Pups Is Pups

technical details:

Production G-34.

Release no. C-331.

Filmed April 21 to May 9, 1930. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted July 2, 1930, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP1392. Renewed September 10, 1957, with registration no. R198853. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2025.

Released August 30, 1930. It was the 100th film in the series to be released, and the first of the 1930/31 season.

All-talking two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Pups Is Pups".'

King World Productions episode no. 33, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

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 appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film.

Dialogue by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film. Credited in studio documentation as a story editor.

Recording Engineer: Elmer Raguse

This credit appears in the film.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay

He was Pete's owner and trainer.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As indicated in the film.

A Victor Recording, Western Electric System

As indicated in the film.

studio personnel

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

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.

writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall, Harry Keaton and Carl Harbaugh may have been among the gag writers.

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

titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.

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

the kids:

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Lead role. He frolicks with his puppies until he loses them, and then must search all over for them.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. He gets a job as a page at the local pet show.

Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby" aka "Chub"

Supporting role. He grooms his pig for the pet show.

Jackie Cooper as "Jack"

Supporting role. He seems to be the leader in the gang and enters a goose in the contest.

Mary Ann Jackson

Supporting role. She enters her parakeet in the pet show.

Dorothy DeBorba

Supporting role. She repeatedly jumps in the mud, and is repeatedly pulled out by big brother Jackie. Photos reveal that she was present during the pet show sequence. This was her series debut.

Kenneth and Hugo Hill

Supporting roles. They find Wheezer's bell and then throw it into a sewer. Listed by Maltin & Bann as the Hill Twins. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for more on these two.

Thomas "Buddy" McDonald

Small part. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Buddy MacDonald. He brings a goat to the show. This was his series debut.

Allen Tong

Small part. He brings a fishbowl to the show, with or without fish.

George and Willie Savidan

Small parts. They aren't given much to do and only appear during the pet show sequence.

Werther and Wolfgang Weidler

Small parts. Werther's the tall boy to the left of Mary Ann in the scene where the gang is trying to get into the pet show. He was later known as Warner Weidler. To the left of Werther is his younger brother Wolfgang, who was later known as Walt Weidler.

Jannie Hoskins

A publicity photo reveals a deleted scene in which she flirts with a blackfaced Jackie Cooper.

other kids

Small parts and extras.

(1.) There is one additional boy that brings pets to the show.

(2.) There is at least one rich kid at the show, but only the legs are shown, as Jackie is crawling around on the floor.

the animals:

Pete the Pup III

Supporting role. Still just a puppy, he's one of the five that Wheezer plays with. This was Pete III's series debut.

Joe the Monk

Small part. This is presumably Joe, but in any event, he rings one of the bells that attracts the puppies.

dog 074

Bit part. This is the German shepherd that Buddy replaces with his goat. Possibly the same one seen in "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no. 74).

Leo

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

Pete the Pup II

Bit part. This is the dog seen in the background during the opening scene, and is also seen briefly during the pet show sequence.

other animals

Supporting roles, small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The four other puppies besides Pete. According to the press release, there were actually seven puppies in all, and they were sired by the original Pete. The press release for "Big Ears" (no. 108) indicates that Pete sired a litter of puppies sometime in the early part of 1930, so this is presumably that same litter of pups. One of these puppies begat the litter seen in "Big Ears."

(2.) Chubby's pig.

(3.) The chicken harassed by the puppy, and at least four chicks.

(4.) Mary Ann's parakeet.

(5.) Jackie's goose.

(6.) Buddy's goat, consistent with one of the goats in "A Tough Winter" (no. 99).

(7.) The goat with the bell around its neck, consistent with the goat in "Uncle Tom's Uncle" (no. 50).

(8.) The bulldog in the photo at the entrance to the pet show.

(9.) The St. Bernard that Mary Ann replaces with her parakeet. Probably the "African Lion" from "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no. 74).

(10.) Three white mice.

(11.) Two toads.

(12.) Two tortoises.

(13.) An animal, perhaps a mule, seen behind a wagon as Wheezer searches for his puppies.

the adults:

Charles McAvoy as the cement worker

Small part. His work is repeatedly ruined by the puppies.

Lyle Tayo as Dorothy's mom

Small part. She appears at the end to falsely accuse Farina and then fall into the mud.

Silas D. Wilcox as the doorman

Small part. He keeps the kids out of the pet show until his curiosity gets the better of him.

Charlie Hall as the orchestra leader, playing violin

Bit part. He finds a toad at the end of his bow.

Chris Lynton as "Dr. H. R. White"

Bit part. He instructs his patient to keep his head up. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Allen Cavan.

Harry Arras

Bit part. He's the patient who keeps his head up.

William Gillespie as the tuba player

Bit part. He blows a toad out of his tuba.

Helen Gilmore as a pet show attendee

Bit part. The toad from Gillespie's tuba lands on her head.

Clara Guiol as a pet show attendee

Bit part. A large goose has landed on her head.

Harry Bernard as the cop

Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. One of the cops does actually resemble him, but it's pretty hard to be sure.

Fletcher "Rusty" Tolbert as the messenger boy

A publicity photo reveals a deleted scene in which he catches Wheezer ringing the bell on his bicycle.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) The old man that talks to Wheezer. He's identified in the cutting continuity as a "watchman."

(2.) The man whose window gets broken.

(3.) The three judges that summon the police.

(4.) At least two more cops besides Bernard.

(5.) Several more musicians.

(6.) The man with the triangle, whose face isn't seen.

(7.) The ice cream man, whose face isn't seen.

(8.) Numerous people at the pet show.

