Jean Darling

birth name: Dorothy Jean LaVake
soon changed to: Dorothy Jean Darling
professional name: Jean Darling
born Aug. 23, 1922, in Santa Monica, CA
died Sep. 4, 2015, in Rödermark, Germany, of cancer

Special note: Jean's name was legally changed shortly after her parents' separation, which happened when she was five months old. Her mother was originally Dorothy Darling Hamilton, and changed her own name to Dorothy Hamilton Darling.

Also of note: In her memoirs, Jean briefly mentions being broke at some point in her life, and making ends meet by getting a 9-to-5 job at a florist's shop. She also mentions going blind for two years, during which she gave singing lessons, along with her accompanist, John Code. Exactly when either of these things happened is currently a mystery.

So just how many Our Gang shorts did Jean appear in? Jean herself always insisted that she was in 46 silents and 6 talkies, and wasn't too pleased with Maltin & Bann's grand total of 35. And if you count all of the Our Gang films in their book from "Bring Home The Turkey" (her first) to "Bouncing Babies" (her last), it comes to 37, though you would need to add in "Seeing The World," which was finished after "Bring Home The Turkey." That brings us to 38 films produced in the series while she was present. But Jean agreed that she occasionally missed out on certain shorts, once because of scarlet fever ("The Glorious Fourth"), and an unspecified number of times when she just didn't feel like being in the next short.

So where do these numbers come from? Jean said that Hal Roach gave her the 46 and 6 totals. An Apr. 6, 1934, San Francisco News article reports that she appeared in 52 Our Gang shorts, and this became the commonly reported number going forward. However, The Sioux City Journal (IA) of Feb. 8, 1931, stated that it was 36 silents and 6 talkies. So perhaps the numbers changed in Jean's head between the ages of 8 and 11 - or perhaps the 1931 reporter just misreported them. If only to complicate things further, the Feb. 7, 1931, Rockford Register-Republic (IL) stated that it was 36 total Our Gang films. But that's nothing compared to the press surrounding the 1934 release of "Jane Eyre," which stated that she had appeared in 40 silents and 8 talkies.

The 38 films listed in Maltin & Bann's book are exactly corroborated by weekly trade magazines like Motion Picture News, which had a section in the back listing all of the films currently available for rental by theater owners. The Copyright Catalogue also lists the same 38 films. More crucially, the documentation generated by Hal Roach Studios makes it abundantly clear that 38 Our Gang shorts were shot from "Bring Home The Turkey" to "Bouncing Babies."

There's a pretty good chance that Jean was indeed in 35 of these 38 films, though the availability and completeness of the prints make it difficult to verify. When Jean left the Gang, the announcement to the newspapers was made by her mother, who managed her career, and these articles state that Jean had appeared in 30 of the silents and 4 of the talkies. It was the following week after the articles were published that Jean worked in "Bouncing Babies," which explains why that wasn't counted, but a casting directory in early 1930 contained an entry for Jean that stated she was in 30 of the silents and 5 of the talkies. On this website, the verified total is 27 silents and 5 talkies, with "The Smile Wins," "Spook Spoofing," "Edison, Marconi & Co." and "Election Day" being possible additions to the silents due to inconclusive evidence that Jean was involved.

1923

• Feb. or Mar. 1923: According to her memoirs, Jean was registered with Central Casting, and then did her first film work at the age of six months. Her mother was given a small role in a Sam Harris production on Broadway, which also afforded Jean with a "carry-on" part. This would have been shortly before she learned to walk. Apparently, there was also a second play that followed this with Jean in it. Oddly, The Capital Journel of Salem, OR, from Feb. 23, 1938, reported: "Jean comes from a theatrical family of many generations. Her grandfather, a producer in New York City, gave Jean her first part as a babe in arms." Surely, Jean would have mentioned this crucial detail if it was anything more than publicity hype. On Mar. 3, 1938, The Oregon Daily Journal of Portland specified that her grandfather was Frank C. Hamilton, and carried this quote: "I had to cry and I've always had a suspicion Mother pinched me to make the tears come."

1924

• Mid-1924: Shortly before her second birthday, "Baby Jean" danced at Lions and Kiwanis Club meetings as one of her dance instructor's Tapping Troubadours. "My specialty was a Dutch dance performed in full costume, including heavy wooden shoes."

1926

• 1925/1926: On Feb. 23, 1938, The Capital Journal of Salem, OR, reported: "As she grew up she took the parts of little girls and boys of all ages."
• Circa 1926: Jean describes her mother being offered a part in a Broadway show by Sam Harris, after having done two previously "with me in tow." She turned this down in favor of Hollywood, feeling that Jean was "getting nowhere by being carried on stage or freelancing in movies."
• Circa 1926: There's some conflicting information regarding Jean's entry into Our Gang. As The Boston Globe of Aug. 13, 1928, put it: "Jean was put into the movies when Mrs. L. A. French, wife of the assistant general manager of the Hal Roach Studios, saw her on the street and asked her to come to the studio for a test." This is essentially what we learn by reading Jean's memoirs and Maltin & Bann's book, though Jean says that it happened in a candy store. Also, tests were apparently being conducted that very day to find a new cast member. The Sunday Oregonian of Mar. 5, 1927, states that Jean and her mother arrived in Hollywood "six months ago," which would mean August or September. But then The South Brooklyn Home Talk-Weekly News of Apr. 6, 1927, said that for six months Jean's mother "had her eye on the 'Gang' as the proper place for Jean to grow up into fame." She "secured a letter from the manager of the New York Hippodrome which opened the gates of the Hal Roach studios for an interview. Mrs. Darling left New York for Culver City, going direct to the Roach Studios. But Jean was too young, too untrained, and for four or five months, she could do nothing. Mrs. Darling, under the name of Dorothy Darling, worked in pictures herself in order to remain in California, and never despaired of some opportunity for her rarely beautiful child. One day, the wife of a Roach studio executive saw Jean on the street in Culver City and took her again to Robert McGowan, director of the 'Gang,' and Warren Doane, general manager. She was given a bit in 'Bring Home the Bacon,' a current 'Our Gang' picture." Jean started working in "Bring Home The Turkey" (the actual title) in early October, which would mean, according to this version of events, Jean and her mother left New York back around March or April. Of course, no Our Gang origin story is complete without some additional conflicting information, which in this case comes from The Item-Tribune of New Orleans (on Jan. 1, 1928), where it's reported that Jean "was sent to the Hal Roach lot by the Central Casting Bureau." To make things even more confusing, The Sioux City Sunday Journal (IA) of Feb, 8, 1931, stated that Jean's age was 3 years and 4 months at the time of her first film as an extra, which would mean Dec. 1925 or Jan. 1926. A bit more corroborative with some of these other sources is the Feb. 10, 1931, Rockford Morning Star (IL), which states that Jean was 3 years and 10 months, which would make it June or July 1926. The Lincoln Star (NE) of Feb. 25, 1931, stated that Jean had been a movie star since Oct. 1926, which perfectly corroborates the payroll ledgers.
• Oct. 6, 1926: Jean started with the Our Gang series as a day player.

1927

• Jan. 15, 1927: From the Los Angeles Record regarding the most likely successor to Mary Kornman in the Our Gang series: "The most likely prospect today is Jean Darling, now in stock at Hal Roach's, who will be given small parts in several 'Our Gang' comedies in order to see what she can do. If she fits into the roles which 'Our Gang' stories make possible, she will be made the 'leading lady' of the Gang."
• Feb. 15, 1927: From Louella Parsons in her syndicated column: "'Our Gang' comedies has a new leading lady, a dimpled darling, age 4 years, blonde and with all the temperament of a Pola Negri or a Lya De Putti. They were ten months locating Jean Darling. Yes, that is her name. After Mary Kornman and Mickey resigned to go on vaudeville time, there was no one else to help Farina put over his stuff, and that, you will admit, is a tragedy." On February 27th, The Sunday Times-Signal of Zanesville, OH, reported that Jean had "been placed in stock for the next three months, and is practically certain of being retained as heroine." The same day, The Detroit Free Press reported that "she shows all signs of bossing 'Our Gang'."
• Mar. 5, 1927: The Sunday Oregonian reported that Jean was 41 inches tall and weighed 41 pounds. "The little girl came to Hollywood with her mother, Mrs. R. P. Darling, six months ago, bearing a letter from the manager of the New York Hippodrome. But she was too young, Director Robert McGowan said, to intelligently play a role. So Mrs. Darling got work for herself at the studio, and waited. Recently, Jean was given a bit in 'Bring Home the Bacon' and did her part so well, she was placed under contract and for the next few pictures will have minor roles. Then it is expected the urchin will receive the designation for which she has waited - leading lady. Since the departure of Mary Kornman to do a vaudeville tour with Mickey Daniels, a long array of little girls has appeared in the hope of succeeding her. Now, apparently, the vacancy is filled."
• Mar. 18, 1927: The Venice Evening Vanguard (CA) published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Apr. 1, 1927: From the Los Angeles Times: "Hollywood screen kiddies will stage their benefit performance Sunday afternoon (the 3rd) at the Hollywood Playhouse to raise funds to build their new clubhouse." Jean was among the child performers listed. The next day, the Hollywood Daily Citizen specified that Jean was on a list of kids set to be introduced from the stage.
• Apr. 3, 1927: From The Sunday Enterprise of Beaumont out of Hollywood: "A motion picture actress should not be spanked. That is the rank opinion of Jean Darling, 4-year-old 'leading woman' of the obstreperous troupe of youngsters known to film fans as 'Our Gang.' Jean's mother, Mrs. R. P. Darling, does not entirely agree. She thinks little girls who play in the pictures should be treated just like other children, lest they become spoiled. Jean's grandfather, Frank C. Hamilton, was a New York theatre man."
• Apr. 3, 1927: From the Los Angeles Times: "Jean Darling, recently placed on a coveted pedestal of filmdom as the little leading lady of 'Our Gang,' has won the unqualified support, encouragement and praise of the six or seven youngsters who have frolicked their way to fame in Hal Roach's comedies of childhood. Jean has been nicknamed 'Bossie.' Bossie is 4 years of age, blond and dainty. Too young for school, she nevertheless knows her ABC's and can count to fifty. But her mother has stopped right there and won't teach her anymore of book knowledge until the proper age. In a formal installation party, the kids of the Gang - Farina, Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon, Jay Smith, Mango and Scooter Lowry - kept Jean from sitting for one whole day by putting tacks everywhere and calling her attention to them every time she looked at a chair with longing eyes. At the end of the day, they collected the tacks and placed them in her hands. They were rubber tacks - soft imitations which wouldn't harm a butterfly's wings. Jean was properly initiated. 'That,' said Joe Cobb, 'makes you an official belonger'."
• Apr. 6, 1927: From The South Brooklyn Home Talk-Weekly News: "Jean Darling, aged four years, has been officially placed in stock for the role of 'leading lady' in 'Our Gang' Pathecomedies at the Hal Roach studios. She will frolic with Farina, Joe Frank Cobb, Jackie Condon, Jay Smith and 'Scooter' Lowry for the next three months, with an almost certain prospect of being retained as the heroine of 'Our Gang' comedies . . . Jean is an unusually pretty blonde child with big blue eyes and a world of the sweetness in personality which made Mary Kornman famous. Being only four, she has seven or eight years of possible service in the 'Gang' ahead of her."
• Apr. 8, 1927: From Motion Picture News: "Jean Darling, the new leading lady of the 'Gang,' who bears the screen name of 'Bossie,' is said by Directors Anthony Mack and Charles Oelze to be a real find."
• Apr. 18, 1927: Jean was put under long-term contract at $35 a week.
• May 28, 1927: The Sunday Oregonian of Portland reported that Jean "has been at home suffering with fever." This would be the scarlet fever that Jean talks about in her memoirs. On May 2, 1933, the Venice Evening Vanguard made reference to Jean living at the Hotel Hunt in Culver City a few years earlier, and said this: "Young Miss Darling, incidentally, really caused more of a stir in the Hunt than her more illustrious elder contemporaries. Jean broke out with scarlet fever during her residence there. Doctors tacked up quarantine placards. To give Jean plenty of leeway and pacify other inmates, she was given the entire top floor of the hotel to herself during her illness. But, as she remarked to the hotel proprietor when the siege had ended: 'It was very nice of you, but I could only use one room at a time, anyway'."
• Late May to Early June 1947: The Our Gang kids worked in "The Smile Wins," a film that doesn't seem to include Jean. However, a photo was taken of the kids while in costume for this film. Jean is included and wearing the type of outfit she would typically wear onscreen. It's possible that she worked in the film, but didn't wind up in the finished product.
• June 18, 1927: From the Los Angeles Record: "Hal Roach today did something which he has been fighting for a long time. He let the noted group of kid players better known as 'Our Gang' sign a vaudeville contract for several weeks. Ever since the youngsters made good in the movies, offers have been coming in for their appearance upon the stage, and Roach would never permit it except at benefit performances. Now the old tradition is broken and the kids open at the San Francisco Orpheum on July 2, under the management of Harry Weber. A special act written by George Waggner is in the stages of rehearsing now with a complete cast of the 'baby stars,' including Farina, Aroma, Joe Cobb, J. R. Smith, Jean Darling, Jackie Condon and Harry Spears(sic). Roach said early this morning that he permitted the vaudeville engagement because his studio will start its annual vacation on July 2 and this would be a good time for them to do a turn or so before the footlights. It is said that a record price has been paid for the ususual act."
• June 27, 1927: Jean's salary was raised to $45 a week.
• June 28, 1927: From The San Francisco Call and Post: "Beginning at the Saturday matinee, the entire group of 'Our Gang' kiddies, otherwise known as Hal Roach's Rascals, make their debut on the speaking stage in a comedy playlet, Acting Out. Harry Weber, the well known producer, is the person responsible for this event, and he is bringing these kiddies, including Joe Cobb, Farina, Jean Darling, Jackie Condon, Ray(sic) R. Smith, Mango and Harry Spear, to San Francisco to make their first appearance on the speaking stage."
• July 1, 1927: Motion Picture News reported that Jean had returned to the studio after a one-month illness. This is described in Jean's memoirs as scarlet fever, which she came down with during "Olympic Games." This would presumably explain why she's missing from available prints of that film, as well as the follow-up, "The Glorious Fourth," although she claims that her absence was for six weeks. However, she also states that Farina was afflicted with the same illness and that production on the series was shut down for the duration. This, however, doesn't jibe with the shooting dates of the films, both of which very strongly feature Farina. However, The South Brooklyn Home Talk-Weekly News of May 11, 1927, reported that Farina did come down with scarlet fever, resulting in a four week delay leading up to the shooting of "Tired Business Men," but this also doesn't jibe with the shooting dates.
• July 1, 1927: From The San Francisco Examiner: "A reception is to be tendered 'Our Gang' Kiddies when they arrive in town this morning on the Lark from Los Angeles to fulfill an engagement of one week only at the Orpheum beginning tomorrow afternoon. Each section of San Francisco will be represented by six or seven of 'kiddie groups' from South of Market gang, North Beach, Chinatown, the Potrero, Ocean View, Sunset, Richmond and Fillmore. They will greet Joe Cobb, Farina, Jean Darling, Jackie Condon, Jay Smith, Mango and Harry Spear when they step off the train from Los Angeles. City officials and theatrical representatives will be on hand to greet them. 'Our Gang' Kiddies have arranged to hold a reception on the stage of the Orpheum after each matinee for all the youngsters attending the performances." The San Francisco Chronicle added the Mission, North of the Slot and Western Addition districts to the list. On July 10th, the Examiner published an article about this reception, a thinly-veiled advertisement focusing on the fleet of Studebaker and Erskine cars used to transport the kids from the train station to City Hall.
• July 1, 1927: From The San Francisco Call and Bulletin: "'Our Gang' Kiddies, who are Hal Roach's Rascals of screen comedy fame, who arrived in San Francisco this morning to fulfill an engagement of one week only at the Orpheum, beginning with the matinee tomorrow, will hold a reception on the stage after each matinee for the children attending the performance."
• July 2, 1927: The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about the Gang's visit to the city, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 2, 1927: The San Francisco Examiner published an article about the Gang's visit to the city, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 3, 1927: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "The biggest treat and the biggest party ever given for the orphans of San Francisco will be The Chronicle-Orpheum Theater party next Wednesday morning (the 6th) at 10:30. The treat will be the appearance of 'Our Gang,' that lively bunch of youngsters from the Hal Roach studios at Culver City. Every boy and girl knows this 'gang' they have seen in motion pictures this many moons, and when the orphans assemble at the Orpheum as The Chronicle's guests, it will be a regular get-together party of old friends. The entire personnel of 'Our Gang' will be on hand, and they will not only help entertain the orphans, but will mingle with the crowd and shake hands with everybody . . . The Market Street Railway has joined in the spirit of the occasion by planning to provide free street car tickets for conveying the guests to the Orpheum and to assign an inspector to supervise their travels with the most careful attention. Written invitations have been sent to each institution and judging from the acceptances, the Orpheum will fairly bulge with youngsters. In addition to the orphans, the junior salesmen of The Chronicle will also be guests, and can each bring a friend. The only grown-ups will be the attendants in charge of the orphans and the people in charge of the big party for the youngsters, with the big feature of the entertainment another bunch of youngsters. The official song for the occasion will be 'Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here'."
• July 4, 1927: The Bulletin of San Francisco published an article about the Gang's visit to the city, an excerpt of which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 4, 1927: From The San Francisco Call and Post regarding Jean's part in the show: "Flaxen-haired Jean Darling is more than her name. She's princess of the gang, does a little dance and proves a real ingenue in the way she accepts flowers at the curtain call."
• July 4, 1927: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "To start the show, Cliff Work, manager of the Orpheum, has arranged to show one of the newest of the 'Our Gang' pictures produced at the Culver City film studios. As soon as the picture is finished, the curtain will go up and there, big as life, will be Joe Cobb, the fat boy of the gang; Farina, the pickaninny with the roly-poly eyes; Farina's sister, Mango; Jean Darling, Jackie Condon, Jay Smith and Robert McGowan, their director. Following introductions, the whole gang will go out in the audience for a chat with the children guests."
• July 4, 1927: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "Harry Weber, manager and director of the Rascals, calls attention to the fact that they can weep real tears in a tense dramatic moment. The moment arrives in a scene from 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' when Jean as Little Eva lies on her death bed, and the rest gather round and implore her not to leave them. And it's perfectly true. They can all cry."
• July 4, 1927: From The San Francisco Examiner: "These youngsters put on a sort of revue, with musical comedy in it, a tabloid drama and a burlesque on 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'."
• July 5, 1927: The San Francisco Examiner published an article abuot the Gang's visit to the city, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 5, 1927: From The San Francisco Examiner: "Before leaving their Hal Roach Studios in Culver City for this four weeks theatrical trip, 'Our Gang' went into executive session, and elected Joe Cobb their treasurer, he having been reputed to boast of a bit of Scotch blood and being well known as a saving young person; Farina was nominated the reception committee, as everyone wants to shake hands with him, anyway; Jay Smith was made business manager, Jackie Condon stage manager, while Jean Darling and Mango, being the only representatives of the fair sex, were named the 'ofishul helpers'."
• July 7, 1927: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "'Ain't we got fun? Yes!' Children's voices in lusty chorus rang to the rafters in the Orpheum Theater yesterday morning as the youngsters at The Chronicle-Orpheum theater party expressed their joy and approval with three cheers and a tiger. On one side of the footlights were seven famous 'movie' kids and on the other 700 San Francisco orphan youngsters brought in from the various homes, nurseries and orphanages for the party at which they were guests and the stage children hosts. While 'Our Gang' romped through its stage antics with the spontaneous abandon of kids at a party, their little guests registered delight with laughter and shrieks and whistles and applause. And to cap the climax of the joy when the show was over, the audience was invited to the stage to shake hands with the very children they had watched so many times upon the silver screen. 'Aw, gee, I shook hands with Farina,' gleefully recounted one orphan lad to a pal who had been too timid to venture to the unaccustomed side of the footlights. 'He rolled his funny eyes at me and he gave me a little kick on the shin with one of his big shoes.' 'Aw, that's nothing!' interrupted another. 'Leonore sat on Joe Cobb's knee. You know, Joe the fat boy. And all the gang yelled, "Joe's got a girl".' Farina's little sister Aroma, a small replica of himself, little Jean Darling, golden-haired fairy child, Jackie Condon, a repetition of the Coogan legend; Jay Smith and Harry Spear all did their bit in the gang's jolly program of stunts. Jean starred as Little Eva and Farina as Uncle Tom in a modern travesty in three scenes on Uncle Tom's Cabin'."
• July 7, 1927: From The Oakland Post-Enquirer regarding Our Gang's upcoming visit: "They all will be in Oakland Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. The Post-Enquirer is arranging a great, rousing reception and every girl and boy in the metropolitan area is invited to be on the job. The reception will begin officially at 9:30 when the child artists arrive at Seventh and Broadway and are greeted by Mayor John L. Davie and other city dignitaries. Under an honorary police escort, the 'Gang' will then ride to the 'Post-Enquirer' building."
• July 9, 1927: The Gang began a week's engagement at the Orpheum Theatre in Oakland, CA. As they did across the bay in San Francisco, the Gang held a reception on the stage for all of the kids attending the matinee.
• July 9, 1927: The Oakland Post-Enquirer (CA) devoted an entire page to articles about the Gang's visit to their city, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 10, 1927: The Oakland Tribune reported that the Our Gang kids would soon make a personal appearance in that city to perform for some orphans.
• July 12, 1927: From the Oakland Tribune: "Rooms of the Press Club of Oakland will be turned into a filmdom rendezvous tomorrow at luncheon when the organization is to be host to Hal Roach's 'Our Gang' . . . Joe Cobb will head the aggregation. Joe, everyone knows, is that rotund youngster who cuts up so many capers that even the rest of the 'gang' cannot keep straight faces. Then there is Farina, the ebony boy of rags and tags. With them will be Farina's sister, Mango, Jay Smith, Jean Darling and Jackie Condon. James Cobb, dad of Joe, will be a guest as will Charles Olzey(sic), assistant film director, and Jack Wall, representing Harry Weber, producer of the act for Hal Roach. Luncheon will begin at 12:15, according to President Luther W. Rood, and members have been urged to be present at that hour in order that the little funmakers may get back to their Orpheum matinee act."
• July 12, 1927: From The San Francisco Examiner: "'Our Gang,' Hal Roach's beloved rascals, and the best known group of kiddies on the stage, will appear at the Golden Gate in person next week. Farina, Joe Cobb, Harry Spear, Jackie Condon, Jean Darling, Jay R. Smith and Mango, the whole gang, whose funny antics in the 'Our Gang' comedies have made you laugh, will be on hand. For five weeks the kiddies have a vacation from the movie lot and Hal Roach and their director, Robert McGowan, decided it would be a great idea to let the gang take a whirl at vaudeville. For the past two weeks their engagements have broken records and the Golden Gate is the third week of the five that they are permitted to play. The third part of the gang's act and the part that proves so popular to children is a reception on the stage following every matinee except Sunday when the children in the audience are permitted to come upon the stage and meet the gang."
• July 13, 1927: The Oakland Tribune published an article about Our Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 15, 1927: From The San Francisco Examiner regarding Our Gang: "They come to town again tomorrow, appearing on the new Golden Gate bill . . . They will put on a sort of revue, a tabloid burlesque of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and hold a stage reception for young persons of their own age after each matinee, with the exception of Sunday."
• July 18, 1927: From The San Francisco Call and Post: "Jean Darling smiles her lovely smile at all the newsies on the corners, and you can bet that the dreams of several young Lotharios are visited by a bit of blonde loveliness as they toss on the beds at home. Jean is the leading lady of the troupe and, like her older sisters of the stage, displays a little temperament from time to time."
• July 20, 1927: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "Jean Darling, leading woman, and Joe Cobb, the genial fat boy of Hal Roach's movie troupe, disporting themselves daily at the Golden Gate Theater, paid a visit to The Chronicle yesterday. They are bright and happy looking children, interested in their acting and interested, too, in the lessons that form a part of their daily routine. Jean, 4 years old, bright and mischievous, intends to stay in the movies indefinitely. She said as much yesterday. 'I'm going to be a leading woman always, until I'm 50 years old. Then, I guess, I'll be too old,' she confided."
• July 22, 1927: From the Los Angeles Illustrated Daily News: "'Our Gang,' with Farina, Joe Cobb and other funmakers in Hal Roach comedies, will top the new bill which comes to the Orpheum Sunday (the 24th). 'Our Gang' will appear in person for the first time in Los Angeles in a specially written offering entitled 'Acting Out.'...'Our Gang' will not only offer their act, but will hold a reception after each matinee for the children in the audience."
• July 22, 1927: From the Oakland Tribune: "'Our Gang' will be represented at the Orpheum again tomorrow when 'Mickey' Daniels and 'Peggy' Eames arrive to share the spotlight with Henry Santrey and his band. Master Daniels was at one time the freckled comedian of the Hal Roach outfit and Miss Eames the leading lady. As a matter of fact, we have been told that she is still the leading lady, although the mother of Jean Darling spent considerable time in the anteroom adjoining this cubicle prepared to offer proof to the contrary and in favor of the tow-headed Jean."
• July 22, 1927: From the Los Angeles Times: "The 'Our Gang Kiddies' went to the Orpheum in San Francisco and Oakland and broke every record for attendance in both theaters, a report says."
• July 23, 1927: The Our Gang kids performed at a Saturday matinee at the California theater in Salinas.
• July 24, 1927: The Gang began a one-week engagement at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. As The Los Angeles Record of the 21st reported: "Every youngster in Los Angeles has seen the 'Our Gang Comedy Kiddies' on the screen and has probably wished many times that he could meet them. Now this wish is to be granted, for next week when the famous Hal Roach aggregation of youthful funmakers makes its bow in person at the Orpheum, it will hold a reception every afternoon immediately following the last act in the foyer of the Orpheum. Every child attending will have a chance to shake hands with Farina, Joe Cobb and the other 'kids' of the 'Gang.'"
• July 24, 1927: From The News-Democrat of Paducah, KY: "Unless you are a blonde in Hollywood, you might as well toss away the mirror and sit down to peel the dinner potatoes. The only alternative is to be a brunette, Or a red-head. Even Our Gang demands its perfect blonde for leading lady. And gets it. Miss Jean Darling, age four, dimpled and cherubic, has the hearts of the Gang in her fat baby hands. She'll be a great success when she gets through wiggling, says Hal Roach. It may be funny when you're training a motion picture camera on her, but try and get a reposeful portrait. Just a young St. Vitus who can't stand still a minute. Maybe she'll be the second Gilda Gray."
• July 25, 1927: From the Los Angeles Times: "There are seven happy 'kids' in town this morning! And there are seven happier dogs! Our Gang and its canine friends were reunited yesterday morning at Central Station. The Gang has been away, appearing in vaudeville, and its paramount worry has been that 'Ducky,' 'Spot,' 'Woolly' and the other dogs were not being fed properly, but yesterday, when the collection of dogs met the gang at the depot, it was sure everything was all right. The Gang has been quite successful on its vaudeville tour. The Gang's appearance at the Orpheum here this week concludes the tour. It includes Joe Cobb, Farina, Jean Darling, Jackie Condon, Aroma, Harry Speers(sic) and Jay Smith."
• Oct. 1927: The Our Gang unit filmed "Spook Spoofing," which didn't include Jean in the cast. However, she does appear in at least one photo taken on location for this film.
• Dec. 1927: Filming began on "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." It was at this time that Jean's hair was refashioned into the familiar curls that we usually see in the publicity photos.
• Dec. 19, 1927: Jean's salary was raised to $50 a week.
• 1927/1928: Around this time, the Our Gang kids, as well as Laurel & Hardy, were sent to the TeeVee studio to do an experimental broadcast.

