Author writes about children of the past in Hollywood – Paradise Post

CHICO — Author Robert Strom, a new Chicoan, has connections to Hollywood and was inspired by a former child actor to write books.

His most recent book, published by BearManor Media in 2023, is called “Cries in the Night: Children in Film Noir.” The book centers around 50 actors (now adults) who starred in film noir movies as children. Strom interviewed all of them. Each entry has information about the actor or actress and a photo.

Strom said actor Bobby Driscoll “was the impetus for this book,” adding: “He was so good in film noir.”

Strom wrote about people who worked with Hollywood heavy hitters of the past such as Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum and Lauren Bacall.

“That’s really the best part about this book, the kid actors telling me what it was like to grow up and go to school on a movie set,” Strom said. “It was very revealing. Some of them wanted to quit around age 15 and go to school.”

Strom said there is a price for becoming famous and successful early on.

“Nearly all of the child stars said they gave up their childhoods. They were the sole income for their families, and their parents managed their careers,” he explained. “The kids were the breadwinners.

“By and large, they are happily retired and have no regrets about their careers and shared about the golden age of Hollywood.”

Some of the actors had parents who were irresponsible with money the children earned.

“Jackie Coogan got to legal age and asked his parents where the money is,” Strom relayed. “They said, ‘There isn’t any; we spent it all. This is the case with a lot of child actors. Money isn’t set aside. Mimi Gibson and Shirley Temple came of age and also didn’t have any money. Temple only had $1,550 at the end and (had) made millions. Her parents had to sell her backyard dollhouse for money.”

Coogan wound up inspiring a California law called the Coogan Act — named after him — requiring 15% of a child actor’s ages to go into a bank account their guardians cannot access.

‘Sad tales’

Strom said acting is not always what people think it is and the pressure of performing could be intense.

“There are some sad tales in this book,” Strom said. “Kids were expected to behave as adults, to be on time and hit their mark and be in charge of their props. Only Mimi Gibson suffered actual abuse, though, from the people I interviewed. She couldn’t cry for a scene in a movie, so Loretta Young bent her fingers back to get her to cry. She is still traumatized by that.

“People think filmmaking is so glamorous,” he added, “but you end up waiting a lot. (Kids) do school work for 10-30 minutes and then get called to set.”

He found hundreds of former child actors in noir online from A to Z. Only two said they didn’t want to be interviewed.

“It’s a real blessing to find these hardworking talents who made their livings as kids,” Strom said. He has done book signings and some of the actors join him.

“Jimmy Hunt still has that sparkle,” Strom said. “He’s the dearest man in the world.”

Strom enjoyed interviewing all of the talents in his book and enjoys book signings.

“People are interested and ask questions,” he said. “I’ve been very lucky in this journey as an author. What would life be if you didn’t have gratitude?”

Other chapters

Strom moved to Chico from San Leandro. His aunt lives in Chico, and she wanted a family member close. He was able to buy a mobile home and so far likes Chico.

He has some experience performing, as he acted in community theater and in high school, in shows such as “Guys and Dolls,” “Grease” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.”  Strom also wrote three plays; one was about Truman Capote, called “Sleeping with Capote,” and he also wrote a play about Billie Holiday.

Strom worked for Peggy Lee and wrote a book about her called “Miss Peggy Lee: A Career Chronicle,” which he described as “a tribute to all she accomplished as a singer/songwriter.” He called her “a genius — when working for her, I saw how true that was.”

Strom worked for Fed Ex after he finished working with Lee. He recalled, “When I drove home from my last day at Fed Ex, I said, ‘I’m going home to write a book,’ and I did.”

He also wrote about Gypsy Rose Lee and wrote a book about Virginia O’ Brien called “Virginia O’Brien: MGM’s Deadpan Diva.” Strom loved singer Keely Smith — “She had the voice of an angel,” he said — and was good friends with her.