Spooky Hooky
film no. 149
availability:
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 3
(VHS) from Cabin Fever and
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume
One (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever
- Released July 6, 1994. Also released as part of 12 VHS boxed set. This is a complete original print with
excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 10:26. This version has appeared on numerous
bootlegs.
- The Little Rascals Volume 3: Collector's
Edition (VHS) from
Hallmark Home Entertainment
- Released Aug. 15, 2000. Also included as part of
The Little Rascals Volumes 1-5: Collector's
Edition (5 VHS set) and
The Little Rascals Volumes 1-10: Collector's
Edition (10 VHS set), both released Aug. 15, 2000.
- The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 3 &
Vol. 4 (DVD) from
Cabin Fever
- Same contents as the Cabin Fever VHS releases. Also released as part of
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited (6 DVD
set).
- The Little Rascals
(DVD) from Hallmark Home Entertainment
- Released Aug. 19, 2003. This is a copy of the Cabin Fever version.
- The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection
(8 DVD set) from Genius Products
- Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version. There are also two clips from this
film included in the documentary The Story Of Hal Roach And Our Gang.
- The Little Rascals Colorized Collection
(VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment
- Released Apr. 19, 1999. One of six same-named VHS releases, each with three colorized films, deriving
from the Cabin Fever versions.
- The Little Rascals Book IX (VHS) from
Blackhawk Video
- This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title and crew credits are remade, but the end
title is original. The picture quality is good. The original footage totals 9:59, but the original soundtrack lasts an
additional 0:20.
- The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 1
(VHS) from Spotlite Video
- This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. It was also included as part of a 6
VHS boxed set.
- The Little Rascals: Fish Hooky/Spooky
Hooky (VHS) from
Republic Pictures Home Video
- This is the Blackhawk print.
- Hal Roach's Rascals 3-Tape Set (3
VHS set) and
- Hal Roach's Rascals (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- VHS released Feb. 2000. DVD also included in a 2 DVD set with same-named volume. This copy is identical
to Grapevine's. This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. Also included is a documentary
entitled Hollywood Hall Of Fame, with 8 clips from this film. The 1st lasts 0:03, and shows the boys walking
out of the school. The 2nd lasts 0:02, and shows Spanky and Buckwheat. The 3rd lasts 0:02, and shows Porky saying
'O-Tay.' The 4th lasts 0:03, and shows Buckwheat trying to whistle. The 5th lasts 1:12, and shows the
scene with the note and the teacher. The 6th lasts 0:22, and shows Porky as a ghost. The 7th lasts 0:25, and shows
Buckwheat and the skeleton. The 8th lasts 0:01, and shows the four boys in their beds.
- Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 2
Pack (2 VHS set) from Brentwood Video
- Released Nov. 2000. Also released as part of
Our Gang Comedies presents Hal Roach's Rascals 10
Pack (10 VHS set).
- Rescue From Gilligan's Island
(DVD) from Brentwood Video
- Released Nov. 7, 2000.
- Wolfman (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Released Nov. 7, 2000.
- One For The Road (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Released May 22, 2001.
- The New Daughters Of Joshua Cabe
(DVD) from Brentwood Video
- Released May 22, 2001.
- Against All Hope (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Released May 22, 2001.
- 7 Lucky Ninja Kids (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Released July 10, 2001.
- The Over The Hill Gang (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Released July 10, 2001.
- The Bad Cop Chronicles: Confessions Of A Police
Captain (DVD) from Brentwood Video
- Released Oct. 30, 2001.
- The Ghost Walks (DVD) from
Brentwood Video
- Little Rascals Volume 2 (DVD) from
East West Entertainment
- Released 2005. This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out.
- Rascal Dazzle
(VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment
- Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 0:11 is included, showing the circus
parade, with music and narration added.
technical details:
Production K-4.
Released on December 5, 1936.
Copyrighted December 28, 1936, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP6810. Renewed
July 27, 1964, with registration no. R341921. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2031.
All-talking one-reeler.
Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Spooky Hooky".'
King World Productions episode no. 32a, 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 Gordon Douglas
- This credit appears in the film.
- Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.
- This credit appears in the film.
- Film Editor: William Ziegler
- This credit appears in the film.
- Story by Hal E. Roach
- This credit doesn't appear in the film.
- Sound: W. B. Delaplain
- Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
- 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. 2880.
- studio personnel
- secretary-treasurer-general manager - Mat O'Brien
- vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren
- Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver
- assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber
- film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse
- story department - Jack Jevne
- casting - Joe Rivkin
- publicity and advertising - Fred Purner
- art department - Arthur I. Royce
- construction department -
C. E. Christensen
- paint department - James Follette
- property department - W. L. Stevens
- electrical department - William Lewis
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- process department - Roy Seawright
- still photographer -
Bud "Stax" Graves
- musical director - Marvin Hatley
- men's wardrobe - Harry Black
- women's wardrobe - Dorothy Callahan
- makeup department - Jack Casey
- hairdressing - Peggy Zardo
- purchasing department - Russell Walker
- cashier - Mrs. M. Van Keuren
- paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- garage - Walter Johnson
- commissary - W. M. Furlong
- school teacher - Fern Carter
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, James Parrott, Hal Law, John Guedel, Felix
Adler, Harry Langdon, Richard Flournoy and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag
writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze was probably
involved in this capacity.
- animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been
among the animal trainers.
- animation effects - Probably the work of
Roy Seawright.
the kids:
- George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"
- Featured role. He's the leader among the boys and writes the phony note. He doesn't believe in
spooks.
- Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"
- Featured role. He repeatedly acts like a spook.
- Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"
- Featured role. He loses his ability to whistle when he sees the owl.
- Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"
- Featured role. He's not quite as brave as Spanky.
- John Collum
- Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the
school.
- Paul Hilton
- Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the
school.
- Dickie De Nuet
- Extra. It appears that he's also running out of the school.
- Donald Proffitt
- Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the
school.
- Darla Hood
- She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
- Baby Patsy May
- She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
- other kids
- Extras. There are nine more kids in the film. Patsy Barry signs photos from this
film.
the animals:
- dog 087b
- Bit part. He's the dog that runs in the opposite direction when the kids come out.
- Laughing Gravy
- Bit part. He's the little white dog in the opening scene.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- Pete the Pup IV
- He's not in the film, but his photo is included in the opening titles.
- other animals
- Bit parts.
(1.) The owl that spooks Buckwheat.
(2.) Three more dogs at the opening of the film. Maltin & Bann list "Von" from "General
Spanky" (no. 150), but he's not present.
the adults:
- Dudley Dickerson as "Sam," the janitor
- Supporting role. He doesn't let the boys back into the school, and gets spooked later that night.
Maltin's earlier book, The Great Movie Shorts, lists Sam McDaniels, probably in place of Dickerson. The cutting
continuity refers to him as "Janitor."
- Rosina Lawrence as the teacher
- Small part. She's seen talking to the boys as she leaves the school. Maltin & Bann indicate that
her name is Miss Jones in this film, but no name is used. The cutting continuity refers to her as
"Rosina."
- George Washington
- The Unfinished Portrait is hanging on the classroom wall.
- other adults
- Bit parts.
(1.) The two clowns in the circus parade.
(2.) The four mothers of the sick boys.
the music:
- "Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield
- Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A15.) Most of this piece is played over the opening titles and as we see the dogs. A small portion is repeated as
the film closes.
- "The Billboard March" by John N. Klohr
- Written in 1901 and dedicated to Billboard magazine. This is the circus music played by the
passing parade.
miscellaneous:
The circus that the boys miss out on is called the Grant Bro's Circus.
This film is 956 feet in length.
©July 26, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/27, 8/30, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 3/9, 5/16, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 6/15.
2008 updates: 1/7, 5/26, 7/12, 8/9, 8/10, 8/11, 8/24, 9/22, 11/6.
2009 updates: 6/3.
Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.