Who is your favorite silent Our Gang character? What do you like most about the Our Gang/Little Rascals comedies?I like probably Mickey Daniels or Joe Cobb, because of their physical expressions. They are flawless. I also like Allen " Farina" Hoskins, especially the ones made when he was a little baby! What I like most about the comedies is the fact that they are movies that can still go strong today, and that you can reflect back on the movies and remember, " Oh! I remember when I did something similar to that when I was a kid!" and it can help you remember memories you would've never remembered. It's also the fact that the children are so cute and that they're able to act like adults and not over-act ( unless you count early-40's Spanky).
Not much an Our Gang expert, but I'll say the two shorts that have always stood out to me are CHOO-CHOO! and THE KID FROM BORNEO.
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-edpoUayKuRY%2FVNuGhtVXngI%2FAAAAAAABR9A%2F3u5sPCxT7gI%2Fs1600%2FThe%252BLittle%252BRascals%252C%252Bca.%252B1930s.jpg&hash=86f5e742e679371e72bf0a21e78bae7b3d31955b)HA! Being the Our Gang fan I am, I have tried to identify everyone in the picture ( from the top row, left to right): Dorothy DeBorba, Dickie Moore, Matthew " Stymie" Beard, Tommy "Butch" Bond and George "Spanky" McFarland. ( the people sitting, left to right): Not sure whom that first person is, but I'm almost positive that girl is Stymie's sister.
Tommy "Butch" Bond
Yeah, I knew that. &, BTW, 1934 was also an important yet for a certain slapping trio..
Footnote... in the above picture, his character was simply 'Tommy.'
Bond left the series in late 1934, and when he returned for early 1937's GLOVE TAPS he was recast as 'Butch.' The only one of the kids to play two different characters, each time as a series regular.
'Twas Shemp-Is-Awesome78 who started this thread - - thanks, S-I-A!In fact, I'm just in the middle of reading that book right now! But, I'm only on the Pathe silents. I got it at the library.
I was hoping you'd show up here, Stoogerascalfan62. I'm glad to see you. I have trouble choosing *any* favorite character, as I said before. Each one has something special. Do you have a favorite short?
Has anyone read Leonard Maltin's book(s) on Our Gang/Little Rascals?
In fact, I'm just in the middle of reading that book right now! But, I'm only on the Pathe silents. I got it at the library.
About Washee Ironee.. It's funny that you mention " Waldo, the rich boy" well, especially because that's not Darwood " Waldo" Kaye, and that's Wally Albright. My memory may not serve right, except I don't think he's ever referred to as Waldo.
Chubby. Definitely Chubby. Especially when he's in love with Miss Crabtree or singing Asleep In The Deep.Chubby Chaney certainly is a " lost Rascal" that not much people tend to recognize.
Chubby. Definitely Chubby. Especially when he's in love with Miss Crabtree or singing Asleep In The Deep.
That's the one I'm talking about. " Don't call me Norman, call me Chubbsy-Ubbsy."
IIRC, he sings Asleep in the Deep in the same one as the throbbing cake, right? Big-time funny.
The cake is in "Birthday Blues." That cake still makes me laugh out loud.
Yeah. I just watched the doc The Our Gang Story. It's pretty good, because it goes into detail about what happened after each of the cast member's careers, and shows clips if they were in any movies. I recommend it.
One of Cliff Clavin's favorites too...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPB8f6pJgjw
I was thinking about "Chubbsy-Ubbsy" because of this discussion thread. There was a catchy little song called, "Norman," from 1961; it was done by a girl called Sue Thompson. There used to be a posting of it on youtube with a montage of still photos of Norman Chaney for the video portion. But it's gone now. I was going to post the link. It was very nice, and the information section included some of his biography.I'm not as familiar with the silents, but I know Eugene Jackson. He was a nice child actor. Usually, when I tell people about the 5 main black stars of Our Gang, here's what happens:
Are you familiar with Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson?
Are you familiar with Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson?
I'll look around for that book by Jackie Lynn Taylor, HH. Thanks for posting the page! I'm always on the lookout for books by the performers. Do you recommend this one?
Oh, yes, I saw a clip of the 20/20 episode. The reporter did not do her homework and referred to Spooky Hooky as " the one where you guys are in a haunted house" or something like that. Spanky McFarland actually told them that it was not Buckwheat and that it was an imposter, except the imposter still claimed to be Buckwheat. I could tell the reporter was embarrassed. I could tell that even Bill English, the imposter was embarrassed, too!
Yes, he was also in one of The Addams Family movies, if I can remember correctly.
I found a copy of Jackie Lynn Taylor's book on abebooks.com for a "mere" $125 :o ! I tried to request it from interlibrary loan but the system is acting up today. After reading your review of the book, HiramHorwitz, I'll not worry that I may not be able to read it. At this point, I'm up to my eyebrows in books to read anyway. The old saying is true about so many books and so little time.Here's a funny video about one of the imposters named Bill English on 20/20 claiming to be Buckwheat!
I didn't see any of the TV programs about OG/LR, but I read about the impostors. I think some of the impostors are glory-seekers while a few others are, frankly, delusional, believing their own stories. But there's also the point, made on the Rascals board, that local children in some cities and towns were hired when OG/LR made personal appearances. I didn't have time to read the whole article, but I'll go back to look again. But it seems that some of the impostors were people who appeared with (or possibly as) the Gang but one occasion only. But there is no new thing under the sun, as Ecclesiastes says. Look how many claims were made to be Anastasia, the (supposed) survivor of Tsar Nicolas' family, for but one example.
Here's a funny video about one of the imposters named Bill English on 20/20 claiming to be Buckwheat!
http://www.youtu.be/XGq1kHwREnc (http://www.youtu.be/XGq1kHwREnc)
There's also this short little clip on the doc I mentioned earlier of " The Our Gang Band" appearing in a personal appearance tour... Yeah, I read about that on the Rascals board, too.. Somebody claimed to be Farina, too. Even worse, it was a girl!
Do you know if Buckwheat's son wrote a book about his father?
Currently I'm reading Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson, Pineapple's memoirs. What an upbeat person he was!
Yes, the book is published by Bear Manor Media and is available unabridged in the hard back edition and abridged in the soft back edition. I don't know the details of the unabridged version, but I've heard that the abridged version is only about 40 pages in length. Amazon's reviews of the abridged version are mixed -- from very good to very bad. The book is co-authored by David Menafee, who I seem to recall has a website or blog. If I can find any additional information on the book (like the differences between the unabridged and abridged versions), I'll share it with you here.
