Joe is the fat one, Farina is the black one, Jay is the freckled one, Jack is the one who can't keep his hair combed - so runs the roll call of "Our Gang" in the movies.
These joyous youngsters came to San Francisco yesterday to appear this week in an act at the Orpheum Theater.
They were all freshly scrubbed and dressed, but as full of mischief as ever. Farina was carrying a violin case, of all things, and when he bumped it against Jean Darling's legs, she prompty pulled his hair. Farina's sister came to the rescue and twisted the tail on Jean's doggie doll.
Joe just stood back and laughed at them. Joe is that incredibly fat one, with a smile that seems to spread over half a continent. Joe is bashful, though. One of the photographers wanted to get him to pose with Jean Darling on one arm and Farina's sister on the other.
Joe just looked at him contemptuously and rumbled, "Aw, I don't wanna pose with no gurrul."
Little Harry Spear didn't take much part in the proceedings. He was fascinated by that yawning space in the front of his mouth where his teeth ought to be.
Jay Smith was the Beau Brummel of the outfit. He is the freckled one in tattered pantaloons in the movies, but no one would have guessed it yesterday. He was all tricked out in a three-piece, long pants suit, and he topped it off by carrying a walking-stick. Jack Condon wore a brown sailor suit that was neat enough, but his hair was as unruly as ever. Jean Darling was the blue-eyed golden-haired little prima donna of the gang. Robert McGowan is the grownup director of "Our Gang" in the movies, and he pointed out that Farina is really a boy, although they put him in dresses in so many movies that most people have an idea he is a girl.
There was quite a reception. Edward Rainey, executive secretary to Mayor Rolph, and Captain William Quinn, Acting Chief of Police, with Captain Charles Goff, officially extended to the youngsters the hospitality of the city. Then the firemen in the various districts of the city collected local "gangs" from the children near the firehouses, and the theater brought them down to the train. Little Anna May O'Connor was designated "Miss San Francisco" to greet "Our Gang." An auto caravan that paraded up Market street to the City concluded the festivities."