57. Bring Home The Turkey (small part)

Jan. 16, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-15 - Our Gang series

Filmed Sep. 29 to Oct. 15, 1926. ©Jan. 14, 1927.

Are Brunettes Safe? (extra)

Feb. 6, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. B-16 - Charley Chase series

Filmed Oct. 25 to Nov. 4, 1926. ©Jan. 14, 1927. Jean claimed to have been in two or three Chase comedies, but this is the only one I've been able to verify with the payroll ledgers.

55. Seeing The World (extra)

Feb. 13, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-13 - Our Gang series

Filmed Oct. 29 to Nov. 15, 1926. European footage shot July and Aug. 1926. ©Jan. 14, 1927.

58. Ten Years Old (extra)

Mar. 13, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-16 - Our Gang series

Filmed Nov. 24 to Dec. 14, 1926. ©Feb. 14, 1927.

60. Tired Business Men (supporting role: Bossy)

May 22, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-18 - Our Gang series

Also listed for May 15, 1927, and May 21, 1927. Filmed Jan. 18 to Feb. 3, 1927. ©Apr. 11, 1927.

61. Baby Brother (small part)

June 26, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-19 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 17 to Mar. 14, 1927. ©May 18, 1927.

63. Olympic Games (unconfirmed small part)

Sep. 11, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-21 - Our Gang series

Also listed for Sep. 10, 1927. Filmed Apr. 22 to May 6, 1927. ©July 8, 1927. Jean doesn't appear in the available version, but several publicity photos reveal that she worked in the film.

67. Yale Vs. Harvard (small part)

Sep. 24, 1927 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-1 - Our Gang series

Filmed June 13 to 24, 1927. ©Aug. 17, 1927.

68. The Old Wallop (supporting role)

Oct. 22, 1927 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-2 - Our Gang series

Filmed Aug. 8 to 20, 1927. ©Oct. 22, 1927.

62. Chicken Feed (supporting role)

Nov. 6, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-20 - Our Gang series

Filmed Mar. 28 to Apr. 15, 1927. ©June 9, 1927.

69. Heebee Jeebees (supporting role)

Nov. 19, 1927 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-3 - Our Gang series

Also listed for Nov. 29, 1927. Filmed Aug. 29 to Sep. 13, and Sep. 30, 1927. ©Nov. 1, 1927.

70. Dog Heaven (supporting role)

Dec. 17, 1927 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-4 - Our Gang series

Filmed Sep. 15 to Oct. 13, 1927, with retakes Nov. 1, 1927. ©Nov. 26, 1929.

1928

• Feb. 3, 1928: From the Los Angeles Evening Express: "Those clever little youngsters, known to the world of film fans as 'Our Gang,' will make their first and only 1928 personal appearance at the Wampas ball and frolic February 27 in the Ambassador Hotel, it was announced today. Every one of Hal Roach's famous rascals will dash onto the stage in the Ambassador ballroom. They will enliven the already diversified program which the publicity men have planned for their annual frolic."
• Feb. 8, 1928: From the San Francisco Chronicle: "Jean Darling, the pretty little leading lady of Hal Roach's 'Our Gang,' is to have a real break in the latest of the two-reel comedies which this inimitable group of child actors is making. It tells a circus story, and Jean goes through all of the hazardous stunts herself, scorning a double. In consequence, the powers predict she will walk away with the picture, and come into her kingdom as leading woman." Sidenote: The film mentioned is "Barnum & Ringling, Inc.," which finished filming about a month earlier.
• Mar. 24, 1928: More than 60 of Hollywood's screen children attended the "Screen Kiddies Premiere" of Charlie Chaplin's "The Circus" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Among those invited were the nine kids and one dog from the 'Our Gang' series.
• June 12, 1928: From the Salt Lake Telegram: "When Dr. William M. Waddell, Salt Lake dentist and dog fancier, gave his little friend, Jean Darling of 'Our Gang' comedy fame, a Collie pup last spring, the film star was confronted with a problem. She had to give up her home in a 'no dogs or children allowed' apartment house or give up Goldfield Pal Darling. She stuck to her new pal and moved into a cottage. Goldfield Pal justified the choice Saturday (the 9th) by winning the major prizes at the Hollywood dog show for his loyal little mistress. As the winning dog and the show's best entry, he was the undisputed star."
• Summer 1928: The Our Gang kids were visited at the studio by Frances Juliet Douglas of The Piqua Daily Call (OH), who described her meeting with them in an article dated August 29th. They were taking publicity stills in preparation for their upcoming cross-country tour. She doesn't say much about Jean, other than saying that the "curly haired 'vamp' smiled serenely."
• Mid-July to Early Aug. 1928: The Our Gang kids worked in "Election Day," a film in which Jean does not appear. However, she did appear in at least two publicity photos taken at the ranch during filming.
• Aug. 5, 1928: The Tulsa Daily World ran an ad for the "Jean Darling" dress for little girls from a company called YearRound. This is the earliest newspaper with this ad that I've come across; it was followed by several more instances. This particular ad includes an illustrated Jean Darling, but she's a brunette with a Dutch Boy haircut. Starting on Aug. 14th, the ads were different. Not only does the illustrated girl resemble Jean of Our Gang, but they explicitly make the connection in the description.
• Aug. 14, 1928: The Our Gang kids departed Los Angeles on the California Limited for a personal appearance tour, which was scheduled to take them to Chicago, Detroit, New York, Newark, Boston, St. Louis and other cities, all on the Balaban & Katz Loop. This turned out to be not quite true, though, as they never made it to Newark or Boston. On their way east, they briefly stopped at various locations to greet their fans. One of these was a 3 p.m. stop on this day at San Bernardino.
• Aug. 14, 1928: The Gang's train passed through Needles, CA, at 10:15 p.m. As The Needles Nugget of August 17th put it: "These famous young folks have many ardent friends and admirers in our town and some of them tried to catch a glimpse of the celebrities while the train stopped, but the 'Gang' had already retired."
• Aug. 15, 1928: The Gang's train stopped in Albuquerque, NM. The Albuquerque Journal of the following day reported the following: "A crowd of several hundred people, adults and children, was on hand at the Santa Fe station to greet the little actors. While here the young stars renewed their acquaintance with Ershel Redd, an Albuquerque boy who took part with them in two comedies at the studio at Culver City, Calif., last spring. Young Redd lives at 206 South Broadway...Mayor Clyde Tingley introduced 'Our Gang' and (director of publicity) Mr. (Ray) Coffin to the fans from the platform of the train...After the youngsters had been introduced and Mr. Coffin had made a short talk about them, they were urged to take a little exercise on the brickwalk, but the suggestion didn't meet with the approval of 'Fatty.' 'Naw, I want to eat,' he objected and made his way toward the diner, where he waited to be served."
• Aug. 16, 1928: The Gang's train passed through Hutchinson, KS. As The Hutchinson News reported the previous day: "What ho! 'Our Gang' is going through tomorrow...They will be through at 4:30 sharp on the Santa Fe California Limited, headed for Detroit...Surely one of them will condescend to step out on the observation platform and give the kiddies of Hutchinson a wave. At any rate Roy Coffin, Hal Roach's publicity man, who is accompanying them, will be sure to be there - publicity men always are."
• Aug. 16, 1928: The Gang's train passed through Emporia, KS, at 7:20 p.m. As The Emporia Daily Gazette reported the following day: (The Our Gang kids) "made a personal appearance Thursday night before a full house at the Santa Fe station, with the rear platform of the California Limited for a stage. Fully half an hour before the train was due, Emporia movie fans of all ages began to line up under the station pillars, and by the time the huge engine roared by, the crowd had become a swarming mob of 3,000 admirers, anxious to meet informally the youthful stars...The gang evidently was expecting to meet their Emporia friends for when the train stopped, they were on the observation platform ready to be introduced...As the fans moved to the platform, the Gang smiled approvingly at the cheers and handclaps they received...The introductions were made by Ray Coffin...who presented each in turn." The article describes Mary Ann as "the peroxide blonde," obviously confusing her with Jean. About Jean, it says that her "dimples stood out more than ever at mention of her name," but this was probably in reference to Mary Ann.
• Aug. 16, 1928: The Gang's train stopped at the Union Station in Kansas City, MO, at 10:30 p.m. for half an hour. The Kansas City Post of the previous day reported the following: "I have a wire from their publicity director this morning. 'Will shoot kids immediately on arrival up to lobby of the station and they are yours to do as you will for the next thirty minutes.' A platform will be standing at the curb of the station plaza. The Gang will hop up there and will be plainly seen by the crowd. The platform will be lighted and the Gang will do its stuff in the way of meeting their gang of fans in Kansas City. Motion pictures of the crowd and the gang, and photographs of both will be taken. The motion pictures will be shown at Loew's Midland." On the 16th, the Kansas City Journal had this to say: "Harry Kessel, popular community song leader and representative of the Feist Publishing company, will be master of ceremonies at the Union station at 10:30 o'clock tonight when Our Gang arrives from Hollywood for a half hour's visit with Kansas City fans. He will lead the crowd in singing Hail, Hail, Our Gang's All Here and popular songs of the day. He also will introduce each of the Hal Roach gangsters. Dick O'Kane will accompany on the piano, which will be on the station plaza platform constructed for the gang." The following day, the Kansas City Journal published an article about the visit, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Aug. 17, 1928: From the Kansas City Post: "Chicago, quiet little city on the shores of Lake Michigan, today was all set to quell a riot when a certain Santa Fe train from Kansas City arrived there at noon. A Chicago newspaper, according to a message received by The Post today, had been 'reliably informed' a mob had attacked the train upon its arrival here at 10:30 o'clock last night and the Santa Fe officials had found it necessary to call out police reserves to break up the riot. The newspaper was quite serious. Moreover, the Chicago newspaper informed The Post that in view of last night's 'riot' in Kansas City, the railroad officials were taking no chances and had requested police protection for the train upon its arrival there today...It was a well ordered reception the little movie stars were accorded here last night by 'their public' - possibly the greatest reception ever given any movie star here - and the police were there to aid in keeping order and protecting the thousands of small Kansas Cityans who were on hand to greet Our Gang. Exaggerated reports of last night's enthusiastic reception here probably were forwarded to Chicago by unknowing passengers on the train."
• Aug. 17, 1928: The Gang's train arrived in Chicago, where they would perform for one week at the Chicago Theater starting the next day. On the 18th, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported the following: "All of 'Our Gang' of the movies, who arrived yesterday on the Santa Fe for an appearance at the Chicago theater, were special guests at a party in the Hotel Sherman bungalow yesterday...Mary Ann Jackson, Jean Darling, and Wheezer, the younger gang members, stayed close beside their chaperones." On August 19th, this same paper corrected themselves, stating that the party took place at the Morrison Hotel.
• Aug. 18, 1928: The Our Gang kids began performing at the Chicago Theater. The Forest Park Review that day explained that the kids "will come down upon the Chicago theater for their first and only appearance, their manager, Hal Roach, having notified Balaban & Katz, that the proximity of school days in Hollywood would make engagements at the Tivoli and Uptown theaters impossible."
• Aug. 20, 1928: From the Chicago Daily Tribune regarding the Gang's stage show: "This will probably be a record week at the Chicago, what with all the mammas and papas in town bringing their kids to see the 'Our Gang' kids. And it's no wonder, for Hal Roach's famous youngsters are as funny and lovable in this personal appearance as they have been on the screen. It's refreshing to learn that working under Kleig lights has not spoiled these children and that the studio atmosphere, instead of taking the bloom off of their childish charm, has been conducive to preserving it. They are appealingly natural and unself-conscious, which is more than can be said for the infant prodigies of the stage. Here's hoping their tour across the country will be a merry and successful one."
• Aug. 24, 1928: From The St. Joseph News-Press (IL): "By special arrangement with Hal Roach and M. G. M., Publix Theaters Corporation are presenting the original members of Our Gang comedies. The popular kids...are making personal appearances in the de luxe picture houses of both Publix and Loew Key city theaters. Our Gang is now appearing in Chicago theaters. The attraction has drawn considerable crowds in all the theaters they have played so far."
• Aug. 25, 1928: The Gang arrived in Detroit in the morning, and did their first performances at the Michigan Theater that day.
• Aug. 26, 1928: From The Detroit Free Press: "The Our Gang Kids have been looking over some of the sketches in the WCX-Our Gang contest, and they were so pleased with them that they have asked The Free Press to extend the time limit for 12 hours so that the last minute entrants will also have a chance. So the contest will close at 12 o'clock tomorrow instead of midnight tonight. Your drawing of Pete, the famous dog mascot of the Our Gang Kids must be in the editors hands before noon Monday (the 27th), if it is to be considered for ticket prizes to see the Our Gang Comedy Kids show at the Michigan this week. The Our Gang Kids will judge the sketches, you know, at the WCX studio Monday afternoon during Skeezix Time at 5:30 o'clock, and you'll hear them over the air."
• Aug. 27, 1928: From The Detroit Free Press in an article about the zoo that had just opened in Detroit: "The children comprising the 'Our Gang' troupe of movie actors are to be special guests of the zoo management today at 10:30. The elephant and the camel will be ready for them to ride and the other animals have been instructed to show their best behavior for the occasion."
• Aug. 27, 1928: The Our Gang kids put in a personal appearance at the Franklin street settlement in Detroit. This according to The Detroit Free Press of September 2nd.
• Aug. 27, 1928: From The Detroit Free Press: "The Our Gang Comedy Kids and their famous mascot Pete will announce the winners of the WCX-Our Gang contest over WCX during the Skeezix Hour this evening at 5:30. Tune in! Fatty, Farina, Freckles, Wheezer, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson and Pete - the whole gang - who are appearing on the Michigan stage this week, will be there. Because an extra show has been added to the theater bill the 'kids' will greet the radio audience first direct from the Michigan stage, where microphones will be installed to pick up their part of the theater's program. Later, appearing with Chief Neal Tomy in the special radio studio back stage, they will announce the contest winners." This contest was open to kids 15 and under. Skeezix Time was a local program in Detroit based on the character from the popular comic strip Gasoline Alley. The following day, The Detroit Free Press reported the following about the contest: "Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, Wheezer, Fatty, Freckles, Farina and 'Pete' himself, announced the awards over WCX at Skeezix Time last night. They were gathered with 'Chief' Tomy, Dorothy and Loraine in the studio above the stage at the Michigan theater, where they are appearing before record crowds this week. Skeezix Time was transferred to the theater because Our Gang was scheduled for a stage appearance at 5:30 o'clock. After the opening songs the stage microphones were turned on and the radio audience heard the members introduced to the visible crowd which packed every nook and corner of the theater. Then the scene was shifted back to the studio for the birthday party and to await the coming of the gang. It was the kiddies' first appearance before the 'mike' and Fatty was a bit suspicious. It had to be explained to him before he was willing to say a word. It was a great occasion for the gang as well as for the thousands of their small friends who listened in." The birthday party mentioned in this article was a regular feature on the radio show.
• Aug. 27, 1928: From The Detroit Free Press regarding the Gang's stage show: "Our Gang, those inimitable comedy kids who are here in person, are sure to be a tremendous drawing card, this week. They are the most natural acting and vivacious youngsters imaginable and the fun and play they get out of their appearance on the stage shows how little all their popularity has spoiled them. 'Fatty' and 'Freckles' and 'Pete' the dog, and all the rest of the gang are even more appealing in real life than on the screen."
• Aug. 28, 1928 From The Detroit Free Press: "All Saturday and Sunday records of the Michigan theater were shattered last week-end! The Our Gang comedy kids, in their first stage appearance east of Hollywood, are proving themselves the most sensational theatrical attraction in the last ten years, according to local showmen. The Michigan theater filled up at noon Saturday (the 25th) and remained filled until close to midnight. Then it repeated that record Sunday. The records established by Mae Murray, Paul Whiteman, Vincent Lopez, John Philip Sousa, Gertrude Ederle were exceeded so far that it is probable the Our Gangsters will forever be the Michigan's greatest attraction. Extra shows are being planned for around 5 p.m. each day during the week. In Chicago the children appeared at 35 shows during the week - five each day - and set an almost unbelievable record for attendance."
• Sep. 1, 1928: The Gang arrived in Cleveland, and did their first performances at the State Theater that day. The kids also got to view a special screening of the locally made Our Gang film featuring their Cleveland lookalikes.
• Sep. 1, 1928: Radio listings for Detroit's WBMH indicated that they were broadcasting a program called "Our Gang" from 9:00 to 9:30pm and again from 11:15pm to midnight. The Gang was no longer in Detroit by this evening, so if these programs had anything to do with them, then they must have been pre-recorded.
• Sep. 1, 1928: The Cleveland Press published an article about Our Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Sep. 2, 1928: The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an article about Our Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Sep. 2, 1928: From the Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)g: "'Our Gang' is touring the country and making personal appearances in the large cities. They travel in a specially equipped Pullman coach with sound-proof walls, unbreakable furniture and all kinds of shock absorbers. This is their first glimpse of the country outside of California."
• Sep. 5, 1928: From International News Service out of Cleveland: "'Our Gang,' Hal Roach's well known group of child movie performers, may have to discontinue their performances in vaudeville here, else the theatre management will be prosecuted for violation of the Ohio child labor laws. Miss Lauretta P. Bean, of the state industrial commission, has sworn out an affidavit charging George Drummond, theatre manager, with violating the law which prohibits children under 14 years from appearing on the stage, it became known today. The juvenile troupe arrived here Sunday from Hollywood and had been booked to play the rest of the week." Slight correction: the Gang had arrived on Saturday. The Associated Press reported Bean as saying that Drummond had "agreed to appear for arraignment before a justice of the peace today."
• Sep. 7, 1928: The Gang spent their last night in Cleveland. A few days later, on September 11th, the Cleveland Plain Dealer published the following anecdote from Eleanor Clarage: "And speaking of Maurice Spitalny...the writer and several of her friends had tried all last week to get into the State to see Hal Roach's gang in the flesh, but all to no avail. Lines stood out almost to 14th Street every time we went near the theater, and at last we gave it up as a bad job. Then, Friday night (the 7th), a few of us wandered into the Statler for dinner and got a table over in a quiet corner, next to a table evidently decorated for a dinner party, with floral centerpiece, fancy melons ready at each plate and so on. We wondered idly what kind of a party it was going to be, and before we had the words out of our mouths, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Keith were coming into the dining room with 'Our Gang' and their mamas in tow, with a curious crowd pushing around the doorway stretching their necks to get a better look at them. This, after we had been turned away from the theater all week! Fate is sometimes almost too good to one." She then describes her impressions of each kid, with this to say about Jean: "Little blonde Jean Darling, her make-up still on and looking unchildlike as a result, rolled her eyes up at the musicians, the waiters and nearby diners. Obviously, she has already learned the trick of charming those she meets."
• Sep. 8, 1928: The Gang returned to Chicago, this time to perform at the Norshore Theater for six days. The previous day, the Cook County Herald of Arlington Heights, IL, reported the following: "Hal Roach's comedy rascals, having broken every existing record for attendance at the Chicago theater, have been prevailed upon by Balaban & Katz to return to Chicago for an engagement at the Norshore theater starting Saturday, Sept. 8. The 'Gang' was scheduled for just one week in each city but by schedules it was found possible to return for six days between their Cleveland and New York appearances. The demands of North Shore theatergoers who failed to see the child stars during their recent engagement were so insistent that Balaban & Katz have decided to present them at the Norshore theater, due to its excellent transportation facilities...To accommodate the throngs who failed to see the 'Gang' at the Chicago theater, Balaban & Katz have announced special matinee performances at the Norshore theater daily during the six day engagement. The program offered by the child-stars will be the same as that presented downtown."
• Sep. 14, 1928: From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "George Dumond, manager of Loew's State Theater, yesterday was fined $25 and costs in each for four cases charging him with violation of the child labor laws in connection with the appearance here of Hal Roach's 'Our Gang.' Justice of the Peace Myron J. Penty dropped two similar additional cases pending against Dumond on his appearance yesterday."
• Sep. 15, 1928: From the Daily News of New York: "There'll be great commotion at Grand Central terminal today! Won't there, though! 'Our Gang' arrives. Seven members, counting Pete, the dog who has the black ring around his eye. They are traveling in movie splendor, all dressed up in their Saturday and Sunday clothes. Pete, Fatty Joe Cobb, Freckles Harry Spear, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, Wheezer and last, but certainly not least Master Alan Hoskins, known throughout the world as Farina. Hal Roach, who started 'Our Gang' on its road to fame just ten years ago, will be at the station to meet the Twentieth Century. Also, Maj. Edward Bowes, managing director of the Capitol theatre, where the youngsters will make their first personal appearance this afternoon. The starlets together with their mammas, daddies, or whichever grown up members of their respective families are accompanying them, will journey from the train straight to the suites at the Park Central hotel and get washed up and ready for their Capitol engagement. Miss Fern Carter, Our Gang's teacher, accompanies them as well. We're assured that the parent committee will keep their charges away from night clubs and escort them back to the coast at the end of next week all set to resume work on their next season's output of two-reelers."
• Sep. 19, 1928: From the Standard Union of Brooklyn regarding the Gang's appearance at the Capitol: "At least as amusing as 'The Cameraman' for the brief time they're on stage are Hal Roach's pint-size gangsters...They have a war episode to go through, and they do so with great good will, looking no bigger than grasshoppers. They are most unaffected kids. Yesterday afternoon down in a locker room under the stage Miss Jennie Madden, the wardrobe mistress, gave them a party. Ice cream and small cakes. They enjoyed it wholeheartedly...They'll be in Brooklyn next week, incidentally, at Loew's Metropolitan." The Standard Union of September 24th also mentioned the party under the stage, but reported that Jean had to skip it because she wasn't feeling well.
• Sep. 19, 1928: The Brooklyn Daily Times published a column by Elsie Jean, which apparently was aimed at kids. She tells her readers that all of the Our Gang kids had joined her Happy Times Club, which also included many local children among its members. On September 21st, she announced that 50 Happy Timers would be chosen to be guests of the Our Gang kids the following Tuesday (the 25th) at the Metropolitan Theatre in Brooklyn.
• Sep. 21, 1928: The Gang visited the New York city hall. As The Washington Herald described it the following day: "Joe Cobb, the fat boy, was dolled up to represent Herbert Hoover, while Harry Spear impersonated Governor Smith. Jean Darling adopted the role of Texas Guinan, while Marie(sic) Jackson carried padlocks in her role of Mrs. Mabel Willebrandt. The gang, now playing at local theaters, were received by Mayor Walker, who shook hands all around." Sidenote: Herbert Hoover and Al Smith, incidentally, were the two major party presidential candidates in the current election, which was ultimately won by Hoover.
• Sep. 23, 1928: The Gang talked over the radio from station WEAF, introduced by Maj. Edward Bowes, managing director of the Capitol. This was an NBC musical series called Major Bowes' Family, which regularly broadcasted from the Capitol Theatre.
• Sep. 24, 1928: The Brooklyn Citizen published an article on the Gang's arrival in Brooklyn, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Sep. 24, 1928: From the Standard Union of Brooklyn: "The youngsters have finished a busy week, what with being guests of the Mayor at City Hall, and with doing their turns and sightseeing, but they don't have all the luck some of the youngest fans may imagine, for despite their ability to duck school on the screen, they're taking their lessons, grand tour or no grand tour...Their term opened Sept. 11, the official beginning of the school year in California."
• Sep. 24, 1928 From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "From the Union Trust Teller the following is clipped: 'The Main Street Meditator of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, after devoting a couple of paragraphs to the youngsters who took Cleveland and the State Theater by storm, concludes with the frantic query: "And oh, dear, dear - do they have the good sense to put their money in the bank while it's still rolling in?" To a certain extent, we can satisfy her worries along this line by telling her that during their stay here in Cleveland, 'Our Gang' visited our juniors' department, and savings accounts were opened for each one of them..."
• Sep. 24, 1928: The Boston Globe (MA) published an article on the Gang's school lessons while on the movie lot, stating that these lessons were continuing during their personal appearance tour. It mentions that Jean and Harry were just beginning school at this time.
• Sep. 25, 1928: From The Brooklyn Citizen: "Adult interest in 'Our Gang' is as great as the kids'. This was demonstrated at Loew's Metropolitan last night when the shouts of their elders drowned those of the youngsters accompanying them. The familiar faces stood in reality stronger than they do in the pictures. There was the same action seen, but it appeared more realistic as the little fellows hopped about the stage. Joe Carr(sic) was there, fat and saucy. Farina, too, and Mary Ann Jackson, and above all Pete, the dog. 'Our Gang' gave four performances yesterday to capacity houses, and were tired little rascals when they returned to their quarters in Leverich Towers."
• Sep. 26, 1928: The Brooklyn Citizen reported that the Gang were guests of honor the previous night at the Hotel Leverich Towers. The article describes the Gang's act this way: "They presented a war play, in which Heavyweight Joe is the spy, Farina is the valiant soldier, who fights a terrible sword duel with Joe, the spy; Beautiful Jean is the Red Cross nurse, Mary Ann is another spy, Harry Spear is a soldier, Wheezer is the general of the army who comes riding in on a hobby horse, which is his prancing white steed and Pete, the dog, is also a soldier."
• Sep. 26, 1928: The Brooklyn Daily Times published an article about the Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Sep. 27, 1928: The Standard Union of Brooklyn published an article about the Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Sep. 29, 1928: The St. Louis Star reported on the Gang's upcoming engagement at Loew's State Theater, mentioning that they "shattered every record at the Capitol Theater in New York."
• Sep. 30, 1928: From the Sunday News of New York: "Hal Roach's 'Our Gang' kiddies will visit thirty-one Loew theatres tomorrow, Tuesday, and Wednesday, making ten personal appearances a day." The Kansas City American of October 11th elaborated by saying: "Little time is allotted for their individual house howtow, just long enough to be whisked in for an introduction from the stage or pit and out." Ultimately, the Gang was scheduled to visit 32 theaters.
• Oct. 1, 1928: The Gang began three days of whirlwind activity, making personal appearances at 32 different theaters. On this day, they made eleven stops, all in Manhattan and all Loew's theatres. They were scheduled to be at the Sheridan at 1:00 p.m., the Greeley Square at 1:45 p.m., the Lincoln at 2:30 p.m., the 83rd Street at 3:15 p.m., the 7th Ave. at 4:00 p.m., and the Victoria at 4:30 p.m. After this was a 3-and-a-half hour break for dinner. Then they appeared at the Canal at 8:00 p.m., the Delancey at 8:30 p.m., the Avenue B at 9:15 p.m., the Commodore also at 9:15 p.m. (these times were approximations), and the American at 10:00 p.m.
• Oct. 2, 1928: From United Press out of Brooklyn: "Ray Coffin, manager of members of the 'Our Gang' comedies, making a personal appearance at a theatre here, was arrested here because the 'gang' 'worked' Sunday (Sep. 30th). Shortly after they left the stage, after their Sunday performance, Coffin was handed a summons charging him with violation of a penal law which requires a permit for the appearance of children under 16. When they appeared again at night he was handed another."
• Oct. 2, 1928: The Gang moved their whirlwind tour to the Loew's theaters of the Bronx, this time making appearances at nine of them. They were scheduled to be at the Victory at 1:00 p.m., the Burland at 1:45 p.m., the Spooner at 2:30 p.m., the Elsmere at 3:15 p.m., and the Burnside at 4:00 p.m. After this, they took a four-hour break for dinner. Then they moved on to the National at 8:00 p.m., the Boulevard at 8:45 p.m., the Grand at 9:30 p.m., and the Fairmount at 10:00 p.m.
• Oct. 3, 1928: The Gang finished off their whirlwind tour of New York City theaters, this time visiting 12 Loew's theaters in Brooklyn and Queens. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of October 1st and the Standard Union of October 2nd each filled in the following details. Their schedule initially had them as luncheon guests of Major Benjamin H. Namm, president of the Namm's department store. This took place in the Mirror Room on the third floor. At noon, they were to make a personal appearance in the toy department of the store. As the Standard Union reported, "The gang has been touring the theatres throughout the East, but their appearance at Namm's marks their first appearance off the stage." (A perusal of this page, though, shows that this isn't quite true.) Their tour of theaters was to begin in Brooklyn with the Brevoort at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Bedford at 1:30 p.m., the Kameo at 2:15 p.m., the Broadway at 3:00 p.m., the Gates at 3:30 p.m., the Premier at 4:15 p.m., and the Palace at 4:30 p.m. After this, they took a three-and-a-half break for dinner, and then proceeded to Queens, appearing at the Willard in Woodhaven at 8:00 p.m., the Hillside in Jamaica at 8:45 p.m., the Prospect in Flushing at 9:30 p.m., the Plaza in Corona at 10:00 p.m., and the Woodside in Woodside at 10:30 p.m.
• Oct. 3, 1928: The Standard Union of Brooklyn published an article on Ray Coffin, who had been arrested for having the kids work on a Sunday. It can be accessed by clicking here.
• Oct. 5, 1928: From the Standard Union of Brooklyn: "Hal Roach's 'Our Gang' bade Brooklyn farewell yesterday and departed for St. Louis, where Fat Joe Cobb, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, 'Wheezer,' Harry Spear and Farina, will hold for a week before going to Kansas City. They more than enjoyed Brooklyn."
• Oct. 6, 1928: The Gang began their engagement at Loew's State Theater in St. Louis.
• Oct. 6, 1928: From The Afro-American of Baltimore regarding the Gang's act: "Efforts of members of 'Our Gang' to get their speeches across the footlights effectively, are not so successful, except that of 'Fatty' Cobb. Part of their act consisted of depicting the way they would enact a bit of war drama after the same story had been thrown upon the screen."
• Oct. 7, 1928: The St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat reported on a promotion called Candy Week. In connection with this, the Candy Club would be distributing 5000 boxes of candy to the inhabitants of various children's and old people's homes in St. Louis. Entertainment at several of these parties would be provided by the Our Gang kids.
• Oct. 8, 1928: From the St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat regarding the Gang's act at the State: "The children are as delightful off the screen as they are on. One nice thing about these kiddies, they are all kid. And, wisely, their manager sends them clamoring out on the stage like the bunch of healthy, tumbling youngsters that they are. They aren't made to struggle with jokes beyond their comprehension nor contort their little bodies in ridiculous dances. They come out one by one and make funny kid bows and enact one of their comedy scenes as they do on the sets in the Hal Roach studio. Even Pete, the dog, isn't held to any set schedule. He comes out and wuff, wuffs a bit and calls it a day."
• Oct. 12, 1928: The Gang made a personal appearance in the Junior Section of Boyd's department store in St. Louis at 5 p.m.
• Oct. 13, 1928: The Gang arrived in Kansas City and began their engagement at Loew's Midland Theater.
• Oct. 13, 1928: The Kansas City Journal-Post published an article about the Gang, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Oct. 18, 1928: From the Kansas City Journal-Post: "The Our Gang comedy kids are for the Charities drive. They visited Mercy hospital yesterday and now they know why Kansas City has a charities drive. They found Bobbie in a wheel chair and Ralph's little feet all bandaged. So they held out their hands to the big hearted people of Kansas City."
• Oct. 18, 1928: From The Emporia Daily Gazette (KS): "The 'Our Gang' comedy cast will pass through Emporia Saturday afternoon (the 20th) on No. 23, westbound California limited. The train will arrive in Emporia at 1:40 o'clock and will remain for five minutes. Many Emporia kids are expected to be at the station when these youthful movie stars arrive. Emporians gave the 'Our Gang' troupe a great ovation when they passed through two months ago going east."
• Oct. 21, 1928: The Gang's train made a stop in Albuquerque, NM. According to the Albuquerque Journal of the following day: "'Our Gang' came through Albuquerque shortly before noon Sunday (the 21st) en route to the west coast after a successful trip in the east, where they made vaudeville appearances in some of the leading theaters...The Gang filed into the Alvarado coffee shop for their noonday luncheon and were the center of attraction." Elsewhere in the same paper: "The members had previously announced their coming as Monday (the 22nd) and few persons were on the station platform to give them a greeting. Junior Redd, 206 South Broadway, a former member of the gang, was at the station to renew his acquaintanceship with the juvenile actors."
• Oct. 22, 1928: The Gang's train went through San Bernardino. According to the San Bernardino Daily Sun from the previous day, it was scheduled to stop for 10 minutes at 12:40 in the afternoon. Presumably they made it back home later in the day.
• Nov. 11, 1928: From The El Paso Times: "Goldfield Pal Darling, collie owned by Jean Darling, leading lady of 'Our Gang' Comedies, is entered in the fourth annual dog show, which is being held in Liberty hall. Goldfield Pal Darling was brought here from Hollywood, California, for the show, and is being handled by Chris Shuttleworth." The next day, the same paper reported that Goldfield Pal won in the Collies division. As The Los Angeles Record reported on Nov. 29th: "Jean Darling, leading lady of 'Our Gang,' again managed to reap all honors with her handsome Scotch collie dog - this time at the El Paso, Texas Kennel show." On Dec. 8th, The Evening Telegram of Toronto indicated that Jean attended this dog show.