I wouldn't think so, except I'm not positive. One of the real tragedies of Our Gang was Froggy Laughlin. He was one of the only things that made the MGM shorts worth watching, except he didn't live too long... :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
I'm afraid I know nothing about Froggy. I recall that his voice unnerved me when I was a child watching the Gang on TV. I once read a story that he phoned some little girl who was his age. When he asked to speak with her, the parent who answered assumed he was a dirty old man, owing to his voice, and hung up. Poor fellow.Don't know if that story is true, because he used the voice as a trick voice. Froggy sadly died in a motor scooter accident at the age of 16.. He also had crossed eyes, & I don't know if that's why he crashed
Thank you in advance if you find any information to share.
The Froggy story was a publicity stunt, I bet..
I can't get the video-thing says clip not found.Yeah, that seemed to happen for some weird reason..
Yeah, that seemed to happen for some weird reason..
Do you use the hyperlink icon when you post links? If not, that might be it.I think I do.. But, back on topic.
Wasn't it Porky Lee who uttered "O-tay" first?Yes, it was. However, more people commonly attribute the phrase to Buckwheat Thomas because of Eddie Murphy's SNL sketches involving Buckwheat where he always said "O-tay" in the sketches. Porky and Buckwheat both had speech impediments, and, like their screen characters, they were best friends.
More and more as he got older, I'd guess. I seem to remember him quite heavily featured in the MGMs, along with Porky, neither of whom , IIRC, had speech problems by then. Let's remember that in the "Otay" period they were hardly more than toddlers. I have, I must admit, seen very few of the MGMs, so I might be dreaming. See if I'm awake.Hmm.. I'm going to have a celebration for what would've been Buckwheat's birthday on the 12th. However, I don't have the MGM's.. I do have a few of them ( about 10) on MGM, and it was mainly just Robert Blake, Spanky, and Alfalfa featured just dealing with their family problems or teaching lame life lessons.
And, a propos of nothing, even though it's heartwarming to know that Porky and Buckwheat were best friends, as were ( I now know, thank you very much ) Dickie and Stymie, It's kind of cool to know that Spanky and Alfalfa, or at least their families, or manager/families, whatever, were edgy with each other. The two little kids had such onscreen magic that at this date it would be gooey and boring to know they had been kissy-kissy off camera. Let's face it: when those two were onscreen at their peak, little else mattered, even Darla. Sad that their later lives were kind of crappy, and of course in Mr Switzer's case, downright awful, but I like the soap-opera quality of their peak years.Well, it wasn't so much Spanky and Alfalfa, it was their parents arguing who was the more important Rascal. But, who's counting? Want to know who had really crappy lives? Norman " Chubby Chaney" who died at 21 over crash dieting a bit too much and William " Froggy " Laughlin who died of a motor scooter accident at the age of 16.
I've posted this somewhere else, I forget where, but there is a still of the kids with Laurel and Hardy, and it's amazing to see - they were SO TINY! Not only next to king-size Oliver Hardy, but even to Stan Laurel. One loses perspective when the shorts themselves have only children. Even Alfalfa, who was relatively tall, is about the size of Stan's leg. It doesn't look like trick photography, a la Brats, either.Ooh, post a link if you are able to find the pic! It sounds interesting! What do you think about the MGM shorts? What I think of them is crap. They kind of sort of suck... Some of them even deal with divorce and teach terrible school lessons!!!!!! What would Hal Roach've said? " MGM, [censored]!"
Chubby and Froggy had short lives, for sure, and George Mac Farland's life was anything but glamorous once he left Hollywood, but Carl Switzer's life was short AND awful.Yep, Carl got shot to death at the age of 31 over 50 bucks. He pulled a knife out, and the other person shot him and killed him. They used to be friends. It was said to just be self-defense, except I feel like nobody should shoot somebody and kill them just out of self-defense. There was probably something else going on between Carl and the other guy. A terrible, terrible life. At least, he found a few acting jobs, although in most of them he was forced to sing awfully and then after explain that he only did that as a child.. I still like his appearance in It's A Wonderful Life, though.
I can't retrieve that still, being as I am terminally computer-impaired, but I'm sure somebody on here can. It's a fairly famous picture. Also, BTW, it's nice to see that George "Spanky" Mac Farland's final appearance was on a classy show like Cheers in a scene that got big laughs. He went out on a high note.Yes. It's quite funny. One of the characters thinks he's Spanky, and goes on and on and on about Our Gang/The Little Rascals, to which Spanky says that he isn't Spanky. One of the other characters asks, " Are you Spanky?" and Spanky nods. It's a shame that he ended at 64. Such a cute child actor. Same with Scotty Beckett. Now, that was a real sad ending, if you ask me.
I've heard the story that Porky and Buckwheat had speech impediments, but I don't believe it. I'm the firstborn in my family, and I heard a lot of "baby speech" growing up. Also, my mother decided I ought to look after her friends' sons from time to time when I was a teenager. I've been around a lot of young children as Sunday School teacher and reading tutor, etc. In my opinion, Porky and Buckwheat just had "baby speech." I knew a seven year-old who still talked like Elmer Fudd, by which I mean to say that children's speech can mature at different rates. Also, I think Porky and Buckwheat were even cuter because of the way they talked. I seem to hear Porky, when he was at his youngest, pronouncing Spanky as "Banky," which is the way many young children would pronounce and "sp" sound. I agree with the Big Chief that we need to remember just how young P. and B. were when they began.I shall have a couple of people over, have a small Our Gang marathon ( of course, only episodes with Buckwheat.)
About friendships - - according to the Leonard Maltin's books, the children got along well, for the most part. Some of the adult Rascals recalled Alfalfa's father encouraging him to be aggressive with the other children. Yet Tommy Bonds remembered getting along famously with Alfalfa. Another adult Rascal recalled that the children got along well but that the adults were more likely to jockey for position. I'm still reading Mr. Maltin's book (as well as several others) right now.
There was an article, published last year, saying that the adult Alfalfa was set up and never had a weapon.
So, S_I_A78, how shall you celebrate Buckwheat's birthday? I'd like to hear about that. But I suggest that you not dress like Buckwheat, at least not in his youngest years when he wore that wacky shirt/dress thing and the long shoes with the pointy toes ;) (those shoes were worn previously by Farina when he was small).
I shall have a couple of people over, have a small Our Gang marathon ( of course, only episodes with Buckwheat.)
It's on YouTube. Spanky's last appearance, I mean. How old would Buckwheat be?84.
You know you must serve Buckwheat pancakes, don't you? :)I'm not that extreme. :laugh:
As I said, I don't know how to post it, but the L&H/Spanky and Alfalfa still comes right up on Google. It's so easy even I can do it. L & H look like they're costumed for Way Out West.
Aha. I googled it. There's LOTS of buckwheat beer.
SIA, really? Only 84? Born in '31? How old was he when he made his debut, and I'm not asking this sarcastically, 3? 2?
I think I might also have seen buckwheat served as a sidedish, like rice or couscous. Pancakes, sidedish, and beer. Skip the first two, and you've got yourself a party.
