The Cobbler

technical details:

Production A-8.

According to the 1922 studio datebook, filming took place from August 16 to September 9, 1922, on September 18 and 19, 1922, and from September 28 to 30, 1922. However, some of these dates were almost certainly shooting dates for "The Champeen!" (no. 9). See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Released February 18, 1923. It was the 8th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted February 26, 1923, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU18733. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Silent two-reeler.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "The Cobbler".' This is the way it reads on the lobby poster, but the film itself may have read '"Our Gang" Comedy' or '"Our Gang" Series.'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1042, "The Lucky Shoemaker," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17347. Footage also went into episode no. 1080, "Play Ball!!" copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP18381, and recopyrighted May 16, 1961, with registration number LP19565.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Tom McNamara

This credit probably appears in the film.

Assistant Director: Clarence Morehouse

This credit derives from Morehouse's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director during this period.

Photographed by Len Powers

This credit is based on Powers' payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Props by Charles Oelze and Dick Gilbert

This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Her name first appears in the studio payroll summaries the week ending Sep. 16th, which means that the new school year probably began on the 11th.

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

general manager - Warren Doane

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

purchasing superintendent - John L. Murphy

still photographer - Gene Kornman and Chester "Bud" Graves

possible uncredited involvement

supervision - Charles Parrott (better known as Charley Chase) was still director-general at the studio when this film was made, but had stepped down by the time of its release.

editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period.

titles - Tom McNamara probably illustrated the title cards.

writing - Tom McNamara was listed in the payroll summaries as an Our Gang writer during this period. Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have contributed gags.

the kids:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. In the early part of the film, he eats tacks, and then at the end he invades a watermelon patch. He's a 'she' in this film.

Jackie Condon

Featured role. He succeeds in impressing Mary by swallowing nails, much to the dismay of Mickey and Jack. Later, he unties the dog to go after the tramp.

Mickey Daniels

Featured role. His rivalry with Jack Davis is explored as they compete for Mary's attention. Later, he gets oil all over his face while under the car and stumbles upon the tramp's hideout.

Jack Davis

Featured role. He battles with Mickey to gain Mary's favor and later is the second to enter the tramp's hideout.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

Featured role. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Sunshine Sammy" moniker was used in this film. In the first half, he mostly does ensemble acting, but also stops Farina from munching on any more tacks. Later, he tries to blow up a tire but pops it.

Mary Kornman

Supporting role. She appears early in the film to have a shoe repaired and flirt with the boys. H. M. Walker introduces her as "Little Miss Riches."

other kids

A lobby card photo reveals that two additional girls were used in the scene where Mary is getting her shoe repaired. The available footage seems to be complete enough to rule out their presence in the finished film.

the animals:

Bill

Featured role. Maltin & Bann list Pete the Pup, but this is an error. In this film, Bill picks a fight with a cat and ends up losing. As a result, he suffers a black eye, which is illustrated by a ring drawn around his eye. He belongs to Mickey, who's mortified by these developments. Later he goes after the tramp.

cat 005

Supporting role. I'm not really sure, but this looks like Jackie's cat in "A Quiet Street" (no. 5). A pretty ferocious cat, since he's able to polish off Mickey's dog.

parrot 008

Small part. He belongs to Mr. Tuttle, and alerts the dog to the presence of the cat. Presumably the same parrot that appeared in later films.

other animals

Small part and bit parts.

(1.) The hog that knocks over the tramp.

(2.) Six piglets that follow the tramp as he crawls along the ground.

(3.) Several chickens, most notably the one that lays the eggs in Dandy Dick's hideout. There are also seven or eight others that pop up as Mickey and Jack start climbing on the haystack. Earlier, there are about twenty chickens in the road. Mr. Tuttle later finds one of them on the front of his car.

the adults:

Richard Daniels as "Mr. Tuttle," the cobbler

Featured role. He seems to appear only during the first half of the film. Guiol refers to him as "Professor."

Dick Gilbert as "Dandy Dick," the tramp

Supporting role. He appears in the second half of the film, and suffers the wrath of the gang's dog. There's a box in his hideout that says 'Dandy Dick No. 1,' so I'm not sure that this is his name. In the inter-titles, he's introduced as 'the tramp.'

Katherine Grant as Mary's nursemaid

Supporting role. She appears only in the early part of the film, bringing Mary into the shoe shop to have her shoe repaired.

Gaylord Lloyd as the postman

Small part. He appears briefly delivering news of Mr. Tuttle's back pension. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Charley Young.

Vera White as the shoe repair customer

Small part. She appears briefly near the beginning of the film as a flapper. The boys make fun of her behind her back. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Clara Guiol.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) The chauffeur, who's seen twice, but only briefly.