65. Playin' Hookey (small part)

Jan. 1, 1928 - Roach/Pathé - 2 reels - prod. K-24 - Our Gang series

Filmed June 27 to 29, and Aug. 1 to 6, 1927. ©Feb. 6, 1928.

72. Rainy Days (supporting role)

Feb. 11, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-6 - Our Gang series

Filmed Nov. 4 to Dec. 28, 1927. ©Feb. 11, 1928, and Sep. 4, 1929.

74. Barnum & Ringling, Inc. (featured role: Jean)

Apr. 7, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-8 - Our Gang series

Filmed Dec. 21, 1927, to Jan. 9, 1928. ©Apr. 7, 1928. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

75. Fair And Muddy (supporting role)

May 5, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-9 - Our Gang series

Filmed Jan. 16 to Feb. 8, 1928. ©May 5, 1928.

76. Crazy House (featured role: Jean)

June 2, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-10 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 10 to 24, 1928. ©May 16, 1928.

MGM News (appearance)

Aug. 26, 1928 - MGM - 1 reel - newsreel

This was reviewed the following day, so I'm going with the copyright date that comes closest. Featured is footage of the Our Gang troupe during their cross-country tour.

77. Growing Pains (small part)

Sep. 22, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-11 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 27 to Mar. 15, 1928. ©Sep. 22, 1928.

78. The Ol' Gray Hoss (supporting role)

Oct. 20, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-12 - Our Gang series

Filmed May 7 to 26, 1928, with retakes Aug. 16, 1928. ©Oct. 20, 1928. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

79. School Begins (supporting role: Jean)

Nov. 17, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-13 - Our Gang series

Premiered Sep. 16, 1928. Filmed June 7 to 28, 1928. ©Nov. 17, 1928. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

80. The Spanking Age (supporting role)

Dec. 15, 1928 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-14 - Our Gang series

Filmed July 2 to 14, 1928. ©Dec. 15, 1928. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

1929

• Jan. 28, 1929: Jean's salary was raised to $60 a week.
• Mar. 9, 1929: The Pasadena Star-News reported on the 17th Annual Pasadena Kennel Club's all breed dog show that took place on the 8th and 9th. Winning in the collies category was Goldfield Pal Darling. On Apr. 14th, The Montgomery Advertiser (AL) reported: "The pedigreed Collie belonging to Jean Darling . . . was awarded two blue ribbons and a silver trophy at the annual Pasadena Dog Show."
• Mar. 30, 1929: In his syndicated column, Hubbard Keavy reported that Jean was not yet in school, but this contradicts reports from the previous year which stated that she had just started. Also contradicting this was the April 15th Los Angeles Record, which stated she was in first grade.
• May 21, 1929: The Los Angeles Record reported that Jean was taking dance training at the Bud Murray school. A Los Angeles Times ad on June 9th indicated that Jean was among those who came to the Bud Murray School for Stage "for training and quick routines."
• June 1, 1929: From the Monrovia News-Post (CA): "A distinguished guest at the Aztec hotel for dinner last night was Jean Darling of the Hal Roach Comedies. Miss Darling and her mother were dinner guests of Russell Keith of Harding Court."
• June 23, 1929: From The Tacoma Sunday Ledger: "Here's the latest - false teeth for a 6-year-old. Jean Darling of Our Gang comedies has 'em because when she smiles she shows yawning vacancies."
• 1929: Jean and her fellow Gangsters were featured in a picture book called A Story Of Our Gang, written by Eleanor Lewis Packer.
• July 6, 1929: From the Venice Evening Vanguard: "It's a gloomy day on the Hal Roach lot. Little Jean Darling, for three years the 'sweetheart' of 'Our Gang' kidlets, has resigned. No trouble at all, unless you call Old Man 'Ambition,' a relative of the 'Trouble' family. Now that Jean has reached the ripe old age of 6 years, she will try her wings at free-lancing. To quote Jean's own words, 'I want to work with grown-up people and do serious parts.' Evidently, Jean wants to follow in the footsteps of Charlie Chaplin and play 'Hamlet' or some such role. Anyway, she is leaving the Roach lot after acting as leading lady in 30 silent and 4 talking comedies. This is quite a record for a young lady of Jean's age, and we're rootin' with the 'Gang' that Jean's journey along the free lance route will always be 'fair sailing'." On July 8th, the Hollywood Daily Citizen reported that this announcement was made by Jean's mother.
• July 13, 1929: Jean's final week of work in the Our Gang series ended on this date.
• July 27, 1929: Jean's contract came to an end the week ending on this date.
• Sep. 15, 1929: The Scripps-Howard newspaper syndicate published an article on Chubby Chaney, with this to say about Jean: "'She screams and kicks all the time,' he charges. And ruefully, he admits that she has kicked him more times than he cares to tell. And if you ask him why she kicked him he shrugs his fat shoulders, shakes his head so that his fat jaws shimmy and says, 'I don't know. She just kicks everybody.' "
• Oct. 31, 1929: From Jimmy Starr in his syndicated column: "It seems that several days ago I said that little Jean Darling, leading lady of 'Our Gang,' at the Hal Roach studio, had outgrown her part. That isn't true. Jean did leave the noted film rascals, but not because she was too old. Quite a different reason. The tiny star's mother decided it was time for Jean to step out upon her own and appear in larger parts in feature productions. A wise move, too. Jean is certainly one of the cleverest youngsters on the screen and I don't blame Jean's mother for the change."
• Nov. 4, 1929: From The Ventura County Star: "Jean Darling, the leading lady of the Hal Roach comedies in 'Our Gang,' and known in filmdom as the youngest juvenile star, will personally assist the local Loyal Order of Moose club with its movie ball, for the benefit of the Christmas Kiddie Fund, to be held at the Ventura Bathhouse ballroom Wednesday evening (the 6th)." The Nov. 7th Ventura Free Press reported: "Jean Darling delighted guests with an artistic dance number."
• Nov. 20, 1929: From the Stockton Daily Morning Independent: "More than three thousand folk attended the Moose Wampas Ball and Fiesta held last evening at the Civic Memorial Auditorium. Motion picture stars were present and interspersed with dancing, the folk were introduced and motion pictures taken." Jean was among the movie stars presented. As the Nov. 4th Stockton Daily Evening Record reported, this was sponsored by the Stockton Loyal Order of Moose No. 391. The Nov. 16th edition ran an ad calling it the Monster Wampas Movie Ball and Fiesta, which stated that Jean would be doing novelty dances.
• Nov. 22, 1929: From The Fresno Morning Republican: "About 3,000 people attended the movie ball given last night by the Loyal Order of Moose, Fresno lodge 445, in the civic auditorium for the benefit of its children's fund." Jean was among the stars who were featured. The Nov. 20th edition ran an ad calling it the Monster Movie Ball and Fiesta, and included Jean Darling, "the little American beauty child wonder in dance creations." An ad in the Nov. 21st Fresno Bee referred to the event as the L.O.O.M. Monster Movie Ball.
• Nov. 30, 1929: From The Daily Breeze of Torrance, CA: "Thursday evening (Dec. 5th) has been set as the date for the Centinella Valley Lodge No. 1100, Loyal Order of Moose movie ball and fiesta to be held in the Mandarin ballroom, for the purpose of raising Christmas funds for the kiddies. Actors and actresses of the film firmament will step from the silver screen to entertain with songs and dances heard and seen in pictures." Jean was scheduled to be among the stars making an appearance.
• Dec. 12, 1929: The 16th Examiner Xmas Benefit took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, featuring "30 Monster Headline Acts" and "More Than 300 Famous Stars," as the ad in the previous day's Los Angeles Evening Express said. Jean was one of these many stars.
• Dec. 19, 1929: From the Hollywood Daily Citizen: "Little Miss Jean Darling, member for three years of 'Our Gang' comedies, went on a mission of cheer to the Children's Hospital yesterday. She provided entertainment for the small patients by singing and dancing in several wards and rooms, and distributing a generous load of Christmas gifts to the bedridden tots." On the 23rd, the Venice Evening Vanguard described Jean as "dancing, singing, reciting and presenting gifts to the sick youngsters." It also stated that she "repeated her performance for the crippled children of the county hospital, Friday (the 20th) and Saturday (the 21st) she entertained the Crippled Children's guild in Beverly Hills."

Hollywood - The Movieland Of The World (appearance)

c. early 1929 - California Scenics - 2 reels - travelogue film

Jean and the rest of the Gang are shown posing for photos on the set of "Rainy Days." This footage was shot in Dec. 1927, though other footage in the travelogue was shot as late as Nov. 1928. Raw footage taken for this film, including being-the-scenes footage of the making of "Rainy Days," can be found on YouTube.

82. Noisy Noises (small part)

Feb. 9, 1929 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-16 - Our Gang series

Filmed Oct. 29 to Nov. 10, 1928. ©Mar. 5, 1929. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

83. The Holy Terror (supporting role)

Mar. 9, 1929 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-17 - Our Gang series

Filmed Nov. 19 to 28, 1928. ©July 11, 1929.

84. Wiggle Your Ears (featured role: Jean)

Apr. 6, 1929 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-18 - Our Gang series

Filmed Dec. 4 to 12, 1928. ©Mar. 5, 1929. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

85. Fast Freight (supporting role)

May 4, 1929 - Roach/MGM - silent - 2 reels - prod. G-19 - Our Gang series

Filmed Dec. 10 to 27, and Dec. 29, 1928. ©Apr. 1, 1929.

89. Small Talk (supporting role: Jean)

May 18, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 3 reels - prod. G-23 - Our Gang series

Also listed for Apr. 18, 1929. Filmed Mar. 25 to Apr. 6, 1929. ©July 30, 1929.

86. Little Mother (small part)

June 1, 1929 - Roach/MGM - silent - 2 reels - prod. G-20 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 4 to 13, 1929. ©June 3, 1929.

90. Railroadin' (supporting role)

June 15, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. G-24 - Our Gang series

Filmed Apr. 17 to 25, 1929. ©Dec. 9, 1929.

92. Lazy Days (small part: Jean)

Aug. 24, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. G-26 - Our Gang series

Also listed for Aug. 15, 1929, and Oct. 24, 1929. Filmed June 10 to 20, 1929. ©Aug. 26, 1929.

91. Boxing Gloves (supporting role: Jean)

Sep. 9, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. G-25 - Our Gang series

Filmed May 13 to 25, 1929. ©Sep. 9, 1929.

87. Cat, Dog & Co. (supporting role)

Sep. 14, 1929 - Roach/MGM - silent - 2 reels - prod. G-21 - Our Gang series

Filmed Feb. 20 to Mar. 2, 1929. ©Sep. 3, 1929. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

93. Bouncing Babies (small part)

Oct. 12, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. G-27 - Our Gang series

Filmed July 5 to 15, 1929. ©Sep. 23, 1929.

88. Saturday's Lesson (supporting role)

Nov. 9, 1929 - Roach/MGM - silent - 2 reels - prod. G-22 - Our Gang series

Filmed Mar. 5 to 11, 1929. ©Sep. 9, 1929. Released with a synchronized soundtrack.

