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Mr. Cooper Goes to Brisbane

By Greg Corbett, Engagement Officer, Anzac Square Memorial Galleries | 13 October 2024

Gary Cooper on the cover of The Queenslander.

Gary Cooper on the cover of The Queenslander. Anon (2010) Illustrated front cover from The Queenslander, March 30, 1938. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

In November 1943, Hollywood actor Gary Cooper made a visit to Brisbane. He stayed for three days before heading north as part of a tour of the South West Pacific to entertain troops in operational areas. Mr Cooper was a big star at the time, having won an Academy Award for 'Sergeant York', and having recently starred opposite Ingrid Bergman in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.

Una Merkel (right) and actress Phyllis Brooks (left) with Gary Cooper.

Una Merkel (right) and actress Phyllis Brooks (left) with Gary Cooper. Anon (2007) Gary Cooper and other American actors at a Brisbane press conference, November 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

He was joined by film stars Una Merkel and Phyllis Brooks. Despite military and civilian police posted at his hotel to prevent him being mobbed, Cooper was followed around by thousands of fans and signed hundreds of autographs. Cooper also met with General Douglas MacArthur, who reportedly revealed that he had been watching ‘Sergeant York’ in a Manila theater when Japanese bombs started falling. 

Cooper spoke humbly about his planned stage routine for the troops, saying, "I can't sing, I can't dance, and I'm not a natural master of ceremonies, but I persuaded myself that it would be a good thing if I came out and tried my hand at (a) stage routine on troops. I only hope the troops don't throw onions. I can tell you I'm pretty nervous about it." (Barrier Daily Truth, 1943)

Film stars Gary Cooper and Una Merkel lunching in a private suite at Lennon’s Hotel, Brisbane

Anon (2010) Film stars Gary Cooper and Una Merkel lunching in a private suite at Lennon’s Hotel, Brisbane, 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Cooper departed his hotel on 8th November to lunch with Brigadier-General E. Yeager at a base section, where every doorway was crowded with typists eager to set eyes on the star. At the base section he was subject to a medical examination, and while receiving an anti-malaria needle was heard to comment, "Hey, not the right arm, make it the left. I guess I'll need my right arm for hand shaking." (The Advertiser, 1943) The tour included stops in New Guinea, Jayapura and the Solomon Islands.

War correspondent Lorraine Stumm with Gary Cooper.

War correspondent Lorraine Stumm with Gary Cooper. Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd. & Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd. (2004) War correspondent Lorraine Stumm with Gary Cooper, Brisbane, 16 November 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Interestingly, this photo in the State Library collection shows Cooper alongside Lorraine Stumm, Australia's first female accredited war correspondent. Lorraine represented the Daily Mirror at General MacArthur's Headquarters. The Americans gifted her a US officers’ side cap. Lorraine can be seen wearing a side cap in the photo. 

Footage of Cooper, Merkel and Brooks entertaining troops in New Guinea survives, and the trio can be seen performing skits and musical numbers for the appreciative crowd of US Army personnel, who can be seen clapping and laughing, but certainly not throwing onions! 

American film star Phyllis Brooks, at lunch with servicemen in a suite at Lennon's Hotel, Brisbane, November 1943.

American film star Phyllis Brooks, at lunch with servicemen in a suite at Lennon's Hotel, Brisbane, November 1943. Anon (2010) Phyllis Brooks at lunch with servicemen Lennon’s Hotel, Brisbane, 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Phyllis Brooks married a World War II veteran named Torbert H. Macdonald in 1945. Interestingly, Macdonald had once been roommates with John F. Kennedy when studying at Harvard. 

Una Merkel an American comedienne in Lennon’s Hotel visiting, Brisbane, 1943

Anon (2010) Una Merkel an American comedienne in Lennon’s Hotel visiting, Brisbane, 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Una Merkel continued acting in film until 1966, receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role in 'Summer and Smoke' in 1962. 

Cooper himself later went on to win his second Academy Award for ‘High Noon’ in 1952.

Film stars Gary Cooper, Phyllis Brooks and Una Merkel in Brisbane at a press conference, 8 November, 1943.

Film stars Gary Cooper, Phyllis Brooks and Una Merkel in Brisbane at a press conference, 8 November,1943. Anon (n.d.) American film stars at a press conference in Brisbane, 1943. Brisbane: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/tqqf2h/alma99183505809002061

To find out more about Brisbane in World War II, visit Anzac Square Memorial Galleries. We are open 10-4 Friday to Sunday.

References 

Brisbane (719)World War II (64)Gary Cooper (2)Anzac Square (71)Anzac Square Memorial Galleries (442)

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