(2.) The driver of the truck that gets pulled backwards by Mr. Tuttle's car.

(3.) At least two pedestrians seen as the car drives through the streets, and a pedestrian in the background as Mary gets back into the car.

in still images

A portrait hangs in the cobbler's shop, which looks quite a lot like Ulysses S. Grant. Also, a portrait of a woman is hanging in Dandy Dick's haystack hideout.

miscellaneous:

According to the 1922 studio datebook, 26 shooting dates went into the making of this film. However, the datebook makes no mention of production A-9 ("The Champeen!"), nor are there any blank dates between productions, aside from Sundays and holidays, which could accommodate the shooting of A-9. Therefore, it's more than likely that many of the late August and early September dates were actually for "The Champeen!" with production number A-8 pencilled in by mistake. Some of the retakes for A-8 may have also actually been for A-9. In any event, shooting commenced on Aug. 16th, and continued until Sep. 9th on these two productions. No shooting took place on Aug. 20th, Aug. 27th, Sep. 3rd, or Sep. 10th, which were all Sundays, nor on Sep. 4th, which was Labor Day. The following week, from Sep. 11th to 16th, was devoted to added scenes for "The Big Show" (no. 7). No shooting took place on Sep. 17th, which was a Sunday. Added scenes took place for "The Cobbler" on Sep. 18th and 19th, though the datebook doesn't specify 'added scenes' for the 19th. Work then returned to "The Big Show" from Sep. 20th until Sep. 28th. On this last date, production was divided between "The Big Show" and "The Cobbler." Retakes were then shot for "The Cobbler" on Sep. 29th and 30th. In fact, for the 29th, the datebook states that the unit was 'retaking retakes.' No shooting took place on Oct. 1st, which was a Sunday. It's interesting to note that shooting began the day after the last day of initial shooting for "The Big Show," and that shooting for "Boys To Board" (no. 10) started the Monday after the last Saturday date for "The Cobbler." The Our Gang unit took very little time off during 1922.

The Motion Picture News of Sep. 16, 1922, reports: "Tom McNamara, who has written stories for previously made 'kid' comedies, is now directing 'The Rascal Kid' company."

The Motion Picture News of Feb. 17, 1923, carried the following review by Lillian Gale: "A great deal has been said about the 'perfect picture of the future.' Well, the perfect two reel comedy is here and now, one of the 'Our Gang' Series and sailing triumphantly under the title of 'The Cobbler.' In the cast are those juvenile artists, Sunshine Sammy, Farina, Mickey Daniels, and the rest usually among 'Our Gang' players. They are at their individual best in a comedy that is thoroughly saturated with amusing incident and human interest touches.
"The story hinges upon the good nature of a hard working cobbler, who looks forward through the week to Saturday when the 'gang' are sure to use his shop for a play-house and generally disrupt order. On this particular Saturday, he is not disappointed, for as each one makes an appearance, that one does so with an individual disaster. In the midst of the excitement, a customer appears. She is a daintily dressed little girl, who rides in a handsome limousine, accompanied by a nurse, and who comes into the shop to have a little white shoe made comfortable. The boys in the 'gang' flirt like veterans and all seem to register. The departure of the rich child makes the world seem commonplace again until a long anticipated check for back pension is delivered the cobbler, by the postman. That closes the shop for a pic-nic, 'the gang,' guests of the kindly man, all pile in a decrepit Ford. Things happen so fast, it would be difficult to enumerate them, but Farina's inclination to meditate, leads her to a watermelon patch, while two of the boys have a lively encounter with a tramp, whose hiding place they accidentally disclose.
The accuracy in connecting incidents, the splendid characterizations of these children, even the parrot, the dog, cats, pigs, etc., indicate Tom McNamara's ability as a director, and the extent of his patience. Nevertheless, if there is anyone who dares the world to make him laugh he had better not look at 'The Cobber,' for there is a laugh every foot of the way."

The datebook also reveals what the weather was like during the making of these films. During the initial August and September dates, the weather is usually described as 'bright.' Specifically, though, it's described as 'bright & very hot' on Aug. 26th and 27th, 'bright & hot' on the 28th, and 'bright & somewhat cooler' on the 29th. It's described as 'medium' on Sep. 7th, and 'medium bright' on the 8th. When filming resumes in mid-September, the weather is described as 'bright & hot' on the 18th and 'bright - morning foggy - cooler' on the 19th. For the late September dates, it's described as 'bright' (including on Sunday, Oct. 1st), with the exception of Sep. 28th, when it was 'medium bright morning dark.'

This film was the second of six in the second 'series' of Our Gang films.

38 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.

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© Robert Demoss.