1930

• Jan. 4, 1930: The Los Angeles Evening Express published an article about dance teacher Joan del Mar. Five famous students, including Jean, are listed. All were from the Our Gang series and all were "now appearing on the Keith Circuit."
• Feb. 13, 1930: The Hemingford Ledger (NE) included Jean on a list of celebrities currently living in Culver City.
• Feb. 21, 1930: From the Hollywood Daily Citizen: "Players from the Hollywood studios will be the honor guests at the Twentieth National Orange Show in San Bernardino tomorrow, according to Kathryne Campbell, program director." Jean performed at this event.
• Mar. 1930: Photos of Jean modeling clothing began appearing in the newspapers during this month.
• Apr. 13, 1930: The Los Angeles Times published an article about the recent wave of dancing children, due in part to the emergence of the talkies. Included is the following: "Jean Darling and Reginald Denny Streeter, both of whom are under contract to Gus Edwards at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, are just two of the representatives from the Earle Wallace Studios."
• May 21, 1930: The Illustrated Daily News of Los Angeles reported that Goldfield Pal Darling would be entered at the Hollywood Dog Show on May 24th and 25th in the Ambassador Auditorium.
• 1930: According the Jean's memoirs, Harry Weber offered to put Jean in an act with Scooter Lowry, Peggy Eames and Harry Spear, which would tour the RKO-Orpheum circuit, but her mother refused this and Jean ended up with a solo act. Maltin & Bann state that the four kids actually toured together, but the closest I can find is Scooter and Peggy touring together throughout most of 1931.
• July 13, 1930: From the Los Angeles Times: "Jean Darling, leading lady of the popular film series, 'Our Gang,' recently enrolled for a course in special broken-rhythm routine under the direction of Billy Dreyer, head of the Billy Dreyer Studio of Stage Dancing in Hollywood. Jean is preparing for an act to be given on a personal-appearance tour over the various vaudeville circuits, in conjunction with her pictures."
• July 21, 1930: From the Los Angeles Evening Express: "The most brilliant political gathering ever held under one roof in southern California is promised by the All-Veteran League when it presents its rally at the Olympic Auditorium Thursday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. This has been arranged by the league in order to provide information regarding the present gubernatorial race among five outstanding candidates." Jean was among several celebrities providing entertainment.
• July 27, 1930: From the Los Angeles Times: "Eleven clever youngsters, headed by Jean Darling, petite leading lady of Our Gang comedies, are now playing vaudeville dates in the juvenile revue produced at the Kirby & DeGage Dance Studio. Tap routines, novelty toe numbers and specially written songs by Joe Seitman, Universal Pictures song writer, are featured throughout the act, which Sid Grauman declared was a 'marvelous aggregation of artists' when he viewed it at the Grauman's Chinese Theater."
• Aug. 6, 1930: The Times of Hammond, IN, referred to the juvenile revue as Jean Darling and Her Darlings, and reported that they were playing the first half of this week at the Hippodrome.
• Aug. 26, 1930: From the Daily Free-Lance of Henryetta, OK: "Young Miss Betty Lou Schooling, better known as Jean Darling, leading lady of Hal Roach's gang of filmdom, has been a visitor in the city since Sunday night (the 24th) . . . Darling is a very appropriate name for Betty, for in describing her, that name would be most suitable. She is six years old and has blonde curls which reach nearly to her shoulders. She, as well as her parents, are reluctant to discuss her fame as a juvenile movie star; however, when asked a question, the young miss readily answers." Could this be the first Jean Darling imposter?
• Sep. 18, 1930: From the Hollywood Daily Citizen: "With Betty Bronson of 'Peter Pan' fame as guest of honor, more than sixty child stars of the screen, stage, and radio, are to participate in the children's premiere of the new Fox Wilshire theater Friday afternoon (the 19th) at 3:30 p.m. With Brenda Hegness as a special guest, the junior premiere is to be staged just like the real thing with the child celebrities broadcasting their greetings to radio audiences via K-M-P-C." Jean was among the child stars who had accepted an invitation to this premiere.
• Late 1930: After suffering stage fright in her tryout performance in Elizabeth, NJ, Jean performed 36 (or was it 30?) one-nighters in various New Jersey movie houses to get her used to being on stage alone. After this, she did another tryout and was given a 40-week contract with RKO Theaters.
• Late 1930: A four-minute "trailer" was made of film clips of Jean in her Our Gang days, and used to open her stage act. The final clip was the wedding scene from "Wiggle Your Ears." By use of a breakaway screen, Jean would then emerge in a wedding dress.
• Late 1930: Jean's 12-minute solo vaudeville act was written by Irving Berlin, who provided her with a song called "If I'd Only Listened To You." She also sang "The Little Things In Life" and "Bye Bye Blues," and did impressions of Mae West and James Cagney.
• Late 1930: During rehearsals for the act, Jean attended the Professional Children's School in New York. While on tour, her school work was assigned to her as a correspondence course by the same school. After the tour, she went back to attending the actual school.
• Nov. 26, 1930: From The Binghampton Press (NY): "Tomorrow's most popular arrival at the Binghampton theatre is Jean Darling . . . At eight years old, she is a very serious actress with high ambitions and with no doubt that they will be anything but successful. Right now, Jean is in New York with plans to become a member of the cast of some Broadway success and probably there isn't a manager in town who will not be swept right off his feet when Jean steps into his office. This curly blond-haired miss has the whole theatre captivated. She is the center of attention wherever she goes and if Jean isn't listening now, we will let you in on a secret that makes this eight-year-old movie star blush like anything. She has a boy friend out in Hollywood. His name is Freeman and he is nine years old. He puts x's down on the bottom of his letters to Jean. So far he has made her several gifts and they have all been rattles from rattlesnakes."
• Nov. 27 to 29, 1930: Jean performed her act at the Binghampton Theatre in Binghampton, NY, prior to the screening of "Soup To Nuts."
• Nov. 30, 1930: Jean performed at the Park Lane Theatre in Palisades Park, NJ, prior to the screening of "Worldly Goods."
• Dec. 3 to 5, 1930: Jean performed at the R.K.O. Capitol Theatre in Union City, NJ, prior to the screening of "Big Money."
• Dec. 7, 1930: From the Sunday Times-Advertiser of Trenton: "Another of the 'Our Gang' kids has been brought before the footlight by RKO. She is Jean Darling, the blonde bundle of loveliness, who has a program of song, dance and patter. Her first appearance was made at Union City."
• Dec. 19, 1930: From the Trenton Evening Times: "Followers of 'Our Gang' screen comedies will see one of their tiny stars in person at the RKO Capitol starting tomorrow when Jean Darling, blond 'leading woman' of the Gang crowd, makes a personal appearance on the RKO vaudeville program." A photo caption on the same page reports that Jean "will appear in person at RKO Capitol starting tomorrow, will hold daily receptions in the lobby about 4:15 o'clock and distribute toys, candy and other Yuletide gifts to children." This was a week-long engagement. The feature film was "The Cat Creeps."
• Dec. 20 to 26, 1930: From the Trenton Evening Times: "When little Jean Darling, leading lady of 'Our Gang Comedies,' arrived in Trenton today for a week's performance at the RKO Capitol Theatre, she was warmly greeted by representatives of the American Legion, Disabled War Veterans Post, and Trenton Boy Scouts."
• Dec. 26, 1930: From the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "If RKO parades the talent named in its publicity, the hour's broadcast from the Leviathan tonight at 10:30, WTAM, should be one of the brightest of the fading year." Jean was among the stars who attended for this episode of NBC Radio's RKO Theatre Of The Air. It was broadcast from the Leviathan, an ocean liner which was currently in port in New York.

Screen Snapshots Series 9, No. 22 (appearance)

July 1930 - Columbia - 1 reel - Screen Snapshots series

unspecified title (archival)

circa 1931 - Roach - Jean Darling trailer

This was a 4-minute compilation of film clips from Jean's Our Gang days used for her vaudeville act.

