Fern Carter

birth name: Fern Hazel Baker
married name: Mrs. Fern Carter
born March 13, 1893, in Sedelia, MO
died 1961

This outline of Fern Carter's career largely comes from Dante's Info no. 17 from the summer of 1996. As part of 'The Great Rascal Search,' Brad Farrell interviewed Ivadell Carter, the daughter of Fern and herself an occasional Our Gang kid. Her mother, of course, taught the Our Gang kids at the studio school and was around for almost the entire duration of the series. The only film listed in this filmography is "Mike Fright" (no. 130), in which she was an extra. And, of course, there's her one TV appearance on "You Asked For It." Rob Stone gives her official 'teacher' credit in his book for "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51) and "Baby Brother" (no. 61), which may have simply been based on a safe assumption. I've decided to avoid listing all of the Our Gang films made during her tenure with the series, since it isn't always clear whether or not she was present during the making of any given film, even though her name is listed in the studio payroll summaries week after week. It's probable that there was no school during the summers, and that consequently, Mrs. Carter enjoyed a paid vacation, but I haven't come across any verifying information at this time. For the most part, I'll include speculations on which films may have been made during her occasional absences from the studio.

While still Fern Baker, she began her teaching career in St. Louis circa 1910. She married George Carter, gave birth to Grace Ivadell Carter on Jan. 7, 1914, and the three of them moved to California in 1918. At this time, Fern's sister worked at a studio where Will Rogers was making films. Before long, George got a job at Ben Wilson Studios.

1921

• Durng this year, Fern gave birth to her second child. A nurse at the hospital told her about a job opening for a movie studio that needed a teacher for their child actors. She applied with the Board of Education and took the position.

1922

• At some point, Fern taught Mickey Daniels, so when Hal Roach was looking for a teacher to instruct the Our Gang kids, Mickey's father suggested her. She joined the Roach studio the week ending September 16th, which means she probably started on Monday the 11th. She remained for the next sixteen years. Mrs. Carter, as she was known to her pupils, soon established a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian, and ensured that the kids always received their legal minimum of three hours of schooling per day, even if it meant closing down the set for the day. Apparently, no amount of coaxing from the filmmakers had any influence on her. This mainly applied to the regular Gangsters, as the long-term players were called. Other kids on the lot for just a day or two (or 'extras' as the studio called them) were generally taught by other teachers. During her years with the Gang, Fern produced what might be the most valuable of all Our Gang collectibles. Over the years, she had each Our Gang regular sign a quilt that she had made, eventually ending up with a piece of memorabilia that had all of the Our Gang autographs, signed during childhood no less!

1923

• Mrs. Carter's name is missing from the payroll summaries starting the week ending July 7th, and returns the week ending September 15th. Clearly, the kids didn't have to go to school during the summer, and apparently, their teacher went without pay for the duration. This means that she was absent on the last day of filming for "Stage Fright" (no. 19) and for all of the summer retakes for "Sunday Calm" (no. 19). She also would have been absent for the entire filming of both "Derby Day" (no. 21) and "Tire Trouble" (no. 22).

1924

• Mrs. Carter's name is missing again from the payroll summaries starting the week ending June 28th, and returns the week ending September 13th. This means that she was absent during the main shooting for "The Mysterious Mystery!" (no. 33).

1925

• This year, Mrs. Carter received her salary during the summer. However, it seems likely that the kids still had their summer vacation from school, with their teacher simply enjoying the benefits of an improved contract. It's likely that she was absent during the making of "Your Own Back Yard" (no. 44) and "One Wild Ride" (no. 45).

1926

• Mrs. Carter again received her salary during the summer, but it's likely that she was absent during the making of "War Feathers" (no. 54).

1927

• Mrs. Carter received her salary during the summer this year as well, except for four weeks during July when the studio was closed. She was probably absent during the making of production K-24, which was either "Playin' Hookey" (no. 65) or "The Smile Wins" (no. 66).

1928

• This year, Mrs. Carter received her salary during the summer, but not during the studio closure of late March and April. It's likely that she was absent during the making of "The Spanking Age" (no. 80), "Election Day" (no. 81) and the retakes for "The Ol' Gray Hoss" (no. 78).
• On August 29th, Mrs. Carter accompanied Joe, Harry and Mary Ann on a day trip to Windsor, Ontario, during their week in Detroit.
• Mrs. Carter traveled with the Our Gang kids during their cross-country tour from August to October. On September 10th, The Sedalia Democrat (MO) reported the following: "Friends of Mrs. George Carter, of Hollywood, Calif. formerly Miss Fern Baker of this city, will read with interest that she is traveling as instructor with 'Our Gang,' the children who make the 'Our Gang' comedies, on a tour they are making of the United States and Canada. Cards received by some of her friends in Sedalia this morning were from Windsor, Canada. She states that she will be back in Kansas City before returning to California, and her friends here are hoping that 'the gang' may be brought to Sedalia for a short visit."