SIA, really? Only 84? Born in '31? How old was he when he made his debut, and I'm not asking this sarcastically, 3? 2?He was 3, and he was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.
He was 3, and he was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.
He was a cutie. Have you ever had a pet which you named Buckwheat? I was just thinking of ways to use names of favorite performers. Sometimes, I suppose, a child might be named after a performer. But not in this case. Then I thought maybe you had a pet by that name.
I used to have a cat named Oliver, after Oliver Hardy. He was a foot chewing, q-tip destroying little psycho cat, I miss him.
For years as a kid, I thought I was named after Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. I saw a poster when I was a child for THIEF OF BAGDAD, thought it was cool his name was Douglas, and my Dad jokingly tells me I was named after him. I believed it for years, and kind of wish I was.
Did your cat have a moustache which suggested that name? In high school I considered naming my dog Julius, after Groucho, but it just didn't suit him. He had no similarity to Groucho, I'm just a fan.
I like your story about your name, Metal. DF Sr. would be a neat person to have been named after; I don't blame you for wishing it were true.
I went to primary school with a little girl named Lana. It was a Roman Catholic school at a time when parents usually gave their children saints' names. There's no St. Lana, so I assume she was named after Lana Turner, especially because she was blonde.
No similarity to Oliver Hardy, just liked the name and just like Oliver Hardy.
It's funny you mention the saint thing, because my grandfather was so Catholic, he made the Pope seem Protestant. He attended mass everyday after he retired. I'm not aware he named his kids after saints, and this is in the 50's! I'll have to ask my Dad about that. There's definitely no Saint Lana...or Buckwheat.
Well, today is Buckwheat's birthday!! I've assembled a list of Our Gang movies where Buckwheat has notable scenes or is featured prominently throughout the whole entire episode.
Happy birthday, Buckwheat!Well, unless you count The Rascals' cake incident in Birthday Blues and The Rascals eating ice cream in The Stolen Jools, no mishaps. And, believe it or not, I forgot to watch Teacher's Beau! Anyways, the party is over, and we watched the Rascals for about 3 hours straight. It was pretty awesome watching Buckwheat transition from a baby to a 4-year-old with speech problems to a best friend of Porky to becoming what we recognize him as today. However, I didn' t bother with the MGM films, so there was Roaches only!
I was thinking about your party today. I hope you and your guests have a terrific time. Whatever you do, don't serve spaghetti with Tabasco, horseradish, etc., the way the Rascals did in "Teacher's Beau." :) Buckwheat helped add "firepower" to the spaghetti in that one, as you know. But cake and ice cream are always good. I don't recall any Rascals mishaps with those.
Leave a post listing the shorts you'll show.
Have fun, and drink a toast to Buckwheat for all of us in Moronika.
Well, unless you count The Rascals' cake incident in Birthday Blues and The Rascals eating ice cream in The Stolen Jools, no mishaps. And, believe it or not, I forgot to watch Teacher's Beau! Anyways, the party is over, and we watched the Rascals for about 3 hours straight. It was pretty awesome watching Buckwheat transition from a baby to a 4-year-old with speech problems to a best friend of Porky to becoming what we recognize him as today. However, I didn' t bother with the MGM films, so there was Roaches only!
It sounds like a great party. The only thing missing? Me! :) Next time invite all of us Stooges fans, too. ;) [kidding, of course]Yes, The Good Ol' Days is extremely catchy and after 17 times, it can get a bit annoying! I'll also have the Marvin Hatley music stuck in my head! For some reason, the music in which the giant is capturing the kids in Mama's Little Pirate always stands out to me, even more when I've seen it like 7 times! But, yes, it was extremely fun, even though I had seen all the films, but.. I'll also probably be celebrating Dorothy Deborba and Wheezer Hutchins' upcoming birthdays. However, if I did know you guys personally, I certainly would've invited you all and we would've had the best of times. Someday, we should have a Stooges convention for about a week, and we could have 1 or 2 days dedicated to other comedy teams, but, that would be pretty cool to have a Stooges convention only open to Moronika users.
I'm glad you had fun. I'll bet you and all your guests will have that theme music ("The Good Ol' Days") stuck in your head for a week!
Yes, The Good Ol' Days is extremely catchy and after 17 times, it can get a bit annoying! I'll also have the Marvin Hatley music stuck in my head! For some reason, the music in which the giant is capturing the kids in Mama's Little Pirate always stands out to me, even more when I've seen it like 7 times! But, yes, it was extremely fun, even though I had seen all the films, but.. I'll also probably be celebrating Dorothy Deborba and Wheezer Hutchins' upcoming birthdays. However, if I did know you guys personally, I certainly would've invited you all and we would've had the best of times. Someday, we should have a Stooges convention for about a week, and we could have 1 or 2 days dedicated to other comedy teams, but, that would be pretty cool to have a Stooges convention only open to Moronika users.
I hope you also celebrate Johnny Arthur's birthday on 20.May (born in 1883). He played Mr. Hood in "Feed 'Em And Weep," which gave us the birthday song,Johnny Arthur also played Spanky's father in Anniversary Trouble, and in another short that I can't recall the name of as Mr. Hood, I believe. But, when Porky sings that song, he sings so cute!! Also, I notice that Metaldams said that some Rascals cry. True, but only about Farina because he had a natural talent for crying.
"Happy birthday, Mr. Hood,
Happy birthday to you,
To make your birthday turn out good
I give this present to you!"
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-QYvE6b1YavU%2FVQbPX_KdOJI%2FAAAAAAABWnU%2FV_O2mqdZGUU%2Fs1600%2FOur%252BGang%252BLittle%252BRascals%252C%252Bca.%252B1950s.jpg&hash=82d461c6900d726da6f1d8fc43f8580ca845914f)Yes, that is a pretty good picture. If I'll go ahead and be the one that will name the people in the picture from left to right: Robert " Wheezer " Hutchins, Mary Ann Jackson, Harry Spear ( used to think it was Jackie Cooper, except now I realize it's Spear), Allen "Farina" Hoskins, and ( the remarkably talented performer who was capable of taking pies to the face) Norman "Chubby" Chaney. ( See if you can guess which film I was referencing to in that remark about Norman.)
The " Learn That Poem " kid cries buckets at the end of the one episode he stars in. Frisky Friskington, Jumping Jumparoo, Hoppy Hopkinton, what is that kid actor's name?I have no idea what episode you're talking about. A talkie? Are you talking about Readin' and Writin'?
The " Learn That Poem " kid cries buckets at the end of the one episode he stars in. Frisky Friskington, Jumping Jumparoo, Hoppy Hopkinton, what is that kid actor's name?
And BTW you shock me by saying that it's not Jackie Cooper in that photo. I've never heard of Harry Spears. You might as well have told me that it's not Chubby on the right.
