Teacher's Pet

technical details:

Production G-35.

Release no. C-332.

Filmed May 21 to 29, 1930. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

The Spanish version, "Comenzo la escuela," was actually an English-language print with inter-titles, which was not accepted by MGM for release. This version had the same production number. According to studio documentation, this Spanish version was four reels, which probably means that it was combined with another short, perhaps "School's Out" (no. 102). The Spanish press release calls it "Comenzo la Escuelas." Either way, a visit to a Spanish-to-English website will reveal that the first word ought to be 'comienzo.'

Released October 11, 1930. It was the 101st film in the series to be released.

Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on June 19, 1930.

Cutting continuity submitted July 9, 1930.

Copyrighted November 24, 1930, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP1754. Renewed January 13, 1958, with registration no. R206741. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2025.

All-talking two-reeler.

There is no opening title in the traditional sense in this film, since it's replaced by "talking titles."

Talking title: 'Hal Roach presents for your entertainment and approval, His Rascals in their latest "Our Gang" Comedy, entitled "Teacher's Pet."

King World Productions episode no. 3, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Direction by Robert F. McGowan

This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish verison.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Dialogue by H. M. Walker

This credit appears in the film. Studio documentation credits Walker as a story editor, for both the English and Spanish versions.

Recording by Elmer Raguse

This credit appears in the film. He's also credited in the Spanish version.

Story by Robert F. McGowan

This credit doesn't appear in the film.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card. This seems to be the first film with a newly-filmed MGM lion.

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. The additional kids in this film were taught by Mrs. Adele M. Buzzo, Mrs. Vita Geddes and Grace Chapman.

possible uncredited involvement

assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.

writing - Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall and Harry Keaton 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.

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

the kids:

Jackie Cooper as "Jackie" aka "Jack"

Lead role. He plans to antagonize the teacher on the first day of school, but his plans go awry.

Norman "Chubby" Chaney as "Chubby"

Supporting role. He brings ants to class, which get loose.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He brings sneezing powder to class, which Jackie spills.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"

Supporting role. He innocently sabotages big brother Jackie's plans.

Dorothy "Echo" DeBorba as "Dorothy"

Supporting role. She repeats everything Chubby says, and sabotages his part of the scheme.

Thomas "Buddy" McDonald as "Buddy" aka "Bud"

Supporting role. Listed as Buddy MacDonald by Maltin & Bann. He brings a mouse to class.

Mary Ann Jackson

Supporting role. She imitates the teacher early in the film, and isn't given much to do after this. Her name doesn't show up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity lists her as "Mary Ann."

Matthew Beard as "Hercules"

Small part. Farina gives him instructions, too, but it's too little too late. This was his first appearance in the series.

Donald Haines as "Don"

Small part. He sits in front of Farina in class and has a couple of lines.

Artye Folz

Small part. She's the third victim of Jackie's pea-shooter.

Wallace Carter as "Tom"

Small part. He's the first victim of Jackie's pea-shooter.

George Savidan

Small parts. He sits up front in the row on the left, and is given a sneezing closeup.

Bobby Mallon

Extra. He sits in front of Jackie.

Billy Seay

Extra. He's sitting in the front row, second from the left. I don't know if the unseen "Bill" is supposed to be him.

Betty and Billy Allgrunn

Extras. These two were Bob McGowan's niece and nephew. I don't yet know which kids they are in the classroom.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. The other kids in the classroom are Willie Savidan, Jack Kelly, Barbara J. Roach, Margaret Walrath, Billy O'Brien, Julius Molnar, Marie Morehouse, Byron Wells, Fred Barry, Alice Ernest and Ruth Morehouse. There were also several kids who only worked on the first shooting date, and I suspect they're seen outside the school, but not in the classroom. These are Vernon Wiseman, Billy Bassette, Billy Wise, Max Romeyns, Charles Succop, Louise Ringland, Mary Jane Ransom, Virginia Wilson, Dorothy Shirley, Barbara Hansen, Malcolm Potts, D. R. Cameron and George Day. The payroll ledger also lists Jim Peregoy for this day, but states that his check was cancelled. Maltin & Bann also list Mildred Kornman, but the ledger doesn't support this.

the animals:

Leo

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

Pete the Pup II

He doesn't appear in the film, but at least a couple of promotional photos for this short reveal a dog that differs from the original Pete, as well as the one that eventually went to Atlantic City. A press release from a few years later reveals that the Atlantic City dog was Pete the Pup III, so this mystery dog was probably Pete the Pup II.

other animals

Bit parts.

(1.) Buddy's white mouse.

(2.) Chubby's ants.

(3.) A dog seen in the background of the opening shot.

the talking titles:

Beverly and Betty Mae Crane as the title readers

Small parts. They appear in place of the credits.

the adults:

June Marlowe as "Miss Crabtree"

Featured role. She gives Jackie a ride to school, and then surprises him by turning out to be the new teacher. Listed as "teacher" in the cutting continuity. She was known as "Miss Robustiana" in the Spanish version. The Spanish cutting continuity refers to her as "June."

William Courtwright as the old man

Small part. He takes the order for the ice cream and cake, and is smitten with Miss Crabtree. Listed as 'old man' in the cutting continuity.

Baldwin Cooke as one of the caterers

Bit part. He's the caterer that does the talking and walks in first.

