technical details:
Production G-29.
Release no. C-27.
Filmed Mar. 13 to 20, 1935. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Production negatives and print shipped to MGM on March 28, 1935.
Title sheet prepared by William Terhune on April 8, 1935.
Cutting continuity submitted April 19, 1935.
Released April 27, 1935. It was the 136th film in the series to be released. It's possible that this film was actually released a little later than this, since the last five films
had all been delayed. However, the gap between the published release date and the copyright date is a lot smaller for this film than for those earlier ones.
Copyrighted May 1, 1935, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP5533. Renewed August 1, 1962, with registration no. R299651. This copyright is
currently due to expire at the end of 2030.
All-talking two-reeler.
Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Teacher's Beau".'
King World Productions episode no. 15, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Credited in the film as a presenter.
- Directed by Gus Meins
- This credit appears in the film.
- Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.
- This credit appears in the film.
- Film Editor: Robert Crandall
- This credit appears in the film.
- Recording Engineer: William Randall
- This credit appears in the film.
- Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro
- He trained the current Pete.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Verified by a publicity photo.
- Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Indicated in the opening title card.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As indicated in the film.
- Western Electric System
- As indicated in the film.
- Approved by the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America
- Certificate no. 740.
- NRA
- The National Recovery Administration emblem is shown in both the opening and end titles.
- studio personnel
- general manager - Henry Ginsberg
- assistant general manager - L. A. French
- secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
- assistant secretary - Mat O'Brien
- publicity and advertising - Fred Purner
- property department - W. L. Stevens
- film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse
- construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- process department - Roy Seawright
- still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves
- musical director - Marvin Hatley
- makeup department - Jack Casey
- hairdressing - Peggy Zardo
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant direction - Probably Gordon Douglas.
- writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, James Parrott, Charlie Hall, Frank Butler,
Robert McKenzie, Hal Law, Frank Tashlin and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze, Don Sandstrom and Bob Saunders were probably involved in this
capacity.
- titles - Louis McManus probably designed the main titles.
the kids:
- George "Spanky" McFarland
- Featured role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He has all the ideas behind getting Miss Jones unengaged.
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"
- Featured role. The cutting continuity introduces him as "Carl (Alfalfa)." He takes part in most of Spanky's schemes and sings a song with his brother. According
to a press item, the studio had intended to give him the nickname "Hayseed," but Spanky preferred to call him "Alfalfa."
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas
- Supporting role. The nickname wasn't used in this film. He provides a few comic moments, particularly as he's assisting Spanky in tainting the spaghetti.
- Scotty Beckett
- Supporting role. He and Jerry have the most dialogue among the remaining kids.
- Jerry Tucker
- Supporting role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "Jerry." Along with Scotty, he has the most dialogue among the
remaining kids.
- Harold Switzer as "Harold"
- Supporting role. He's an ensemble player, except for his musical performance with Alfalfa.
- Alvin Buckelew
- Supporting role. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "Alvin." He's mostly an ensemble player, but has a few lines of
dialogue.
- Rex Downing
- Supporting role. Aside from a couple of lines of dialogue, he's just part of the group. According to the cutting continuity, he's the one who says "I guess we don't live
right."
- Matthew "Stymie" Beard
- Supporting role. The nickname doesn't turn up in this dialogue, but the cutting continuity includes it. Mostly an ensemble player, he has one line of dialogue in this, his final film
in the series (not counting one last reunion appearance a couple of years later).
- The Cabin Kids
- Small parts. Listed by Maltin & Bann as The Five Cabin Kids. They perform for the class, but disappear after that, with their seats being occupied by others. The oldest girl is Ruth
Hall, nicknamed "Sweetie," the second oldest girl is Helen Hall, nicknamed "Precious," the oldest boy is James Hall, nicknamed "Darling," the
youngest girl is Winifred Hall, nicknamed "Sugar," and the youngest boy is Frederick Hall, nicknamed "Honey."
- Barbara O'Brien
- Small part. She sits in front of Spanky in class, and he pulls her hair. She previously appeared in "Shrimps For A Day" (no. 133).
- Dickie Olson
- Small part. This is the little blonde boy who gets a closeup as spaghetti is put on his plate. He later appeared in "The Pinch Singer" (no. 143).
- Peggy Lynch
- Extra. She's seen pretty well in the classroom shot of Pete, and sits behind Harold.
- Donald Proffitt
- Extra. He can be seen in the background in many of the scenes.
- Tommy McFarland
- Extra. He sits to the right of Stymie in class. The press release claims this as his debut appearance.
- Eileen Bernstein
- Extra. She sits in front of Scotty in class.
- Snooky Valentine
- Extra. She sits in front of Dickie Olson in class.
- Marianne Edwards
- Extra. She's barely noticeable in the film, but a publicity photo reveals that she sits in front of Alvin in the classroom.
- Jannie Hoskins
- Extra. She sits behind Stymie, serving as one of the replacements for the Cabin Kids after they finish their song. Maltin & Bann list her as Jane Hoskins.
