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Skippy (also known as Asta, born 1931 or 1932; retired 1939) was a Wire Fox Terrier dog actor who appeared in dozens of movies during the 1930s. Skippy is best known for the role of the pet dog "Asta" in the 1934 detective comedy ''The Thin Man'', starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Skippy's name was changed to Asta after the first Thin Man film was released〔(I Love Asta - The Official Fan Site of Asta the Dog - All About Asta )〕 and he was listed under the name Asta in the Thin Man sequels he appeared in.〔(IMDb )〕 ==Professional life== Skippy was trained by his owners Henry East and Gale Henry East, and also by Frank Weatherwax and assistant trainers Rudd Weatherwax and Frank Inn. In 1936, Skippy and several other movie dogs were profiled in the book ''Dog Stars of Hollywood'' by Gertrude Orr. At the time Skippy was said to be four and a half years old, giving him a birth year of 1931–32. He was said to be one of the most intelligent of animal stars then working in pictures. In addition to verbal commands, he also worked to hand cues, essential for a dog performing in sound films. According to Orr, his training began when he was three months old, and he made his first professional film appearances at the age of one year, in 1932–1933, as a bit player providing "atmosphere." In Orr's book Skippy was shown in a series of photo stills from otherwise unidentified 20th Century Fox films starring Mae Clarke and Mary Carlisle, as well as publicity shots with Wendy Barrie from ''It's a Small World'' and Myrna Loy from ''The Thin Man''. Skippy also made a hit as "Mr. Smith" in the 1937 film ''The Awful Truth'', where his character was the subject of a custody dispute between characters portrayed by Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. (In an interesting gaffe, at one point when Cary Grant wrestles and plays with "Mr. Smith," he can be heard distinctly calling him "Skippy.") In ''Bringing Up Baby'' (1938) Skippy played "George," the bone-hiding pup belonging to Katharine Hepburn's aunt; and in ''Topper Takes a Trip'' (1938), he was "Mr. Atlas". ''The American Magazine'' detailed Skippy's professional life in an August 1938 profile of the East kennels, titled "A Dog's Life in Hollywood": :Movie actresses stroke Skippy lovingly. They coo at him and murmur endearing terms in his ears. He takes it all in his stride, because, what with contracts, options, and exacting work before the movie cameras, he hasn't much time for the attentions of Hollywood's most beautiful stars. But if he's paid for it and given the proper cue he will snuggle in the arms of the loveliest of stars, gaze into her limpid eyes, and, if necessary—howl. :Skippy, a smart little wire-haired terrier, is one of the leading stars in pictures. He leads a glamorous life—a dog's life de luxe. He is rated as one of the smartest dogs in the world, and when contracts are signed for his appearance in a picture he gets $200 a week for putting his paw-print on the dotted line. His trainer gets a mere $60. :His owner is Mrs. Gale Henry East, once a prominent movie comedienne. ... "When Skippy has to drink water in a scene, the first time he does it he really drinks. If there are retakes and he's had all the water he can drink, he'll go through the scene just as enthusiastically as though his throat were parched, but he'll fake it. If you watch closely you'll see he's just going through the motions of lapping and isn't really picking up water at all. And, because he has a sense of humor, he loves it when you laugh and tell him you've caught him faking but that it's all right with you. :"Treat a dog kindly and he'll do anything in the world for you."〔Griswold, J.B., "A Dog's Life in Hollywood"; ''The American Magazine'', August 1938, pp. 16 and 62〕 At a time when most canine actors in Hollywood films earned $3.50 a day, Skippy's weekly salary was $250.00.〔(Turner Classic Movies web site, accessed December 19, 2008. )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Skippy (dog)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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