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 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.

Filmed probably around mid-to-late summer 1936.

All three previews were successful, making it unnecessary to do any re-shoots.

Released December 5, 1936. It was the 149th film in the series to be released.

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 Production Code Adminstration of the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America: Certificate no. 2660 (I think).
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

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.
Robert Winckler: Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the school.
Harold Switzer: Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the school.
Sidney Kibrick: Extra. A publicity photo reveals that he's one of the kids running out of the school.
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.
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 eleven more kids in the film. It looks like Dickie De Nuet is among them. Also, Patsy Barry signs photos from this film.

the animals:

dog 149: Bit part. He's the largest of the dogs, and belonged to Hal Roach.
dog 087b: Bit part. He's the dog that runs in the opposite direction when the kids come out.
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.) Four 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.
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.
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.
(A14.) 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.
piece 149: This is the circus music played by the passing parade.

the locations:

Stage Four, Hal E. Roach Studios: Most of the filming was done here.

miscellaneous:

The circus that the boys miss out on is called the Grant Bro's Circus.

The negative cost on this film (as of Feb. 13, 1937) was $21,174. Maltin & Bann provide a breakdown of this on page 238 of the 1992 edition of their book.

©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.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore and Paul Mular for assistance on this page.