- Dorothy Dandridge
- Extra. She sits behind Peggy Lynch. Like Jannie, she's one of the replacements for the Cabin Kids after they finish their song. Interestingly enough, she later appears behind Stymie in
the classroom.
- Barbara Bletcher
- Extra. She sits in the last seat in Marianne Edwards' row.
- Bonnie Lynn
- Extra. She sits in the second seat of the row next to the windows in the shot taken from Mr. Ralph's POV.
- Joan Gay
- Extra. She sits behind Bonnie Lynn in the shot taken from Mr. Ralph's POV.
- other kids
- Extras. Among the names listed by Maltin & Bann is Barry Downing, but I've yet to find him in the footage. They also list Beverly Baldey and Jamie Kauffman,
neither of whom I'm familiar with. They also list Jackie White, Dorian Johnston and Gene Reynolds, but in this case, the payroll ledgers don't corroborate these names. There are also
three remaining kids that replace the Cabin Kids in the long shots. According to the press release, there were more than 30 kids in the film, and the ledgers reveal the total to be 36 (not
counting the Cabin Kids).
the animals:
- Pete the Pup IV
- Small part. He attends class as well as the party for Miss Jones. The sound he makes after eating the spaghetti seems to be taken right out of the soundtrack for "Hook And
Ladder" (no. 116).
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- bugwatch
- There's a fly that buzzes around Spanky's face as he gives horse radish to Alfalfa.
the adults:
- Edward Norris as "Ralph Wilson"
- Featured role. The kids call him "Mr. Ralph." The cutting continuity refers to him as "Ralph." The press release refers to him as Edwin Norris. He plays along with the
kids' mistaken notion that he's marrying their teacher away from them.
- Arletta Duncan as "Miss Jones"
- Featured role. Ralph calls her "Liza" as a joke. She's getting married, and will be returning the following year as Mrs. Wilson.
- Billy Bletcher as the chairman of the board
- Supporting role. The cutting continuity refers to him as "Bletcher." He does most of the talking and announcements among the guests.
- Robert McKenzie
- Small part. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity refers to him as "McKenzie." He's the Andy Devine-type guy that Spanky tries to
distract.
- Gus Leonard
- Small part. His name doesn't turn up in the dialogue, but the cutting continuity introduces him as "Leonard (Gus)." He helps Spanky with the plate of spaghetti.
- Fred Holmes
- Extra. He sits two seats away from Bletcher.
- Charlie Hall
- Extra. He sits two seats away from McKenzie.
- other adults
- Extras. There are at least three more men at the party. Maltin & Bann list Ernie Alexander and Robert (Bobby) Burns, but I can't identify them in the film.
They also list Lon Poff (or Lo Poff in the 1977 edition of their book), but he's not in the payroll ledgers. There are also at least five unidentified women at the party. The press
release indicates that 15 adults appear in the film, but the payroll ledgers reveal that the total was 16.
the music:
- "Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
- Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
- (A14.) Part of this piece is played over the opening titles. A small portion is repeated as the film closes.
- "Old MacDonald Had A Farm"
- Dan Russo & His Oriole Orchestra had a number 20 hit with this song in 1932. In this film, it's sung by The Five Cabin Kids.
- "Ticklish Reuben" by Cal Stewart
- First released by Stewart in 1902. This is the song sung by Alfalfa and Harold Switzer. Marvin Hatley received an arrangement credit for this version, which was copyrighted on Mar. 8,
1935.
miscellaneous:
Seven shooting dates went into the making of this film. Almost two weeks had passed since shooting finished for "Beginner's Luck" (no. 135). Shooting for
"Teacher's Beau" started on Mar. 13th and continued until Mar. 20th. There was no shooting on Mar. 17th, which was a Sunday. After this, almost two weeks would pass before the
Our Gang unit began filming "Sprucin' Up" (no. 137).
A memo of March 12, 1935, states that the title of the film will be "Teacher's Beau."
A memo of March 16, 1935, to Mr. Cohn, describes the main title cards.
A memo of March 28, 1935, signed by Terhune, states that the production negatives and prints were shipped to Joe Rivkin, who was Roach's eastern representative.
A memo of March 30, 1935, states that the synopsis was sent via air mail to New York.
From the press release: "'Teacher's Beau,' the newest 'Our Gang' comedy to be produced by Hal Roach, is the 'greatest of them all' in the opinion of
most of the kid actors who appeared in it. The reason for their unusual enthusiasm for this particular production was a party scene at which many goodies were served. The food which was not
eaten or destroyed during the filming of this sequence was given to the youngsters so that they might enjoy a real party."
Reel two begins as Spanky and Alfalfa pace and Ralph speaks in a southern accent.
It should be noted that the title sheet includes the production number G-28, which normally goes with "Beginner's Luck" (no. 135). The cutting continuity verifies
that "Teacher's Beau" was production G-29.
The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B630.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.