1929

• This year, Mrs. Carter went without her salary during the first week of the year, and for five weeks in late July and August. She was probably absent during the making of "Bouncing Babies" (no. 93).

1930

• Starting this year, the payroll summaries aren't available. It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Helping Grandma" (no. 103).

1931

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Shiver My Timbers" (no. 109) and "Dogs Is Dogs" (no. 110).

1932

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Free Wheeling" (no. 117) and "Birthday Blues" (no. 118).

1933

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Wild Poses" (no. 125).

1934

130. Mike Fright (extra role: member of studio audience)

Aug. 25, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-23 - Our Gang series

Also listed for Feb. 25, 1934. Filmed May 29 to June 7, 1934. ©July 25, 1934.

1935

• It's probable that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Little Sinner" (no. 140), and perhaps the films on either side of it.

1936

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Bored Of Education" (no. 146) and "General Spanky" (no. 150). However, she did accompnay the kids during their short tour of the middle north of the country. The Minneapolis Star of April 17th published an article about her, in which it states that she was, in addition to being their teacher, a trained welfare worker and a truant officer. When asked if her students were particularly smart, she said: "They are just like any other children. They have their good days and their off-days. There are times when they like to study and when they won't. But they are as nice a group as you'd find anywhere." Asked about how the kids memorize their lines, she said, "The younger ones do not have complicated or long lines. But if they do, the director or their parents teaches them just before they shoot the scene."

1937

• On September 13th of this year, Harrison Carroll reported the following in his syndicated column: "After 16 years, members of 'Our Gang' have a new school house. The parade of youngsters appearing in these Hal Roach comedies always have had a class-room in the studio's administration building. But now they are to have a building of their own on the back lot. There will be six pupils in the school this year: Spanky and Tommy McFarland, 'Alfalfa' and Harold Switzer and two beginners, Darla Hood and 'Buckwheat' Thomas."
• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Framing Youth" (no. 159) and "The Pigskin Palooka" (no. 160).

161. Mail And Female (teacher)

Nov. 13, 1937 - Roach/MGM - 1 reel - prod. K-15 - Our Gang series

Filmed Oct. 22 to 27, 1937. ©Nov. 17, 1937. She's listed on the call sheets for this film.

1938

• When the Our Gang moved to MGM around June of this year, Mrs. Carter went with them, and remained their teacher for another six years. It's likely that she was absent during the making of "Party Fever" (no. 171), "Aladdin's Lantern" (no. 172) and "Men In Fright" (no. 173).

165. Three Men In A Tub (teacher)

Mar. 26, 1938 - Roach/MGM - 1 reel - prod. K-18 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 9 to 18, 1938. ©Apr. 1, 1938. She's listed on the call sheets for this film.

1939

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Dad For A Day" (no. 185).

1940

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Fightin' Fools" (no. 196).

1941

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Helping Hands" (no. 202).

1942

• It's likely that Mrs. Carter was absent during the making of "Unexpected Riches" (no. 211), "Benjamin Franklin, Jr." (no. 212) and "Family Troubles" (no. 213).

1944

• The last Our Gang film finished shooting in November 1943, but apparently, Fern remained their teacher into 1944, perhaps to finish off the current school year.

1946

• By this time, Mrs. Carter had returned to the Roach studio to teach the kids who starred in the 'Curley' series. This was no doubt a very temporary situation, since the series lasted for only two films. At some point, she was working at Paramount, but I've yet to learn any details about that.

1952

• 1952 brought about the first of two Our Gang reunions attended by Fern Carter (not counting the ones in the thirties when she was still their teacher). This year, it was a reunion of the silent-era kids on the TV show "You Asked For It."

You Asked For It episode (guest appearance)

1952 - ABC - TV episode

1954

• At some point, Fern became the teacher of the "Father Knows Best" kids, presumably after it moved from radio to television. The show debuted Oct. 3, 1954, and its last original episode aired on May 23, 1960. If filming for the series ended in 1959, then that might have led to Fern's retirement.

1955

• 1955 brought another Our Gang reunion in which Fern Carter was involved, this time for a TV Guide article. She was interviewed for the article, but does not appear in the photographs. Reportedly, Alfalfa Switzer went on a verbal tirade against his former teacher during this reunion.

1959

• Fern Carter retired during this year and died two years later.

1975

• On April 21st, the Independent-Gazette of Berkeley, CA, published an article on Dorothy DeBorba. She had this to say about her former teacher: "Our teacher, Fern Carter, was a wonderful person, and for years we all wrote to her and she would keep us informed of each others whereabouts, but since her death we have lost touch with one another."

1984

Our Gang: Inside The Clubhouse (still photo)

May 8, 1984 - Lang/Camellia City Telecasters - 93 mins. - TV documentary

Carter appears in at least one still photo in this documentary.

1994

The Our Gang Story (archival)

1994 - Film Shows/GoodTimes - 120 min. - video documentary

Includes footage from "You Asked For It."

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.