Noisy Noises

technical details:

Production G-16.

Filmed October 29 to November 10, 1928. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Music and sound effects recorded January 14, 1929.

Music cue sheet dated January 16, 1929.

Released February 9, 1929. It was the 82nd film in the series to be released. Film Daily listed the release date as Feb. 1st.

Copyrighted March 5, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP200. Renewed September 13, 1956, with registration no. R176891. This copyright expired at the end of 2024, and the film is now in the public domain.

Silent two-reeler with synchronized music track and sound effects.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Noisy Noises".'

the crew:

Produced by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach

This is the way Maltin & Bann put it. The film credits Roach as a presenter, with a separate credit reading "A Robert McGowan Production."

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit probably appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

Titles by Reed Heustis

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Music performed by the Motion Picture Orchestra

According to the Victor ledgers, as described at the DAHR website. The musical director was Josef Pasternak.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Probably indicated in the opening title.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

director-general - Leo McCarey

general manager - Warren Doane

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Probably Charles Oelze.

cutting - Possibly Lloyd Campbell.

writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Hal Yates and Charlie Hall may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Lead role. He's suffering from a toothache while having to care for his perpetually crying baby brother. Farina calls him "Round Boy."

Warren Mills as "Rupert"

Featured role. He's the baby that won't stop crying.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"

Supporting role. He spends most of the film bug-hunting with a hammer, and waking the baby.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Supporting role. The nickname isn't used in this film. He leads a band of musicians, and helps Joe to quiet down the neighbors.

Harry Spear

Supporting role. He's one of the musicians, but does mostly ensemble acting.

George Dunning

Supporting role. He's one of the musicians, and is the boy that does cartwheels down the sidewalk.

Andy Shuford

Supporting role. He's one of the musicians, and isn't given much of anything specific to do.

Gordon Thorpe

Supporting role. He's one of the musicians, but does mostly ensemble acting

Mary Ann Jackson

Small part. She's seen outside with Jean, and the two join the boys on the way to the dentist.

Jean Darling

Small part. She's seen outside with Mary Ann, and the two join the boys on the way to the dentist.

Jay R. Smith

Bit part. He's seen coming out of the dentist's office, where he warns Joe.

Buddy Moore

Bit part. He's the boy that gives Wheezer a penny for the dollar bill.

Gene and Dene Beaver

These two were almost certainly twins, with the intention that they would play Rupert. A look at the FamilySearch website reveals that there were indeed 16-month-old twins with these names living in Los Angeles at the time of this film. The two of them worked on the first nine shooting dates, all without the presence of Warren Mills. For the remaining three shooting dates, Mills was present, but not the Beavers. Also, if you look at the shot of the kids when they first round the corner onto Main Street, the kid in the baby carriage isn't Mills.

Donnie Smith

He worked on five consecutive shooting dates, but doesn't seem to be anywhere in the film, suggesting that he was probably Wheezer's stand-in.

Martha Lee Sparks

She worked for two days on this film, but doesn't seem to appear in it. She turned three prior to filming, so perhaps she was a stand-in for Warren Mills.

questionable listings

Maltin & Bann list Bret Black, but he doesn't appear in the available print, nor is he indicated in the payroll ledger.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1)

Supporting role. He's in the bug-hunting scenes with Wheezer, and then helps to pull Joe's tooth.

monkey 004

Small part. Presumably the same monkey seen previously. He joins Rupert on his wild ride.

cat 080

Bit part. Joe finds him in the icebox.

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

other animals

Bit parts.

(1.) The rat that frightens the singer.

(2.) The cat chased by Pete.

bugwatch

Various bugs are hunted by Wheezer, some real and some fake.

the adults:

Michael Mark as the voice coach

Small part. He puts cotton in his ears to keep from hearing his student.

May Foster as his student

Small part. She clearly has no future as a singer.

Clarence L. Sherwood as the man with the bass fiddle

Small part. He disregards Joe's request to stop the racket. Maltin & Bann identify him as Tenen Holtz.

Joe Bonner as the tuba player

Small part. His lips pucker up when he sees the boys sucking on lemons.

Jack O'Brien as the lemon vendor

Bit part. He gives the boys lemons to make the tuba player's lips pucker.

Lyle Tayo as Joe's mom

Bit part. She's shown briefly giving Joe a dollar to have his tooth pulled.