DINGDINGDINGDING, that's the one, Signor. Breezy Brisbane. Thank you. That episode is the only one he really had the lead in, isn't it?
Yes, that was Breezy Brisbane, indeed. Only, in some films., he's called Breezy, and in some he's called Brisbane, and Harry Spear was an actor from late-silent to early-talkies. He has been a lost player until like the 80's, because he didn't like admitting that he was in Our Gang, for some weird reason.
I've seen Harry in some of the silents. Maybe he was pestered by fans and that's why he hated to admit he was in OG. Maybe it took the focus off his adult life and accomplishments.Yeah, maybe..
Maybe the Curse. Whatever, that's a great eye, SIA. What made you see it wasn't Jackie Cooper?Well, normally, I associate Jackie with a bit of curls and blonde hair, while Harry does not have curls nor blonde hair, and he has a bit more makeup on than Jackie usually does. Plus, this was taken in early 1929, which means Jackie wasn't signed on yet.
Yeah, maybe..Well, normally, I associate Jackie with a bit of curls and blonde hair, while Harry does not have curls nor blonde hair, and he has a bit more makeup on than Jackie usually does. Plus, this was taken in early 1929, which means Jackie wasn't signed on yet.
Where do you see the year this was taken?I have seen this photo on various other sites, so I was just using the knowledge that I already knew about the photo.
I have seen this photo on various other sites, so I was just using the knowledge that I already knew about the photo.
So, did anybody guess the movie I was referencing to?
Was it "Shivering Shakespeare?"Yes, you are correct, indeed. And, yes, I do know Jackie was in two 1929 shorts, except the photo was taken in EARLY 1929, from what I've heard and the two shorts Jackie were in were in LATE 1929. Also, does anybody always laugh hysterically during School's Out and during the schoolroom routine Miss Crabtree asks, " Who was the Hunchback of Notre Dame?" to which Jackie replies " Lon Chaney!" and Miss Crabtree gives an angry response.
BTW, Jackie was in two Rascals shorts in 1929.
Yes, you are correct, indeed. And, yes, I do know Jackie was in two 1929 shorts, except the photo was taken in EARLY 1929, from what I've heard and the two shorts Jackie were in were in LATE 1929. Also, does anybody always laugh hysterically during School's Out and during the schoolroom routine Miss Crabtree asks, " Who was the Hunchback of Notre Dame?" to which Jackie replies " Lon Chaney!" and Miss Crabtree gives an angry response.
I don't mean to argue about this subject of when Jackie joined the troupe. But all I can find are the release dates for his three (I was wrong, three shorts, not two) shorts, not the filming dates. They were released in late 1929, as you said. But we don't know when they were filmed. Some shorts would lie around for a long time before being released.Yes, when I used to watch that film as a kid, that was the only line I could only get out of the school routine, except for the nonsensical ones. ( Surprisingly, I knew who Lon Chaney was, back then.) Also, it's a shame that more Rascals aren't alive. At least Jerry Tucker, Dickie Moore, and Robert Blake are alive ( well,not so much Robert... because he was whiny as crap.)
I do enjoy that line about Lon Chaney, yes. :laugh:
Yes, when I used to watch that film as a kid, that was the only line I could only get out of the school routine, except for the nonsensical ones. ( Surprisingly, I knew who Lon Chaney was, back then.) Also, it's a shame that more Rascals aren't alive. At least Jerry Tucker, Dickie Moore, and Robert Blake are alive ( well,not so much Robert... because he was whiny as crap.)
I, on the other hand, did not know who Lon Chaney when first I saw this short.Yep, I was just watching a couple of them from the set a few weeks ago, and I had to stop after 8 episodes. Alfalfa's taller than most of the adult actors, Spanky is hamming it up for the camera, Porky is as tall as Spanky, Janet is trying too hard to be Shirley Temple, Mickey is too darn whiny, everybody's gestures are too bad, while the only two good things I find in the set are Buckwheat and Froggy, because his trick voice always makes me fall into hysterics and his crossed eyes also make me laugh. It's a shame he was gone by 16. He could've done so much more comedic things.
I agree with you about Robert Blake's whininess. Truth to tell, I've seen those shorts only a few times, and that was when I was young. I don't like them enough to see them again, although I think Buckwheat was good.
Have a good evening, S_I_A78. I'll be going now because it's time to eat. I think we're having mush and milk again. ;)Again? :) ( Then, comes the reworking of " Mush and Milk".)
Here's a sort of kind of connection between The Three Stooges and Our Gang: Back in around the 60's, I'd say, or maybe 50's, Columbia was trying to capitalize on the success of Our Gang, so Jules White put a whole group of talentless kids with Emil Sitka and said, " Do some funny stuff that'll turn out to be the next Little Rascals!" But, it was a fail. A big fail. A disaster, let's just say that. Like Hal Roach's Curley and Who Killed Doc Robbin, it was horrible. The fact of even trying to update Our Gang never falls to be a horrible picture. Just look at The Little Rascals Save the Day! I mean, some moments are okay, but the rest of the film sucks. Same with the 90's movie.. Well, some scenes in that movie do derive a chuckle, but it's all too modern for my liking. Trying to put the Rascals into our modern world is not a good idea. Our Gang can't, and will never be duplicated.
One of the child actors in 1947's "Curley" went on to stardom in a sitcom several years later. Do you know who it was?Larry Olsen? Honestly, I'm just guessing, because Larry Olsen and Renee Beard are the only cast members I know of.
Larry Olsen? Honestly, I'm just guessing, because Larry Olsen and Renee Beard are the only cast members I know of.
Do you know Winston and Weston Doty? They were twins that were in a few early silents. They died on New Year's Eve during a flood in 1934. I believe they were around 20..
Answer: Billy Gray, who became better known as Bud on "Father Knows Best."( Oh, I don't know who Billy Grey is.) I never read that part. I didn't know about it until a couple weeks ago. That just proves The Curse even more. I'm starting to believe it. Basically, everybody got it except for a couple who are still living and Jackie Cooper.
The Doty twins: yes, I read about them. They phoned their mother to say they were on their way home from a party but they never made it.
( Oh, I don't know who Billy Grey is.)
You're probably a lot younger than I. am, or else your family watched something other than "Father Knows Best." Both would be good reasons not to know Billy Gray.
I never read that part. I didn't know about it until a couple weeks ago. That just proves The Curse even more. I'm starting to believe it. Basically, everybody got it except for a couple who are still living and Jackie Cooper.
