Little Jack is real...

Or at least, he WAS.My name is Gordon Kelly, retired UK stage manager. I write in June 2005 but the story I'll tell begins over a century ago.I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS and theatre ghosts are a cliche in the business, however...Working at the Playhouse Theatre, Stanton-on-Sea from 1985-1998, I heard the story of child performer JAMES HACKETT.The late Edgar Murray (1911-2003), was the theatre manager until retiring in 1986. We grew close in this short time and remained friends until his final days.Edgar told me of James; who was forgotten by theatre and film alike due to both freak acts of nature and industry exile.James was a victim of extreme exploitation.He was also a murderer...

Little Jack, The Orphan Boy

LITTLE JACK. This image (approx 1912) is the only known photo of JAMES as the character he would become forever entwined with.

Edgar told me of a gifted local boy he saw on stage at the theatre he'd one day manage, when he was only a boy himself...

James was born sometime in 1896 to Herbert and Elsie Hackett who, perhaps to live vicariously through him, put the boy on stage as young as age six.Not long after, he would only appear as (and be credited as) his most popular character; LITTLE JACK, THE ORPHAN BOY.

Better times..?

A playbill saved by EDGAR MURRAY for almost eight decades.

In a time when child performers worked in spite of exhaustion, school or illness, this was a boy of song, dance and slapstick comedy. A product of the by now fading music hall art form.Later, James graduated from regional theatres to the London stage. Like music hall's CHAPLIN, he was destined for more...

Hollywood calls...

A one of a kind artefact from EDGAR's collection. While MILES and WALKER are still fondly remembered, this particular film- and JAMES' performance- was lost to fire.

At age 12 or 13, still playing the pre-adolescent character of Little Jack, James' parents sent him to Hollywood. Jeffrey and Elsie, natives of Stanton, remained in their new London home, paid for with James' earnings. There they prepared his younger sister Elizabeth for a similar career.

Return To London...

A NEWS CLIPPING APPRENTLY FROM THE LONDON TIMES.

Soon after his return from America, tragedy struck. Or rather, Little Jack struck. Resentful and enraged at his younger sister's similar exploitation, in a state of psychosis, James murdered his parents in their sleep.He would later state to police and doctors;"Little Jack did it."James and Elizabeth were, like the character, now orphans.

Later Years...

A psychiatric report on the then 17 year old JAMES, procured by an unidentified staff member of the Velderview Asylum. We see insight into his suffering, while not excusing his brutal crime.

From here the facts get fewer and stranger still.James spent his remaining years in the asylum but we have little other insight into his time there.We know that Little Jack, whether due to delusion or deception had become an often dominant part of his personality.We know the brutal reputation of early psychiatric care but it's unknown how much James may have suffered in this "care".

The last surviving photograph of JAMES HACKETT, his exact age here unknown. Note his gaunt, underfed expression compared to the chubby cheeked cherub of his performing past.

Lastly, we know that at age eighteen, James Hackett died in that asylum, by causes unknown, but we do know the date...

An Uncanny Date...

LEFT- The Playhouse Theatre, gutted by fire in 1922. RIGHT- The playhouse in the late 1980s, as it largely remains today.

September 1st 1922...

On this day, fire ravaged a Billows Brothers warehouse, destroying all copies of the one reel films James shot. Such fires were common in old Hollywood and many a performer's entire works were lost this way.On the same date, another unexplained fire, half a world away, struck The Playhouse Theatre, leaving it derelict for over a decade.And on this very same day James "Little Jack" Hackett died...

The "Theatre Ghost"...

I've never seen anything that would make me believe in ghosts but out of respect for Edgar Murray, I shall address it...Edgar would say the bizarre date of 01/09/1922 was evidence in itself. I would say that extreme coincidences simply do occur.

A photograph captured in the wings SEEMS to show, through the stage smoke, a slight male shape bearing a bakerboy cap.

For years, Edgar and other staff spoke of hearing dance steps on the empty stage. Or of boyish giggles in backstage corridors.But of course, old buildings do make strange sounds.Visiting children claimed to actually see a "grey dancing boy" who'd swiftly vanish from sight.But of course, we know children and their imaginations.There'd been many nasty but absurd, unlikely accidents over the years. Banana skins slipped on, skulls cracked. I kid you not.But of course, accidents happen.

Edgar remained adamant until his final days that a copy of James' film "THE KID-NAPPERS" survived as he'd remembered viewing it at a local film festival as a child...But I can find no word about it on the whole World Wide Web.

In Closing...

IIt's extremely unlikely that anyone still living remembers James Hackett and Little Jack first hand but please think;Did a parent, grandparent or older friend ever tell you this story?Is there anything you remember seeing in the garage, the loft, in an old box or trunk, related to this case?Did you ever work at The Playhouse Theatre, Stanton-on-Sea?If so I implore you to share stories and/or material with me.Simply call or send an email.Perhaps together we learn more about this fascinating and tragic unresolved story in the history of theatre and film.I look forward to hearing from you!Best wishes,Gordon

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