Snookums button From the collection of Lon Ellis

Issued by the Philadelphia Badge Co in the 1920's, here is a "Snookums" pin. Sunny McKeen, known as Snookums was born in 1924 and became a Hollywood child movie star in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. He starred in 39 "Newlyweds and Their Baby" silent movie shorts that lasted from 1926 to 1929. Sunny was very popular at the time with his adorable face and pointed cowlick and most of these movie shorts revolved around him. There were other titles like Snookums’ Tooth, Fishing Snookums, Snookums’ Buggy Ride and Snookums Disappears. Unfortunately, many of his films were not cared for. The movies eventually deteriorated and are now gone.

Sunny died at the age of 8 in 1933 from a rare blood disorder and is buried in California. He had a candy bar named after him.