I don't believe in curses. What I believe is that actors have hard lives. Many of them, especially from a certain era, died suddenly or never made old bones. Vaudeville touring was a rough life, fo example. A lot of actors just up and died, and probably from conditions which are treatable nowadays. Even today, treatable conditions cause early deaths, though, with diabetes being a classic example, and even now there is sudden adult death syndrome. And let's not forget that drugs were in Hollywood from the beginning, and alcohol abuse was common.Nice treatise, Signor. Regarding the Gang actors' often shortened lives, I've often wondered if being forced to work 80 hours a week from the time one is two has anything to do with it.
Lots of actors who filmed near bomb-testing sites developed cancer and died from it. A surprising number of actors committed suicide, such as Phil Van Zandt. And there's always just bad luck or the unexpected, such as the Doty boys or Jay R. Smith.
But lots of actors lived happy, long lives. Many of those left acting and went into other lines of work, such as Joe Cobb and Eugene Jackson. I don't know the percentages of what caused the deaths of actors vs. everyday people. That would be interesting.
There are many sad stories among Our Gang and among Hollywood and Broadway performers generally. But I don't believe any curse was responsible for anything. Lack of education made many lives tougher; child actors often received poor educations because their schoolwork was second to their acting. It's hard to be a successful adult when you're washed up at age eight or ten and when your schooling is inferior, and when your parents are not very good at being parents. I think those things had more to do with Rascals' unhappy lives than anything else.
Nice treatise, Signor. Regarding the Gang actors' often shortened lives, I've often wondered if being forced to work 80 hours a week from the time one is two has anything to do with it.
Did this really happen? I would have thought that such things would be addressed in the Jackie Coogan Law.
Well, I know the laws were fairly strict in the late '30's for kids like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, fairly being a flexible term not necessarily excluding amphetamine dosing, but I don't know anything about the late 20's - early 30's. Eighty-hour workweeks would seem self-defeating for a troupe of child actors, it being unimaginable to get a decent performance out of a kid that severely sleep-deprived. Garland and Rooney were at least teen-aged, not that that forgives anything, but dosing 8-year-olds, besides being diabolical, seems from a business standpoint counterproductive.Speaking of Mickey Rooney, does anybody else have a very strong disliking towards the Mickey McGuire shorts as well as the Baby Burlesks series? They are obviously rip-offs of Our Gang trying to capitalize on Our Gang's success. It doesn't seem very right. Also, does anybody else know if Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney ACTUALLY tried out for Our Gang?
Ref., Mickey Rooney
After the "McGuire" series ended, and before Mickey arrived at MGM renamed Mickey Rooney, he made personal appearances at theaters around the country as 'Mickey McGuire.' One of those appearances was at Cleveland OH's RKO Palace Theater on August 28, 1932. On the bill with Mickey were Ted Healy & His Stooges.
August 28, 1932... the day Jerome 'Curly' Howard premiered in the act. This was the act's next gig after Shemp quit on August 19 in NYC. It's interesting that up until just 1 year ago, an eyewitness to that milestone was still alive.
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1342.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo780%2FBeAStooge%2F_%2520live%2520_%2520Aug%252028%25201932%2520Cleveland%2520OH%2520%25201_zpskw028ayp.jpg&hash=650f3c45edaf412ba730c455f724120c24cf8015)
Speaking of Mickey Rooney, does anybody else have a very strong disliking towards the Mickey McGuire shorts as well as the Baby Burlesks series? They are obviously rip-offs of Our Gang trying to capitalize on Our Gang's success. It doesn't seem very right. Also, does anybody else know if Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney ACTUALLY tried out for Our Gang?
Well, I know the laws were fairly strict in the late '30's for kids like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, fairly being a flexible term not necessarily excluding amphetamine dosing, but I don't know anything about the late 20's - early 30's. Eighty-hour workweeks would seem self-defeating for a troupe of child actors, it being unimaginable to get a decent performance out of a kid that severely sleep-deprived. Garland and Rooney were at least teen-aged, not that that forgives anything, but dosing 8-year-olds, besides being diabolical, seems from a business standpoint counterproductive.
Oddly, Aug 28, 1932 is 21 years to the day when I was born.
Metal, you young punk, that's a great idea, and I'll join you, though at the moment I'm swigging Sailor Jerry straight from the jug. It is a pleasure swapping stooge theories and esoterica with you learned ladies and gentlemen, and I hope I don't come off as the Old Guy at the concert.
It's like the old-timers today who say about cigarettes " nobody knew they were dangerous ". Absolute, unmitigated horseshit, and all you have to do to prove it is watch a couple of stooge episodes wherein cigarettes are referred to as "coffin nails". Coffin nails, for heaven's sake. This was a joke, yes, but a very small joke based on common everyday usage. How much more evidence do you need? Mark Twain referred to his chronic cough as "tobacco heart". That was around 1901. Anybody who buys into the picture of the olden days as innocent or scientifically uninformed is trying to fool himself.
Alright. Now, back on topic: I have a bit of some trivia for all of you. ( You can not use Google.) What year did Norman Chubby Chaney join the group, and was he in any silent shorts?
My guess: 1929, and yes.You are correct in 1929, but you are not correct about yes. No, he was not in any silent shorts, because he joined during their second sound short and he was not in any of the silents, unless you count Boxing Gloves, which mixed sound footage with silent footage.
You are correct in 1929, but you are not correct about yes. No, he was not in any silent shorts, because he joined during their second sound short and he was not in any of the silents, unless you count Boxing Gloves, which mixed sound footage with silent footage.
Glass half empty: I'm half wrong.Nice Stooge reference!! For some reason, that comment reminded me of Wheezer....... I have no idea why.
Glass half full: I'm half right.
:)
So, what does everybody think about the 90's Rascals movie and The Little Rascals Save the Day. In my personal opinion, I kind of liked the 90's one although it still didn't capture the essence of the original series.
Sorry, but I've not seen either one, by choice. For me, it's the originals only.Yeah, I would at least recommend the 90's one. Although it's nothing compared to the originals, it's still a cute little flick. However, The Little Rascals Save the Day sucks crap.
Yeah, I would at least recommend the 90's one. Although it's nothing compared to the originals, it's still a cute little flick.
I'll try to catch up with the '90s one, on your recommendation.Oh, I don't get that channel. Occasionally, TCM plays the Rascals, however it's mostly MGM shorts or General Spanky.
BTW, I saw your comment about no Rascals on TV. A friend lives around Chicago and watches them on WCIU channel 26.4 on Saturdays. I don't know if that channel is digital only or cable/satellite or what. If this helps you, let me know and I'll get details.
I wish a more popular channel would show the Roach-era talkies.Yeah, especially a channel geared towards kids.
Yeah, especially a channel geared towards kids.
I agree with both of you. I wonder why no one does.Yes! The Arbor Day episode is actually the last two reel short the Gang made for Hal Roach. That short certainly is a classic, and I do enjoy the part that you mentioned.
SIA, do you plan to watch "Arbor Day" on Arbor day (24.April)? I do. I'm sure you love the part where Buckwheat forgets his line but is very pleased when his mother says it.
