Commencement Day

technical details:

Production A-26.

Filmed November 9 to December 6, 1923, January 7 to 11, 1924, and January 26, 1924. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Released May 4, 1924. It was the 25th film in the series to be released.

Copyrighted May 12, 1924, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU20193. 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 "Commencement Day".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1029, "Little Red Schoolhouse," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17334.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Mark Goldaine

This credit probably appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial. According to Rob Stone's list, Goldaine was the sole director. Goldaine was listed as "Mark Haldane" in the 1977 edition of Maltin & Bann's book.

Assistant Director: Clarence Morehouse

This credit derives from Morehouse's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director until the week ending Dec. 15th.

Photographed by Harry W. Gerstad and Bob Walters

This credit derives from the weekly studio payroll summaries, which indicate that Gerstad was the regular Our Gang cameraman during the initial shooting. Walters is listed for the earlier January retakes.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Props by Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom

This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period. Sandstrom's name was removed from the payroll summaries after the week ending Jan. 5th.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film. Mark Goldaine was listed in the payroll summaries as an Our Gang writer during this period.

Teacher: Fern Carter

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

still photographer - Chester "Bud" Graves and Clarence "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

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

writing - Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer and Leo McCarey may have been among the gag writers.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"

Lead role. He's basically the lead character, beating up the bully, and performing violin in front of the class.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Featured role. She's picked on by the bully, which leads to Mickey defending her. She's humiliated in front of the class when she can't remember the words to "Mary Had A Little Lamb."

Gabe Saenz as "Snoozer"

Featured role. He's the bully, and picks on anybody that happens to be nearby.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Supporting role. He's the victim of a practical joke out in the yard, then plays his saxophone in front of the class.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He falls in the well, which brings all the parents outside to his rescue.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that the nickname was used. He operates the merry-go-round in exchange for some lunches.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He plays a few practical jokes during the course of this film.

Dorothy Hughes

Supporting role. She's the first kid picked on by the bully, at least in this print, and is with Mary in the scene leading to the big fight.

Andy Samuel

Small part. He sits behind Mary in class, and is also one of the three boys that take a ride on Ernie's merry-go-round.

girl 021

Bit part. The fat girl from "Derby Day" (no. 21).

boy 021

Bit part. At least I think it's him. He's sits in one of the back row seats in the classroom, and is also seen during the fight.

Peggy Ahern

Extra. She's seen sitting behind Snoozer in the classroom.

Clarke Robinson

Extra. After the mud is splattered on Joe's face, he's standing right behind him.

Jannie Hoskins

Presumed bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. She doesn't appear in the TV print.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. In addition to the kids already mentioned, the following are also seen in the classroom: Billy Condon, Loretta Cobb, Charles Oelze, Jr., Ivadell Carter (listed by Maltin & Bann as Wadell Carter), Kenneth Guthrie, Marsile Chiniquy, Lloyd Campbell, Jr., Ernest Koepke, Morris Abrams, Warren Pease and Theresa Berlin. Two of these kids are girl 021 and boy 021 as listed above. Maltin & Bann also list Billy Lord for this film, and they invariably list him in place of Donald Hughes, who routinely wore Harold Lloyd-like glasses. There is a boy who fits this description in this film, but I'm pretty sure he's just one of the other kids wearing the same type of glasses.

the animals:

Bill

Small part. This was the last appearance of this original Our Gang dog, until he returned for one last time in "The Sun Down Limited" (no. 31).

Dinah the Mule

Small part. She provides locomotion for the laundry line turned merry-go-round.

mule 026

Bit part. This is the white mule that pokes its head in the window during the sneezing scene.

other animals

Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts.

(1.) Mary's goat, which Snoozer has to kiss after Mickey beats him up.

(2.) Mickey's toad, which is stuck in the back of his shirt until it ends up at the end of his violin bow.

(3.) The dog that licks the pepper off of the sucker.

the adults:

George B. French as the teacher

Supporting role. Featured fairly strongly in this film.

Dorothy Vernon as Mickey's mom

Small part. She's the woman who gets a look of pride on her face as Mickey gets up to perform. She's also seen earlier in the film at home with Mickey. Listed in the payroll ledger as Dorothy Burns, her married name.

Helen Gilmore as Joe and Jackie's mom

Small part. She's seen earlier in the film at home with her two boys.

Gus Leonard as the man with the earhorn

Small part. Mickey throws the frog into his earhorn.

Charley Lloyd as one of the parents

Bit part. He's the man sitting next to Vernon. Not listed by Maltin & Bann.

Lyle Tayo as Mary's mom

Bit part. She sends Mary off to school, but we don't get a good look in this print.

J. J. Clayton

Bit part. He's the old guy sitting next to Gus Leonard.

Lillian Lawrence as one of the parents

Bit part. She sits to the right of Young.

Louise Cabo as one of the parents

Bit part. Gus Leonard tosses the frog into her lap.

other adults

Bit part. There's also a black maid at the school, who gets knocked down by French.

the music (sort of):

"Humoresque" Op. 101 No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak

Written in 1894. Mickey plays this on his violin.

miscellaneous:

26 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Nov. 8th was a 'prep' day, directly following the last day of principle shooting for "Seein' Things" (no. 25). Principle shooting for "Commencement Day" started on Nov. 9th and continued until the December 4th 'finish.' No shooting took place on Nov. 11th, Nov. 18th, Nov. 25th or Dec. 2nd, which were all Sundays, nor on Nov. 29th, 30th or Dec. 1st, when the studio was closed over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Prep work began on "It's A Bear" (no. 27) on Dec. 5th, with the production number written over the one for "Commencement Day," suggesting that perhaps work was planned for that film. In fact, retakes for "Commencement Day" took place the next day, on Dec. 6th. The rest of the December activity was largely centered around "It's A Bear," until director Mark Goldaine departed from the Roach studio on Jan. 5th. He had, up to this time, directed on every shooting date for "Commencement Day." On Jan. 7th, Robert McGowan divided his energies between directing both of these films, as well as "Seein' Things." He then worked on "Commencement Day from Jan. 8th to 11th before spending one more day on "It's A Bear." After this, the Our Gang unit took two weeks off before McGowan spent one last Saturday, Jan. 26th, filming "Commencement Day." The following Monday, he began filming "Cradle Robbers" (no. 28).

The 1923 and 1924 studio datebooks give information regarding what the weather was like on the various shooting dates. In almost every instance, it was described as 'clear.' However, on Nov. 20th, it was 'cloudy,' and on Jan. 26th, it was 'hazy.' No description was given for the off days, with the exception of Nov. 11th, 18th, and 25th.

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

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

The map on the schoolroom wall reads 'prize winning map won by James Morton, class: 22.'

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.