(9.) Various pedestrians seen in various scenes, especially outside the pet show. Maltin & Bann list Chet Brandenberg and Jack Hill among them, but I haven't spotted them. There are also some motorists seen, as well as people looking out their windows as the ambulance goes by. There are also four pedestrians seen only from the waist down in the monkey scene, plus an off-camera organ grinder.

(10.) Three workers walking in and out of the yard next to where the gang plays.

the music:

"For No Reason At All" by Hal E. Rice

This is played over the opening titles and returns as the kids first arrive at the pet show. This version differs from the one in "A Tough Winter" (no. 99).

"Teeter-Totter" by Leroy Shield

This is played in the opening scene when Dorothy first jumps in the mud. It resumes as Farina reads the ad for pages at the pet show, and continues as Dorothy jumps in the puddle again, and as we're introduced to Wheezer and his puppies. It's played for the last time as Wheezer is reunited with his puppies and Dorothy jumps in the puddle for the last time, and the ending title card is shown.

"Turkey In The Straw" by John Renfro Davis

This was originally an fiddle instrumental called "Natchez Under The Hill". It was published with lyrics in 1834 as "Old Zip Coon." I'm pretty sure this is what Farina is playing when we first see him. The continuity of the song is broken up with each camera shot, however.

"Wishing" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as the kids talk with Farina about the job.

"Let's Go" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1930. The fast version of this is played for a few seconds as Farina suggests that the other kids enter their pets in the show. It returns as the kids arrive at the pet show. It returns again as the musicians are playing, with some additional violin in the mix.

"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played repeatedly during Wheezer's game of hide-and-go-seek with his puppies. It returns as Wheezer looks for his puppies, and they follow the sound of every bell.

"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played twice as the kids are grooming their pets, and as the twins run off with Wheezer's bell. This is the early xylophone-dominated version.

"Confusion" by Leroy Shield

This is played as everybody is wondering what the medical patient is looking at in the sky. It returns as the kids are chased around the pet show. It returns again as the pets terrify the people at the show.

"Here Are The Pets" by Leroy Shield

This is played as the kids are setting up their exhibits and Farina gets fired.

"Religioso" by Leroy Shield

This is the solemn music played as Wheezer rings the church bells. The church bells themselves are probably not part of the same recording.

other music

The only remaining music is the sound of the tuba as the frog is blown out it.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Ranch

According to Buddy McDonald, the scenes of the gang in the yard were shot here. The background cityscape was actually a miniature set that was inserted into the shot via a mirror. A prop sign for the Rainbow Club is briefly shown in the background during these scenes. This was left over from the Laurel & Hardy short "Blotto."

St. Brendan's Church, Los Angeles

This is at the corner of Third Street and Van Ness Avenue, and is where Wheezer is reunited with his puppies.

Center and Commercial Streets, Los Angeles

The walls repeatedly seen are on the south side of Commercial and the east side of Center. In his locations book, Leon Smith focuses on the Center wall between Commercial and Ducommun, but it appears to me that this wall is shown only briefly in the film. The brick wall seen repeatedly is the one on Commercial, with the southeast corner of Commercial and Center being the spot where the puppies run past Wheezer without his noticing.

L.A. Engine Works, Los Angeles

This is seen in the background after Wheezer throws the rock through the window. It was located at 749 Turner Street, with the number 749 appearing on the door along with the company name, which reads L.A. Eng. Wks. Since 1930, this stretch of Turner has become part of East Temple Street. In his book Hollywood Goes On Location, Leon Smith shows a modern photo of the building, located at 749 E. Temple Street on the northwest corner of E. Temple and Center Streets.

Commercial Street and North Vignes Street, Los Angeles

This appears to be what it says on the street sign shown next to the building with the Old Gold sign.

Diamond Oil Co.

This is shown in a shot of the puppies near a railroad crossing.

Hal E. Roach Studios

The shot of the ambulance driving down the street was shot on the backlot, with the tall buildings added later. The cement worker footage was also shot here.

miscellaneous:

17 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Nine weeks had passed since the final day of shooting for "A Tough Winter" (no. 99), including four weeks of studio closure. The 'start' date for "Pups Is Pups" arrived on Apr. 21st. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of May 9th. No shooting took place on Apr. 20th, Apr. 27th, or May 4th, which were all Sundays. In the 1930 studio datebook, the production number is listed as G-34-E on May 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. After this, a week and a half passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Teacher's Pet" (no. 101).

From the press release: "Visitors at the Hal Roach Studio were watching Our Gang go through their scenes. One of them, seeing a set of pickaninny twins remarked, 'Oh, there are two new members in Our Gang.' Farina, hearing this put himself out long enough to explain to her, 'No, ma'am! They ain't regular Gangsters! They is just rented'."

Publicity photos reveal a deleted scene in which a messenger boy, played by Fletcher Tolbert, catches Wheezer ringing the bell on his bicycle. Another scene revealed by these photos involves a tug of war between Farina and Chubby using a short, wide chain.

Another publicity photo reveals a deleted scene in which the main members of the Gang are in blackface, presumably to obtain jobs as ushers in the pet show. The photo shows Jannie Hoskins flirting with Jackie Cooper.

The press release also acknowledges that this was the hundredth Our Gang Comedy. So they did keep track of these things at the Roach studio. It also mentions that Robert McGowan writes all of their stories, including this one.

Quoted in the Apr. 21, 1975, Independent-Gazette of Berkeley, CA, Dorothy DeBorba had this to say: "Once I had to jump in a mud puddle 37 times before the scene was right. It was kind of fun, though. They'd swoop down on me with blankets, take me away to be bathed and have my hair washed, then we'd do it all over again."

This film was added to the National Film Registry on Dec. 28, 2004.

Misidentified by King World as "Pets Is Pets."

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

© Robert Demoss.