technical details:
Production K-4.
Filmed September 3 to 18, 1925. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Released January 10, 1926. It was the 46th film in the series to be released.
Copyrighted January 23, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU22300. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Good Cheer".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1055, "Happy Holiday," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17360.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Credited in the film as a presenter.
- Supervised by F. Richard Jones
- Probably credited in the film as supervising director.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
- Assistant Director: Robert A. McGowan and Charles Oelze
- Later credited as Anthony Mack. This credit derives from his payroll status as an Our Gang assistant director during this period. The payroll summaries also credit Oelze as an assistant
director for the week ending Aug. 29th, which was the week prior to when shooting began for this film. This is in addition to also being credited as a prop man. The studio was closed at the
time, but it's conceivable that he spent the week supervising the transformation of the New York street set into a winter setting.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit derives from Lloyd's payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Props by Charles Oelze and Ernest Tucker
- 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.
- 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
- still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- possible uncredited involvement
- photography - The special photographic effects may have been the work of Alvin V. Knetchel.
- writing - Robert F. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates, Frank Terry and
James Parrott may have been among the gag writers. Also, Stan Laurel was paid for a half day's work on this film
as a writer.
the kids:
- Mickey Daniels
- Featured role. The enclosure that serves as the gang's clubhouse has his name written on the wall as "Micky." He and Johnny are the older kids that make the younger
kids' Christmas wishes come true. Mickey seems to be the one with the ideas.
- Johnny Downs
- Featured role. He and Mickey work together to give the younger kids a good Christmas.
- Joe Cobb
- Featured role. He's alone in his apartment when "Santa" comes to visit.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins
- Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He's with his sister when
"Santa" comes to visit.
- David Durand
- Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann, but identified by Johnny Downs on Jackie Taylor's TV show in the '70s. He's the small boy looked after by Mary.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He's the brother of Mary, Jay and David, and pals around with Jay.
- Jay R. Smith as "J. R."
- Supporting role. At the gang's clubhouse, his name is written on the wall as "J. R." He pals around with Jackie.
- Mary Kornman
- Supporting role. She mostly looks after her little brother David.
- Jannie Hoskins as "Arnica"
- Supporting role. She appears as Farina's little sister, with a jack-in-the-box gag thrown in.
- other kids
- Bit parts.
- (1.) The one-legged boy that Mickey talks to.
- (2.) Four boys are riding on a sled and throwing snowballs. There are also boys throwing snowballs on the street, but it's not clear if these are the same boys.
the animals:
- Dinah the Mule
- Supporting role. She pulls the sleigh that Mickey and Johnny ride, and gets a drink from the drunken Santa.
- Pal
- Bit part. He's Johnny's dog and appears briefly at the beginning of the film.
- Buster
- Bit part. This dog appears wearing bricks on its feet. Later appeared as "Magnolia" in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51).
- other animals
- Bit parts.
- (1.) The black cat whose fur stands on end when he sees Mickey on Johnny's shoulders as they're pretending to be Santa.
- (2.) A cat with frozen whiskers.
- (3.) A mouse with frozen whiskers.
- (4.) A chicken with bricks on its feet.
- (5.) Three brown horses pulling sleds at the beginning of the film. Could possibly have appeared previously.
the adults:
- Richard Daniels as "Dad"
- Supporting role. This is what all of the kids call him. He puts the idea in the kids' heads to keep wishing.
- Harry Bowen as the bootleggers' ringleader
- Small part. In plain clothes, he tells the fake Santas to hurry up. Then dressed as Santa, he delivers liquor to Hallett and then delivers toys to Joe's room.
- Hayes Robertson as one of the fake Santas
- Small part. He hides out in Farina's room and leaves behind a bag full of presents.
- "Tonnage" Martin Wolfkeil as "Murphy," the janitor and store window Santa
- Small part. When the kids see him without the beard, they stop believing in Santa.
- Sam Lufkin as the inebriated Santa Claus
- Bit part. He gives Dinah a sample of his hooch.
- man 040 as "Izzy"
- Bit part. He's the Jewish man who's the first one to buy the heated bricks. His character name is revealed by a lobby card.
- Robert Page as one of the cops
- Bit part. He appears to be the cop who shoots Joe's pants off of the telephone wire.
- Charlie Hall as the motorist
- Bit part. Jackie and Jay attempt to wash his car, the results being that it's covered in icicles. Maltin & Bann also credit him as one of the crooked Santas, but it's too
hard to tell with the available prints.
- Al Hallett
- Bit part. He's the customer who receives liquor from Bowen.
- Chet Brandenburg as the store window assistant
- Bit part. He and Wolfkeil are surprised when the window shade goes up. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Ed Brandenberg, though elsewhere, they list Chet as a pedestrian.
- Sammy Brooks
- Bit part. Surely that must be him front and center while the Santas are on the roof.
- other adults
- Supporting role, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The spirit of "Santa Claus," who appears repeatedly during the film.
- (2.) The Russian man that David Durand thinks is Santa Claus.
- (3.) The man at the Navy recruitment office.
- (4.) Several crooked Santas, although in these prints, it's almost impossible to identify them. Maltin & Bann list Jack Ackroyd and Jules Mendel, both of
whom worked at the studio during the making of this film. They also list Jack Gavin, William A. Orlamond and Wallace Howe, none of whom were at the studio at the time.
- (5.) Several police officers. Maltin & Bann list Gene Morgan and Noah Young, but neither is listed in the payroll ledger.
- (6.) Four people playing the miniature figures in the window display with Santa Claus.
- (7.) The passenger of the car driven by Charlie Hall.
- (8.) The Salvation Army man ringing the bell.
- (9.) The baker.
- (10.) The beggar.
- (12.) Scores of pedestrians. Maltin & Bann list Jack Hill, but it's impossible to tell with the available prints.
- in still images
- A photograph of a woman is on the wall of Joe's bedroom, and two photos of women are on the wall of Farina's room.
the locations:
- Hal Roach Studios backlot
- It appears that all of the outdoor footage was shot here, no doubt to accommodate all that fake snow.
miscellaneous:
13 days of shooting went into the making of this film. Over four weeks had passed since filming had finished for "One Wild Ride" (no. 45). The studio was closed for half
of this period. There is some indication, however, that Charles Oelze spent the last week of closure working on "Good Cheer," presumably preparing it for its wintery motif. The
studio reopened on Sep. 1st, and the 'start' date arrived on Sep. 3rd. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Sep. 18th. No shooting took place on Sep. 6th and 13th,
which were both Sundays, nor on Sep. 7th, which was Labor Day. After this, nearly two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began filming "Buried Treasure" (no. 47).
Judging by the breakdown of David Durand's salary during the making of this film, it seems likely that he didn't join the production until Sep. 9th.
Somewhat of a companion film to this one is the Clyde Cook comedy "Starvation Blues." Its first week of shooting overlapped with the final week of shooting for "Good
Cheer," and this allowed Cook & Co. to take advantage of all the fake snow on the studio's New York exterior set.
Count this film among those that include a Krazy Kat doll. This is the toy that Joe picks up after the large pile of toys magically appears in front of the kids.
40 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
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