The Pigskin Palooka

film no. 160

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 17 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Three (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 10:41. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
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 XII (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 very good. The original footage totals 10:19, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:17.
The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 6 (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.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 1:24 is included, showing the opening scene at the train station. This is followed by a clip lasting 2:01, showing Alfalfa winning the game, with music added.

technical details:

Production K-14.

Filmed probably around mid summer 1937.

Music cue sheet prepared Oct. 16, 1937.

Released October 23, 1937. It was the 160th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted November 2, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7549. Renewed May 12, 1965, with registration no. R361172. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "The Pigskin Palooka".'

King World Productions episode no. 1b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed as "Pigkin Palooka."

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.
Sound: William Randall: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Assistant Director: Hal Roach, Jr.: According to Maltin & Bann, this was the last Our Gang film he worked on.
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
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Lead role. He brags about being a football star, and then has to prove himself on the field. He wears number 0.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Supporting role. He's the captain of his team and wears number 1.
Dickie Jones as "Spike": Supporting role. I'm assuming that his name is Spike, since he's the leader of the opposing team, which is called Spikes Tigers. He wears number 29.
Sidney Kibrick: Supporting role. He's second-in-command on the opposing team and has most of the dialogue with Dickie Jones. He wears number 9.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She's Alfalfa's sweetheart and leads the cheers at the game. The photo of her that Alfalfa looks at was later used in "Feed 'Em And Weep" (no. 167).
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Small part. He wears number 7 and scores the gang's first touchdown.
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Small part. He wears number 12 and calls the plays on the field.
Gary Jasgur: Small part. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. They also indicate that the "Junior" moniker was used in this film, but this isn't the case. He's the 'time keaper' at the game.
Delmar Watson: Small part. He's the captain of the military academy's football team, and takes Alfalfa to task for wearing his uniform.
Cullen Johnson: Small part. He's the scorekeeper at the game.
Harold Switzer: Small part. He's number 44 on the team, and is best seen carrying Alfalfa to the game.
Larry Harris: Small part. He's the other boy besides Harold to carry Alfalfa on his shoulder.
Roger McGee: Small part. He wears number 20 on the opposing team, and is easily seen among the boys who say 'Right!'
Rex Downing: Bit part. He's the photographer taking Alfalfa's picture in the first scene.
Norman Salling: Extra. A 1938 casting directory states that he played the bass drum in the marching band in this film. Maltin & Bann include Leon Holland in their cast listing, but the only kid that looks slmilar to him is Salling, so perhaps this is who they meant.
girl 160: Extra. She sits to the left in the stands, and is also near the front of the crowd at the train station.
Billy Ray Smith: Extra. He's the trumpet player in the marching band. This boy's name may actually be Vincent Graeff.
Darwood Kaye: Extra. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used in this film, but this isn't the case. He's on the gang's team, and not the referee, who's made up to look like him.
John Collum: Extra. He's on the gang's team.
Henry Lee: Extra. He sits two rows behind Darla in the stands. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. However, they list Alvin Buckelew in the 1977 edition of their book, and in Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts. In these earlier books, they consistently list Henry Lee as Alvin Buckelew in films from this era.
boy 131: Extra. He's number 24 of the opposing team.
Donald Proffitt: Extra. He's number 9 on the gang's team.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He's number 43 on the gang's team.
Charles Flickinger: Extra. I'm pretty sure he's the boy wearing the number 5 on the gang's team.
Daniel Boone: Extra. He's number 6 on the gang's team.
Barry Downing: Extra. He sits to the left of Darla in the stands. There's also a player on the gang's team, wearing number 16, that resembles him.
boy 141: Extra. He's number 34 of the opposing team.
Freddie Walburn: Extra. He's number 2 of the opposing team.
Paul Hilton: Extra. He can be seen carrying a sign at the beginning of the train station scene.
girl 148: Extra. She's sits towards the left in the stands.
girl 159: Extra. She sits somewhere to the left of Barry Downing in the stands, as revealed in a couple of the shots. She's also noticeable in the final shot as the kids are leaving the field.
Robert Winckler: Extra. I think he may be in the back row in the stands.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Extras. Maltin & Bann list Payne Johnson, Hugh Chapman and Priscilla Lyon, but I can't spot them anywhere. They also list Marvin Trin, presumably as the fat boy in the marching band, but I don't think it's him.
(1.) The referee, who is made to look like Waldo, but isn't him.
(2.) The two first aid workers.
(3.) Four additional musicians in the marching band.
(4.) One or two more members of the gang's team, and five more members of the opposing team.
(5.) Perhaps fifteen to twenty more kids in the stands.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
Pete the Pup IV: Bit part. He's seen as the kids are walking onto the football field.

the adults:

adults: Bit parts. The only adults shown in the film are the porter and the engineer on the train.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A16.) This is played over the opening titles, and as Alfalfa poses for the photograph.
(A17.) The marching band plays this piece over the end title.
"Porky's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this as Alfalfa arrives at the train station.
"Buckwheat's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this as Alfalfa is carried to the football field.
"Darla's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this as Alfalfa first enters the game.
"Spanky's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this after the gang scores their first touchdown. The last part is continued briefly during the short montage sequence.
"Elmira" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this as the last play of the game begins.
"Porky's March" by T. Marvin Hatley: The marching band plays this final piece at the end of the film, which segues into "Good Old Days." The title is the same as the second piece listed above, but I don't hear any similarities other than from a stylistic standpoint.

the locations:

Palms railroad station: Seen at its original location on National Boulevard in Palms, just east of Motor Avenue. It is currently located in Heritage Square on North Homer Street. The tracks are still tucked between the Santa Monica Freeway and the businesses on the north side of National Boulevard.
the football field: This was located on Lafayette Street in Culver City, but has since been replaced by houses.

miscellaneous:

The title was a takeoff on "Pigskin Parade" from 1936, which featured Judy Garland and Johnny Downs.

Alfalfa's school is Dover Military Academy.

The game is between Spikes Tigers and Spankys All-Stars.

There is an ad for Delaware Punch on the fence next to the football field.

The negative cost on this film was $37,155.

©Aug. 6, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/30, 10/26, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 6/14, 7/2, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/27, 4/1, 10/17, 10/22, 11/4.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/12, 8/3.

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