Wasn't Our Gang Follies Of 1938 the last 2-reeler the Gang did for Roach?Yes, and I also believe it was one of Hal Roach's last two-reelers, too!
Ref., Mickey Rooney
After the "McGuire" series ended, and before Mickey arrived at MGM renamed Mickey Rooney, he made personal appearances at theaters around the country as 'Mickey McGuire.' One of those appearances was at Cleveland OH's RKO Palace Theater on August 28, 1932. On the bill with Mickey were Ted Healy & His Stooges.
August 28, 1932... the day Jerome 'Curly' Howard premiered in the act. This was the act's next gig after Shemp quit on August 19 in NYC. It's interesting that up until just 1 year ago, an eyewitness to that milestone was still alive.
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1342.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo780%2FBeAStooge%2F_%2520live%2520_%2520Aug%252028%25201932%2520Cleveland%2520OH%2520%25201_zpskw028ayp.jpg&hash=650f3c45edaf412ba730c455f724120c24cf8015)
I'm just curious how you nailed those dates down for Shemp's final appearance (until the 1940s) and Curly's debut.
Then what of the supposed period where Fred Sanborn would have stepped in between the two?
And furthermore -- who are those three other names listed as Racketeers beneath Howard, Fine and Howard?
Jean Darling, who appeared in silent Our Gang comedy shorts beginning in 1926, passed away on 4.September 2015.
I imagine there must be few cast members left.
If I'm not mistaken, Rene Riva, the producer/director of this, is a regular contributor to the Laurel and Hardy Forum website.
As far as I know, it's not Rene Riva's website, it's just called the Laurel And Hardy Forum. And it's a great website. I think it's based in Great Britain, where L&H are practically national heroes.
R.I.P. to both Jean Darling and Dickie Moore.
(https://threestooges.net/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-QYvE6b1YavU%2FVQbPX_KdOJI%2FAAAAAAABWnU%2FV_O2mqdZGUU%2Fs1600%2FOur%252BGang%252BLittle%252BRascals%252C%252Bca.%252B1950s.jpg&hash=82d461c6900d726da6f1d8fc43f8580ca845914f)Yes, that is a pretty good picture. If I'll go ahead and be the one that will name the people in the picture from left to right: Robert " Wheezer " Hutchins, Mary Ann Jackson, Harry Spear ( used to think it was Jackie Cooper, except now I realize it's Spear), Allen "Farina" Hoskins, and ( the remarkably talented performer who was capable of taking pies to the face) Norman "Chubby" Chaney. ( See if you can guess which film I was referencing to in that remark about Norman.)Hi Shemp_is_Awesome78!
Please kindly allow me to weigh in regarding the debate of the Jackie Cooper/Harry Spear identity.
You were right the first time, as that is most certainly Jackie Cooper, and NOT Harry Spear!
A Photo of Harry Spear can be found on his Bio Page at Dave Lord Heath's excellent Another Nice Mess Website, which includes the Hal Roach Stars and much more: http://www.lordheath.com/index.php?p=1_1160_Harry-Spear
Sorry about not directly uploading the photo, but I seem to have zero luck with the upload method used on this site! It could be my choice of browser? Who knows?
CHEERS! :)
Tony
P.S. It's just a thought, but seeing the 'Our Gang' members in St. Patrick's Day type garb, I'd hazard a guess that this photo was taken in the early part of 1930. This would account for Jackie Cooper being in the photo, as Harry Spear had indeed, departed from the Gang, by that time!
Thank you for your opinion, Tony. I agree with you; it looks like Jackie to me. He had distinctive eyes, for one thing.Hi Signor Spumoni!
I'll take your word it's 1930 here. That would be make sense, seeing how much older and more mature Wheezer and Mary Ann look compared to when they debuted in the silents. Certainly Farina is much taller here, too.
Hello, Little Rascals/Our Gang fans! Don't mean to comment on an old thread, but I just thought that I would mention that I am ShempIsAwesome just under a new nickname. I couldn't remember my password to the old account, so I had to create a new one. If anybody wants to talk Rascals with me, I'd be delighted!
No, haven't had any... I got around to watching General Spanky, however. It was an alright feature. It was very interesting, considering the limited amount of kids that are in it. I heard that Jean Darling and Dickie Moore passed away, which made me very sad. I haven't seen much of Jean Darling but I have seen most of Dickie Moore's shorts. From what I've seen, they were very great child actors.
I am also a member of a Laurel and Hardy society, and I recently got an email that Jerry Tucker isn't doing so well, either. He is recovering from what I heard at the last meeting of the society, so that is very good news. Gosh, he'd have to be in his 90s.
Also, I've been meaning to ask you this, Signor, but all the time away from the forum has prompted me to almost forget about the question. Anyways, what are your thoughts on the MGM Little Rascals shorts? Now that's a good topic. I'll have to watch those again before I answer. I can't even remember the last time I saw the MGM shorts. It could have been when I was growing up. I'll get back to you. In the meantime, what do you think of the MGM shorts?
I am also a member of a Laurel and Hardy society, and I recently got an email that Jerry Tucker isn't doing so well, either. He is recovering from what I heard at the last meeting of the society, so that is very good news.
I must know... what is the name of your tent? :)The Night Owls Tent. :) It was one of the first.
I ordered a used DVD-R set of the MGM 'Our Gang' shorts a couple years back. They definitely aren't as good as the Hal Roach shorts, although there are a few gems in the first few theatrical seasons. In my opinion, the post Spanky entries are the hardest to watch!
For anyone who might be interested, my short reviews of all 52 MGM one reelers are posted on Dave Lord Heath's "Another Nice Mess" website under "THE 52 OUR GANG MGM SHORTS" heading. These may be coming down soon, as the webmaster is considering a change in format, which would include only the Hal Roach films.
http://www.lordheath.com/index.php?p=1_1722_Tony-Bensleys-Our-Gang-Shorts
CHEERS! [pie]
Why, Tony Bensley, I haven't seen you 'round these parts in donkey's years. :) It's nice to have your excellent contribution! I'll head over to Lord Heath's for your reviews.Ah. I would definitely recommend the first few seasons of them, as Tony Bensley did. Today, I watched a compilation video called Little Rascals Varieties. It had most of the "putting on a show" episodes. It had Our Gang Follies of 1935, Our Gang Follies of 1936, Reunion in Rhythm and Our Gang Follies of 1938.
The short answer to your question, CF, regarding my opinion of the MGM shorts is that I recall disliking them. But that's unfair, I believe, because it's been so long since I saw any of them, so I'd like to look them over before replying.
« Last Edit: Today at 03:42:37 PM by metaldams »
I wonder what that was about...
Signor's post was all in quotes, even the part he wrote. I just, as a moderator, separated what he wrote from Tony.I was wondering what that was all about, too. :) Thanks for clearing up the confusion.
