Dog Days

technical details:

Production A-36.

Filmed October 29 to November 5, and November 17 to 24, 1924. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted March 5, 1925, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU21205. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released March 8, 1925. It was the 36th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Dog Days".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1033, "A Birthday Present," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17338.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Assistant Director: Lloyd French

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

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit derives from Lloyd's 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 Don Sandstrom

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. H. C. Greening was listed in the studio payroll summaries as an Our Gang gag man until the week ending Nov. 8th. Edward Flannigan was listed as an Our Gang gag man throughout the making of this film.

Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro

He was Pal's trainer.

Teacher: Fern Carter

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As 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

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

publicity director - Garrett Graham

purchasing agent - Clyde Hopkins

still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

editing - Credits were in a transition between Thomas J. Crizer and Richard Currier during this period.

writing - Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer and James Parrott may have contributed gags.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels

Featured role. Much of the film centers around him and his dog.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. He's also given quite a lot of footage in this one. It's his dog that has puppies at the end of the film.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Featured role. She's the rich girl who's rescued by Mickey's dog, and invites the gang to her birthday party.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He gets a few comedic moments here and there.

Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson

Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble acting in this short.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He's the owner of the third dog in this short, but mostly does ensemble acting.

Billy Murphy as "Mortimer" aka "Mort"

Small part. He's the baby shown to good effect at the beginning of the film. Sometimes listed in the payroll ledgers as "Baby Murphy."

Peggy Ahern

Small part. She's one of the rich kids, and is given an invitation by Mary early in the film. Listed as Peggy Ahearn by Maltin & Bann.

Johnny Downs

Small part. He's one of the rich kids, and sits next to Mary at the table.

Dorothy Hughes

Small part. She's one of the rich kids, and flirts with Joe.

Louise Tordera

Extra. She's one of the rich kids. Previously featured prominently in "Stage Fright" (no. 17)

other kids

Bit parts. There are four additional boys and three additional girls at the party. Credited in a casting directory for appearing in this film is Rae Ethelyn, but I still need to find a photo of this kid.

the animals:

Pal

Featured role. He's virtually the star of the film, and performs some impressive stunts.

dog 036

Small part. This is Jackie's dog. There seems to be a question of whether he or Pal is the father of the puppies.

other animals

Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts.

(1.) Joe's dog, "Bill." Mickey suggests calling her "Billious." She has a litter of puppies at the end of the film.

(2.) The cat that Pal frames for drinking the baby's milk.

(3.) Mary's pony.

(4.) The horse ridden by Mary's dad.

(5.) Farina's dog.

(6.) The dog that Gene dogsits for the lady.

(5.) Several puppies appearing at the end, but I can't count them, as they're all clustered together.

the adults:

William Gillespie as Mary's dad

Supporting role. He's seen both on the street riding his horse, and in the house at the birthday party.

Lyle Tayo as Mary's mom

Small part. She's seen at the birthday party, and wants the "rough" boys of the gang to leave.

Dorothy Vernon as Mickey's mom

Small part. She's seen at the beginning of the film ordering Mickey to keep an eye on the baby.

Joseph Morrison as the butler

Bit part. He's shown opening the door and letting the gang in.

other adults

Bit parts and extras. A maid and two chauffeurs are also among the cast, as well as a woman walking a dog, and a cop who talks to Farina. There are also a handful of people on the sidewalk in the background of the street scenes.

the locations:

Mentone Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

The opening part of the film, involving the dog looking after the baby among other things, takes place in the farm-like backyard of a house on Mentone. Seen in the background is the vacant lot on the southwest corner of Motor and Woodbine, with the People's Water Co. at 3392 Motor and the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor seen in the backyard.

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

When Mary's pony first starts racing down the street, they're seen rounding the corner from Irene Street onto Motor Avenue. In this initial shot, the house at the northwest corner is shown. This was later Dickie Moore's house in "Free Wheeling" (no. 117). After this, they continue to race along Motor in at least some of the shots. At one point, the east side of the 3400 block is shown, with the bottom portions of the Palms Chamber of Commerce at 3438 Motor, Park & Dedrick Real Estate at 3454 Motor, and Home Made Bakery at 3466 Motor shown. Another shot shows the west side of the 3300 block, with the Palms Hardware Co. at 3351 Motor and the Arthur Boetsch Barber Shop at 3347 Motor shown. The scene ends back at the 3200 block, north of Featherstone, with the east side of the block shown. There's a sign on this property which indicates that Park & Dedrick were selling the lot.

miscellaneous:

13 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A few days after initial filming had finished for "Circus Fever" (no. 35), the 'start' date for "Dog Days" arrived on Oct. 29th. Shooting continued until Nov. 5th. However, filming was divided between both films on Nov. 1st, and no "Dog Days" shooting took place on Nov. 2nd, which was a Sunday, or on Nov. 4th, which was devoted exclusively to "Circus Fever." After the 5th, shooting was suspended for a week and a half until Nov. 17th, when filming resumed for "Dog Days." This continued until the 'finish' on Nov. 24th. No shooting took place on Sundays. After this, there was a break of nearly three weeks before shooting began on "The Love Bug" (no. 37).

There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

availability:

The Return Of "Our Gang" (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1987. This copy is a Film Classic print. The picture quality is fairly good. The print totals 16:40, with 16:32 of it original footage. Barely two-thirds of the original film is included, especially considering that this version is projected at a slower speed.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 6 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies VI (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This is a digest print that's mostly original, except for an additional generic end title after the PathéComedy one. The picture quality is fairly poor. The print totals 9:35, with 9:34 of it original footage. Roughly half of the original film is included.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 9 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy derives from the Video Yesteryear version.

special note

I've also been able to view a home movie version, which seems to contain all of the footage seen in the two versions listed above.

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

© Robert Demoss.