Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba


This filmography was made in collaboration with Matthew Lydick.


full name: Dorothy Adelle DeBorba
professional nickname: Echo
married name: Dorothy DeBorba Haberreiter
born Mar. 28, 1925, in Los Angeles, CA
died June 2, 2010, in Walnut Creek, CA, of emphysema


Special note: It was the Roach studio that came up with the "Echo" nickname, due to Dorothy's onscreen character repeating back the older kids' dialogue. This character name continued to be used in publicity material long after this gag had run its course, even to the extent of being used in an ad for the upcoming Hal Roach shorts for the 1933/34 film season. However, at no point was the nickname used in the films themselves.
Also of note: In "Readin' And Writin'," Dorothy gives her full name as Dorothy Betty Jane DeBorba, which was evidently fabricated by dialogue writer Beanie Walker. Maltin & Bann gave her full name as Dorothy Betty Jean DeBorba in the 1977 edition of their book, but corrected it in the 1992 edition.
And lastly of note: The 1937-38 International Motion Picture Almanac mentions some films Dorothy made outside of the Our Gang series, including a mysterious item called Love Call. I've yet to find any details about this film.


1927


1928

Three Sinners (undetermined role)
Apr. 24, 1928 - Paramount - 8 reels - Pola Negri feature
©Apr. 14, 1928. This is another item credited in the 1937-38 International Motion Picture Almanac.

1929

Sunny Side Up (undetermined role)
prem. Oct. 3, 1929 - Fox - 13 reels - Janet Gaynor & Charles Farrell feature
©Oct. 8, 1929 as Sunnyside Up. One sequence shot in Multicolor. This is another item credited in the 1937-38 International Motion Picture Almanac.

1930

Some Men Are Dangerous (undetermined role)
Mar. 9, 1930 - Fox - 8 reels - Warner Baxter & Catherine Dale Owen feature
This is another item credited in the 1937-38 International Motion Picture Almanac.
A Royal Romance (role: Gloria)
Mar. 17, 1930 - Columbia - 7 reels - William Collier, Jr. and Pauline Stark feature
©Apr. 2, 1930.
100. Pups Is Pups (supporting role)
Aug. 30, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-34 - Our Gang series
Filmed Apr. 21 to May 9, 1930. ©July 2, 1930. Added to the National Film Registry on Dec. 28, 2004.
Men Of The North (bit part: little girl)
Sep. 27, 1930 - MGM - 7 reels - Gilbert Roland feature
©Oct. 1, 1930. Also filmed in Spanish as Monsieur Le Fox, with Roach as co-director, and totaling 106 minutes. Also filmed in French and German with same title, and filmed in Italian as Luigi La Volpe.
101. Teacher's Pet (supporting role: Dorothy)
Oct. 11, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-35 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 21 to 29, 1930. ©Nov. 24, 1930. Also made as Spanish version entitled Comenzo la escuela, which used the English original with full-frame cut-in titles, but wasn't accepted by MGM for release in this format.
102. School's Out (supporting role)
Nov. 22, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-36 - Our Gang series
Filmed June 17 to 25, 1930.

1931

103. Helping Grandma (supporting role)
Jan. 3, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-37 - Our Gang series
Filmed July 28 to Aug. 6, 1930. ©Oct. 1, 1930.
104. Love Business (small part)
Feb. 14, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-38 - Our Gang series
Filmed Sep. 3 to 15, 1930, with retakes Sep. 20, 1930. ©Oct. 26, 1930.
105. Little Daddy (small part)
Mar. 28, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-39 - Our Gang series
Filmed Oct. 30 to Nov. 13, 1930. ©Feb. 6, 1931.
The Stolen Jools (small part)
Apr. 4, 1931 - Masquers Club/National Variety Artists/Paramount - 2 reels
The Our Gang kids are among the multitude of stars featured in this short.
106. Bargain Day (small part)
May 2, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-40 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 14 to 23, 1930, with retakes Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 1931. ©Mar. 23, 1931.
107. Fly My Kite (supporting role)
May 30, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-41 - Our Gang series
Filmed Mar. 2 to 14, 1931. ©May 7, 1931.
108. Big Ears (supporting role: Dorothy)
Aug. 29, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-1 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 25 to June 5, 1931. ©Aug. 17, 1931. Also released with Spanish subtitles as Orejas de burro.
109. Shiver My Timbers (supporting role)
Oct. 10, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-2 - Our Gang series
Filmed June 29 to July 9, 1931. ©Oct. 1, 1931. Also released with Spanish subtitles as Piratas infantiles.
110. Dogs Is Dogs (supporting role: Dorothy)
Nov. 21, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-3 - Our Gang series
Filmed Aug. 12 to 28, 1931. ©Oct. 27, 1931.
unspecified title (archival)
circa 1931 - Roach - Mary Ann Jackson trailer
This was shown in theaters that were scheduled to have a personal appearance from Mary Ann in the very near future. Dorothy is included in footage from "Bargain Day."