Gordon Douglas as one of the caterers

Bit part. He walks in behind Cooke.

other adults

Extras. There are a few pedestrians seen in the background of a few shots. One bizarre anomaly in the payroll ledger is the presence of Harry Green on June 4th, making a whopping $455. There was a film actor with this name at the time, but he doesn't turn up anywhere in the film. Another possibility would be that the company providing the ice cream was run by a guy with this name, but the price tag is pretty steep even in modern times, let alone in 1930.

in still images

A portrait of Abraham Lincoln is on the wall above Miss Crabree's desk.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A1.) The first version plays over MGM lion and the talking titles and continues with the establishing shot of the schoolyard. A small part of it is played as Miss Crabtree first greets the class.

(A2.) The second, slightly faster, version is played as the kids discuss what a 'system' is. It's played again as the kids are waiting for Jackie to get to school.

(A3.) The third version is played as Jackie gives Wheezer his instructions.

(A4.) The fourth version is played as the kids enter the schoolroom.

(A5.) The fifth version is played as Jackie gathers up the items from the other boys and the kids start sneezing.

(A6.) The sixth version, reproduced by the Beau Hunks as the last track on their first Little Rascals CD, is played as Wheezer talks to Miss Crabtree.

(A7.) The seventh version is played as the boys are sitting on the school steps.

(A8.) The eighth version is played as Miss Crabtree brings ice cream out to Jackie and the end title appears.

(B1.) The seldom-heard second part of this piece is heard as the kids lament the loss of their beloved Miss McGillicuddy.

(B2.) A faster version of this second part is partially played as Farina talks to Stymie.

(B2.) A slower version of this second part is played as Miss Crabtree sends the boys out of the class.

"Crabtree" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Girl & Stick." This is played as Mary Ann imitates Miss Crabtree.

"Ezra" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Ears." This is played as the old man talks to Miss Crabtree.

"Garden Gaieties" by Leroy Shield

A short part of this is played as Jackie meets Miss Crabtree.

"Little Dancing Girl" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "Dancing Girl" and "Dancing Girls." Part of this is played as Jackie hops into Miss Crabtree's car. This is a somewhat slower version than normally heard, and is repeated as Miss Crabtree instructs the kids to go ahead and blow their noses. The more familiar arrangement, reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD, is played as Jackie talks about Miss McGillicuddy and lasts until Jackie is dropped off. This version is played in full as Miss Crabtree announces the cake and ice cream, and as Jackie uses his pea shooter.

"Riding Along" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. This is played as Jackie is riding along with Miss Crabtree. This is a notably faster version than normally heard.

"Your Piktur" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Part of the "School Room Suite." This is played as Jackie shows the picture he drew. The duration is about half of that heard on the Beau Hunks CD. Part of it is played again as Miss Crabtree shows the picture to the class.

"The One I Love Best" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Also known as "All The World (To Me)." Part of this is played as Jackie says goodbye to Miss Crabtree. Part of it is played again as Miss Crabtree listens in on the kids' conversation.

"By Rote" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Chubby talks to Dorothy. It returns in part as Dorothy and Stymie talk to Miss Crabtree.

"Laugh" by Leroy Shield

This is played as Jackie realizes who Miss Crabtree is. This is the first of the four pieces with this title that appear in the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Sneaking" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Jackie hides under his desk, crawls on the floor and is summoned to the front of the class.

"Stand Up" by Leroy Shield

This is the trumpet effects piece played as Miss Crabtree has Farina, Chubby and Buddy stand up. It returns in part as Miss Crabtree summons all four boys to the front of the class.

"Ants (Hurry)" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Antics" and "Sneaking," but not to be confused with the other pieces with those titles. Most of this is played as Chubby's ants get loose.

piece 101b

This is the short violin effect played as Wheezer and Dorothy peer in through the doorway.

"Wishing" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. This is played as Jackie listens to the kids as they eat their ice cream.

the locations:

Hal Roach Ranch

District School No. 6 was located here. The spot where Miss Crabtree picks up Jackie was the access road leading into the ranch. This was located roughly where David Avenue is nowadays, just west of Robertson Boulevard.

La Cienega Boulevard and Venice Boulevard

The northeastern corner of this intersection is shown as Miss Crabtree drops off Jackie. The structure shown behind them is the Pacific Electric streetcar overpass.

Ye Olde English Caterers

This is shown behind William Courtwright. It could possibly be at the Roach studio.

miscellaneous:

8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. About a week and a half after shooting finished for "Pups Is Pups" (no. 100), the 'start' date for "Teacher's Pet" arrived on May 21st. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of May 29th. The very next day, the studio was closed for the Memorial Day holiday. No shooting took place on May 25th, which was a Sunday. After this, two and a half weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to shoot "School's Out" (no. 102).

In the 1930 studio datebook, the director's last name is written in, as it was for all productions. In this case, of course, it was McGowan. On all but the first two dates for this film, the word "French" is written under McGowan's name. Since the foreign language versions were no longer made, I'm thinking that Lloyd French may have been the assistant director on this film.

In the category of unseen characters, this film has the most famous of them all, "Miss McGillicuddy."

According to Dorothy DeBorba, the ice cream shown in this film was bought at a place called Chapman's which was near the studio in Culver City. The press release states that five gallons of ice cream and half a dozen good sized cakes were provided for the party.

Reel two begins as Crabtree looks into the classroom after the children are seated.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B631.

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

© Robert Demoss.