Signor's post was all in quotes, even the part he wrote. I just, as a moderator, separated what he wrote from Tony.
I have a documentary on the OG/LR troupe myself. Wonder how many docs on the Gang have been done.What documentary is it? I like gaining new knowledge on the Rascals and since books about them are so hard to find, usually the best resource for doing so are videos and documentaries.
Regarding the MGMs, they were in the beginning well-intentioned, but are mostly as unwatchable as many of the Joe Stooges shorts.Viewing these in chronological order, I found the quality went downhill as more of the Hal Roach holdovers departed, and more inappropriately (For comedy!) themed stories were introduced, that fell into the public service and MGM "Crime Does Not Pay" series realm. After George "Spanky" McFarland's late 1942 departure, the long running 'Our Gang' series was effectively finished, in my opinion! It was at this time that the "fruits" of MGM's generally poor casting of new 'Our Gang' members became dreadfully obvious, with Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas the only remaining Hal Roach holdover, who was also hardly the Gang leader (Unlike Roach, MGM was very much a segregated Movie Studio!), as Spanky had been!
I have a documentary on the OG/LR troupe myself. Wonder how many docs on the Gang have been done.It was "The Our Gang Story", probably done in the '90s, haven't seen it in some time. The Narrator was someone named Mike Eagan.
You can get all but 10 Our Gang silent on video. They are lostWhere can you get them on video? Are they on Amazon or something?
7Stooges, are you still around? I know StoogesRascals fan is still here. What do you two think of the MGM shorts? Everyone else is welcome to opine, too.Be prepared, lots to say here!
Long-lost 'Our Gang' film "The Old Wallop" is now on YouTube!No way! I haven't seen many of the silents but I am familiar with the cast and if I do recall there are a couple of their shorts that have been lost for quite a while and this must have been one of them. I'll probably end up checking out this short. What year is it from?
No way! I haven't seen many of the silents but I am familiar with the cast and if I do recall there are a couple of their shorts that have been lost for quite a while and this must have been one of them. I'll probably end up checking out this short. What year is it from?1927.
Be prepared, lots to say here!In my opinion, the above is pretty much spot on. Yes, the post Spanky shorts, save DANCING ROMEO (1944) (Which was ironically, the last 'Our Gang' short to be released!), leaned rather heavily towards being downright dreadful from BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JR. (1943), onward. Among these last MGM entries, Leonard Maltin has described LITTLE MISS PINKERTON (1943) as being just about a reel too long - In itself a rather scathing (But in my opinion, well deserved!) indictment for a one reeler!
Well, I think that the main issue was that MGM didn't see the true value in 'Our Gang.' They saw some value - it was a popular, established name that could make the studio money. Gradually, MGM also began using that name as a way to shove public service announcements, patriotic messages, and mini Busby Berkely-style musicals down the throats of audiences.
The Our Gang kids are no longer the fun-loving mischief makers from the '20s and '30s. Now, they're mini-Andy Hardy's and would-be Shirley Temples, always trying to be good little American citizens who chastise other kids for doing the wrong thing. In DON'T LIE, for instance, Spanky scolds Buckwheat for lying. What is he, Buckwheat's mother? Buckwheat himself became little more than a one-note racial stereotype, getting the occasional "feets, do yo' stuff" style lines here and there. And if the kids did goof up, why, there would always be an overly-serious adult on hand to lecture them (and the audience) on good behavior.
Audiences were presented with instructional films on traffic safety, lessons on telling the truth, and Wartime information, such as the importance of rationing. Every third or fourth short seemed to be an MGM musical - especially after the War hit. Froggy's uncle (Walter Wills) would be on hand to coax the Gang into putting on over-the-top stage productions for the troops. The principal gangsters were usually overshadowed by a group of unnatural song-and-dance kids trained by choreographer Bud Murray.
I felt that the first season or so of MGM shorts was fine, for the most part. When Roach sold the Gang to Metro, he sent director Gordon Douglas and writer Hal Law and Anthony Mack (Robert McGowan's nephew) with them. Douglas was sadly let go after only the third short, ALADDIN'S LANTERN. He was replaced by George Sidney, who did a fine job - certainly for someone in his early 20s. His younger age may have given him a better rapport with the kids.
Sidney was replaced the following year by Edward Cahn, who was responsible for bringing Robert Blake into the cast. Cahn would later be succeeded by Herbert Glazer, Sam Baerwitz (who had previously directed Curly in ROAST-BEEF AND MOVIES), and others. By that point, finding a suitable director for 'Our Gang' became less about someone who worked well with kids and more about "who on the lot isn't busy?" None of these people were particularly experience in director kids - or comedy.
Hal Law and Anthony Mack were surprisingly kept with the series until the very end. While one could easily blame the quality of the scripts on them, keep in mind that they didn't have the final say - MGM did. Or rather, shorts division heads Jack Chertok and Richard Goldstone had the final say. One can assume that Chertok and Goldstone took the MGM formula and sort of forced Law and Mack to abide by it. I recently spoke with Anthony Mack's daughter, and she told me that her dad, unsurprisingly, really didn't like working at MGM. Towards the end of the series' run, one gets a sense that Law and Mack are crying, "we don't care anymore!" A perfect example is the last scene in FAMILY TROUBLES. Being that this was still technically a comedy series, it made sense to try to end each short on a joke. Here's what we got this time -
Froggy: All's well that ends well, I say.
Byron Shores: Froggy, Shakespeare said that.
Froggy: He did? Shucks!
There's no joke here.
The 'Our Gang' kids themselves (both the ones from the Roach and the ones MGM added) didn't seem to be enjoying themselves, for the most part. Some possible examples are Darla Hood and Janet Burston whenever they got a chance to sing, and Tommy "Butch" Bond. Being a freelance actor who worked at just about every major studio in Hollywood, Tommy seemed pretty accustomed to the 'studio system' and giving directors exactly what they wanted. He comes off as one of the stronger forces during this period.
Performances come off as unnatural, dialogue is often shouted, and musical numbers seem like the last thing any of these kids one to do (again, with the possible exception of Darla and Janet). As I said, the new directors chosen for the series may not have been the best fit for getting good performances from kids that weren't really trained in the professional sense.
MGM also had a habit of keeping the 'Our Gang' kids on past their prime, and failing to give them new costumes! You'll see Alfalfa and Buckwheat near puberty, and literally bursting out of their clothes.
In my opinion, The best MGMs are - in chronological order:
THE LITTLE RANGER
ALADDIN'S LANTERN
ALFALFA'S AUNT
DUEL PERSONALITIES
THE BIG PREMIERE
BUBBLING TROUBLES
GOIN' FISHIN'
KIDDIE KURE
COME BACK, MISS PIPPS
GOING TO PRESS
MIGHTY LAK A GOAT
DANCING ROMEO
The worst - again in chronological order -
TINY TROUBLES
TIME OUT FOR LESSONS
ALL ABOUT HASH
THE NEW PUPIL
GOOD BAD BOYS
YE OLDE MINSTRELS
1-2-3 GO!
