Father” was being cast, and the producers were on the lookout for youngsters to play the numerous Day children. Ben was asked to memorize a few lines for his audition. While he was at it, he casually committed the whole play to memory — and the dazzled producers gave him one of the top child roles. After that, he went into radio, switching to television in 1947. Like Charlton Heston and Jack Lemmon, Ben had a good, solid reputation on tv before Hollywood discovered him. It happened this way. An actor friend of his wanted to make a screen test and asked Ben to appear with him in the scene. Willingly, Ben fed his pal the required lines. Then Republic began casting “Thunderbirds.” Producer-director John Auer had borrowed that test from another studio. Like the movie-goers who were later to see “Johnny Guitar,” Auer found his eyes straying to the young man doing a supporting role. Ben had done a pal a good turn, but, ironically, it was Ben and not his friend who was signed by Republic. The newcomer made five other movies, including John Derek’s “The Outcast,” before he won the lucky role as Turkey. Considering the country-wide popularity of “Johnny Guitar,” Ben’s happy to be cast in another Western, “Hell’s Outpost.” In this present-day story, he’s a carefree Jack-of-all-trades. New England-born and New York-bred, Ben is still no tenderfoot, but an ardent horseman, often seen cantering around the Hollywood Hills on his own mount, Gypsy. With bright talent to match his grin, he’s ready to prove that all those sharpeyed fans know a star when they see one. Incidentally, he’s a fancy-free bachelor.