Juvenile screen stars are made of flesh and blood like any other boys and girls, and are just as jolly and full of fun and play as a fellow's own best chum or the girl next door. That is the important and very pleasant decision reached by several hundred Oakland youngsters yesterday morning, when The TRIBUNE and the Oakland Orpheum presented in person Our Gang, Hal Roach's famous kids of the screen, for the entertainment of The TRIBUNE'S Aunt Elsie Club, several hundred TRIBUNE carriers and the boys and girls of the Eastbay orphanages.
The party was one of the gayest juvenile affairs of the season. Hundreds of invitations had been extended by The TRIBUNE to members of Aunt Elsie's Club, whose membership cards were up to date, to several hundred TRIBUNE carriers and to the boys and girls of the Fred Finch Orphanage, Berkeley Day Nursery, Ladies' Relief Society and members of the Frank M. Stoomover Memorial of Berkeley. The Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis and Exchange clubs and Knights of the Round Table had also been given invitations for the boys and girls of whose social pleasures they are in charge throughout the year.
The Checker Cab Company generously furnished 15 cabs with drivers for the use of the boys and girls from the orphanages, and these youngsters, with the members of Aunt Elsie's Club and others, lined up on Broadway long before 9:30, when the doors were opened, causing merry comment among the early morning shoppers.
Manager Al Warshauer of the Orpheum, with the cooperation of the Motion Picture Operators' Union, Stage Hands' Union and the Orpheum orchestra, under direction of Oscar Preston, had arranged a splendid program to precede the vaudeville appearance of the little stars. A Buster Brown and Mary Jane comedy opened the program. This was followed by Fox News, Aesop's Fables and Our Gang in "The Fourth Alarm."
Beverly Swabey, TRIBUNE juvenile director, greeted the boys and girls and led them in three rousing cheers for those whose generosity had made the free show possible. Excitement ran high when he announced that the rollicking gang that had just entertained with their antics on the screen, the Hal Roach Rascals, appearing this week at the Oakland Orpheum in their first vaudeville tour, would step from the screen to the stage and prove, once for all, that they were regular boys and girls.
THE "GANG" ARRIVES.
Nobody doubted the fact from the moment the Orpheum orchestra struck up "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here." For, as the last strains of the music died away, hilarious shouts were heard in the rear of the theater, and, running down the aisles in true boy and girl fashion, came Turkey Egg and Tassel Top, Jean Darling, Harry Spear and Mango, Farina's tiny sister. Fatty Joe Cobb was not among them. While all eyes turned anxiously to watch for the appearance of the company's heavy man, the others took their seats upon the stage. Looking for all the world like a big cream puff, even rolier polier than the screen depicts him, and with just as much personality as avordupois, came Joe, taking his time in spite of the hurry-up calls from other members of his company. Still there was one vacant chair until Farina, with what looked like seven league shoes on his two black feet, came luggin his old valise, true tourist style, down another aisle.
Jay Smith, nicknamed Turkey Egg, was master of ceremonies. As his little high-pitched voice rang out over that breathless young audience, introducing his fellow workers and fellow players, every boy and girl knew well that the freckles on Jay's face in the movies are not painted there, but that Turkey Egg appears on the screen with freckles and all, "as is."
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
Each little rascal bowed and performed a stunt as he was introduced, after which they presented their idea of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," with Jean Darling, baby star, as Little Eva. Touching, indeed, was the closing scene in which Little Eva breathed her last, while Farina as Uncle Tom, with tears streaming down his black and doleful countenance, pleaded with Little Eva not to go.
Curious youngsters lingered after the theater had been emptied, catching stolen glimpses through the half-open stage doors of Farina, Fatty Joe and the others. Many of the audience may see again the regular performance of the little stars at this week's regular Orpheum.
Checker cabs were waiting at the close of the performance and the orphan boys and girls were whisked away home in style, as they had come.
It was announced by Swabey that The TRIBUNE would present "Robin Hood" Mooney, noted archer, at 421 Thirteenth street from 10 until 5 today and Thursday to give free instruction in "Bonarro," the new archery game.
Many other free entertainments are being planned by The TRIBUNE for its juvenile friends.