DOIN' THEIR BIT
Most of the post-Spankys.
Our DVD of YOUR OWN BACK YARD and THE LOVE BUG is now ready to pre-order for release on December 5th. 2018! The DVD also includes a two-minute clip of Hal Roach talking a little bit about YOUR OWN BACK YARD. The films have been digitally restored, and have musical scores by Ben Model. The Price is $12.50 + $6.00 airmail to the U.S.A. including postage and packing. For the United Kingdom, the price is £8.00 + £3.00 postage and packing. The rest of the world price is the same as the U.S.A. If you are paying via PayPal, you should select U.S. dollars for all countries except the United Kingdom when it should be in G.B. Pounds. The payment address for PayPal is rjc35@hotmail.com. If you would like to know more details, please e-mail me with the subject heading "YOBY DVD" at rjc35@hotmail.com--Or it may be better if you post any questions on this forum. I know I've said in the past that GIANTS Vs. YANKS will also be released, but that will be on the next release. I'll try to post pictures of the DVD and cover on this thread and also do a short video on YouTube showing part of the restored films.
Robin of C-W Films Restoration - Better Presentation releases.
Some news from film preservationist Robin Cook:
DVD cover and sample screenshots are below.
Since the Moe Howard Mike Douglas Show appearances are on YouTube, does anyone here on the board recall Spanky McFarland and Darla Hood's appearance on Mike's program that same year? Spanky was a guest, and Darla was a surprise guest that Spanky didn't know was going to be on the show. I remember before he was introduced,, the show played the clip of Spanky's "going bug huntin'" sequence from the 1933 "Spanky" Our Gang film. I've never seen that particular Mike Douglas Show since it's airing, and wondering if perhaps a copy was never saved of the program.
Marshall
Darla is unrecognizable in the Mike Douglas photo. I wonder what happened to her?
Who is that lady in the second half of the skit? A tall, stern character actress in a jillion TV shows in the 60s/70s ???
My guess is that working full time starting at age 2 (likely supporting one or more parents and/or alternative family members) and then being a has-been most of one's adult life has a significant aging effect on any individual.
Although I'm not 100% sure which tall, stern character actress you're referring to, it's clear that Irene Tedrow is the female accompanying Jack Benny while being questioned by Groucho. Tedrow's TV appearances spanned forty years, from 1949 to 1989.
I remember that Mike Douglas Show episode well, and have an audio recording of the show I made using my dad's reel-to-reel tape recorder. Although I haven't listened to the recording in years, I know exactly where it is, and would be happy to digitize it and post an MP3 of it on this site, if you or others have any interest in listening to it. As you probably recall, comedian Robert Klein was the co-host that week and performed his Our Gang parody which appeared on his Child of the Fifties record album. And Darla sang (somewhat offkey, if memory serves me correctly), and of course, Spanky and Darla reminiced about their days making the Our Gang comedies. IMDB identifies the air date of that particular Mike Douglas Show episode as November 8, 1973. Here's the publicity shot highlighting Spanky and Darla's appearance with Mike that day.hiramhorwitz, I would be grateful if you could digitize the recording and post an MP3 of it on this site. Thanks for posting the promo photo of Mike, Spanky, and Darla, too. Funny, I remember the appearance of Spanky and Darla (first time they appeared together in 30 years), but have no recollection of Yoko Ono being on the program. And this is from a big Beatles fan. BTW, I'd be curious to know who was the source of the Moe video from his Mike Douglas Show appearances. Before YouTube, I remember those videos were available in collector's circles. As I mentioned before, I've never seen any video available of The Mike Douglas Show with Spanky and Darla.
hiramhorwitz, I would be grateful if you could digitize the recording and post an MP3 of it on this site. Thanks for posting the promo photo of Mike, Spanky, and Darla, too. Funny, I remember the appearance of Spanky and Darla (first time they appeared together in 30 years), but have no recollection of Yoko Ono being on the program. And this is from a big Beatles fan. BTW, I'd be curious to know who was the source of the Moe video from his Mike Douglas Show appearances. Before YouTube, I remember those videos were available in collector's circles. As I mentioned before, I've never seen any video available of The Mike Douglas Show with Spanky and Darla.
Here is a link for the audio recording of the show:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uvVWNzjB3KQxsglLQ428WOrBP4qwc7mC
Here are the time markings corresponding to a couple of the show's highlights:
17:23 to 35:50 minutes for the primary Spanky and Darla content; 39:20 to 43:15 minutes for Robert Klein's Our Gang parody; and 57:42 minutes to 1:03:00 hours for Yoko's musical performance. Note that my tape deck started having problems as Yoko completed her song (was that a coincidence or just due to Yoko's tonal qualities?), and the problem reached a peak at about the 1:06 hour mark, when Spanky mentioned his upcoming appearance at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philly. As it is very difficult to discern Spanky's words during this portion of the recording, I have attached a flyer for the Walnut Street Theatre appearance, which provides most of the important information about Spanky's show.
I believe that four out of five of Moe's 1973-1974 appearances on the Mike Douglas Show are readily available for viewing today because someone coughed up the rather high fee to have Group W Productions transfer the episodes from their one inch videotape originals to "current" formats. Seems like the fee was around $1200 per episode, and that was about 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the episode containing Moe's final appearance (the one with Jon Voight and Donny Osmond) was apparently lost, so as far as I know, that one is missing from the set. The other four Moe episodes include: 1) Ted Knight as co-host; 2) Soupy Sales as co-host; 3) Roger Miller as co-host; and 4) Richard Lamparski (I can't remember if he was the co-host or just a single day guest). Happily, I was lucky enough to attend the show featuring Moe and Soupy Sales, sitting in the audience next to Larry Fine's brother Morris and directly behind Moe's wife Helen. What a day that was, getting the opportunity to hang out with Moe, Helen, and Morris for about 30 minutes following completion of the taping. The good old days!
hiramhorwitz,
Many thanks for posting the link for The Mike Douglas Show with Spanky McFarland, Darla Hood and more.
Honestly, I don't remember Moe's appearance with Jon Voight and Donny Osmond on The Mike Douglas. I would have liked to have seen it.
One other thing you may be interested to hear - and that is that Spanky's wife Doris celebrated her 90th birthday this past weekend. Time certainly does fly.
Glass half empty: I'm half wrong.
Glass half full: I'm half right.
:)
Nice Stooge reference!! For some reason, that comment reminded me of Wheezer....... I have no idea why.Glass too big (George Carlin)