HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 22. - Eugene "Porky" Lee of Fort Worth is Texas' youngest contribution to this fabulous land of celluloid and make-believe.
At the age of 2 years and 3 months, he is on the payroll at Hal Roach Studios at a figure sufficient to furnish a comfortable income for himself and family and to lay away a nest egg of Government bonds.
He takes it all very calmly.
Born in Fort Worth Oct. 25, 1933, he came out to Hollywood with his mother last summer, and already has toddled off with high honors in five "Our Gang Comedies."
He got the job with Hal Roach by looking remarkably like Spanky McFarland, the Dallas boy now heading Hal Roach's gang of loveable rascals.
The Image of Spanky
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Lee, his parents, insisted for months that Eugene was the image of the pudgy, wide-eyed and precocious Spanky.
They sent his picture to Hal Roach and Roach thought so, too.
The resemblance struck him so forcefully that he conceived the idea of giving Spanky a little brother and letting Eugene Lee be it.
Mrs. Lee quit her stenographic job with the Rock Island Railroad, bundled up the baby and brought him to Hollywood.
He made his triumphant debut in "Little Sinners," the "Our Gang Comedy" in which he waddles along at the heels of Spanky, pausing to gnaw at daisies, sunflowers or raw fish.
Was "Natural" for Camera.
He was a natural for the cameras and director. They had no trouble at all getting him to devour daisies and raw fish. They made 'em out of candy. They had not trouble at all getting him to flash a wide smile for the cameras. Anything at all amuses him.
He was only 19 months old when they started making "Little Sinners."
At the age of 2, he has developed as an actor but is still without quirks of temperament.
He blew out the kerosene footlights in "Our Gang Follies of 1936" and loved it. He toddles along to the discomfort of big brother Spanky and other young actors and actresses in "The Pinch Singer," "Second Childhood" and "Divot Diggers" and still is a natural.
With large brown eyes, brown hair and a winning smile, he blows kisses to any and all who meet him for the first time.
Made Up With Santa.
An excellent mixer, he is afraid of nobody in the world except Santa Claus. He finally made up with Santa Claus before the recent holiday season was over and pulled his whiskers good-naturedly.
The boy's father is in Hollywood now (he wa an embalmer with Harveson & Cole in Fort Worth) and is seeing to it that his money is invested wisely.
His mother is seeing to it that he wears his rubbers when it rains and gets his orange juice and milk every day. His money is being invested in Government bonds and Porky is living a normal child's life, with no fine automobiles or yachts to give him wrong ideas.
His hobby is stripping down five-and-ten-cent automobiles and tearing out after "Pete," the "Our Gang" dog.
Romps With Father.
He romps with his father in day time, but won't sleep anywhere but at his mother's side. He always awakens with a smile and the word "eat." It's never failed since he first learned to talk.
He weighs 44 pounds, and is considered the picture of health. Orange or pineapple juice and plenty of milk are included in his daily diet.
He has never been ill a day.
He can twist his Grandmother Gray, aged 79, around his chubby little finger - and anybody else, for that matter.
For exercise he does trick riding on a tricycle.
His relatives in Texas include Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gray, aunt and uncle, of Waco, and Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Williams, aunt and uncle, of Rosebud.