1931

• Jan. 1 and 2, 1931: Jean performed at the DeWitt Theatre in Bayonne, NJ. The feature film was "River's End."
• Jan. 28 to 30, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Regent Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI. The feature film was "Once A Sinner."
• Feb. 1, 1931: From The South Bend Tribune: "Children of South Bend who have seen Jean Darling, the eight-year-old blonde in the 'Our Gang' comedies and who would like to meet Jean personally, are invited to attend a special reception in the Palace theater lobby at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Andy M. Roy, manager of the Palace, has arranged the reception as a special feature of Jean's opening here as one of the headline attractions on the Palace vaudeville offering for the first half of the week. Jean is eager to meet the children of South Bend and as a special inducement will give her photograph to all who come to her reception. On Monday afternoon (the 2nd) at 4:30 o'clock, Jean will be guest at a reception in the children's department of the George Wyman & Co. store. At that time, the Wyman store will give a Jean Darling model dress to the guest who most closely resembles the little actress."
• Feb. 1 to 3, 1931: Jean performed at the Palace Theatre in South Bend, IN. The feature film was "Sit Tight."
• Feb. 4, 1931: From The Wisconsin State Journal of Madison: "Jean Darling . . . now playing in person at the RKO Orpheum theater, will be guest artist on the Woman In The Shoe program over W-I-S-J Thursday and Friday (the 5th and 6th) at 5:30 p.m. Jean will also be heard from W-I-S-J during the children's program Saturday (the 7th). Elsewhere in the same issue: "Jean Darling . . . opens at the Orpheum today in vaudeville. Harold Knudsen, local RKO publicity manager, has arranged to have her hold a reception on the stage Saturday afternoon (the 7th). She will hand out autographed photos of herself and also a certain brand of local doughnuts."
• Feb. 4 to 7, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Madison, WI. The feature film was "Damaged Love." The newspaper ad read: "Singing - Laughing Little Jean of movieland fame - here to set you rocking with laughter with her rare sense of humor!"
• Feb. 5, 1931: From The Capital Times of Madison: "Jean Darling . . . entertained the children at the Bradley Memorial hospital this afternoon. After entertaining the children, Jean gave each of them an autographed photo of herself."
• Feb. 5, 1931: From The Capital Times of Madison: "The act of Jean Darling, star of 'Our Gang' comedies, might call for a dissertation on the exploitation of children. The child is given no opportunity to be natural, and the songs that have been supplied her are poor stuff. She does her work mechanically, and no wonder, for what she does sing is the sort of stuff that little girls do to imitate their betters. All right for a parlor party, but hardly good entertainment. It was a painful performance and the audience was not receptive."
• Feb. 6, 1931: Jean was scheduled to "be in the children's department on the third floor at Manchester's to visit with every little girl who comes to that department accompanied by her mother."
• Feb. 7, 1931: From the Rockford Register-Republic (IL): "Eight-year-old Jean Darling...is adding the vaudeville patrons to her 'public' and is enjoying it hugely. The little blonde actress arrives at the Palace theater tomorrow for a three-day engagement. Jean has appeared in 36 pictures, which she thinks is an unusual record for one of her few years. While working in the movies she has studied singing and dancing and she is showing vaudeville audiences that she is clever at both."
• Feb. 8, 1931: From the Rockford Morning Star (IL): "Jean Darling, the little blonde star of the Our Gang comedies, will be the featured entertainer on the RKO Little Show over radio station KFLV Monday night (the 9th) from 10:30 to 11 pm. Little Miss Darling is headliner of the Palace theater vaudeville the first part of this week."
• Feb. 8, 1931: From The Sioux City Sunday Journal (IA): "(Jean) is 51 inches tall, weighs 52 pounds, has deep blue eyes and golden hair. Her favorite foods are turkey, spinach soup and chocolate pudding."
• Feb. 8 to 10, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Palace Theatre in Rockford, IL. The feature film was "Beau Ideal."
• Feb. 9, 1931: The Rockford Register-Republic published a photo with the following caption: "Browning, junior and cub girl scouts were on hand to welcome Jean Darling, juvenile screen star and a Browning girl scout, as she alighted from a bus at the Lafayette hotel station Sunday (the 8th). Patty Johns, Rural Route No. 6, North Main street, is seen presenting a bouquet of sweet peas to Jean . . . "
• Feb. 9, 1931: According to the next day's Rockford Morning Star (IL), Jean visited the municipal sanatorium. "Like a bright ray of sunshine on a dull and dark day, Jean invaded the sanatorium and after presenting her vaudeville performance in the assembly room for the patients who are up and about, and via broadcast for those confined to their rooms, she visited all of them. Not only cheery smiles and lilting songs were left the patients to remember Jean by, for she gave each one an autographed photograph of her own winsome self."
• Feb. 9, 1931: Jean was scheduled to appear in a meet-and- greet at Sears, Roebuck and Co. at 4:30 p.m. in Rockford.
• Feb. 10, 1931: Jean was scheduled to appear in a meet-and-greet at the Block & Kuhl Junior Department at 4 p.m. in Rockford.
• Feb. 11, 1931: The Rockford Morning Star reported that Jean "will take the lead part with a moving picture, the name of which has not yet been announced." Elsewhere, it states: "Like other girls of her age, Jean has boy friends. In fact this morning she received a letter from one of her admirers who was crying because he had to part with her. The boy became her especial chum while she was performing in Madison, Wis."
• Feb. 14 to 16, 1931: Jean performed at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, IA. The feature film was "Kept Husbands."
• Feb. 17, 1931: In their Lost and Found section, the Des Moines Tribune-Capital published the following: "Finders of lost articles advertised below, please take notice. After you have returned the article to the loser, go to the Want Ad Dept., 715 Locust St., where you will be presented with two guest tickets for the R. K. O. Orpheum Theater, now showing Jean Darling in person." This was done in a number of cities during the tour.
• Feb. 18, 1931: The Des Moines Tribune-Capital published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Feb. 18 to 20, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Orpheum Theatre in Des Moines. The feature film was "Cimarron."
• Feb. 21 and 22, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Iowa Theatre in Cedar Rapids. Ths feature film was "Millie." The newspaper ad read: "Every school boy and girl attending the first show Saturday matinee (the 21st) will receive an autographed photo of Jean Darling."
• Feb. 25, 1931: From The Davenport Democrat and Leader: "Jean Darling, the little blonde star of the 'Our Gang' comedies, who is appearing in person at the Capitol theater, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, will be heard in a special broadcast over stations WOC-WHO this evening from 6:15 to 6:30 o'clock." The Daily Times specified that Jean would "broadcast a program of popular songs over WOC."
• Feb. 25 to 27, 1931: Jean performed at the RKO Capitol in Davenport, IA. The feature film was "Kept Husbands."
• Feb. 26, 1931: From The Davenport Democrat: "Youth and age - a woman 106 years old and an eight-year-old girl - were presented on the program for the Kiwanis club at the noon meeting held at the Blackhawk hotel today. The aged woman was Madame Marie Charlotte de Golier Davenport,a Russian by birth and married to an English professor, who spoke briefly and played several numbers on the piano with surprising vigor. The eight year old girl was little Jean Darling . . . The little girl sang and danced on the piano, showing considerable skill for a lady of her years."
• Feb. 26, 1931: Jean was scheduled to do a meet-and-greet at 4 p.m. in the children's department of M. L. Parker Company in Davenport, where she would give out autographed photos to each of the children attending.
• Feb. 28, 1931: From The Daily Times: "Today was another red letter day for listeners to the Hawkins radio hour over WOC and WHO when Jean Darling...presented songs and dialogue to the club members over the radio. Jean was on the air for about 15 minutes this afternoon and her program delighted thousands of boys and girls in six or more states served by our local radio station. To permit her appearance on the program, it was necessary to arrange to carry the little star and her mother to Iowa City in The Daily Times airship from where they will catch a train to Omaha." This program was called Seckatary Hawkins. As the previous day's issue explained: "Jean and her mother had planned to leave early tomorrow afternoon for Omaha. To permit of her appearance on the program, it was necessary to arrange to carry the little star and her mother to Iowa City in the Daily Times ship, so they may catch their train."
• Mar. 1, 1931: Jean performed at the Rivoli Theater in Hastings, NE. The feature film was "Rain Or Shine."
• Mar. 1, 1931: From The Lincoln Sunday Star: "(Jean Darling) will make a personal appearance at the Stuart theater all of next week. While in Lincoln, she will stay at the Cornhusker hotel...She will also appear at the Saturday morning (the 7th) matinee for children at the Stuart theater, and will distribute Gooch's doughnuts to her youthful admirers."
• Mar. 2, 1931: The Lincoln Evening Journal published an ad for Gold & Co. which included the following: "The Children of Lincoln and vicinity are invited to visit Jean Darling . . . Tuesday afternoon (the 3rd) from 4 to 5 P. M. at Gold's in the Children's Department." This was described two days later by The Lincoln Star this way: "When Gold & Co. announced that Jean Darling . . . would greet her youthful fans at the store on Tuesday afternoon, plans were made to care for about 600 boys and girls. Instead, 1,800 or 2,000 youngsters came to see the little cinema star, and most of the concern's executives and managers were called out to help everybody see small Jean and Jean to see everybody. Jean presented an autographed photograph to each of her admirers, patted the tiniest ones on their cheeks, and shook hands with all those who could possibly squeeze within arm's distance. In addition to her scheduled program of songs, dances and stories, Jean provided an impromptu number. Deciding that she would enjoy modeling a few frocks, she chose several from the stock, put them on, and pointed out the choice points of each one as she saw it. After an hour and a half on the third floor, W. T. Healey, advertising manager, took Jean on a tour of the store. She especially enjoyed the toy department, in which she was presented with a doll. Jean was also presented to many persons in the store."
• Mar. 2 to 7, 1931: Jean performed at the Stuart Theater in Lincoln. The feature film was "Stolen Heaven."
• Mar. 11, 1931: From the Seckatary Hawkins Club News column of The Daily Times of Davenport: "All members of the Seckatary Hawkins club remember Jean Darling, who so delightfully entertained us during the Hawkins radio hour two weeks ago. Jean and her mother are now staying in Lincoln, Neb., and today the Seckatary received a letter from Jean in which she asks to become a member of our club. In her letter Jean sends regards to all the members of the club and she mentions how she enjoyed an airplane ride to Iowa City after she had appeared on the radio program in Davenport at WOC. The Seckatary is mighty glad to welcome Jean into the club membership and a membership card and club pin have been sent to her."
• Mar. 15 to 20, 1931: Jean performed at the Rialto Theatre in Louisville, KY.
• Mar. 16, 1931: From The Courier-Journal of Louisville regarding Jean's act at the Rialto Theatre: "Little Miss Darling is a cunning parrot who has learned her lessons well and whose accomplishments prove she was an apt pupil to a painstaking director. She goes through a number of parlor tricks with that precision which robs them of spontaneity, but which, for certain groups in audiences, never fail to arouse admiration. Less offensive than some prodigies, Miss Darling appears to be a sweet little girl who might be happy doing what other normal children do."
• Mar. 18, 1931: The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported on the previous day's luncheon of the Optimist Club, at which Jean performed.
• Mar. 20, 1931: Jean performed at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. The feature film was "Ten Cents A Dance." This was reported in The Commercial Appeal of Mar. 15th as the starting date of Jean's engagement at the theatre. However, it conflicts with her final date in Louisville.
• Mar. 22, 1931: Jean performed at the Parthenon Theater in Hammond, IN. Each child in attendance was given a free photograph of her.
• Apr. 4, 1931: Jean was supposed to open a week's engagement on this date at the Lyric Theatre in Indianapolis, but there's pretty good reason to think that this never happened. Interestingly, on Mar. 28th, The Indianapolis Times had reported that one of the other acts on the bill would be the "Our Gang Kids" featuring Scooter Lowry, Peggy Eames and Harry Spears(sic). The part about Harry being there was an error, though, since Jim "Rube" Wagner was in the act with Scooter and Peggy, as mentioned in the Apr. 3rd issue of the same paper. The Indianapolis Star of Apr. 4th was a bit more specific, saying that Jean would be doing her solo act and would be followed by the other act, after which all four kids would do some sort of "afterpiece." The articles including Jean on the bill continued until Apr. 6th, but the only ad I've found that includes her is from Apr. 1st. All of the subsequent ads list the three Our Gang Kids, but don't mention Jean. A probable explanation for this comes from The Courier-Journal of Louisville on Apr. 8th. That day, The Better Baby Contest was held in connection with the Made-in-Louisville Exposition. Way back on Mar. 27th, the paper announced that Jean, along with Joe Cobb and Farina Hoskins, would award the baby contest trophies. On Apr. 4th, the same paper said nothing about Joe or Farina, but reported the following: "An added award for winners of the first place in the three divisions includes an autographed photograph of Jean Darling...who cannot be present because of illness." So if she was sick on Apr. 4th, and if that meant she couldn't make it to the Louisville event on Apr. 8th, then there isn't much of a chance that she'd be performing in Indianapolis during that week. Adding to this evidence is the fact that Jean wound up performing at this same theater in June, presumably to make up for her earlier absence.
• Apr. 12 to 15, 1931: Jean performed at the Hollywood Theatre in Detroit. The feature film was "The Last Parade."
• Apr. 15, 1931: From The Detroit Free Press: "Jean Darling, who has been appearing on the stage at the Hollywood...entertained two former picture comrades Tuesday evening (the 14th) in Jane and Harry Warback, 7 and 10 years old, respectively, now living in Detroit. All three children worked before the cameras in 'Our Gang' comedies. The Warback youngsters recently came to Detroit with their parents to reside." Sidenote: The Warback kids don't show up in the payroll ledgers, though the one from 1927 is missing, so there's still a chance they could have worked in the series.
• Apr. 30, 1931: The Detroit Free Press published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• May 6, 1931: From United Press out of Mt. Clemens, MI: "That trim Svelte figure, so dear - and necessary - to successful screen beauties, has sent Jean Darling...to the mineral baths here. Jean is dieting. When her weight reached 65 pounds, the Hollywood magnates who issue the edicts ordered her to reduce. 'She just dotes on wheat cakes, maple syrup and candy," mourned Jean's mother. 'Yes, and all I can have is a lamb chop,' sighed the little girl. 'But I've lost three pounds in eight days, and that's something'."
• May 10, 1931: The Detroit Free Press published a photo with the following caption: "Jean Darling, eight-year-old motion picture comedy star, in the cockpit of a Selfridge field pursuit plane. Its intricacies are being explained to her by Lieutenant Harry Wilson, former West Point star halfback."
• May 29, 1931: Jean was scheduled to visit several stores in Flint, as expressed in a full-page advertisement in The Flint Daily Journal. According to the ads, she would be visiting the new watch shop at the Kelly building between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. She called for an appointment at Norman Hillier's at Rosenthal's for an Ogilvie Sisters Scalp Treatment at 10:45 a.m. She would be dining at the Capitol Hotel Coffee Shop at noon. She would be receiving visitors in the second floor house furnishing department of Hubbard's between 1:15 and 1:30 p.m. She would be visiting the Neisner Bros. Children's Dept. from 1:30 to 1:45 p.m. The Boston Shoe Store invited the local children to meet Jean in their store at 1:45 p.m. Grinnell Bros., sellers of radios, would be demonstrating their Victor Radio to Jean at 2 p.m. The Miller-Wohl Co. invited the public to meet Jean in their upstairs suit department from 2:15 to 2:30 p.m. We also learn that during her visit in Flint, Jean would be riding around in a Buick Model 90, and drinks Arctic Cream Crest Milk. Making a busy day even busier, elsewhere in the same issue, Jean was scheduled to appear at Kobacker's phonograph store on 4 p.m.
• May 29 and 30, 1931: Jean performed at the Michigan Theatre in Flint. The feature film was "The Lottery Bride."
• June 8, 1931: During a week's layoff in Chicago, Jean's mother hit on the idea of having Jean disappear for a whole day, so that the evening papers could report the story of her apparent kidnapping, only to have Jean arrive back at the hotel, safe and sound, having spent the day shopping for a present to give to her mother. The plan backfired when Jean arrived back too early. It was still reported, but it didn't become the national headline story Jean's mother hoped it would be. Here's what United Press said the following day: "Eight-year-old Jean Darling, blond Miss of the 'Our Gang' comedies, went out to see a boy friend yesterday, and upset the Sherman Hotel and the Loop police detail, but didn't get spanked when she returned six hours later. Jean, who is making appearances, slipped away from the hotel while her mother, Mrs. Dorothy Darling, was sleeping. She went on a State street shopping tour and then to a movie to admire 10-year-old Jackie Cooper in a Richard Dix picture. The Sherman Hotel was in an uproar when Jean's absence was discovered. She was traced as far as a department store, but despite Mrs. Darling's imploring, police learned no more. They were thinking about kidnappers when Jean demurely walked in. She had stockings, perfume and candy under her arm, and averted parental wrath by explaining she'd left just to buy 'surprises' for mother out of the $5 added to her 'fingernail fund' last week. She gets a dollar a week for not biting her nails."
• June 19, 1931: The Indianapolis Times published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• June 19, 1931: From The Indianapolis News: "Rewarded for discipline on the city playgrounds, more than 1,000 school children were guests of the Lyric theater Friday (the 19th). The children who attended were those who had conducted themselves safely and had obeyed the playground instructors...Jean Darling...made a personal appearance and told several amusing stories. She arrived in Indianapolis Thursday night by airplane, and will appear at the Lyric theater for the week beginning Saturday. Miss Darling will become a member of the Ho-Po-Ne Club Monday (the 22nd)...A comedy and an early showing of 'The Black Camel,' a Charlie Chan picture starring Warner Oland, was presented by Manager Kalberer."
• June 19, 1931: WFBM in Indianapolis listed Jean Darling for their 5:15 to 5:30 p.m. timeslot.
• June 20 to 26, 1931: Jean performed at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis. The feature film was "The Black Camel."
• June 23, 1931: Jean was scheduled to appear in the children's department on the fourth floor of Block's in Indianapolis at 11:30, where she would be modeling dresses.
• June 23, 1931: From The Indianapolis Star: "'Gee, you have a swell job.' That was 8-year-old Jean Darling's idea of being Governor. Governor Harry G. Leslie did have a swell job for a while. He forgot the busy day ahead of him and chatted with the blonde, curly headed little motion picture star . . . 'I think you have a swell job, too,' the Governor replied. Jean, perhaps thinking of all the hard work of making pictures to make other folk laugh, only smiled and pinned a rose on the Governor's lapel. She had taken the rose from a large bouquet she had brought. The Governor, who is very fond of children, took the little girl on his lap and the two chatted in a friendly fashion for quite a while. But even a Governor couldn't keep Jean still for long and soon she was running all over the Statehouse, admiring the busts of Washington and Lincoln and spelling out the name plate on the bust of Col. Richard Owen."
• June 23, 1931: At 7:30 p.m. at the Lyric Theater, Jean handed out prizes to boys who competed in the sixth annual Indianapolis Times schoolboy golf tournament.
• June 24, 1931: Jean was scheduled to appear in the third floor shoe shop of Block's at 11: a.m.
• June 24, 1931: The Indianapolis Times reported that Jean was giving away her puppy, "Felecia," to whichever lucky boy or girl wrote the best letter explaining why they wanted the puppy. The winner would receive their puppy on June 26th. This stunt was repeated numerous times throughout the tour. The story invariably went that Jean had recently received a puppy in one of the cities she had recently visited, but that it was too impractical to take care of it on the road. The local kids would write their letters, and then at whichever theater Jean was performing, she would give the puppy to the winner of the contest.
• June 24, 1931: Jean was made a member of the Ho-Po-Ne Safety Club at the Lyric Theater at the regular stage show at 1:15 p.m. From 3:40 to 4:30 p.m., she appeared on the Ho-Po-Ne Club radio program broadcast from Station WKBF, where she offered songs and stories.
• June 25, 1931: From The Indianapolis Star: "Jean Darling . . . stopped both street and sidewalk traffic yesterday at the noon hour when she took charge of the semaphore at Meridian and Washington streets. She not only filled the shoes of Dan Smith, traffic policeman on duty there, but borrowed his cap as well . . . About a thousand persons gathered at the busy downtown corner to see Jean boss the motorists around. The tiny blonde, who is a great globetrotter for her size, found officiating at the 'cross-roads of America' gave an extra fillip to her travels. She would have stayed on duty all afternoon - but there was the theater, and work to do."
• June 25, 1931: An ad for the Lyric indicates that fans could meet Jean on the mezzanine floor of the theater both on this date and the next. Presumably, this had been going on all week.
• June 26, 1931: On the final night of Jean's Indianapolis engagement, Harry Spear was beginning his engagement at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis. It isn't known whether or not the two visited with each other. This was the night that Jean gave away her puppy, which had allegedly been given to her by an admirer shortly before she arrived in Indianapolis.
• June 28 to 30, 1931: Jean performed at the Logan Theatre in Logansport, IN. The feature film was "Gold Dust Gertie."
• June 30, 1931: From The Logansport Pharos-Tribune: "Little Jean Darling . . . delighted the children of the Orphan Home Monday afternoon (the 29th) between her appearances at the Logan theater. Each little member of the home was spic and span for the occasion and each had a host of questions to ask the little heroine, if only she would have time to answer them all. Jean gave them several of the clever song and dance numbers of her act, and told them some of the interesting stories of the gang. The saddest part of the visit came when Jean told them she must leave in order to be in time for her performance."
• June 30, 1931: From The Marion Chronicle of Marion, IN: "Jean Darling . . . who has been on tour since Dec. 15, is looking forward to her return to Hollywood and the studio lots, when interviewed in Logansport yesterday. She said 'I thought it gets hot only in the talking stages where we make pictures, but it's nothing compared to this Indiana heat. In Indianapolis, we had nice comfortable quarters in the theatre, and I did not mind the heat, but here it's terrible. I hope Marion will be cool by the time we get there. I expect to play some golf and go swimming there. It's been too hot to do it here.' Jean will travel via auto from Logansport and is expected to arrive here early Wednesday afternoon (July 1st) to take advantage of Suburban Day bargains."
• 1931: RKO's 40-week circuit was downsized to 31 weeks due to the number of theaters that were closing during the Depression. Jean was then booked on a tour with the Independent Theater Circuit, which was located mostly in the middle of the country. In her first book, Jean mentions embarking on her second vaudeville tour in late 1932, but it seems more likely that she's referring to this 1931 transition from one circuit to the other. I could be wrong, but she seemed to have too many other things going on in late '32.
• July 2, 1931: From The Marion Chronicle (IN): "Jean Darling . . . who arrived in Marion this afternoon, told the Marion Chronicle that this will be her last engagement on the stage for some time. Her director Herbert Lloyd called her on long distance last night from Hollywood and informed her to hold herself in readiness for her new feature length special which is to start in production middle of July. In the meantime, Jean wants to do a lot of swimming and golfing and may go to Northern Michigan to get away frmo this hot spell and stay until her final call." Sidenote: Whatever this film was, it apparently never got off the ground, at least not with Jean in it.
• July 2, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet at the children's department of Blumenthal's in Marion, IN, at 4 p.m. As The Marion Chronicle reported the next day: "The young actress modeled Jack Tar and Hollywood frocks at the store."
• July 2, 1931: From The Marion Chronicle: "What is a Hoosier?" And this is the way Jean Darling started off quizzing her questioner who was detailed to interview the diminutive sweetheart of the 'Our Gang' comedies . . . After it had been explained that a Hoosier is an Indianian, as they say in Jean's native Golden State, she said: 'Anyway, I like the people here no matter what they call them,' Jean shot back - her brows knitted. 'You see, I'm a product of Santa Monica, Calif. - Hollywood's 18 miles away, so I didn't have far to go to join Our Gang. It gets pretty hot here in Indiana, doesn't it? Hotter than even Los Angeles and that town warms up.' Jean sat perched on a wastepaper basket and two books before a typewriter and pondering over her fan mail . . . 'I just love to get letters from people who like to see me on the screen and it makes me tingle all over to meet those who enjoy seeing me in pictures,' she said. 'That's one of the nicest things about making personal appearances - you get to see the people who usually get to see you. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to get to meet the boys and girls of Marion at the Indiana theater. If the boys and girls get as much of a thrill out of that party as I will get, the affair certainly will be worthwhile'."
• July 2, 1931: From the Marion Leader-Tribune: "Popularity has not made any difference to (Jean). She plays with other children anywhere and makes friends immediately. In fact, last night when we were leaving the radio station, nothing would do but Jean should stop and play a few minutes with several girl admirers who had gathered for her broadcast . . . She is only eight years old . . . but her actions are those of a child of twelve or thirteen. Of course in off-moments, the little star becomes playful, perhaps even mean, but this can easily be excused when one considers the strain of being an adult at the age of eight. Last night Jean visited the Leader-Tribune plant and made friends readily with every employee. Moving us from our desk, she took our typewriter and proceeded to write a few letters back to Hollywood. Using Hunt and Peck's method on the machine, she wrote as rapidly as the average newspaperman . . . Jean came to Marion from Logansport in a special Buick, given her for use during her stay here by the Superior Service. While in the city, she will visit several stores between her shows at the Indiana."
• July 2 to 4, 1931: Jean performed at the Indiana Theatre in Marion, IN. The feature film was "Black Camel."
• July 3, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet with local children on the mezzanine floor of the Indiana Theatre at 3:15 p.m. Kids attending this would each be given a photo of her.
• July 3, 1931: The Marion Leader-Tribune published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• July 4, 1931: From the Marion Leader-Tribune: "'It's fun!' That's what Jean Darling said while sliding down one of the chutes at the Grant County Orphans' Home, where she presented her act and spent a delightful afternoon playing with the children yesterday. Jean...seemed gloriously happy as she romped gayly with the other children, playing hide-and-go-seek, swinging jauntily on the giant swings, being 'it' in a game of tag played on the sliding board. Yes, Jean had a wonderful afternoon playing to her heart's content - in fact, she so enjoyed her visit at the home that she is trying to arrange her program to remain in the city over Sunday (the 5th). And if she does, you can be certain where she'll spend the greater part of the day. She told us confidentially she was going right back out to the home and play and play and play." About Jean's career, the article says: "Much of the credit for Jean's success goes to her mother. Mrs. Darling, like her daughter, unaffected and herself a former screen and stage favorite, has worked hard to make her daughter the greatest actress of all time. Fighting the battle alone since the death of her husband when Jean was only a year old, Mrs. Darling has succeeded in giving the world a wonderful reproduction of herself. Sacrificing her own career for that of her child, this splendid woman has given everything for one ambition - the success of Jean Darling."
• July 4, 1931: From the Marion Leader-Tribune: "Jean Darling's act at the Indiana continues to draw large crowds, and there is little wonder, for Jean's act is more entertaining at each performance. We saw it for the third time yesterday and were still greatly impressed with the serious number during which real tears move down her cheeks. With several little stories about other members of 'Our Gang,' clever songs and a snappy dance number, you are sure to enjoy the offering."
• July 7, 1931: From the Marion Leader-Tribune: "Jean Darling, movie star in town recently, will be at the Oriental theater in Chicago in a week or two. The young lady will be featured in 'Poor Little Rich Girl' to be made soon. She gets about $1,000 a week when on vaudeville tour." Sidenote: Could this be the same "Poor Little Rich Girl" project that wound up starring Shirley Temple five years later?
• July 12, 1931: The Chicago Sunday Tribune published a photo with the following caption: "Jean Darling, child movie actress, with Greeter George Gaw as they visited the office of Mayor Cermak yesterday. The mayor was not in, but Jean sat in his chair and admired his picture. She was officially welcomed to Chicago by Mr. Gaw, who was recently appointed to his post." Gaw showed Jean around Chicago.
• July 25, 1931: From The Waukegan News-Sun (IL): "A delegation of Girl Scouts from Waukegan are planning to greet little Miss Jean Darling when she arrives in Waukegan Sunday (the 26th) at 11 a.m. at the Edison Court station. Jean...is appearing in person at the Genesee theatre Sunday. Many other kiddies and mothers are expected to be on hand to catch a glimpse of this little star. From the station, she will be escorted by auto directly to the theatre. The machine will be a new Buick furnished for the occasion by the local Buick agency. After the first matinee performance which starts Sunday at 1:30, Miss Darling will be in the lobby where she can personally greet some of her Waukegan admirers...She plans to return to Hollywood in a few weeks to resume her roles in the popular 'Our Gang' comedies."
• July 26, 1931: Jean performed at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL. The feature film was "The Girl Habit."
• July 27, 1931: From the Duluth News-Tribune: "Jean Darling...will be in Duluth Aug. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to fill an engagement at the Garrick theater and to meet boys and girls of the city. She will be met on her arrival in the city by a special committee and taken to the city hall, where she will meet Mayor Snively and city officials. Jean is coming to Duluth from Chicago after completing a 10 months tour over the R-K-O circuit...Jean is a member of The Herald Fair Play club and next Saturday morning (Aug. 1st) will be honored at a Fair Play club open house to be held in The Herald building for club members desiring to meet the little star."
• July 31, 1931: From the Duluth News-Tribune: "Jean Darling...is scheduled to arrive in Duluth this morning to meet the boys and girls of The Duluth Herald's Fair Play club. Jean, who is flying here from Chicago with her mother, will visit in Duluth until next Wednesday (Aug. 5th). She will be met at the Boat club at 10:52 a.m., when the air mail plane of the Northwest Airways line arrives this morning and will be escorted to the city hall, where Mayor Snively will welcome her to Duluth. Then Jean will be guest at a public reception in front of The Herald and News-Tribune, where all the boys and girls are invited this morning to meet her. At 2 p.m., Jean will be taken on an automobile tour of the city and will make stops at the public parks and later at the municipal zoo. During her stay in Duluth, Jean will visit the orphan homes and entertain the children. Jean also will broadcast at 4 o'clock this afternoon from station WEBC and will talk with the editor of the Fair Play club as well as entertain with one of her songs for the children in the northwest. Arrangements will also be made to have her on the air again next week."
• Aug. 1 to 4, 1931: Jean performed at the Garrick Theater in Duluth. The feature film was "Born To Love."
• Aug. 6, 1931: From the Duluth News-Tribune: "Jean Darling...sang and told several stories before members of the Kiwanis club Wednesday noon (the 5th) in Hotel Duluth."
• Aug. 6, 1931: From The Minneapolis Star: "Jean Darling...arrived in Minneapolis by plane from Duluth late Wednesday (the 5th). She plans to remain here several days. Miss Darling, accompanied by her mother, makes practically all her journeys using air transportation routes."
• Aug. 11 to 13, 1931: Jean performed at the Publix Theatre in Hayfield, MN.
• Aug. 14 and 15, 1931: Jean performed at the State Theatre in Eau Claire, WI. The feature film was "Murder By The Clock." On both days, Jean was scheduled to meet with the local kids in the theatre lobby and hand out bags of Karmelkorn. This is revealed in a full page of ads in The Eau Claire Leader on Aug 14th, all making mention of Jean. For instance, we learn that the plan was for Jean to enjoy her meals at the State Cafe, which was right next door to the theater. We also learn the she'd be giving away a Lapin Jacquette from the Conrad Fur Co. at 9 p.m. on the 14th.
• Aug. 15, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet at Lasker Jewelers in Eau Claire from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m.
• Aug. 16, 1931: Jean arrived in St. Cloud, MN, on this day. Between the 13th and the 15th, the Daily Times and Daily Journal-Press variously reported that she was to have been greeted by an official committee upon her arrival at 1:35, that an official welcome by Mayor James H. Murphy was being arranged, that a reception with the children of the community would be held at the theater at 3:15, and that the morning of the 17th would be an opportunity for Jean to meet and play with the children of the city.
• Aug. 16 and 17, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud. The feature film was "Pardon Us."
• Aug. 17, 1931: From the Daily Times and Daily Journal-Press of St. Cloud: "Finding that travel with her little puppy dog became somewhat of a problem, Jean Darling...Sunday (the 16th) offered it to one of her St. Cloud friends and the presentation will be made at the first appearance at the Paramount theatre tonight. In search for the best possible home, Jean has asked her newly made friends here to write her a letter telling just why she should give her pet to that particular kiddie and the one offering the best reasons will get the dog tonight. Jean arrived here yesterday afternoon to be a guest of The St. Cloud Times-Journal for two days. Immediately after her arrival, she went to her hotel to prepare for the reception at which she was guest of honor. Hundreds of her little friends here were present to become personally acquainted with the movie star they have envied for some years. During the afternoon and evening, Jean entertained audiences at the Paramount with her song and dance act, which has been witnessed in all of the principal cities of the country during the past 10 months. This afternoon, Jean went to the St. Cloud orphanage where she entertained the kiddies there at length. She was also scheduled to entertain patients at the U.S. Veterans hospital during the afternoon. She will personally appear at the Paramount during the afternoon and evening performances and will give her pet puppy to some lucky St. Cloud girl at the first show this evening."
• Aug. 18 to 20, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, MN. The feature film was "The Miracle Woman." Between the 14th and the 19th, the Austin Daily Herald variously reported that she was scheduled to arrive on the Great Western train at noon on the 18th, would then be driven to the Herald office in Herald Square, in front of which she'd have her meet-and-greet at 12:30. There would also be a meet-and-greet at the theatre. As it was reported: "As a special attraction, the Federal Bakery is going to give away 500 cakes which have been named after Jean Darling at the Tuesday matinee (the 18th) at the theatre." She would also be staying at the Fox Hotel. On the 19th, she was to appear at Montgomery Ward & Co. at 10:45 a.m., the Benton Shoe Store at 11 a.m., and the Parisian Beauty Parlor at 11:30.
• Aug. 19, 1931: From the Austin Daily Herald: "Helen O'Berg entertained nine friends at her home on South Kenwood avenue, yesterday afternoon and evening, the occasion being her birthday anniversary. Little Jean Darling of Hollywood, Cal., who is an attraction here at the Paramount Theatre, was the guest of honor. After the dinner, the girls enjoyed the evening movie."
• Aug. 22, 1931: From The Springfield Union (MA): "Jean Darling...has it in her contract that she must not eat ice cream. It is too fattening. Incidentally, she has exactly 39 curls on her head."
• Aug. 23 and 24, 1931: Jean performed at the Chateau Theatre in Rochester, MN. The feature film was "Sporting Blood."
• Aug. 24, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet at 2 p.m. in the children's department of the E. A. Knowlton Company in Rochester. Jean was to present each kid with an autographed photograph. Afterwards, she was to personally greet each winner of the Fun Frolic races in the lobby of the Chateau at 3:15 p.m.
• Aug. 24, 1931: From The Winona Republican-Herald (MN): "Jean, accompanied by her mother, is scheduled to arrive in Winona from Rochester at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (the 25th) in one of the Conrad Flying Service planes...She will be met at the flying field on her arrival by many admirers and will be escorted downtown to her hotel."
• Aug. 25, 1931: The Rochester Post-Bulletin published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Aug. 25, 1931: The Winona Republican-Herald: published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Aug. 25 to 27, 1931: Jean performed at the State Theatre in Winona, MN. The feature film was "The Public Defender." She was also scheduled to have meet-and-greets on all three days at H. Choate & Co. from 1:30 to 2:15.
• Aug. 26, 1931: From The Winona Republican-Herald regarding Jean: "This afternoon at the H. Choate and company store, she modeled clever and intriguing pajama suits for the young lady of the family, whose dignity is just beginning to be appreciated. To young friends who were accompanied by adults, Jean presented her photograph. Jean will model again Thursday afternoon (the 27th) at the Choate store between 1:30 and 2:15 p.m. She will also give away additional pictures of herself at that time...A full program has been arranged for Jean Thursday. In addition to her appearance at Choate's store and at the theater, Jean will be a guest Thursday noon of Mrs. Robert Tearse at luncheon. In the evening, she will be the guest of Allyn S. Morgan at a dinner at the Garden Gate. Upon Jean's return from the present tour, she will start work in a 'Penrod and Sam' series to be filmed by Warner Brothers." Sidenote: There was a "Penrod And Sam" released a little more than a month after this, but Jean wasn't in it.
• Aug. 30 and 31, 1931: Jean performed at the State Theatre in Sioux Falls, SD. The feature film was "This Modern Age." On Mar. 13, 1932, The Daily Argus-Leader reported: "Remember Jean Darling, the dainty little actress who made a personal appearance here, accompanied by her mother? While filling her engagement in Sioux Falls, she and her mother had had their meals at the Tip-Top. Her favorite dish was Italian spaghetti, and she declared it was the best she had ever eaten in any cafe."
• Aug. 31, 1931: From The Daily Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls: "Little Jean Darling...visited the Argus-Leader office in quest of 'funnies' this afternoon. The little lady misses no opportunity to collect and read all the comic supplements of all newspapers in the towns in which she appears. The back files of the Argus-Leader were placed at little Miss Darling's disposal and in a sure manner she discarded the 'funnies' which she had already seen and quickly assumed possession of those she had not. She also asked for a copy of the paper which 'had my picture in it.' She was persuaded to abandon her quest for comics only after it was impressed upon her that it was nearly time for her to go on for the matinee this afternoon."
• Sep. 2, 1931: From the Associated Press out of Mitchell, SD: "Jean Darling, juvenile screen star who is making a personal appearance in Mitchell this week, will be adopted into the Sioux Indian tribe at a ceremony here tomorrow. Medicine Crow and White Bear, chiefs from the Crow Creek reservation, and their wives were expected here today to make preparations."
• Sep. 4, 1931: From the Associated Press: "Jean Darling, juvenile film star, left Mitchell today as a member of the lower Yanktoni tribe of the Sioux Indians. They christened her 'Winon Waste,' gave her their blessing and a pair of moccasins, symbolic of her adoption." The Sioux City Journal of Dec. 16th elaborated by saying that Jean "was adopted into the lower Yanktonia tribe of Sioux, Crow Creek reservation, Fort Thompson, S.D., September 3, 1930(sic), with Chief Medicine Crow, 84 years old, officiating. Miss Darling was made an Indian princess with the title, Winon-Waste, which means princess of the plains." According to the Dec. 19th Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Jean would "present a petition to President Hoover on behalf of the Sioux Indians of South Dakota, who last year suffered serious losses to their crops through the grasshopper scourge and who face severe privation this winter if help is not forthcoming."
• Sep. 4 and 5, 1931: Jean performed at the Huron Theatre in Huron, SD. The feature film was "The Star Witness." On the 3rd, The Evening Huronite had reported: "Miss Darling will arrive in Huron tomorrow morning and be officially welcomed by City Attorney John P. Bauer at the Huron theater at 12 o'clock. Children who want to see the actress have been invited to be there for the brief ceremony. Later Jean will be taken for a short tour of the city in an automobile especially decorated for her."
• Sep. 8, 1931: From The Evening Huronite (SD): "Little 8-year-old Roberta Harmon of Carthage was the lucky girl who received the puppy given away here Saturday (the 5th) by Jean Darling, juvenile movie actress who was making personal appearances at the Huron theatre. Two other girls won recognition by the letters they wrote to Jean and received bouquets of flowers...When the three girls were called to the stage, Jean asked them a few questions and chose Roberta...to receive the dog, a 2-month-old Spitz."
• Sep. 9, 1931: The Daily National Hotel Reporter of Chicago published a column which seems to detail customers who had passed bad checks to the hotels. One was Charles Hagedorn of Hollywood, manager for Jean Darling, while staying in Duluth.
• Sep. 20, 1931: The Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) ran an ad for Jean Darling's Art Needlework Outfit, "a child's art needlework outfit complete with China doll, scissors, thimble, needles, silk thread and patterns stamped on fine materials." This is the earliest of several instances in which I've found reference to this item, which was a rare example of an Our Gang-related piece of merchandise that was brought about with no involvement from Hal Roach. Variations on this, including the Jean Darling Sewing Outfit, continued to be sold at least until 1953.
• Oct. 7, 1931: From The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI: "Arrangements are being made by Uncle Bob to have Jean Darling visit the Superior Children's Home and Refuge association, and she will also broadcast on the children's hour over WEBC, at 4 p.m. either Thursday (the 8th) or Friday (the 9th)."
• Oct. 8, 1931: From The Evening Telegram of Superior: "Jean and her mother, Mrs. Dorothy Darling, landed here Thursday morning (the 8th) in a plane piloted by Jules Berndt of the Superior airport. And just after she stepped off the plane, the young star dared everyone of the 200 kids assembled to greet her, to a race. And she beat them all. The little actress was brought to the city by The Telegram and the Palace theater...Helped out of the plane by Mayor George Dietrich, the youngster bent from her perch on the wing and, to the delight of the milling crowd of Fair and Square Juniors surrounding the plane, kissed his honor heartily. In an instant, the girl had thrown off her fur jerkin and leather helmet, and her short, blond, curly, tousled hair bobbing up and down, lead her admirers a merry chase racing and jumping about on the grass. Romping and skipping with the other youngsters, Jean, bit by bit, declared successively that dolls were her favorite toys, that she has quite a few of them, that she likes to go to school and to rehearse, that she studies French, ancient history, English, spelling, and 'rithmetic, that she is in the fourth grade, and that she only has to spend two hours each day on her school work. 'And I haven't been counted absent from school a single day,' proudly proclaimed the little miss...At last convinced that she must leave the airport and her new friends, Jean gave the mayor one last kiss and was taken in an automobile to the Androy hotel to prepare for a morning rehearsal."
• Oct. 8, 1931: From The Evening Telegram of Superior: "Jean Darling...will entertain drive workers at the 'victory' dinner, which will be held Thursday evening (the 8th)." This was in connection to a YMCA drive for new membership.
• Oct. 8 to 10, 1931: Jean performed at the Palace Theater in Superior, WI. The feature film was "Alexander Hamilton." In the days leading up to her arrival, The Evening Telegram variously reported that Jean was being brought to Superior by the Telegram and Harvey Buchanan, manager of the Palace, that Jean would be welcomed by Mayor George Deitrich, that she would put in a personal appearance in the afternoon of the 8th at Sampson-O'Connell, that there would be the usual letter writing contest to win a puppy, that there would be a reception at 10 a.m. on the 9th in the lobby of the theater, and that all members of Uncle Bob's Fair and Square Club would get a free photo. On the 5th, Uncle Bob of The Evening Telegram reported "As soon as she lands, Uncle Bob is going to give Jean a membership blank so that she can fill it out and join the Fair and Square club."
• Oct. 9, 1931: According to the The Evening Telegram, Jean was scheduled this day to visit the Stack & Co. Beauty Salon at 10:30 a.m., dine at the Capitol Tea Rooms around 4 p.m., visit The $1.88 Hat Store at about 5 p.m., and visit DeFrehn's Pharmacy in the evening.
• Oct. 10, 1931: Jean was scheduled to be at Russell Creamery in the morning, model coats during the grand opening of the Fashion Shop around 2 p.m., and visit Panor's shoe store at around 3:15 p.m. The puppy giveaway was to take place in the afternoon.
• Oct. 11, 1931: From the Grand Forks Herald (ND): "When Jean Darling...comes to Grand Forks Monday (the 12th) for personal appearances at the theater, she will be met by M. C. Cooper, manager of the showhouse, and Mayor John L. Hulteng. Jean...will arrive at the Great Northern station at 8:30 A. M. Grand Forks children and adults have been asked also to meet her at the train. Jean will present a puppy at 3:30 P. M. Monday to the Grand Forks boy or girl who writes the winning letter in a contest."
• Oct. 12, 1931: From The Evening Telegram of Superior: "After a three days' stay in Superior, Jean Darling...left Sunday (the 11th) for Grand Forks, N. D....Friday and Saturday, Jean visited several Superior stores and was greeted in each instance by a crowd of smiling youngsters, who presented her with flowers, toys and candy until the nine-year-old movie queen's arms could hold no more. Saturday, Jean made the rounds of four business places in a sport model Ford roadster which she selected during a visit to the Sampson-O'Connell offices the previous afternoon. The car was loaned by the Ford agency for her use during the entire afternoon Saturday. Jean was treated to some of Superior's famous ice cream while at the Russell Creamery plant and was whisked away from there to greet a crowd of youngsters at the Fashion Shop, 1312 Tower avenue. She later visited Panor's and DeFrehn's Pharmacy. On the previous day, she visited, aside from the Sampson-O'Connell offices, Stack's Beauty salon, the $1.88 Hat store across from The Telegram, and the Capitol tea rooms."
• Oct. 12, 1931: The Fargo Forum published an ad for the Hotel Towers Coffee Shop, which included the following from Jean: "Hello Fargo Folks: I have just been informed by my advance manager that when I come to your town to play in person at The Fargo Theatre, I'm to stop at the Hotel Powers. I know it must be the best and I am anxious to meet Mrs. Spalding and Mr. Parrish, whom I understand are going to make me feel at home. Come in and have lunch with me. I'll be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday. P. S. Tell Mr. Parrish I like shredded wheat best for breakfast, with lots of sugar and cream."
• Oct. 12, 1931: The Grand Forks Herald (ND) published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Oct. 12 and 13, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theatre in Grand Forks, ND. On the 12th, the feature film was "Merely Mary Ann." On the 13th, it was "Murder By The Clock."
• Oct. 13, 1931: The Grand Forks Herald reported that the black puppy given away by Jean was named Farina. The article goes on about two tears coursing down Jean's face as she parted with the puppy, as though this wasn't something she had done several times already. About her act: "'I'm Keeping Company" was the first song Jean sang to her admirers, and followed with a 'pickout' song, "I Want To Sing About You." She closed her act with "If I'd Only Listened To You," after she had given a few impersonations, told some stories and given a modern version of Mother Goose rhymes. For an encore, she presented a delicate tap dance."
• Oct. 14, 1931: From the Grand Forks Herald: "Jean Darling, 9-year-old movie actress who appeared at the Paramount theater in person Monday and Tuesday, will entertain again today at all performances at the theater, M. C. Cooper, manager, announced last night. Jean...was held over because of 'popular demand,' Mr. Cooper said." Elsewhere in the same issue, it was reported that Jean entertained at the local Rotary Club's luncheon the previous day.
• Oct. 15, 1931: From The Fargo Forum: "Jean Darling...will arrive in Fargo at 10 a. m. today to spend the remainder of the week here. She will appear at the Fargo theater at 3 p. m., 5 p. m., 7 p. m., and 9 p. m. today, Friday and Saturday and at 5 p. m. today will meet children attending the show on the mezzanine floor, where she will give them her photographs. Jean isn't going to neglect the orphans in Fargo, who might not be able to see her at the theater. Through the Fargo Kiwanis club, it has been arranged for her to visit the St. John's orphanage at noon today and the North Dakota Children's home immediately afterward." Elsewhere in the same issue: "When Jean is in Hollywood working in pictures, she attends a school on the lot with other youngsters of the movies and when she is traveling, as on the trip that brings her to Fargo, she gets her lessons from a school in New York. They come by mail and Jean has to study and say them to her mother...At 5 p. m. Friday (the 16th), she will give away a puppy to the boy or girl who has written her the best letter about what kind of a home Fancy, the pup, will have and why the writer wants it...Jean rides horseback, swims and does many such things when she is at home, but says she is a 'bookworm' while traveling, because she can't carry anything more than a doll and books with her. She likes fairy stories best. Jean arrived this morning with her mother from Grand Forks. She spent a busy morning, called on Mayor A. T. Lynner and gave Chief of Police Charlie Albright a big kiss in exchange for a ticket that will give her visitor's parking privileges. She visited The Fargo Forum office and spent some time practicing. At noon, she went to see the children in St. John's orphanage and the North Dakota Children's Home. She talked to them a moment and gave a little part of the act that she presents on the stage at regular performances."
• Oct. 15, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have lunch at the Hotel Powers Coffee Shop. Donovan Motor Co. lent a convertible Ford sedan to Jean's party.
• Oct. 15 to 17, 1931: Jean performed at the Fargo Theatre in Fargo, ND. The feature film was "East Of Borneo."
• Oct. 16, 1931: From The Fargo Forum: "At noon (on the 15th), Jean went to see the children in St. John's orphanage and the North Dakota Children's Home. She talked to them a moment and gave a little part of the act that she presents on the stage at regular performances.
• Oct. 17, 1931: From The Fargo Forum: "Jean Darling...appeared at Friday's (the 16th) luncheon of the Fargo Exchange club."
• Oct. 22, 1931: From The Bismarck Tribune: "Jean Darling...says being a movie actress is great fun. She likes it so much that she spends hours after her work is over in playing at being an actress with her family of dolls. She likes games and she loves to ride and to swim and 'do nearly everything,' she said Thursday (the 22nd) when questioned about what she does when she isn't working. Interested in whatever others are doing, Jean is enjoying every minute of her tour about the country. It isn't all play on this trip, however. In addition to her personal appearances, she has to study hard every day, under the direction of her mother. She is proud of the fact that her lessons are secured from a correspondence school in New York and likes to get the work all neatly written as early as possible each morning. Jean's idea of the best thing to eat is a big sirloin steak, 'with heaps of mashed potatoes like we got in Chicago.' She turns up her pretty nose at candy and other sweets and says she loves spinach. It will interest Bismarck mothers to know that she likes milk and all kinds of vegetables, excepting turnips and squash, and she even confessed an unladylike fondness for garlic and onions!"
• Oct. 22 to 24, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theatre in Bismarck. The feature film on the 23rd was "Side Show," and on the 24th, it was "Personal Maid." Ads in The Bismarck Tribune reveal that Jean was scheduled to stay at the Prince Hotel, dine at Thorberg's Cafe and travel in a Willys-Knight automobile.
• Oct. 23, 1931: From The Bismarck Tribune: "Theater goers had an opportunity to see what a movie actress looks like when she is young Thursday (the 22nd) at the initial appearances of Jean Darling...at the Paramount Theater. Despite the handicaps which any 10-year-old encounters when doing a 'skit in one,' the little girl gave a pleasing and interesting performance. She danced well, sang pleasingly and cracked jokes with an aplomb which ordinarily would be far beyond her tender years. Many of them were real rib-ticklers, too. Miss Darling appears again Friday, and Saturday (the 24th) will entertain Bismarck's children at a special matinee performance. On Saturday afternoon, she will give away her pet dog to a lucky boy or girl, having decided to part with her puppy because it is difficult for her to care for it on her travels. Every child in attendance also will receive a Velvet ice cream bar."
• Oct. 24, 1931: From The Bismarck Tribune: "Children from far and near in the Bismarck territory Saturday (the 24th) celebrated with Jean Darling...Approximately 2,000 attended a feature matinee at the Paramount theatre at which Miss Darling gave away a puppy which has accompanied her in her travels. There also was a menu to lend interest to the occasion, the piece de resistance being Ice Cream Pies, given away by the Bridgeman-Russell company. Long before the doors opened for the matinee performance, children had gathered before the entrance to the theatre and soon they were strung out in a line for more than a block. Three policemen and a squad of theatre attaches were required to keep them in line."
• Nov. 4, 1931: The Des Moines Tribune-Capital published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Nov. 4 to 6, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theatre in Des Moines. The feature film was "Blonde Crazy."
• Nov. 11, 1931: Legionnaires from posts in northeastern Iowa gathered at the Elks club in Waterloo. As the Waterloo Daily Courier reported: "Little Jean Darling, appearing thru courtesy of the Paramount theatre, sang herself into hearts of the Legionnaires to such an extent that she herself didn't want to leave when her act was completed. Altho the audience applauded and applauded, the little heroine of Our Gang comedies was supposed to get to bed to rest for another hard day of work. 'Let me go tell them a few stories,' she begged of her mother and of Harry Herman, manager of the theatre. She won her way and continued amusing the service men with her little yarns. And even then she could not be induced to leave until Lowell Ransom, post commander, carried her thru the audience where she made some more observations. A basket of roses was presented to her."
• Nov. 11 to 13, 1931: Jean performed at the Paramount Theatre in Waterloo, IA. The feature film was "Once A Lady."
• Nov. 12, 1931: Jean was scheduled to have a meet-and-greet at Black's in Waterloo at 4 p.m.
• Nov. 12, 1931: From the Waterloo Daily Courier: "Seven little girls of Waterloo were to entertain at a party at 6 p.m. Thursday (the 12th) in Black's tearoom for Jean Darling...The hostesses were to be Louise McCoy, Rebecca Rath, Jean Wyant, Betty Brown, Marilyn Miller and Jean Stevenson." Elsewhere in the same issue: "For some time last summer, she appeared on the Radio Keith Orpheum vaudeville circuits in the eastern states and is now on a tour of Paramount-Publix theatres in the middle-west." Also a quote: "I like to read history and geography. One time, just before I had the measles, I read the New Testament."
• Nov. 15, 1931: From the Waterloo Sunday Courier: "Little Jean Darling, blonde and bare-legged child star of Our Gang screen comedies, presented Acting Captain DeWayne Guernsey, of the East team, with a football autographed by Peggy Shannon, star of 'Touchdown,' before the kickoff. The oval was booted and then replaced with one of the regulation blank variety. Guernsey's possession was short-lived, however, the ball being presented after the game to Gordon Sampson, who counted for West's touchdown." This took place on the 13th at the East-West High football game on East's home field. The player scoring the first touchdown was awarded the ball.
• Nov. 23, 1931: The Des Moines Tribune published a photo with the following caption: "Jean Darling...had six Des Moines youngsters as luncheon guests Saturday (the 21st) at Kirkwood hotel. Guests, members of a Des Moines tap dancing class (were) Virginia Nichols, Barbara Hornaday, Polly Schenk, Barbara Dallas, Virginia Buchanan and Ethel Ruth Flook."
• Dec. 10, 1931: From The Des Moines Register: "Little Jean Darling...and her mother, Mrs. Dorothy Darling, have been doing their Christmas shopping in Des Moines. Jean made two appearances in Iowa after her recent showing in Des Moines, and then her contract with Paramount Publix ran out. She came back to this city to await word of a new picture in which she was to star in Hollywood. Word came the picture has been postponed, so Jean and her mother are preparing to leave for New York where Jean plans to appear for R-K-O. Meanwhile, Jean has been visiting Des Moines shops, and Wednesday night (the 9th) she was busily wrapping packages. Jean proudly produced a number of large packages bearing 'Do not open until Christmas' labels which she has received during her stay in Des Moines."
• Dec. 16, 1931: From The Sioux City Journal: "Eager to do her share in making Sioux City children happy on Christmas day, Jean Darling...joined the Little Yellow Dogs when she stopped in Sioux City for a brief visit Tuesday (the 15th)...All of the initiation fees of the Little Yellow Dogs are used to buy toys for Sioux City's needy children. The money will be turned over to the Good Fellows. Miss Darling stopped in Sioux City briefly Tuesday while on her way to Washington, D.C., to take a message and some gifts to President Hoover from the Sioux Indian tribe, in which she recently was initiated. Miss Jean carries a message from Chief Medicine Crow and some gifts to President Hoover and a message of greeting from the Rosebud tribe. The gifts include a peace pipe, a tobacco pouch and moccasins. Accompanied by her mother, Miss Jean left Sioux City Tuesday afternoon by Northwest Airways for Chicago by the way of St. Paul, and will continue her journey to Washington by plane, by way of New York city." The Dec. 17th issue mentioned that Jean had visited the Journal office on the 15th as well.
• Dec. 17, 1931: From INS: "En route to Washington, Jean Darling...stopped off in Chicago today." According to the Dec. 21st Moon-Journal Pictorial of Battle Creek, MI, Jean was once again greeted by Chicago's official greeter, Colonel George Gaw.
• Dec. 18, 1931: The Marion Leader-Tribune related receiving a letter from Jean while she was in Des Moines. It vaguely makes reference to Jean being appointed on some sort of state convention committee.
• Dec. 18, 1931: From the Harrisburg Telegraph: "An Indian princess who is also a motion picture actress, Jean Darling, is to be offered the greetings of Harrisburg this afternoon when she passes through on the 4:30 New York bound plane of Transcontinental and Western Air, Incorporated...Daniel Casey, C. Floyd Hopkins and Frank J. Brady are to greet the princess." The Evening News of Harrisburg added that Jean would be arriving in the city "costumed in the regalia of the tribe."
• Dec. 19, 1931: From the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph: "'Mama, do I have to entertain the natives?' Jean Darling...waited for a reply to her question yesterday before disembarking from a Trancontinental and Western Air Passenger liner at Bettis airport...Mama - Mrs. Dorothy Hamilton Darling - looking as worried as almost any other mother of an eight-year-old, replied: 'No dear - only the newspaper men.' And then the fun began. As Princess Winon Waste of the South Dakota plains, she danced, war-whooped and scampered all over the place. Between whoops and scampers she breathlessly confided that Mrs. Calvin Coolidge was an honorary member of her tribe. By and by her interviewer got in a question. 'What are you going to tell the President?' To which she found time to reply before scampering off to the plane: "Well - I'm going to tell him what a swell job he has and I'll shake hands and maybe I'll kiss him - oh, lots of things....'"
• Dec. 19, 1931: Jean was in New York on this day.
• Dec. 23, 1931: From the Associated Press out of Washington: "An adopted Indian princess clad in the heavily ornamented buckskin dress of her tribe, brought three gifts today to President Hoover - one of them a kiss. Jean Darling, 8-year-old movie actress, was the gift bringer. She recently was adopted into the Crow Creek tribe of South Dakota under the name Winon Wade, meaning princess of the prairie. After the President had posed with her for a photograph and received a beaded tobacco pouch and a pair of moccasins from the Crow Creek reservation, she said: 'You have been so kind I'm going to give you a kiss.' He bent down to receive it. Jean wore a black wig to cover her blonde curls. She was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Dorothy H. Darling of New York, and Representative Williamson, Republican, South Dakota, whose congressional district holds five Indian reservations." United Press explained that there were actually two kisses: "One of these, she admitted, was just a little peck. But the other, Jean insists, was an 'honest-to-goodness' kiss. 'After I made my little speech,' she said, 'I got ahold of the president's lapals and kissed him on the cheek. I was a little excited, you see. But when he took me out to pose for the cameraman I just loved him so much that I said: "Just for that, I'm going to kiss you again." And - I did. It was an honest-to-goodness kiss too. Sure, Mr. Hoover kissed me again.' Jean observed the president seemed a bit worried and decided something ought to be done about it. 'I am going to pray for him,' she said. 'He is the sweetest, dearest, darlingest man in the world'." According to her memoirs, Jean later met with President Roosevelt for the same reason.
• Dec. 28, 1931: From The Bergen Evening Record of Hackensack, NJ: "Jean Darling, 12-year-old motion picture player who has appeared in many 'Our Gang' comedies, was among nine persons shaken up when the automobile in which they were riding along State Highway 9W, Alpine, collided with another car and almost dropped over a 350-foot cliff into the Hudson River. The car carrying Miss Darling, driven by Salomon Luber, 4761 Broadway, Manhattan, was struck a glancing blow by an automobile operated by Henry Phillips, 2133 Daly Avenue, the Bronx. Luber's machine crashed through the parapet of stones and stopped ten feet from the edge of the cliff. Luber's party, having received first aid from Alpine police, continued to New York by taxicab."