Fred Holmes as the bald man on the stairs

Bit part. Wheezer konks him on the head while bug-hunting.

Edith Fortier as the pedestrian

Bit part. The monkey jumps on her back.

other adults

Bit parts and extras. Culver City police officers Cecil T. Truschel and Lee Lindsay worked for a day or two on this production, perhaps as security, though one of them is probably the motorcycle cop who swerves out of the way of the baby carriage. Music composer and occasional actor Lee Zahler was present on the first six days of shooting, presumably to instruct the actors on how to convincingly hold their instruments. On Nov. 9th, Harry Wild and Charley Lloyd both worked in this film, but it isn't clear what their roles were.

(1.) The truck driver unloading lumber.

(2.) The man sleeping on the bench.

(3.) The man who drives into the hole.

(4.) The construction worker who comes out of the hole.

(5.) The stunt double for May Foster. Michael Mark may have also been doubled in the shot.

(6.) Dozens of pedestrians, streetcar passengers and motorists seen in various shots.

the music:

This film was released with music, but I don't know if the disc has survived over the years. The available prints are without the original soundtrack, but I do have information from the cue sheet regarding which music was used. Unfortunately, I haven't had much luck researching the titles, and connecting the titles to the scenes in the film is also somewhat difficult.

"My Baby's Driving Me Wild" by Larry Spier and Sam Coslow

This tune opens the film and is played as Rupert cries. It returns after "Barcarolle," probably leading into Wheezer's bughunting sequence. It's played a third time, probably after the cradle collapses.

"Rock A Bye Baby"

Originally called "Hushabye Baby," the words to this song may have originated in 1600s colonial America. The term 'rock-a-bye' was added by 1805, and the melody was probably added in the 1880s. The cue sheet credits somebody named Luz with this piece. In the film, it initially is played the first time Joe rocks the cradle. It returns when he rocks the cradle again, resulting in the cradle collapsing.

"Barcarolle" by Anton Rubinstein

Rubinstein actually wrote six Barcarolles, so this is a rather vague identification. This piece is probably played as Joe takes his medicine.

"Never Mind Bo Peep" by Victor Herbert

Published in 1903 as part of "Babes In Toyland," with lyrics by Glen MacDonough. This piece is played right after the second appearance of "My Baby's Driving Me Wild." Both songs seem to be connected with Rupert's incessant crying, with the first instance of this tune probably coinciding with Rupert's first reaction to Wheezer's hammering. It turns up a second time, right after "Me-Ow," probably as Rupert reacts to the bass player. Then, after "Mysterious Tension," it's played a third time, probably right before Joe rocks the cradle again. The cue sheet also states that the tune is played a fourth time, after "Adieu," though there doesn't seem to be any crying in this part of the film.

"Spring Thoughts" by B. K. Salzer

This was actually a novelette by Salzer, who gets credit in the cue sheet. Sheet music for orchestra was published in 1912 by M. Witmark. This piece was probably played as Wheezer hides from Joe. It's played again, after "Une Parole D'Amour," probably as Wheezer is hammering the bug on the sidewalk.

"Me-ow" by Mel B. Kaufman

Published in 1918 with lyrics by Harry D. Kerr. This is played as we see the cat in the icebox.

"Mysterious Tension" by William Axt

This is probably played during the scene with the bass player, but may continue through the scene where Joe finally catches Wheezer and throws him out.

"Hail Hail The Gang's All Here (What The Deuce Do We Care)" by Theodore Morse and Arthur Sullivan

Published in 1917 with lyrics by D. A. Esrom. Morse adapted the tune from a melody contained within the portion of Act II of The Pirates Of Penzance normally referred to as "With Cat-Like Tread." This 1879 comic opera was written by Sullivan, with a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. A smaller bit of this Sullivan melody had been used in the 1915 song "Alabama Jubilee," which is where the line "hail, hail, the gang's all here" comes from. In this film, it undoubtedly is played we first see the gang playing their instruments. Sullivan is given sole credit on the cue sheet.

"Bon Vivant" by J. S. Zamecnik

Published in 1917. This is played probably around the time the boys are playing their instruments to cheer up Rupert.

"Sarcasm" by Leo Kempinski

This piece might coincide with Joe and Farina's 'fight.'

