Four old hands at the game, the Our Gang kids, will tell you "phooey on the glamour business."
Take their names for instance. Shirley Coates has to wear a handle like "Muggsy." Waldo, who has to act like a sissy, is Darwood Kaye, an average kid. Darleena is plain - not so plain either - Anita Gordon, a former Corsicana lass. Alfalfa, who draws most of the attention, is Carl Sweitzer(sic) and how it hacks him to part his hair in the middle and arrange the stand-up lock at the back!
Thursday (the 19th) was a typical day. They arrived by train for a three-day stand at the Majestic theater. They reached town by 3 a.m. and finally got to bed at 6 a.m.
Up at 7!
Then a wrong telephone number woke them up at 7 and they were routed out at noon for pictures. The whole crowd was yelling for food and along about 1 p.m., Alfalfa told his father he had to have something to eat - "or else."
They're just kids and they can't get accustomed to the constant stares. They ought to be used to it, but "They act like we're freaks," the four declare.
They like touring about as much as a double dose of carbolic.
Jack Pepper, the master of ceremonies for the troupe, says they have encountered every kind of known handicap in their six-week tour: snow, sleet, record rains, competition of a national election and flu-ridden towns. Jack was once married to Ginger Rogers, both hailing from Dallas at one time, but was divorced six years ago.
Pete Checks Out
Pete, the dog who is familiarly shown with the Our Gangers, is 18 years old and the circle around his eye is a real one. He couldn't take it at Amarillo, got sick and was sent back to the coast.
All the kids are 11 years old. Alfalfa has had six years screen experience, Darleena two, Waldo five, and Muggsy five.
They have to keep up their school work and study when they get the opportunity, mainly between shows. Alma Broadhurst, formerly of Grand Prairie, Texas, is their tutor and travels with the show.
Alfalfa's father is the shepherd of the flock with assistance of two mothers, Mrs. Vera Coates and Mrs. Donna Kaye.
They head for Oklahoma points after the last show here Saturday (the 21st).