1932

• Jan. 11 to 13, 1932: Jean performed at the Binghamton Theatre in Binghamton, NY. The feature film was "Consolation Marriage." The Binghamton Press from the 11th reported: "She will be met at the station on her arrival and will be escorted to the City Hall."
• Mar. 26, 1932: The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI, published an article about Jean, which can be accessed by clicking here.
• Apr. 2, 1932: Jean was scheduled to perform at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Gimbel's in Philadelphia, specifically an "amusing little skit written expressly for her by Irving Berlin." Kids in attendance could purchase, for one dollar, "Jean Darling's Art Needlework Outfit," and get it autographed by Jean herself.
• May 11, 1932: Jean was scheduled to be a guest on The Market And Halsey Street Playhouse program at 9:45 p.m. on radio station WOR.
• June 7, 1932: From The Hartford Daily Courant: "The sixteenth annual banquet will be held by the Travelers Girls Club in the Hotel Bond ballroom tonight. About 350 members are expected to attend." Jean was among the several vaudeville performers for this engagement.
• 1932: Bookings were becoming fewer and further between, and after being given some offers, such as performing in a circus or touring the UK, Jean's mother opted to turn these down and relocated herself and her famous daughter back to Culver City and the movie business.
• 1932: Upon returning to the West Coast, Jean was put into a series of six color "fairy tales" for Warner Brothers, playing supporting roles as queens, witches and hags. Jean remembered being "around ten years old" at the time. There is a bit of confusion over this, though, as she also describes this happening after the 1935/36 vaudeville tour.
• 1932: To live closer to the Warners studio, Jean and her mother moved to a court on Hollywood Boulevard, with a hedge that separated their bungalow from the one in which Bobby "Bonedust" Young lived. She attended Miss Lawlor's Professional Children's School with various other child celebrities.
• Late 1932: By this time, Jean was attending the Immaculate Heart of Mary Boarding School as a day student, in spite of being Protestant.

unconfirmed Easter film (appearance)

Mar. 1932 - short

According to The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI, on Mar. 26th: "Just this month, Jean made an Easter greeting 'short,' which will be shown in many theaters all over the country. You will see her with her arms full of Easter lilies - and then again with a white dove."

1933

• 1933: Jean was originally chosen to play the title role in the Paramount production of "Alice In Wonderland," to the extent that she was featured in publicity photos, but at the last minute, she was passed over in favor of Charlotte Henry.
• Circa 1933: Jean began appearing in plays put on by the Writers' Club, including Dear Brutus (in which she played Margaret), and Ah Wilderness. On Feb. 23, 1938, The Capital Journal of Salem, OR, stated that, in addition to "Dear Brutus" and "The Father" (detailed below in July 31, 1934, item), she also played "Mary" in Hired Girl, and the leading lady in The Valiant, among others, though it doesn't specify these as Writers' Club productions. It was one of these plays that led her to being offered the role in "Jane Eyre."
• July 28, 1933: From the Hollywood Citizen-News: "Helene Handin and Jean Darling will be heard on the 'Optimistic Do-Nuts' program at KNX tonight at 8." This program appeared in the radio listings as Optimistic Revue.
• Late 1933: Jean was contacted by Hal Roach to play the title role in his production of "Peg O' My Heart." After costuming and publicity stills, this project was shelved in favor of "Babes In Toyland."
• Nov. 24, 1933: The Post-Record of Los Angeles credited Jean with playing Polly Armstrong on the "H Bar O Ranch" radio program on station KHJ, a CBS affiliate, from 6:00 to 6:15 p.m. The Hollywood Citizen-News repeated this information, but called the show The H-Bar-O Rangers, which is the title usually associated with early episodes of this show. It had initially debuted on the East Coast the previous year, but in 1933, a separate West Coast version was produced. Perhaps this Nov. 24th episode was Jean's debut in the series. The Wikipedia article indicates that the character's last name was Armistead, but perhaps this was only on the East Coast version. In her memoirs, Jean states that she spent about a year in this series, but refers to it as "H-BAR-O Bobby Benson," which derives from the name of the main character. A later version of the show was called "Bobby Benson And The B-Bar-B Riders." Other radio soaps Jean appeared in during this period were The Three Musketeers, Show Boat and an early version of The Lanny Ross Show.
• Dec. 3, 1933: This is the earliest date for which I've found an ad for the Jean Darling Baby Doll. Presumably, this is in connection to the former Our Gang kid, but the ad doesn't specify this.

Only Yesterday (role)

Nov. 1, 1933 - Universal - 11 reels - feature

©Nov. 7, 1933. Starring Margaret Sullavan & John Boles.

1934

• Jan. 6, 1934: From The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI: "Uncle Bob received a very nice letter this week from Jean Darling, famous member of the Fair and Square club, wishing all the Juniors a Happy New Year...Jean is now on the Columbia network every day except Saturday and Sunday at 5:15 o'clock Pacific Standard time on the "H Bar O" Rangers program. She takes the part of Polly Armstrong."
• Jan. 8, 1934: A news item from this date mentions a 20th anniversary party for Hal Roach Studios, which was to include Jean on its guest list.
• Apr. 6, 1934: From The San Francisco News: "Jean Darling, Polly on the H-Bar-O program, has been featured in 52 Hal Roach 'Our Gang' comedies. Her air fan mail has developed to the sizeable proportions of her movie fan mail." This is the earliest reportage I've found of Jean appearing in 52 Our Gang films, a claim she was still making in her old age.
• Apr. 28, 1934: The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI, printed the following letter from Jean: "I have sent pictures to every member of the Fair and Square club who wrote to me, except a few who forgot to enclose their addresses. Please ask the boys and girls if they failed to receive a picture to write again and not forget to send their addresses. I intend to write a letter, too, to every club member who has written, but with school and radio work there is no time left. However, I will answer them even if it does seem a long time to wait. With lots of love to all my fellow members of the Fair and Square club. Always your true little friend, Jean Darling, Radio Station KHJ, Los Angeles, Cal."
• May 15, 1934: The Hollywood Citizen-News reported that Monogram had assembled a large cast for "Jane Eyre," including Jean.
• May 19, 1934: From Peter Dixon in his syndicated column: "Did you hear Jean Darling with Bing Crosby last Monday night (the 14th)? A lovely child and a graduate of 'Our Gang' comedies. Too bad she isn't in the cast where she'd be available for more programs." In her memoirs, Jean described plugging Woodbury Soap on Bing Crosby's 15-minute weekday radio series at KHJ, which began airing on June 13, 1932. She stated that she had this gig for months, suggesting that it didn't start with the show's debut. This May 19th mention would suggest that the May 14th broadcast was Jean's first on this program. On Feb. 23, 1938, The Capital Journal of Salem, OR, referred to this as "the Hall of Fame series with Bing Crosby," which explains why Jean mentions appearing on a show called Hall Of Fame in her memoirs.
• May 23, 1934: The Herald-News of Passaic, NJ, reported on the upcoming Benjamin F. Turner show on June 6th at the Playhouse in Passaic. Included among the celebrities were the Our Gang Comedy Four, which, if the photos are any indication, included Jean, along with Mary Ann Jackson, Harry Spear and Wheezer Hutchins. There are at least a couple of reasons to doubt their involvement, though. Not only was Harry nowhere near New Jersey at this time, but Jean in later life insisted that she always did a solo act after leaving the Gang.
• June 23, 1934: From The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI: "This week, a letter was received from Jean Darling, famous member of the Fair and Square club. Jean has been very busy answering the letters of the Juniors who wrote to her. She is no longer on the radio, but you will soon have an opportunity to see her on the screen once more. Jean...is being brought back to the screen by Monogram Pictures in the picture 'Jane Eyre,' and Jean will play Jane when a child...Since Jean returned to Hollywood after a two year personal appearance tour, she has been on the Columbia network, taking the part of Polly Armstrong on the Hecker H-O Oat program, and she was on the Woodbury Soap program with Bing Crosby several times, a coast to coast program."
• July 5, 1934: From the Evening Vanguard of Venice: "Jean Darling...played the part of Jane Eyre as a child in the picture of the same name for Monogram. It was previewed recently and little Jean with her English accent received many compliments. Since leaving Culver City, she has appeared on several nationwide radio hookups, once with Bing Crosby!"
• July 7, 1934: From The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI: "Another letter was received from Jean Darling this week...Jean writes that her work in the picture is finished now, and has been reviewed very favorably."
• July 31, 1934: From the Hollywood Citizen-News: "Stamping feet and enthusiastic cheers shattered the pristine dignity of the little theater of the Writers' Club last night when the final curtain dropped on Dudley Nichols' production of The Father, brilliant and penetrating play by August Strindberg." Jean played "Bertha" in this production, which was presented for a one week run.
• July 31, 1934: In her syndicated column, Louella Parsons reported that Jean Darling and Johnny Downs were both selected to work in "Babes In Toyland."
• Aug. 11, 1934: From the Associated Press: "Little Johnny Downs, who isn't so little anymore, and little Jean Darling, ditto, childhood sweethearts, were reunited today on a Hal Roach studio set for the first time in eight years...Recently, unbeknown to each other, they both were signed for roles in...'Babes in Toyland'." Or as United Press put it: "Eight years ago Johnny Downs, 'Little Rascal' in Hal Roach's 'Our Gang' comedies, bade a tearful farewell to Jean Darling, tiny 'Sweetheart,' and they solumnly promised that some day they would play together again in films. Today that dream has been realized." This, of course, is pure studio fluff. Johnny was nearly 9 years older than Jean, and only a few months passed between Jean's debut in the series and Johnny's exit. During "Babes In Toyland," the studio had them pose for photographs together to play up the Our Gang connection.
• Aug. 17, 1934: Leicester Wagner of United Press wrote an article about visiting the set of "Babes In Toyland." Here's an excerpt: "I looked down at a charming blonde creature who was nudging me. Guess who: Jean Darling, who eight years ago was the golden-haired sweetheart of Our Gang. Jean proudly admits that she will be 13 next month." This, of course, is incorrect. Jean turned 12 in August 1934. All of the press surrounding this film seems to give 13 as Jean's age, which would suggest an effort to transition from kid roles into ingenue roles.
• Dec. 1934: A press photo of Jean started making the rounds at this point that presents her as a glamorous young ingenue. It's pretty apparent that her mother was rebranding her for more mature roles at this point.

