Child earnings in the movies is a subject that has had considerable airing in recent weeks, particularly in the cases of Freddie Bartholomew and Jackie Coogan. It could not help but bob up locally over the week-end when little Patsy May, youngest member of the "Our Gang" comedies, paid a first visit to her great-grandparents, who reside on the Beavertown pike.
Like Shirley Temple, Jane Withers and all the other juvenile stars in Hollywood, Patsy May is accompanied by her parent whenever she is called to "emote" before the camera.
In this case, it happens to be her grandmother, Mrs. Clara E. May, to whom she was awarded two years ago when Patsy was 2 years old, after a court fight in which her father endeavored to obtain possession of her.
It seems that Patsy was born in Indiana and was hardly 3 weeks old when her mother died. The grandmother, hurrying to her daughter's bedside, took the baby and, because she herself was ill at the time, went to the west coast.
Landing after a short time in Los Angeles, where she completely recovered her health, it was not long until friends began asking why she did not try to get the pretty little baby into the movies.
Finally, when the youngster was but 6 months old she filled a baby part and one appearance led to another. She had the distinction of having appeared in four features before being signed up for the "Our Gang" comedies by Hal Roach.
Two of these were Paul Muni's "Black Fury" and Lee Tracy's "Carnival." She was stand-in for the Dionne quintuplets in their first picture. This did not mean she had to go to Canada, for all settings, lights and so on were tried out with her in Hollywood and then were ready to set up when the camera crew and other players got to the home of the quins.
Little Patsy May, who says that her name is "Patsy May Our Gang," is in the third year of a five-year contract with Hal Roach, the youngest child ever to be under contract in the picture colony.
Her salary is $100 per week and she is allowed to work only three hours daily until she is six, which is by no means bad for a kiddie of four. How many of us, comparatively speaking, are doing as well?
Her grandmother is free to speak of the troubles parents and juvenile stars have had in Hollywood. Between herself and Patsy, she says, a 50-50 division is in effect, Patsy's share being safely put away for her.
Knowing children as you must, you may wonder how long it takes to film an "Our Gang" comedy with three hours' work daily. Mrs. May says you would be surprised how the youngsters take to the work and generally it is possible to complete an entire film in one week's time.
Patsy, of course, knows all the "Our Gang" kiddies well and likes them all, though Spanky has a bit the edge on the others. He, now 9 years old, is to play the lead role in "Peck's Bad Boy" shortly.
Patsy and her grandmother left Dayton for Detroit and will make several personal appearances in theaters before returning to the coast. In these she does a tap dance routine and sings "Dinah."