"Lamentoso" by Ricardo Drigo

This might be what accompanies the tuba player.

"Mystic Romance" by Stephen Srawley

This might be what accompanies the opera singer.

"Allegro Agitato #8" by J. E. Andino

Published in 1919. This piece might accompany the scene where the opera singer reacts to the mouse.

"Adieu" by J. S. Zamecnik

This piece is probably played as Joe leaves for the dentist's office, baby and all.

"Une Parole D'Amour" by Domenico Savino

Published in 1919. This is played perhaps as the gang meets up with Jay outside the dentist's office.

"Incidental Symphonies #10" by Leo Kempinski

This is played perhaps during the attempt to extract Joe's tooth.

"Fair Debutante" by Reynard

Reynard might by Jules Reynard, which was a pseudonym for J. S. Zamecnik. This piece is played twice, on either side of "Comedy Excitement," and probably accompanies a portion of the runaway carriage sequence.

"Comedy Excitement" by J. S. Zamecnik

This piece is probably played during the runaway carriage sequence.

"Allegro Scherzando" by Frey

This piece is probably played during the runaway carriage sequence.

"That Old Gang Of Mine" by Ray Henderson

Written in 1923 with lyrics by Billy Rose and Mort Dixon, who are the only names listed on the cue sheet. This is played over the ending titles.

the locations:

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

Jean and Mary Ann are hanging out in front of the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor when Wheezer comes out to join them. The building had either been given a drastic facelift or had been completely rebuilt since it was last seen in "Spook Spoofing" (no. 71). Much of the runaway baby carriage footage was shot along Motor. When the monkey joins the ride, he's initially at the park bench on the northwest corner of Motor and Woodbine. Seen behind him is the lot on the southwest corner, which has just acquired the Shoe Repairing shop that had previously been located on the east side of the street (where it had been nestled against the previous Masonic Hall). It was now at 3411 Motor. As the stroller moves along, we can see that there is still quite a lot of vacant lot between the shop and the first house at 3435, which is seen as the carriage speeds by. The monkey jumps onto the back of a black woman who's standing right next to this house. At the opposite end of this block is Curt's Place, a gas station at 3479 Motor which is clearly visible in this film. Later, the carriage speeds by Bacon's Pharmacy and Safeway Stores at 3568-3570 Motor.

Culver City-Palms Depot, Palms district, Los Angeles

This is where the tooth-pulling happens. The kids are sitting on the edge of the waiting area for the streetcar, which stops in the background. This was located at the spot where Venice Boulevard hits the north side of Culver Boulevard. Also shown in the background of these shots is a furniture store. The station is actually located just outside the limits of Culver City.

Main Street, Culver City

As the kids follow Joe to the dentist's office, they're seen rounding the corner from Putnam (now Culver Blvd.) onto the east side of Main. The Adams Hotel can be seen in the background. As they walk north up Main, a sign for Martha Washington Candies is seen on one of the windows.

Hal E. Roach Studios

The New York street set was used for the scene where the car drives into the hole.

Overland Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

At one point, the carriage is seen racing north on Overland and turning right onto National Boulevard.

miscellaneous:

12 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Over nine weeks had passed since the final day of shooting for "Election Day" (no. 81). In the meantime, the Our Gang kids traveled across the country by rail and toured vaudeville in the east for the Publix Circuit. The 'start' date for "Noisy Noises" (no. 82) finally arrived on Oct. 29th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Nov. 10th. No shooting took place on Oct. 28th or Nov. 4th, which were both Sundays. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, one week passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "The Holy Terror" (no. 83).

The 16-inch disc masters containing the music and sound effects were Victor matrix MVE-49059 (for reel 1) and Victor matrix MVE-49060 (for reel 2). The takes were all recorded at Liederkranz Hall in New York, NY. The takes for reel 1 were numbered 1, 2, and 3A, while the takes for reel 2 were numbered 1, 2, 2A, and 3A. In neither case is the master take indicated. The orchestra was made up of 27 men. The Victor ledgers indicate that Helen Yorke worked as a singer in the afternoon session, but it isn't known if the Our Gang session was during that time of day. They also use the word "Audible" to indicate that the soundtrack contains dialogue and/or closely synchronized sound. The ledgers also note "members of the orchestra talking."

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

© Robert Demoss.