Jane Eyre (supporting role: Jane Eyre as a child)

Aug. 15, 1934 - Monogram - 7 reels - feature

Filmed May/June 1934. Previewed early July 1934. Earliest verified screening: July 13, 1934. ©July 14, 1934. Starring Virginia Bruce & Colin Clive.

Babes In Toyland (small part: Curly Locks)

Nov. 30, 1934 - Roach/MGM - 9 reels - prod. F-5 - Laurel & Hardy feature

Also listed for Dec. 14, 1934. Filmed Aug. 6 to 16, Aug. 27 and 28, and Sep. 24 to Oct. 17, 1934. ©Nov. 28, 1934. US reissue title: March Of The Wooden Soldiers. Jean was among the cast members singing "Never Mind, Bo Peep." She also remembered singing a chorus of "I Can't Do The Sum," a song that didn't wind up in the release print.

1935

• Jan. 26, 1935: From The Evening Telegram of Superior, WI: "Jean Darling, one of the famous Fair and Square club members, wrote this week from her home in Hollywood, Cal. Jean says that she is preparing to enter high school, and is working very hard at her school studies."
• 1935: Maltin & Bann credit Jean with playing a mermaid in "Bride Of Frankenstein," but Jean denied this.
• Circa 1935: According to her memoirs, Jean took and passed the high school exams around the time of her 13th birthday, and after spending two months at the Professional Children's School (where she had returned after leaving Immaculate Heart Of Mary), was able to receive her diploma. This was, in her telling, to remove the burden of schoolwork while she was working in vaudeville. She writes that two colleges offered her scholarships, but her mother wouldn't let her go, since it would keep her from doing her next tour. There are some lines of evidence, however, that suggest she was actually closer to her 15th birthday when this happened. For instance, The Spokane Press of Mar. 20, 1937, mentions her still being in high school, while a syndicated article from May 14th of the same year mentions that she had recently graduated. Also a review of newspapers from 1933 to 1937 (via newspapers.com) shows no trace of vaudeville activity for Jean during those years.
• Late 1935: Also according to her memoirs, Jean started a new vaudeville act probably around the latter half of this year. She writes that she was still singing "Bye Bye Blues" and doing impressions of Mae West and James Cagney. The trailer was still in use, but she would no longer emerge through a breakaway screen. Added to the act was "Bye Bye Blackbird" and impressions of Alice Faye and Maurice Chevalier. The song "Marta" was utilized as an encore, and "Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair" was her bow music. However, this would have chronologically followed her graduation from high school, so again, there's a chance that it happened a couple of years later.
• Nov. 29, 1935: The Hollywood Citizen-News reported on the nightly Christmas Lane parades that would be staged from Dec. 2nd all the way up to Christmas. Each night, a different celebrity would ride along in the parade with Santa Claus. Jean was scheduled to be one of them. Elsewhere in the same issue was the following photo caption: "Straight from the Land of Make Believe come these gargantuan Gilmore Circus characters to gladden the heart of every youngster along Santa Claus Lane Saturday night (the 30th)." One of the photos shows Jean, along with Sybil Jason, who, along with their circus friends, "inspect the giant arclight provided by Otto K. Olesen as a stellar attraction of the spectacular procession which will mark the opening of the Christmas season."
• Dec. 23, 1935: From the Hollywood Citizen-News: "Cans of food, articles of clothing and toys received at the benefit Christmas party at the Marcal Theater given Saturday (the 21st) by the Junior Troupers, today were being sent to the Salvation Army, the Elks Club, the Relief Guild and to churches and families, according to Mrs. Rita Strauther, in charge. Headed by Sybil Jason, Juanita Quigley and Jean Darling, 26 acts, with talented children participating, were presented."
• 1935/1936: Over the holidays, Jean repeatedly watched "I Dream Too Much" to see Lily Pons singing "The Bell Song." This is what inspired her to take singing lessons.

1936

• May 27, 1936: Jean attended a joint breakfast of the Women's Breakfast Club and the Riverside Breakfast Club, which paid tribute to Will Rogers and other screen stars who had passed away. Jackie Condon was also present. KFWB would broadcast these club meetings from Riverside on Sunday mornings from 10:00 to noon in a program called The Breakfast Club (not to be confused with the national broadcast out of Chicago). Jean described herself as a "semi-permanent guest" on the show.
• June 21, 1936: Jean won first prize (for best figure and best features) in a beauty contest in Santa Monica, becoming "Miss California Co-ed." The article in The Los Angeles Times of June 22nd doesn't mention her age, but in at least two other newspapers, it was given as 16. She would have actually been a couple of months shy of her 14th birthday at this point. The June 24th Evening Vanguard of Venice, writing about this event, revealed that Jean was currently living at 1554 North Serrano Ave.
• June 23, 1936: The Hollywood Citizen-News mentioned Jean being present when writing up that day's "Breakfast Club" broadcast. The next day, the Illustrated Daily News of Los Angeles published a photo with the following caption: "(Jean Darling) was a guest of honor at a barbecue Sheriff Eugene Biscalluz put on for the members of the Mexico City police contingent to the peace officers' convention at Portland, who stopped off here yesterday on their way home...The barbecue was held at the Los Angeles Breakfast Club."
• June 24, 1936: The Hollywood Citizen-News again mentioned Jean in connection with that day's "Breakfast Club" meeting at the Ambassador Hotel. Jackie Condon was also present.
• June 25, 1936: Jean's name was on a list of honor guests at the "Breakfast Club" meeting set for this date, as reported in the June 21st Los Angeles Times.
• July 4, 1936: The Hollywood Citizen-News reported that Jean had just a managerial contract with James V. Barlotti.
• July 8, 1936: From the Hollywood Citizen-News: "The Riverside Dr. Breakfast Club will be the scene tonight of a gathering the like of which has never been seen before, when more than 300 persons who have been actively devoted to motion picture work for 10 years or more will gather for a dinner dance. Under the leadership of J. Stuart Blackton, a pioneer in the film industry, those whose names made history in the days of the silent screen will organize during the evening into a social organization to be known as the Associated Cinema Stars." Jean was among the many former silent stars scheduled to attend.
• Sep. 24, 1936: From the Hollywood Citizen-News: "Another big moment from a little life, the ball and celebration of the Associated Cinema Stars held last night at the Breakfast Club in honor of the 25th anniversary of the production of the first important feature-length picture 'A Tale of Two Cities'...staged lavishly with an old nickelodeon setting by Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, who produced the picture, and attended by notables of the stage and screen of today and yesterday, civic and social figures, being the third big event staged by this beloved group of senior stars." Later in the article, it mentions that "Creighton Hale, Minta Durfee Arbuckle, Reginald Barlow and little Jean Darling put on a swell sketch." Elsewhere, the same paper mentions that this skit was called It's A Gift.
• Oct. 3, 1936: From The Ogden Standard-Examiner: "Last night...it was Cinema Star night at the Los Angeles Elks club. Commodore J. Stuart Blackton, the father of Vitagraph pictures in the good old days when Mabel Normand and Mary Pickford co-starred in the early films and a number of his company were guests of honor at the Elks." Jean Darling and Jackie Condon both attended this event.
• Oct. 8, 1936: The Hollywood Citizen-News published a photo with the following caption: "Electrically illuminated floats peopled with beautiful girls, expected to provide one of the most spectacular parades ever staged in Southern California, will be seen tomorrow night as one of the opening festivities of the ten-day celebration of the arrival of Boulder Dam power here." The photo shows a group of girls rehearsing for the pageant, including Jean Darling of 1554 N. Serrano St. Back on Oct. 2nd, a syndicated photo referred to this event at Light On Parade.
• Oct. 28, 1936: The Pasadena Star-News reported on the Democratic Party's marching parade and public rally to take place the following night at the Gold Shell in Memorial Park. Several film stars were expected to accompany Commodore J. Stuart Blackton to the meeting, including Jean. Here's an excerpt: "It is stated that the marching paraders will carry torchlights. The parade will form at 7 at Colorado Street and Oakland Avenue and at 8, will march west on Colorado to Raymond and thence to Memorial Park. The mass meeting will begin immediately upon the arrival of the parade."

Gold Diggers Of 1937 (small part: one of the singing girls)

prem. Dec. 26, 1936 - Warner Bros. - 12 reels - feature.

Released Dec. 28, 1936. ©Dec. 31, 1936. Starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Victor Moore and Glenda Farrell.

Jean stated in her memoirs that she did two of these Gold Diggers films, but she only goes into detail with this one.

1937

• Late 1936/Early 1937: In her memoirs, Jean explains that she was given a 2-week engagement in a San Diego nightclub to break in her new vaudeville act. After this, she states that she went back on tour. As she tells it, she was no longer doing impersonations, and from this point forward her act would be strictly singing. Among the songs were "Gianina Mia," "Estrellita" and "Bye Bye Blackbird." It was during this tour that Jean turned down a chance to go back to Hollywood and appear in an Andy Hardy film. This act is presented in Jean's memoirs as distinct from the one she associated with 1935. However, a search of newspapers from this period (at newspapers.com) doesn't yield any vaudeville activity for Jean until early 1938 (though it doesn't rule out the possibility, either), and during that year, Jean's act was described as still including celebrity impressions.
• Mar. 1, 1937: From Central Press: "Jean Darling of 'Our Gang' comedies is another who outgrew her roles. For several years, she toured theatre chains with her own act. She lives in Hollywood, goes to school, finds time to play in occasional pictures and poses now and then for advertising photographs."
• Mar. 20, 1937: The Spokane Press reported that Jean was currently in high school and "posing for ads."
• May 14, 1937: An article about Jean was syndicated in several newspapers. It can be accessed by clicking here.
• 1937/1938: In her memoirs, Jean mentions working in a radio soap called Tom Sawyer, presumably for KHJ. Such a program existed from March 1937 (at the latest) to March 1938 (at the earliest).

1938

• Feb. 23, 1938: From The Capital Journal of Salem, OR: "Miss Jean Darling, the grownup sweetheart of 'Our Gang' comedies, is billed as one of the four internationally famous vaudeville acts to appear on the State theatre stage this Thursday and Friday (the 24th and 25th)...Jean's ambitions are to study grand opera in Italy, and after completion of her studies, to tour Europe and America, singing opera. Jean is eighteen, blonde and lovely, both in looks and disposition."
• Feb. 26, 1938: An ad in The Oregon Statesman reveals that Jean performed a third night at the New State Theatre in Salem. The feature film was "Big City."
• Feb. 27 to Mar. 5, 1938: Jean performed at the Capitol Theater in Portland, OR. The feature film was "Something To Sing About."
• Mar. 1, 1938: From The Oregon Daily Journal of Portland: "Headlining the bill is a blonde darling, Jean Darling, the average theatregoer probably wouldn't recognize as the former heroine of Our Gang comedies, now quite grownup and sophisticated. In imitating Grace Moore, Deanna Durbin, Alice Faye and Jeanette MacDonald, she displays a remarkable ability of changing voice quality. Her imitations of Miss Durbin and Miss Faye are most nearly perfect."
• Mar. 3, 1938: From The Oregon Daily Journal of Portland: "And she tells of five years of participation in the Hal Roach shorts that have long been the delight of movie audiences. Given time, perhaps, she could name all of the 52 films in which she had part under the Roach banner, but off-hand she's stumped before she gets very far." Elsewhere, the article reports: "Jean's ambition is to study voice in Italy and sing in opera in the land of Mussolini. And she has spunk to back her ambition, for she wouldn't believe Il Duce would bar her from participating in Italy's favorite pastime, as he has done others who hail from America. She has confidence in her winning way - maybe she's right...Since leaving the Roach payroll she has had film offers. 'But I want to be free to study my singing,' she explained in commenting that she had turned these down. So far, her musical studies have extended over some two and a half months."
• Mar. 11 to 19, 1938: Jean performed at the W.K. Oriental Gardens in Vancouver, BC.
• Mar. 21, 1938: Jean began a week's engagement at the Palomar Theater in Seattle. The double feature was "She Loved A Fireman" and "Missing Witnesses."
• Mar. 22, 1938: From The Seattle Star: "Jean Darling...appears in a singing act and gives impressions of Grace Moore, Alice Faye, Deanna Durbin, and last but not least - Snow White."
• Apr. 22, 1938: Jean performed at W. J. Gavin's Club Greyhound on Indiana State Route 31-E outside Louisville. She was still there on the 24th, but after that it gets murky.
• Circa 1938: Jean and her mother moved to New York, where she was photographed by Murray Korman. She wound up touring Saturdays and Sundays on the Subway Circuit, which was a group of around 35 theaters that could all be reached on the subway. She was always booked on holidays, singing "Eili Eili" for High Holy Days, "Ave Maria" on Easter, and "A Little Bit Of Heaven" on St. Patrick's Day. She also worked the Commerford Circuit in Pennsylvania, and was booked by another agent for a week in Hershey.
• Circa 1938: It was also around this time that Jean plugged Jergen's Lotion on Walter Winchell's radio program.
• Circa 1938: Jean became a model with the John Robert Powers Model Agency. She posed for artists like Macclellan Barkley, Irving Nurick and Montgomery Flagg. Jean posed for several of Flagg's Saturday Evening Post covers.
• 1938: Jean also resumed her singing lessons at this time. There is some confusion about the details, however. Did she take lessons from Caesar Sturani starting around this time and continue for the next year, as described in her memoirs? Or did she start with Sturani after winning her scholarship in 1940 and continue with him for two years, as The Troy Messenger of Aug. 21, 1942, reports?
• 1938: New York also served as a base as Jean toured the neighboring states.
• Aug. 15, 1938: The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the wedding of "professional model and former motion picture actress" Jean Darling to a guy named Al Vincent in Reno. It reveals that Miss Darling's real name was Marjorie Pierce, but states that she had formerly been in the Our Gang comedies. This model, a brunette, had been getting a lot of press during the 1930s in San Francisco, but this is the earliest instance I've found of the claim that she was the Our Gang kid.

1939

• Late Dec. 1939: Probably directly after Christmas, Jean started two weeks of training with Clemente DiMachi in his studio at Carnegie Hall.

1940

• Jan. 9, 1940: Jean was awarded a scholarship by the New York Municipal Opera Association. And according to her memoirs, this led to singing lessons with Clemente DiMachi, though newspaper reports indicate that he was the one who prepared her for the performance that got her the scholarship. According to The Troy Messenger of August 21, 1942, Jean started her lessons with Caesar Sturani at this time (rather than in 1938 as Jean says) and these lessons lasted for two years (rather than one year as Jean says).
• Feb. 7, 1940: Jean appeared on WEAP's afternoon radio show Hollywood Newsgirl.
• Apr. 25, 1940: Jean took part in an operatic revue put on by the Municipal Opera Association at the Town Hall in Brooklyn. The program consisted of Mozart's "Bastien and Bastienne," as well as operatic arias from "Don Giovanni," "Lakme," "The Garden Of Mystery," "I Pagliacci" and "Aida."
• July 1940: Jean appeared on the cover of True Story magazine.
• Aug. 9, 1940: The Wilkes-Barre Record reported that Jean was part of a variety program at the Irving Theater. Jean performed "Donkey Serenade," "One Love" and "Will You Remember."
• Late 1940: Jean was touring vaudeville, as revealed in the October 12th issue of The Journal (Cincinnati) and the November 2nd issue of the Standard-Speaker (Hazleton). In the November 6th issue of the latter newspaper, Jean gave an interview, revealing her support of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the fact that she had sung a number of songs at a Democratic rally the previous week.

1941

• Circa 1941: Jean served as an atmosphere extra for several Soundies, including ones featuring Smith and Dale, Willie and Eugene Howard, Olsen and Johnson, and Cab Calloway. Her memoirs state that she sang a duet with Lanny Ross on the song "Moonlight And Roses," but I haven't been able to find any other reference to this.

There's Nothing Like The Smile Of The Irish (supporting role)

1941 - Soundies - 3 min. - Soundie Musical Movie

Starring Lanny Ross. Jean appears in the final shot.

1942

• Aug. 1942: Jean wrote a letter to Lee Shubert requesting an audition. Shubert's company owned several theaters across the country. A couple of days later, she sang "Lover, Come Back To Me" for him. The next day, she signed a longterm contract and was quickly cast as the ingenue lead in the musical Count Me In, which became her Broadway debut. The Belleville Daily Advocate of August 27th states that the show was likely to debut on September 21st. It made its Broadway debut on October 8th. It only ran for a short time, with the last performance taking place on November 21st. (The signing of the Shubert contract is according to the same August 27th publication, but it contradicts Jean's memoirs, where she states that it happened in 1940. However, with Count Me In debuting in 1942, that leaves quite a gap between the signing of the contract and Jean's Broadway debut.)
• 1942: Jean joined the USO Camp Shows and set out on a tour of Army Camps along with Harlan Dixon, Broso the Great and his wife, and Rex Ford. Perhaps in connection with these activities, she also worked at one of the Stage Door Canteens.
• 1942: After this, Jean returned to New York to rehearse "The Milky Way," the first show to tour the Service Commands. In order to do this, she had to drop both her Shubert and Municipal Opera Company contracts.

1943

• Feb. 5, 1943: The Cincinnati Enquirer of this year followed up on a previous story regarding the whereabouts of former Our Gang kids, by relating that Jean was currently working as an escort at the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in Cincinnati. The bogus nature of this story becomes abundantly clear when we read that "Jean Darling" was merely her professional name, and that her real name was Eileen DePratt.
• Feb. 18, 1943: The syndicated column "Star Dust" by Virginia Vale, reporting on the whereabouts of former Our Gang kids, states that Jean had become a very popular nightclub singer.

1944

• Mid-Jan. 1944: The musical Marianne opening in Washington, DC, and closed by the end of the month, never making it to Broadway. During its short run, the girl Jean was understudying walked out on the show and Jean got to take over the part.
• Feb. 14, 1944: Jean departed New York by plane to do a 21-week tour. She was part of the USO-Camp Shows Unit No. 209 and initially stopped in Casablanca, but also spent time in Algiers and Italy. The other stars in her unit were John Garfield, Eddie Foy, Olya Klem and Sheila Rodgers.
• Apr. or May 1944: The rest of Jean's unit returned home, but Jean returned to Italy as part of a new special unit that would entertain troops that were in the hospital. Since it was a new idea, it was called Hospital Unit 1.
• Mid-1944: In her memoirs, Jean states that she remained in Italy until late September, but on August 4th, The Star Press (of Muncie) reported that she was already home. It also says that she was gone for six months, though, which is a little too long.
• Sep. 13, 1944: A letter of commendation was written by Col. Leon T. David to Jean for her service with the USO-Camp Shows Unit No. 209. The tour is described in the letter as a "21-week tour of NATUOUSA", which means it would have ended in early-to-mid July. (NATOUSA, by the way, stands for North African Theater of Operations, United States Army.) But perhaps John Garfield's wish to be sent home ended things prematurely, leading Jean to become part of the hospital unit.
• Sep. 23, 1944: The Standard-Speaker of Hazelton, PA, revealed that Jean was currently touring vaudeville with the same selection of songs that she had sung in her USO act.
• Late 1944: Jean auditioned for the Theatre Guild production of "Sing Out Sweet Land," which was already being performed outside of New York. She got the part, but because the show wasn't much of a success, it was closed before it got to Broadway, and Jean never did perform in it.
• Late 1944: After this, Jean began taking voice lessons with a Mrs. Munday.

1945

• 1944/1945: Jean auditioned for a revival of "Liliom." She didn't get the part, but it led directly to her successful audition for Carousel.
• Early 1945: Jean won the role of Carrie Pipperidge in the Theater Guild production of Carousel. After a pre-Broadway run in New Haven and Boston, the show had its Broadway premiere on April 19th.
• 1945: Not long after the show was up and running, Jean began taking voice lessons from William Herman. In addition to doing the show, she also visited veteran's hospitals and took part in benefits organized by the Theater Guild.
• June 6, 1945: On the first anniversary of D-Day, Jean, along with Carousel co-star Eric Mattson took part in the Seventh War Loan rally in New York. Jean sang "When The Children Are Asleep."
• July 1945: Jean appeared on the Original New York Production 5-disc album of Carousel, singing "You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan" and "Mister Snow," both with Jan Clayton. She also sings "June Is Bustin' Out All Over" with Christine Johnson, "When The Children Are Asleep" with Eric Mattson, and "Blow High, Blow Low" and "This Was A Real Nice Clambake," both with Murvyn Vie and Eric Mattson.
• Sep. 24, 1945: Jean, along with Margo, Sono Osato, Luba Malina and David Brooks, attended a rally at Madison Square Garden that was interpreted as pro-Communist and anti-Catholic. The general theme of the speeches given by these five was one of support for the Spanish refugees and an advocation of the breaking of relations with the Franco government. Frank Fay, a member of Actors' Equity, of which the five were all members, tried to get the organization to investigate them, but this resulted in a vote of censure against Fay and exoneration of the five.

1946

• Jan. 22, 1946: Jean was the guest of honor in the March of Dimes Fashion Show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, presented for the benefit of The National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis.
• Mar. 2, 1946: The Honolulu Star-Bulletin ran an ad for Model Smoking Tobacco, complete with a glamorous photo of Jean Darling. At the bottom, the caption reads: "Men: If you want a pin-up of beautiful Jean Darling, shown above, send your name and address on a post card to MODEL TOBACCO, care of AMERICAN FACTORS, Ltd., Honolulu. They's send you free a 7 3/8 x 9 7/8 full-color print."

1947

• Mar. 1947: After her 850th performance as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, Jean collapsed and wound up in the hospital with hepatitis. She was discharged in May. (It should be noted that the 850 performances is according to Jean's memoirs. The New York Daily News of March 31st reported it as 806 performances.) The show, without Jean, finally closed on May 24th.
• 1947: After this, Jean took part a revival of Knickerbocker Hotel (as Tina).
• Oct. 25, 1947: The Boston Globe revealed that Jean was appearing in an "all-new stage show" with Alan Carney, Ray Dorey and Hal Leroy.

1948

• Late March 1948: By this time, Jean was appearing in the show Hold It!, which also featured Johnny Downs.
• Apr. 3, 1948: Jean appeared as a guest on Boston Globe-WCOP Quizdown, broadcast 7:00-7:30 by WCOP from Needham High School.
• May 5 to June 12, 1948: Hold It! was playing on Broadway.
• July 3, 1948: There was also, at some point, an NBC network show out of New York called Have A Date With Jean Darling (aka A Date With Jean Darling), but the only reference I've found so far is a listing for a WNBT show called Jean Darling on this date.

Fashions On Parade episode (guest appearance)

May 7, 1948 - DuMont 30 min. - TV episode

This episode was broadcast locally several months before the series started airing over the DuMont network.

The Fourth Mrs. Phillips (lead role)

Aug. 8, 1948 - WPTZ - TV program

This was a stage comedy that was no doubt being broadcast on live television. WPTZ in Philadelphia was an NBC affiliate, so this may have been a network broadcast.

1949

• Mar. 15, 1949: The Daily News (New York) revealed that Pal Joey had been revived and had gone over well a week earlier at the Walton Community Center in the Bronx. Jean played the role of "Linda."
• May 3, 1949: The Mutual weekday radio series called The Lanny Ross Show began to also feature Jean Darling on its Tuesday and Thursday episodes.
• Circa 1949: At some point, Jean had an advice show on WNEW in Los Angeles, which she gradually took over as Agnes Ayres grew ill. Frank Sinatra guested on this show.
• Circa 1949: There was also an advice show that aired on WOR in the wee hours of the morning called Big Joe's Happiness Exchange. According to her memoirs, Jean occasionally appeared on this show along with Frank Sinatra. This show was airing on WOR by June of this year at the latest, but the star, Big Joe Rosenfield, left WOR in January of 1950.
• Circa 1949: Jean briefly worked in a radio program for WOR with Frank Sinatra. I'm not sure about the beginning and end dates for this series, but listings from December of this year include a WOR program called Frank Sinatra.
• Dec. 18, 1949: The Chicago Tribune carried a story about Communist infiltration into various areas of public life. Dragged into the conversation was Jean Darling, who had been among those who gave speeches at an anti-Franco rally at Madison Square Garden in 1945.

1950

• 1950: The Carousel 5-disc album was reissued using 7-inch records at 45 rpm.
• Oct. 1, 1950: The Chicago Tribune revealed that Jean was on the NBC program Break The Bank. The photo caption seems to imply that she was a regular on the show, but perhaps it was just for the one episode.

