Some 25 years ago one of the top motion-picture attractions in the land was a cluster of moppets known as Our Gang kids.
In the ensuing quarter of a century, eight of the nine children whose antics made the nation laugh have either died or dropped into comparative obscurity. The ninth, however, early last month completed the circle and once again emerged in a starring role in a motion picture.
Of the three girls who played the lead feminine role in the comedy series, Polly Chase Sears is critically ill in Hemet, Shirley Jean Rickert is a dancer working in Middle West and Miami night clubs.
Darla Starts Again
The third, Darla Hood, who at 4 was earning $750 a week, started work last week on her first picture since the days of Our Gang. Allied Artists announced that Darla would costar with Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead in the filming of a suspense drama, "The Bat."
The curvaceous, 29-year-old actress at times thought she would never overcome the jinx that seems to bar child actresses from the screen after early roles.
"But I never gave up hope and never stopped working toward this goal," she says.
Born in the small town of Leedy, Okla., she was taken to New York shortly after her third birthday and almost at once was "discovered" by Joe Rivkin. And it was Rivkin, incidentally, who "rediscovered" Darla earlier this year.
Darla was washed out of child roles in 1942 but not out of show business. In Fairfax High School she organized a vocal group with four boys called the Enchanters and shortly after she was graduated the quintet was booked by Ken Murray for his famous "Blackouts."
The group remained with the show for several years during its long run in New York and Hollywood. After the war, she went away on her own, with several singing engagements in night clubs and later guest appearances on television.
She retired briefly from her singing career in 1955 when she married Robert W. Decker, 33-year-old insurance executive. The marriage, however, did not work out and she divorced him a couple of years later to resume her singing career.
"I had become resigned to the fact that I probably would never again perform before a motion-picture camera," she says, "and concentrated fully upon my singing."
About two years ago, she had a hit record, "I Just Wanna Be Free," and during the recording of the song she met Jose Granson, who now heads the Raynote Record Co.
"I forgot about wanting to be free and Jose and I were married a short time later," she explains.
In January, Darla released a new record, "Quiet Village." Rivkin saw the album cover and was immediately struck by the beauty of the girl portrayed.
"Then he recognized the name," Darla recalls, "and the circle was completed."
One out of nine in the Our Gang Comedy series has emerged as an adult star.
"But it's above average," Darla says.