1932

111. Readin' And Writin' (supporting role: Dorothy Betty Jane DeBorba)
Jan. 2, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-4 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 2, 1932. Filmed Sep. 30 to Oct. 10, 1931. ©Dec. 17, 1931.
112. Free Eats (small part)
Feb. 13, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-5 - Our Gang series
Also listed for Feb. 18, 1932. Filmed Nov. 6 to 19, 1931. ©Feb. 11, 1932.
113. Spanky (supporting role: Dorothy)
Mar. 26, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-6 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 14 to 22, 1931. ©Mar. 29, 1932.
114. Choo-Choo! (supporting role: Dorothy)
May 7, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-7 - Our Gang series
Filmed Jan. 25 to Feb. 4, 1932. ©May 2, 1932.
115. The Pooch (supporting role)
June 11, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-8 - Our Gang series
Also listed for June 4, 1932. Filmed Mar. 9 to 17, 1932. ©June 13, 1932.
116. Hook And Ladder (supporting role: Dorothy)
Aug. 27, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-9 - Our Gang series
Filmed May 18 to 28, 1932. ©Sep. 14, 1932.
118. Birthday Blues (small part: Dorothy)
Oct. 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-11 - Our Gang series
Listed for both Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, 1932. Filmed July 30 to Aug. 4, 1932. ©Oct. 24, 1932. Earilest verified screening took place on Oct. 14, 1932.
117. Free Wheeling (small part)
Nov. 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-10 - Our Gang series
Listed for both Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, 1932. Filmed July 19 to 27, 1932, with retakes Sep. 3, 1932. ©Nov. 7, 1932. Earliest verified screening took place on Nov. 12, 1932.
119. A Lad An' A Lamp (supporting role)
Dec. 17, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-12 - Our Gang series
Filmed Sep. 3 to 10, 1932. ©Dec. 12, 1932.

1933

120. Fish Hooky (supporting role: Dorothy)
Jan. 28, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-13 - Our Gang series
Filmed Oct. 17 to 22, 1932. ©Jan. 16, 1933.
121. Forgotten Babies (small part)
Mar. 11, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-14 - Our Gang series
Filmed Dec. 3 to 10, 1932. ©Mar. 13, 1933.
122. The Kid From Borneo (supporting role: Dorothy)
Apr. 15, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-15 - Our Gang series
FIlmed Jan. 9 to 16, 1933. ©Mar. 13, 1933.
123. Mush and Milk (supporting role: Dorothy)
May 27, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-16 - Our Gang series
Filmed Jan. 27 to Feb. 3, 1933. ©Apr. 17, 1933.
Beauty And The Bus (extra: girl in audience)
Sep. 16, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. A-17 - Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly series
©Sep. 12, 1933.
Bombshell (bit part: autograph seeker)
Oct. 13, 1933 - MGM - 10 reels - Jean Harlow & Lee Tracy feature
©Oct. 11, 1933. Reportedly, Hal Roach got Dorothy this gig.
125. Wild Poses (small part in unused footage)
Oct. 28, 1933 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. G-18 - Our Gang series
Filmed Aug. 18 to 23, 1933. ©Oct. 20, 1933. Dorothy didn't make it into the final print, but since she earned money as a day worker on this film, it's safe to assume that she appeared in footage that was cut from the film. She wound up in at least two promotional photos.