1951

• 1951: Jean starred in a KHJ-TV (Los Angeles) series called The Jean Darling Show. So far, I've only found listings for November 13th, 20th and 27th, so perhaps it was very short-lived. The program featured Jean singing and sewing. This may be the same program Jean refers to in her memoirs as The Singing Knitwitch. Jean also mentions that she designed knitware for a yarn company at some point. Jean also mentions doing a TV program with Ernie Kovacs sometime in the early 1950s, but the only thing I can find to corroborate this is the 1959 "Take A Good Look" appearance.
• Late 1951: Jean embarked on a long holiday tour to Alaska sponsored by the Hollywood Coordinating Committee. Also featured were Ray Milland and Akim Tamiroff. Jean sang "Come Back To Sorrento."

1952

• Early 1952: Jean's tour to Alaska came to an end.
• Circa 1952: Jean was featured on a CBS radio serial called Road Of Life, which Tampa Daily Times of December 30th of this year announced was returning to CBS in its 16th year of broadcasting. The series continued for several years, but it isn't clear just when Jean was a part of it. One notable point, though, is that during 1955, she was consistently reported to be in the serial "Hilltop House," with no mention of Road Of Life.

All Star Summer Revue episode (appearance)

Aug. 30, 1952 - NBC - 60 min. - TV episode

Jean appears with Bert Wheeler and sings "Serenade To A Lemonade." A kinescope survives of this sketch, running 8 to 9 minutes.

1953

• 1953: The Carousel 5-disc album of 7-inch records was reissued.

The I Don't Care Girl (small part: Lilyan Tashman)

prem. Jan. 14, 1953 - 20th Century-Fox - 78 min. - feature

©Jan. 5, 1953. Released Jan. 20, 1931. Starring Mitzi Gaynor, David Wayne & Oscar Levant. Filmed in Technicolor.

The Comeback Story episode (featured subject)

Nov. 27, 1953 - ABC - 30 min. - TV episode

This was a documentary series that focused each week on people who had overcome adversity. One source states that Jean's life was dramatized on this series, which perhaps means that we shouldn't assume that she was in it.

1954

• June 14, 1954: Jean married Reuben Bowen, known professionally as Kajar the Magician. She assisted him in his act. At some point, the two of them appeared in a Look magazine photo in which he's levitating her on the terrace of their apartment.

1955

• Apr. 23, 1955: The Republic of Columbus, IN, reported that Jean was currently playing the lead in a CBS radio serial called Hilltop House. This series had been in existence for a couple of decades, so it's pretty clear that Jean was in the cast for only a fraction of that time.
• Oct. 23, 1955: Jean's son, Roy Hamilton Bowen, was born. Jean: "Until he was eight, I didn't do anything except two commercials a year." This is in reference to her decision to be a part of her child's life during his formative years, though it seems that it's not entirely accurate.

American Inventory episode: The 13 Million (appearance)

Jan. 2, 1955 - Sloan/NBC 30 min. - TV episode

Clubhouse Gang (appearance)

May 14, 1955 - WPIX 11 - TV episode

This program featured Little Rascals films. The date of this episode is according to tvparty.com. This seems to contradict The Record (Hackensack, NJ) of May 21st, which interviewed Jean, and she confided that, not having a TV, she had not seen Clubhouse Gang, but that she was scheduled to soon guest on the show.

1956

• May 6, 1956: Tt was reported in several newspapers that Lenny Kent was dating former Our Gang kid "Baby Jean Darling," who was currently a stripper named Gilda. This was a rather unfortunate mixup, since it was Shirley Jean Rickert who did that for a living and went by that name.

1959

• Jan. 1959: This seems to be the month that Road Of Life was axed.

Tonight Starring Jack Paar episode (appearance)

Apr. 22, 1959 - NBC - 105 min. - TV episode

Take A Good Look episode (appearance)

Oct. 22, 1959 - Mansfield-Arnell/ABC - 30 min. - TV episode

Hosted by Ernie Kovacs. Jean appeared along with Farina Hoskins, Jay R. Smith, Jack Davis, Sherwood Bailey and Johnny Downs.

1960

• Circa 1960: A single was released on Gametime Records by Jeanne Darling with "Tell Me All About Yourself" on the A-side and "Waltz Of Romance" on the B-side. So was this Jean with a label misspelling, or was it somebody else? Well, a demonstration disc was made by Nola Recording Studios of "Waltz Of Romance," and Jean's name is spelled correctly on that. Another Jean Darling song that turned up on a Nola disc was "Money, Money." I asked Jean about it at the Our Gang Follies site, and she wrote, "It very well could be me as I often recorded in that studio to check on how I was progressing or just to listen to how I sounded in a new project. I used the studio until 62 or 63."

1964

• July 1964: Jean and her husband, Reuben Bowen aka Kajar the Magician, departed for South Africa to tour with a magic show called Magicadabra. Jean sang some songs and served as her husband's assistant in his magic act. This led to several tours that would take them all over the world over the next ten years.

1967

• Early 1967: Prior to Easter, Jean and her family moved to Dublin. A few years earlier, they had left South Africa for La Palmas, Canary Islands (where they lived for about a year and a half), and then moved to London and then Antwerp (for seven or eight or nine months). Basically, since they were on the road so much, they didn't spend much time living in these places, but rather, used each as a base of operations. Somewhere along the line, they toured the Caribbean, and at some other point in time, they played in Fiji.

1971

• 1971: Jean and her family returned to South Africa to live for another three years.

1972

• Circa 1972: Jean states in her memoirs that she was with her husband Reuben for 18 years, which means they must have separated (or perhaps divorced) during this year. She also says that the two of them were touring South Africa with their magic act during 1972 and 1973, though, so perhaps something needs a slight adjustment in the timeline.
• 1972-1973: Jean's son, Roy, bought her a gift of watercolors and paper, and she took up painting.

1974

• 1974: Jean settled in Dublin again and embarked on a writing career. Her son was with her, but not her husband, who died on Aug. 22, 1980.

In her memoirs, Jean lists several undated short stories which would have been written over the next twenty odd years. Stories published in Woman's Way magazine included The Poteen Problem, Always An Excuse, Doeskin Gloves, To Kiss A Ghost, The Ten Pence Drum, Bewitched, When The Kissing Began and The Last Job. She states that many more stories were published in the Annuals. The Ten Pence Drum was also published in Women's Choice magazine. She also wrote 29 different children's stories for Women's Way. Two other children's stories she wrote were Finny Finnegan, which included her own illustrations, and How Perkie Came To Perk's Fun Fair. She wrote the radio plays The Barren Tree, The Carousel, The Gambler, Comb My Hair and Love Buds for SABC and RTÉ Radio. Many of her short stories were adapted for radio on BBC World Service and Radio Telefís Éireann. She also wrote over 150 celebrity profiles for It magazine and Woman's Way Backstage.

1975

• Aug. 1975: One of Jean's short stories, Never To Be Lost Again, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

1977

• Mar. 1977: One of Jean's short stories, The Man Who Embezzled From Himself, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
• Sep. 1977: One of Jean's short stories, Sgt. Flanagan And The Conlon Brothers, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Oct. 1977: One of Jean's short stories, The Seventh Son, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

1978

• Apr. 1978: Two of Jean's short stories, Private Ear and Little Girl Lost (the latter written under the name Cara Sell), were published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• May 1978: One of Jean's short stories, Angel Baby, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Dec. 1978: One of Jean's short stories, All You Need Is Luck, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

1979

• Mar. 1979: One of Jean's short stories, Dying In Dublin, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• Sep. 1979: One of Jean's short stories, Farewell Performance, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Oct. 1979: One of Jean's short stories, The Ten Thousandth Visitor, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Dec. 1979: One of Jean's short stories, The Centaur And The Centerfold, was published in this month's issue of Executive Magazine.

1980

• Feb. 1980: Jean began writing stories for RTÉ radio and TV and reading them on the air in Aunty Poppy's Story Time, in which she appeared as "Aunty Poppy." This was a regular segment contained within the TV series Anything Goes.
• Apr. 1980: One of Jean's short stories Where There's A Will, There's A Way was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
• Apr. 1980: One of Jean's short stories, Siege In Dublin, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• Aug. 1980: One of Jean's short stories, The Matchstick Hut, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. This story was later reprinted in the book Distant Danger.
• 1980: Jean visited New York City for ten days during this year. It was her first time back in the U.S. in 16 years.

Early 1980's: After the debut of Aunty Poppy's Story Time on Irish television, various Aunty Poppy titles were published between 1980 and 2002. These included two separate items called Aunty Poppy's Story Time, one of which was available only on cassette, and the other of which was available both as a book and a cassette. Jean wrote, read, composed, sang and illustrated. There was also a cassette called Aunty Poppy's Farley's Fables. She also wrote (and told) over 450 Aunty Poppy stories on the RTÉ Radio 2 program Poparama.
1980's: At some point, Jean also wrote 11 stories for the BBC program Listen With Mother.
1980's: At some point, Jean also wrote Starsong for John Creedon's Show on RTÉ Radio 1.
1980's: Jean's memoirs also list three more items produced for RTÉ Radio 1 at some point over the next several years. One of these is listed as Matins - Just A Thought - Sunday Miscellany, but I can't tell if there's a story in that title written for a show that's also in the title, or what. The other two items are Kevin Hough's Theater Nights and Late Date With Val Joyce, both of which may simply be appearances on talk shows.

1981

• Jan. 1981: One of Jean's short stories, The Fifty Thousand Pound Joke, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• Mar. 1981: One of Jean's short stories, Tell Me True, was published in this month's issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.
• June 1981: One of Jean's short stories, Billionaires Die Too, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• 1981: Jean's 1975 short story Never To Be Lost Again was reprinted in Doors To Mystery.

1982

• May 1982: One of Jean's short stories, Homer's Odyssey, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• Aug. 1982: One of Jean's short stories, Murder In Dublin, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• 1982: Jean's 1975 short story Never To Be Lost Again was reprinted in Ellery Queen's Book Of First Appearances.
• 1982: One of Jean's short stories, Chrysalis, was published in Fantasy Book.
• Dec. 1982: One of Jean's short stories, I Never Saw His Face, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
• 1982: Jean began publishing seasonal Aunty Poppy Stories in the RTÉ Guide. This lasted for over a decade.

1983

• Apr. 1983: One of Jean's short stories, Harry Houdini's Trousers, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
• May 1983: One of Jean's short stories, The Tinker's Legs, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• 1983: One of Jean's short stories, Bite Of The Pie, was published in Ellery Queen's Prime Crimes.

1984

• Feb. 1984: One of Jean's short stories, Two Peas In A Pod, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• May 1984: One of Jean's short stories, Two Of A Kind, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.
• Sep. 1984: One of Jean's short stories, Carousel, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• Dec. 1984: One of Jean's short stories, Comb My Hair, Please Comb My Hair, was published in this month's issue of Whispers magazine, which Jean described in her memoirs as No. III in an anthology series. This particular anthology won the World's Fantasy Award.

Our Gang: Inside The Clubhouse (archival)

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

Includes footage from "Boxing Gloves."

1985

• Aug. 1985: One of Jean's short stories, Revenge In Dublin, was published in this month's issue of Mike Shayne's Mystery Magazine.
• Dec. 1985: One of Jean's short stories, 1944 Diary, was published in this month's issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

1986

• 1986: Jean's 1977 short story The Seventh Son was reprinted in Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology.

1987

• Summer 1987: Jean's short story The Perfect Gift was published in Night Cry.
• 1987: Jean's 1984 short story Comb My Hair, Please Comb My Hair was reprinted by Doubleday.

1988

• 1988: Jean's short story The Right Thing was published in Whispers magazine.

1989

• 1989: Jean's short story Cooking By Ouija Board was published in Plots And Plans.

1990

• 1990: The Original Cast Recording of Carousel was released on CD.

1991

• Feb. 1991: Jean's 1982 short story I Never Saw His Face was reprinted in this month's issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.

1994

• 1994: The last of the seasonal Aunty Poppy Stories for the RTÉ Guide was published.
• Aug. 5, 1994: A feature film called "The Little Rascals" was released, and included among the kids was a character named Jane, who appears to be an updated Jean Darling. She was played by Heather Karasek.

The Our Gang Story (use of photos)

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

1995

• 1995: Jean published her first book of memoirs during this year, A Peek At The Past.

1998

Hal Roach: The Lot Of Fun (archival)

June 27, 1998 - Film Preservation Associates/Kino Lorber - 133 min. - video documentary

Released on "Slapstick Encyclopedia Vol. 6."

2001

• 2001: An interview with Jean was published in the book Silent Stars Speak by Tony Villecco.
• July 26 to 29, 2001: Jean took part in the 5th annual Thelma Todd Celebration at Lawrence Heritage State Park in Massachusetts. Joining her were Jerry Tucker and Shirley Jean Rickert.

2002

• July 11 to 14, 2002: Jean attended the Sons of the Desert 19th International Convention in Nashville, and was featured with Dorothy DeBorba, Jay R. Smith and Jerry Tucker on the 12th.

2003

• June 8, 2003: A revised and expanded version of A Peek At The Past was published.

2004

• July 15 to 18, 2004: Jean attended the Sons of the Desert convention in Columbus, OH, and was featured with Mildred Kornman on the 17th.

2005

• Circa 2005: Jean began attending Italy's "Pordenone Silent Film Festival" each year, and continued to do so for about a decade. She regularly sang at these festivals, accompanied by Donald Sosin.

Die größten TV-Hits aller Zeiten - Die 25 beliebtesten Kinderserien (appearance)

Feb. 26, 2005 - I&U/RTL - 120 min. - TV special

Made in Germany.

2007

• 2007: Jean took part in The Third Annual Silent Comedy Festival in Bristol, England, and hosted A Date With Jean Darling in which she discussed her Our Gang past with David Wyatt.

2008

• 2008: Jean published her second book of memoirs, Buttercakes And Banana Oil.

Nova episode (appearance as guest of honor)

July 12, 2008 - Nederlandse Omroepstichting - 30 min. - TV episode

Made in the Netherlands.

2009

The Story Of Hal Roach And Our Gang (appearance)

Jan. 2, 2009 - b1 Media-Genius - 29 min. - video documentary

Included as a bonus feature on disc 8 of The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection.

Presto! Sons Of The Desert 16th International Convention 2008 (appearance)

Feb. 4, 2009 - McIntyre - 35 min. - video documentary

Made in the UK.

De rode loper episode (guest appearance)

Aug. 13, 2009 - TV series

Made in Belgium.

Jean's Golden Memories: An Interview With Jean Darling (appearance)

Sep. 1, 2009 - Riva - 37 min. - video interview

Made in the Netherlands. Jean received a "special thanks" in the credits.

Jane Eyre As A Child: An Interview With Jean Darling (appearance)

Sep. 1, 2009 - Riva - 18 min. - video interview

Made in the Netherlands. Jean received a "special thanks" in the credits.

2011

Dizzy Spells: Sons Of The Desert 9th European Convention 2009 (appearance)

Mar. 1, 2011 - McIntyre - 13 min. - video documentary

Made in the UK.

Laurel & Hardy: Die komische Liebesgeschichte von 'Dick & Doof' (appearance)

Dec. 28, 2011 - Exit - 92 min. - TV movie documetary

Made in Germany. UK and US title: Laurel & Hardy: Their Lives And Magic. Jean was also credited under "additional crew" for providing archival material.

2013

The Butler's Tale (featured role: Lady Cavendish - also contributing writer)

Nov. 6, 2013 - Riva - 15 min. - short

2014

Hollywoods Spaßfabrik - Als die Bilder Lachen lernten (archival)

May 29, 2014 - Exit Film-und Fernsehproduktion-ZDF/ARTE - 90 min. - TV documentary

Also released in English as Hal Roach - The Lot Of Fun: Where The Movies Learned To Laugh. Includes footage from "Barnum & Ringling, Inc.," "Fast Freight," "Cat, Dog & Co." and "Saturday's Lesson."

2015

• 2015: At the time of Jean's death, she had been living in a nursing home in Rödermark, Germany, after previously living in nearby Rodgau, where she had moved from Ireland to live near her son (some sources say she lived WITH him).

Jean Darling's payroll history

The following is a list of most of Jean's history at the Roach studio, with the amounts she was making from week to week. The dates given are Saturdays, the last day of each week at the studio. The only exceptions would be Saturdays that were also holidays, in which case the Friday date is used for those weeks.

• Oct. 9, 1926 - 30.00 charged to prod. K15 (Bring Home The Turkey)
   Starting as a day worker, Jean was given checks for $7.50 on Oct. 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th.
• Oct. 16, 1926 - 37.50 charged to prod. K15
   On Oct. 13th, Jean was given a check for $22.50, which covered $7.50 a day for Oct. 11th, 12th and 13th. On Oct. 15th, she was a given a check for $15 to cover $7.50 a day for Oct. 14th and 15th.

After this, it would be about two weeks before Jean returned to the studio.

• Nov. 6, 1926 - 15.00 - 10.00 charged to prod. B16 (Are Brunettes Safe?), 5.00 charged to prod. K13 (Seeing The World)
   Jean was given $5 checks on Nov. 2nd and 3rd for her work in B16, and another $5 check on Nov. 5th for her work in K13.

After this, it would be over a month before Jean worked at the studio again.

• Dec. 11, 1926 - 30.00 charged to prod. K16 (Ten Years Old)
   Jean was given a $7.50 check on Dec. 8th, and then a $22.50 check on Dec. 11th, which covered $7.50 a day for Dec. 9th, 10th and 11th.
• Dec. 18, 1926 - 200.00 charged to prod. K16
• Dec. 25, 1926 - 200.00 charged to prod. K17 (Love My Dog)
• Jan. 1, 1927 - 200.00 charged to prod. K17

The payroll ledger for 1927 has gone missing, which makes some of the details for these dates unavailable. There are, however, datebooks and payroll summaries that have survived, and these verify most of the information about Jean's salary that would be found in the ledger. The main exception is that, during the interim between films, it isn't clear which production the player's salary is being charged to. A bigger problem, though, is that Jean was still a day player in the early part of the year, so no information whatsoever is available prior to the week ending Apr. 23rd. However, we do know that she was absent from the studio for the last three weeks of 1926, and that while still a day player, she appeared in Tired Business Men, Baby Brother and Chicken Feed from late January to mid-April 1927.

• Apr. 23, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K21 (Olympic Games)
   Jean was put under long-term contract starting this week. However, there's some doubt about her involvement in production K21.
• Apr. 30, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K21
• May 7, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K21
• May 14, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K22 (The Glorious Fourth)
   Jean didn't appear in production K22.
• May 21, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K22
• May 28, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K23 (Playin' Hookey)
• June 4, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K23
• June 11, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. K23
• June 18, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. G1 (Yale Vs. Harvard)
• June 25, 1927 - 35.00 charged to prod. G1
• July 2, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. K24 (The Smile Wins)
   It appears that Jean didn't work in production K24.

As distribution was shifting from Pathé to MGM, the Kid Co. transitioned into the Gang Co. During the weeks ending July 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th, the studio was closed. The datebooks indicate that Jean wasn't paid during this stretch, but the payroll summaries indicate that she was.

• Aug. 6, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. K24
• Aug. 13, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G2 (The Old Wallop)
• Aug. 20, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G2
• Aug. 27, 1927 - 45.00
• Sep. 3, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G3 (Heebee Jeebees)
• Sep. 10, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G3
• Sep. 17, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G3 and G4 (Dog Heaven)
   It isn't clear whether Jean's salary was split in half between the two productions, or perhaps 1/3 for G3 and 2/3 for G4.
• Sep. 24, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G4
• Oct. 1, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G3 and G4
   It isn't clear whether Jean's salary was split 5/6 for G4 and 1/6 for G3, or 11/12 for G4 and 1/12 for G3.
• Oct. 8, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G4
• Oct. 15, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G4 and G5 (Spook-Spoofing)
   It appears that Jean's salary was probably split 5/12 for G4 and 7/12 for G5. She also didn't appear in production G5.
• Oct. 22, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G5
• Oct. 29, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G5
• Nov. 5, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G4 and G6 (Rainy Days)
   It appears that Jean's salary was probably split 1/3 for G4 and 2/3 for G6.
• Nov. 12, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6
• Nov. 19, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6
• Nov. 26, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6
• Dec. 3, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6
• Dec. 10, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6
• Dec. 17, 1927 - 45.00 charged to prod. G6 and G7 (Edison, Marconi & Co.)
   It appears that Jean's salary was probably split 5/6 for G6 and 1/6 for G7. It isn't clear whether or not Jean worked in production G7.
• Dec. 24, 1927 - 50.00 charged to prod. G6, G7 and G8 Barnum & Ringling, Inc.)
   It appears that Jean's salary was probably split 14/36 for G6, 11/36 for G7 and 11/36 for G8.
• Dec. 31, 1927 - 50.00 charged to prod. G6, G7 and G8
   It appears that Jean's salary was probably split 1/6 for G6, 1/6 for G7 and 4/6 for G8.

With the start of 1928, we can return to the payroll ledgers for a more accurate picture of Jean's history.

• Jan. 7, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G8
• Jan. 14, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G8
• Jan. 21, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G9 (Fair And Muddy)
• Jan. 28, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G9
• Feb. 4, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G9
• Feb. 11, 1928 - 50.00 - 33.33 charged to prod. G9, 16.67 charged to prod. G10 (Crazy House)
• Feb. 18, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G10
• Feb. 25, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G10
• Mar. 3, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G11 (Growing Pains)
• Mar. 10, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G11
• Mar. 17, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G11
• Mar. 24, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G11

The studio was closed during the spring, resulting in Jean not being paid for five weeks.

• May 5, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G12 (The Ol' Gray Hoss)
• May 12, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G12
• May 19, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G12
• May 26, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G12
• June 2, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G12
• June 9, 1928 - 50.00 - 25.00 charged to prod. G12, 25.00 charged to prod. G13 (School Begins)
• June 16, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G13
• June 23, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G13
• June 30, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G13
• July 7, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G14 (The Spanking Age)
• July 14, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G14
• July 21, 1928 - 50.00 - 25.00 charged to prod. G14, 25.00 charged to prod. G15 (Election Day)
• July 28, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G15
• Aug. 4, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G15
• Aug. 11, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G15
• Aug. 18, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
   Jean and her fellow Gangsters spent a couple of months on a personal appearance tour.
• Aug. 25, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Sep. 1, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
   The payroll ledger doesn't list Jean for this week, but the payroll summary and the studio datebook indicate that she still got paid.
• Sep. 8, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Sep. 15, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Sep. 22, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Sep. 29, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Oct. 6, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Oct. 13, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Oct. 20, 1928 - 50.00 charged to Gang Tour
• Oct. 27, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G16 (Noisy Noises)
• Nov. 3, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G16
• Nov. 10, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G16
• Nov. 17, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G16
• Nov. 24, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G17 (The Holy Terror)
• Dec. 1, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G17
• Dec. 8, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G18 (Wiggle Your Ears)
• Dec. 15, 1928 - 50.00 - 12.50 charged to prod. G18, 37.50 charged to prod. G19 (Fast Freight)
• Dec. 22, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G19
• Dec. 29, 1928 - 50.00 charged to prod. G19

For the weeks ending Jan. 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th, the studio was closed and Jean didn't receive her salary. When she returned, she had received a raise.

• Feb. 2, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G20 (Little Mother)
• Feb. 9, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G20
• Feb. 16, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G20
• Feb. 23, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G21 (Cat, Dog & Co.)
• Mar. 2, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G21
• Mar. 9, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G22 (Saturday's Lesson)
• Mar. 16, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G22
• Mar. 23, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G22
• Mar. 30, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G23 (Small Talk)
• Apr. 6, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G23
• Apr. 13, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G23
• Apr. 20, 1929 - 60.00 - 20.00 charged to prod. G23, 40.00 charged to prod. G24 (Railroadin')
• Apr. 27, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G24
• May 4, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G24
• May 11, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G24
• May 18, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G25 (Boxing Gloves)
• May 25, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G25
• June 1, 1929 - 25.00 charged to prod. G25
   During this interim between films, Jean received a lower salary.
• June 8, 1929 - 25.00 charged to prod. G25
• June 15, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G26 (Lazy Days)
• June 22, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G26
• June 29, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G26
• July 6, 1929 - 25.00 - 16.67 charged to prod. G26, 8.33 charged to prod. G27 (Bouncing Babies)
   It's apparent that Jean didn't work on production G27 for very long, considering her lowered salary in 3 out of 4 weeks.
• July 13, 1929 - 60.00 charged to prod. G27
• July 20, 1929 - 25.00 charged to prod. G27
• July 27, 1929 - 25.00 charged to prod. G27

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

© Robert Demoss and Matthew Lydick.

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