WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY PEGGY?: A TRIBUTE TO DIANA SERRA CARY
September 30–October 1, 1996
In the early 1920s the sensational success of Baby Peggy defined what it meant
to be a Hollywood child star. Baby Peggy's box-office popularity rivaled that
of Jackie Coogan, and she predated Mickey Mouse as an icon for movie
merchandisers, inspiring toys, a comic strip, and a line of children's
clothing. Her fame peaked in 1924 with reports of a multimillion dollar
contract, but two years later her career seemed suddenly to disappear.
This tribute, with a special appearance by Diana Serra Cary, the former Baby
Peggy and author of the autobiography Whatever Happened to Baby Peggy?: The
Life and Times of Hollywood's Pioneer Child Star (St. Martin's, 1996),
includes her rare shorts Sweetie (1923) and Miles of Smiles
(1923); the original version of Captain January (1924), later remade
by Shirley Temple; and Helen's Babies (1924), also starring Clara Bow
and Edward Everett Horton.
Diana Serra Cary will introduce both screenings on September 30 and will sign
copies of her book in The MoMA Book Store at 5:00 p.m. that same day.
Whatever Happened to Baby Peggy? was organized by Ronald S. Magliozzi,
Assistant Study Center Supervisor, Department of Film and Video, with the
cooperation of the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division,
The Library of Congress.
