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Volume 7683



TOMMY COOK
www.erbzine.com/star
The Special Guest for the
PALM SPRINGS ECOF 2023 ~ April 4-6

Tommy Cook, featured in two Edgar Rice Burroughs films,
is one of the last living actors of the Johnny Weissmuller era,
and has a lifetime of stories to tell.

Tommy will join ERB fans at the unveiling of Edgar Rice Burroughs star
on the world-famous Palm Springs Walk of Stars on April 4, 2023, at 11 a.m.
During the ECOF event Tommy will sit for a Q&A with attendees and
will be selling and signing stills of his film roles and discussing his career with fans.


Tommy appeared on the silver screen in two ERB-related films:
The Jungle Girl (15 part serial in 1941 for Republic Pictures).
After the war he made an appearance in
the 1946 film Tarzan and the Leopard Woman.



TOMMY COOK IS ORGANIZING
THIS MEDICAL FUNDRAISER

Who hasn't enjoyed spry, curly-haired actor Tommy Cook? 
Tommy Cook needs your support.
Help Child Star Tommy Cook with Medical Bills, organized by Tommy Cook
www.gofundme.com/f/help-child-star-tommy-cook-with-medical-bills
As a child, Tommy's most famous roles happened during his nascent career in serial adventures. He came on the feature film scene in the role of young Indian boy, Little Beaver alongside western good guy 'Don 'Red' Barry' in the Adventures of Red Ryder (1940) and followed that portraying Kimbu, the young jungle boy, alongside Frances Gifford's heroine Nyoka in Jungle Girl (1941).

After appearing in a couple of short films for MGM and RKO, Tommy auditioned for and won the role of Little Beaver in the 12-chapter "Red Ryder" cliffhanger at Republic. He also played the role on radio, and over the years racked up a prolific score of performances in the medium, starting with "Arch Obler's Plays", and subsequently appearing as Alexander Bumstead on "Blondie", Junior on "The Life of Riley", as well as roles on "Ozzie and Harriet", "Lux Radio Theater", "Mercury Theater on the Air", and "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar". On-screen, he continued in both highly visible and unbilled parts. The former included active roles in "Good Luck, Mr. Yates" (1943); "Hi, Buddy" (1943); as Kimba, the Leopard Boy in "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman" (1946) with Johnny Weissmuller and Brenda Joyce; a Filipino in "American Guerrilla in the Philippines" (1950) starring Tyrone Power; and played a lead delinquent in the film "The Vicious Years' (1950), for which he won a Photoplay Award for "Outstanding Performance." He's also had voice-over roles on animated series such as Kid Flash on "The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure", Augie on "The Funky Phantom" and Biff on "Jabberjaw".

Now, at 93 years of age, Tommy is asking for your help.
Due to drastic and unfair changes in the SAG-Aftra Union Health Plan, nearly 12,000 senior union members are being eliminated from health coverage, which union leadership once touted would ‘be financially sustainable for all members for years to come’ and would ‘strengthen the overall financial health of the plan while ensuring comprehensive benefits for all participants.' Their words in quotes.
So, due to their age, the same performers who loyally paid their dues throughout their careers have now been completely abandoned by the pension plan and a health plan.

And, Tommy Cook is one of them.

A lawsuit has been filed, Tommy one of the plaintiffs, alleging wrongful and illegal age discrimination, partly because participants 65 and older have such a vested interest in their pension. To date, no ruling has been handed down. (See: Ed Asner’s Lawsuit Against SAG-AFTRA Health Plan, online.)
Meanwhile, Tommy's medical and insurance bills continue to pile up. He trusted and counted on his union to be there at this time of life. He's basically been told to get lost.

So surely after all the years of enjoying that infectious smile and dynamic acting style, you can find it in your hearts to help one of the good guys out. Any amount will help, and all will go to paying Tommy's medical and insurance bills.
Please.
We're counting on all you nice folks, and Tommy thanks every last one of you in advance.

www.gofundme.com/f/help-child-star-tommy-cook-with-medical-bills


Still Flashing That Smile


Johnny Sheffield, Tommy Cook, Brenda Joyce, Johnny Weissmuller

Above are the screen captures I've made from the short YouTube Video:
FROM TARZAN TO JUNGLE GIRL
https://youtu.be/Xt-l63UbEl0
https://www.repsshowcase.com/tommy-cook/


Click or Tap for full size



Click or Tap for full size

TOMMY COOK BIO BITS

``

I have 10 special limited edition Red Ryder rifles sent directly to me by Daisy still factory sealed.
Pictures of Don Berry and myself as Little Beaver are on the box from the series.
I am happy to sign the box and the actual rifle and even take a pic of myself signing.
I can at your request make this personalized.
Last time Daisy sent me these as a gift they were gone in a few hours.


MORE ABOUT ECOF 2023 AND THE ERB STAR CELEBRATION:
https://www.ERBzine.com/dumdum
https://www.ERBzine.com/dumdum/palm

ERB STAR CELEBRATION

.
SWAG BAG WELCOME
www.erbzine.com/star
.
ERBzine 7719
INTRO
ERBzine 7720
Monday Arrival
ERBzine 7721
Tuesday Star Gathering
ERBzine 7722
ERB Star Dedication
ERBzine 7723
Hawkers & Talkers
ERBzine 7724
Huckster Rm Action & Auction
ERBzine 7725
ERB Star & ECOF Committee
ERBzine 7726
Memorial Library ERB Display
ERBzine 7727
Star Celebration
WATCH THESE 20-30-60 MINUTE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
Interview of Actor Tommy Cook by Scott Tracy Griffin
at the 2023 ECOF Gathering in Palm Springs
https://youtu.be/NHAk_hEtyQs

"Edgar Rice Burroughs in Palm Springs" (Part 1) - Welcome to the 2023 ECOF Gathering
https://youtu.be/vSrMWA-6u8E
Recorded by Henry Franke III ~ Editor: Burroughs Bibliophiles

“Edgar Rice Burroughs in Palm Springs” (Part 2) - Welcome to the 2023 ECOF Gathering
https://youtu.be/Td_Lpr3TwQs
Recorded by Henry Franke III ~ Editor: Burroughs Bibliophiles

Edgar Rice Burroughs Star Dedication Ceremony in Palm Springs, 4 Apr 2023
https://youtu.be/YM9MBmM3LWw
 



BILL HILLMAN
hillmans@westman.wave.ca
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