Isabel Rosario Cooper was born on 15 January 1914 to a Scottish father and a Chinese-Filipino mother. She started as a performer in vod-a-vil shows which eventually led to a film career starting with Miracles of Love (1925) and Tatlong Hambog (1926), which featured her and partner, Luis Tuason, in the first cinematic kissing scene in Philippine Cinema. In 1930, she met General Douglas who met her clandestinely and later installed her at the Chastleton Hotel in Washington, D.C. For four years, Dimples was the obedient mistress to Douglas MacArthur who ordered her not to leave her room and be ready for him at anytime. When she asked for money to buy some clothes, he told her she didnt need any but the lingerie he provided her with. Unhappy with her lonely life of constant waiting, she enrolled at law school and met several interesting men. General MacArthur was furious that she disobeyed his orders which led to their breakup. To prevent her from leaking sordid details about their affair, the general paid her off, which sum she used to start a new life. She tried her luck in Hollywood and had publicity shots taken by phtographer, Jose Reyes, in various costumes she would have used for film roles she could possibly land: a Hawaiian girl in grassskirt and lei, an Oriental beauty in cheongsam, and a demure-looking Filipina in a Filipiniana costume. No matter how beautiful she was, success eluded her in Hollywood and all she got were bit parts. Disillusioned, she packed her bags for the Midwest where she operated a beauty salon. She eventually returned to Los Angeles where she died of an overdose of barbiturates on 29 June 1960. Her remains were cremated and the location of her ashes is unknown. The publicity photographs taken of her by Jose Reyes, shown here, were exhibited by Miljohn Ruperto, along with a multi-media presentation on Isabel Rosario Coopers life at the Koenig & Clinton Gallery, New York early this year.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:52:07 +0000
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