technical details:
Production K-7.
Filmed December 7 to 20, 1925, and January 11, 1926. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted March 15, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU22478. Since the copyright was not renewed,
this film is now in the public domain.
Released April 25, 1926. It was the 49th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Baby
Clothes".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1020, "The Rich Uncle," copyrighted Sep.
1, 1960, with registration number LP17325.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Probably 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 Directors: Robert A. McGowan and Charles
Oelze
- McGowan was later credited as Anthony Mack. The payroll summaries were listing McGowan as the assistant
director for the Our Gang unit during this period, but were still listing Oelze as a prop man. Rob Stone's list gives
sole credit to Oelze.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd and
Harry W. Gerstad
- Maltin & Bann give sole credit to Lloyd, which is probably the way it appeared in the film. However
the weekly payroll summaries reveal that Gerstad worked as a cameraman with the Our Gang unit during the entire week
ending Dec. 19th, and for part of the following week, which means he was probably the photographer from Dec. 14th until
the end of shooting.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Cutter: Lloyd Campbell
- This credit derives from Campbell's payroll status as the Our Gang cutter during this period.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Props by Don Sandstrom
- This is according to Rob Stone's list. The payroll summaries also list Oelze as a prop man during
this period.
- Animation by E. H. Young
- This credit derives from Young's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. The
animation in this film involves the commotion produced by the fight Joe gets into at the end of the film.
- 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
- 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, Robert A.
McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates and James
Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
the kids:
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Featured role. He's virtually the star of the film. His mother puts him in baby clothes to keep him fighting.
- Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"
- Featured role. He dresses as a girl named "Myrtle" to help with the charade at the hotel.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins
- Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He finally dresses as a baby at the end to join in the action.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He and Farina manage to get themselves into the hotel, and then Jackie takes Joe's place as the Weedle baby.
- Johnny Downs
- Supporting role. He's the timid rich boy at the hotel who is smitten with Mickey, er, Myrtle.
- Mary Kornman
- Supporting role. She seems to be Johnny's sister. Mickey flirts with her, but Mary finds this strange coming from a girl.
- Gabe Saenz
- Bit part. He's the one who gives Joe the black eye at the end of the film.
- Bobby "Bonedust" Young
- Bit part. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Bonedust" moniker was used, but this doesn't
appear to be so. He's fighting with Joe at the beginning of the film.
- Mildred Kornman
- Presumed extra. The payroll ledger makes it pretty clear that "Baby Kornman" appeared in this film, along with her mother. She's probably
among the dozens of people in the lobby scenes.
- other kids
- Bit parts. The gang steals clothes from two babies, only one of whom is clearly seen.
the animals:
- Pal
- Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's with the gang at the beginning of the film, then
arrives at the hotel with Jackie and Farina.
- dog 034
- Bit part. He's shown at the beginning of the film.
- bugwatch
- Bit parts. There are various flies shown during the flyswatting sequence.
the adults:
- Gustav Schaffrath as the midget
- Featured role. Along with Joe, he's virtually the star of the film, playing practical jokes on people by dressing as a baby. The payroll ledger gives various spellings of his
name. The one I'm using here was researched for Lord Heath's website. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Harry Earles.
- William A. Orlamond as "Uncle John"
- Featured role. This is the rich uncle that's expecting to see some children.
- William Gillespie as "Wm. Weedle"
- Supporting role. He and his wife need to produce a couple of kids to keep getting money out of their rich uncle.
- Charlotte Mineau as "Mrs. Weedle"
- Supporting role. This is the wife.
- Helen Gilmore as Joe's mom
- Small part. She's shown at the beginning of the film punishing Joe by dressing him as a baby.
- Fay Holderness as the midget's guardian
- Small part. She appears every so often to retrieve the midget.
- Charlie Hall as one of the bellboys
- Small part. He's the one that arranges for Mickey and Joe to take part in the scam.
- Charles A. Millsfield as the man with the beard
- Bit part. He tries to kiss Joe, but Joe won't have any of it.
- Rolfe Sedan as the man telling the joke
- Bit part. Shown briefly with Lee Phelps.
- Lee Phelps as the man listening to the joke
- Bit part. Shown briefly with Rolfe Sedan. The midget gives himself away by getting the joke.
- Martha Sleeper as the "pip"
- Bit part. She gets affectionate with the "baby," but soon finds out he's a midget.
- Olin Francis as the doorman
- Bit part. He won't let Farina and Jackie in, and then has to answer to Pal.
- Stanley "Tiny" Sandford as the hotel detective
- Bit part. He's shown a couple of times in the short, but isn't given too much to do, at least not
in this print.
- other adults
- Bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The cab driver who gets hit on the head with a hammer.
- (2.) The bellboy who delivers the telegram to Weedle and goes without a tip. Maltin & Bann credit Ed Brandenburg, but I'm not so sure.
- (3.) There are at least two additional bellboys, as well as a handful of other hotel employees.
- (4.) There are also scores of hotel guests.
the locations:
- Culver Hotel, Culver City
- This is shown at the end of the film when Joe chases down the bully. Shown is the Washington Boulevard
side of the building. The Adams Hotel is across the street in one of the shots. A reverse angle shot reveals the
newly-built Hull Building in the distance at the corner of Washington and Watseka.
- Hal E. Roach Studios, Culver City
- According to Maltin & Bann, the usual hotel lobby set was used for this film. As with most shorts
made during this time of year, most of the footage is indoors, and no doubt shot at the studio.
- Palms
- According to Rob Stone's list, the retakes shot on January 11th were done in Palms. The footage of
Joe being dressed as a baby was probably shot there.
miscellaneous:
14 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two and a half weeks after shooting finished for "Monkey
Business" (no. 48), the 'start' date arrived for "Baby Clothes" on Dec. 7th. Shooting
continued until Dec. 20th, when it was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Dec. 6th and 13th, which
were both Sundays, but the last day of shooting, the 20th, was a rare working Sunday, no doubt to compensate for the
upcoming Christmas holiday weekend. After three full weeks of inactivity, retakes were shot on Jan. 11th. The very next
day, shooting began for "Uncle Tom's Uncle" (no. 50).
38 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.