technical details:
Production K-5.
Filmed October 1 to 19, 1925. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted January 23, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU22293. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Released February 14, 1926. It was the 47th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Buried Treasure".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1002, "Treasure Hunt," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17307.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Probably credited in the film as a presenter.
- Supervised by F. Richard Jones
- Credited in the film as supervising director.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
- Assistant Director: Robert A. McGowan
- Later credited as Anthony Mack. This credit derives from his payroll status as an Our Gang assistant director during this period.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Props by Charles Oelze, Ernest Tucker and Don Sandstrom
- This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period. Sandstrom's name reappears in the payroll summaries the week ending Oct. 10th.
- Story by Hal E. Roach
- This credit 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
- 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
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - Robert F. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates, Frank Terry and
James Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
the kids:
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Featured role. He gets quite a bit of footage frolicking with the chimp. He's described as an "able bodied seaman," implying that he's male.
- Johnny Downs as "Johnnie"
- Featured role. He's the rich kid that joins the gang on their treasure hunt.
- Jay R. Smith as "Specks"
- Supporting role. Or more specifically, 'Admiral "Specks".' He's given some footage fishing with Pal.
- Mickey Daniels
- Supporting role. He's the captain of the gang's boat.
- Joe Cobb
- Supporting role. The natives are particularly interested in eating him.
- Mary Kornman
- Supporting role. She saves the day by discovering the fireworks.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble work in this film.
- other boys
- Bit parts. Among the natives are two black boys that get bonked on the head by the gang.
the animals:
- Pal
- Supporting role. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He appears to be Jay's dog, and catches cats instead of fish.
- Buster
- Supporting role. This is the other dog that joins the gang. Later played "Magnolia" in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51).
- other animals
- Featured role and bit parts.
- (1.) The chimpanzee that plays with Farina and is given quite a lot of footage. Not a baboon, as Maltin & Bann describe him.
- (2.) The black cat caught by Pal.
- (3.) The cat on board the gang's boat.
the adults:
- Monte Collins, Sr. as "Cap' Tuttle"
- Small part. He's the kindly old man with the treasure map.
- John Cossar as Johnnie's dad
- Small part. He discourages his son from reading Treasure Island.
- Florence Hoskins as Farina's mother
- Small part. She arrives with the other parents towards the end of the film and mistakes the chimp for Farina.
- Eric Mayne as the friend of Johnnie's dad
- Small part. He's amused by the problem between Johnnie and his father.
- Hayes Robertson as the native chief
- Small part. He's listed in the payroll ledger among the natives, and the chief is the only one built like Robertson.
- Dorothy Vernon as another mother
- Bit part. She's shown towards the end of the film as the parents arrive at the island.
- Lyle Tayo as Johnnie's mom
- Small part. She's briefly shown getting off the boat.
- Charlie Hall as the man in the gorilla suit
- Small part. He's the one who tells the chief about the kids.
- Roy Saeger as one of the parents
- Small part. He's the other father arriving at the island besides Cossar. Judging by his shape, I'd guess that he's Joe's dad.
- Eva Downs as one of the parents
- Small part. She's the one remaining parent arriving at the island. Listed in the ledger as Mrs. J. Downs even though her husband's name was Morey.
- other adults
- Bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The stunt double for Florence Hoskins.
- (2.) The man steering Johnnie's dad's boat.
- (3.) There are scores of adults doing location shooting on the island, most of whom are black men playing natives. A few others make up the crew, and some others are dressed as
apes, and one dressed as a bear. One of the men might be Sammy Brooks. Maltin & Bann also list Jack Roach as one of the men in the gorilla suits, but the ledger doesn't mention
him.
the locations:
- U. S. S. Catalina
- A press photograph reveals that the gang was aboard this boat of the Wrigley line during the filming of this short. While it doesn't verify that the boat was one of the ones used in
the film, it does support the idea that the island scenes were shot on Catalina Island, which was also the subject of the brochure that Cap Tuttle has with the map on it.
miscellaneous:
16 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Nearly two weeks after the finish date for "Good Cheer" (no. 46), the 'start' date arrived for "Buried
Treasure" on Oct. 1st. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Oct. 19th. No shooting took place on Oct. 4th, 11th or 18th, which were all Sundays. After this, a week and
a half passed before shooting began for "Monkey Business" (no. 48).
Johnny is reading a copy of Treasure Island.
40 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.