Baby Clothes

film no. 49

availability:

Our Gang Volume #12 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace

This is a home movie print made by Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago. The print totals 20:57, with 20:52 of it original footage. Almost the entire original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

Our Gang Silent Comedies #2 (VHS) from Nostalgia Family Video

This copy is essentially the same as Grapevine's. The print totals 21:00, with 20:56 of it original footage.

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

Our Gang Comedies VI (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This copy is essentially the same as the others, but adds a title card at the end indicating that it was released by Niles Film Products in South Bend, Indiana. The print totals 25:12, with 25:06 of it original footage. The longer running time is due to a slower projection speed.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 7 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy is identical to Grapevine's.

technical details:

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 director: Charles Oelze

According to Rob Stone's list.

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.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.

Props by Don Sandstrom

According to Rob Stone's list.

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 - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• editing - Bert Jordan, William Terhune and Lloyd Campbell were among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Yates and James Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll, Leo Samwell, Sherbourne Shields and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers.

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.

boy 003

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.

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:

Harry Earles 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.

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.

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.

Charles A. Millsfield as the man with the beard

Bit part. He tries to kiss Joe, but Joe won't have any of it.

Martha Sleeper as the "pip"

Bit part. She gets affectionate with the "baby," but soon finds out he's a midget.

Ed Brandenberg as one of the bellboys

Bit part. Mr. Weedle won't give him a tip.

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 doorman that won't let Farina and Jackie in, and then has to answer to Pal.
(2.) The cab driver who gets hit on the head with a hammer.
(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:

the hotel lobby

According to Maltin & Bann, this is the usual lobby set used for such films at the Roach studio.

Culver Hotel and Adams Hotel

These are shown in exterior shots, with the Culver Hotel serving as the hotel in the film. The Adams Hotel is across the street in the distance.

Palms

According to Rob Stone's list, the retakes shot on January 11th were done in Palms.

miscellaneous:

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