1934

Wonder Bar (unspecified role)
prem. Feb. 18, 1934 - First National/Warner Bros. - 10 reels - Al Jolson feature
©Feb. 23, 1934. Released Mar. 31, 1934.
Madame Du Barry (unspecified role)
prem. June 18, 1934 - Warner Bros. - 9 reels - Dolores del Rio feature
©Oct. 6, 1934. Released Oct. 13, 1934.

1935


1956

Captain Jet And The Little Rascals episode (appearance)
1956 - KNXT - TV episode
According to IMDB. Presumably, Dorothy turned up on one of the many Little Rascals TV shows during this era. This one was on Channel 2 in Los Angeles.

1957


1966


1976


1978

Rascal Dazzle (archival)
1978 - King World/Picture Scores - 93 min. - documentary feature
©1978. Seems to have debuted on TV, followed by a theatrical release in late 1979. Includes footage from "Choo-Choo!" and "Mush And Milk."

1980


1984

Our Gang: Inside The Clubhouse (appearance/archival)
May 8, 1984 - Lang/Camellia City Telecasters - 93 mins. - TV documentary
Dorothy was interviewed for this documentary. Includes footage from "Teacher's Pet," "School's Out," "Helping Grandma," "Love Business," "Free Eats" and "Hook And Ladder."

1986

Classic Comedy Teams (archival)
1986 - Bergamn-Harris/Movietime/GoodTimes - video documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out" and "The Stolen Jools."

1987

The Revenge Of The Sons Of The Desert (appearance)
1987 - Sanmar - 27 min. - video documentary

1988

Twin Cities: Live With Bob Bruce (appearance)
1988 - KSTP-TV - 60 min. - TV talk show
Produced in Minneapolis. Also featuring Spanky McFarland, Sunshine Sammy Morrison and Jerry Tucker.

1989


1992


1993


1994

Hal Roach: Hollywood's King Of Laughter (appearance)
Apr. 7, 1994 - RHI/Disney Channel - 49 min. - TV documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out" and "Love Business."
The Our Gang Story (archival)
1994 - Film Shows/GoodTimes - 120 min. - video documentary
Includes footage from "School's Out," "The Stolen Jools," "Fly My Kite," "Dogs Is Dogs" and "The Kid From Borneo."

1995

Dorothy, An Original Little Rascal (appearance)
Oct. 1995 - Cat Walk/Channel 8 - TV episode
Produced by Eva Marcum, this was an interview show (or perhaps a segment) for a public access channel in Roseville, CA.

1996


1997


1998


1999


2000

E! Mysteries & Scandals episode: The Little Rascal: Stymie (appearance)
Apr. 24, 2000 - E! Entertainment Television - 30 min. - TV episode
Bamboozled (archival)
Oct. 20, 2000 - 40 Acres/New Line - 135 min. - color - Dolby
Includes footage from "School's Out."

2001


2002

Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (appearance/archival)
Feb. 5, 2002 - Jones/TCM - 89 min. - TV documentary
Includes footage from "Love Business" and "The Pooch."
E! True Hollywood Story episode: Curse Of The Little Rascals (appearance/archival)
Nov. 24, 2002 - E! Entertainment Television - 60 min. - TV documentary

2009


Dorothy DeBorba's payroll history

The following is a list of most of Dorothy'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.

After this, it would be nearly two weeks before Dorothy returned to the studio.

After this, Dorothy was signed to a long-term contract, returning to the Our Gang unit after about a week and a half. Initially, she was making $100 a week, which was reduced to $25 a week in between productions.

Much of the week ending Dec. 20th and the entirety of the week ending Dec. 27th are missing from the payroll ledger, but filming began on Bargain Day during this period.

After this, it would be over a month and a half before Dorothy returned to the studio.

After this, it would be about a month before Dorothy returned to the studio.

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

After this, it would be about a month and a half before Dorothy worked at the studio again.

After this, it would be about a month before Dorothy worked at the studio again.

After this, it would be two weeks before Dorothy worked at the studio again.

After this, it would be about 6 and a half months before Dorothy worked at the studio again.


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


© Robert Demoss and Matthew Lydick.


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