technical details:
Production K-8.
Filmed January 12 to February 3, 1926. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted April 28, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU22647. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Released May 30, 1926. It was the 50th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Uncle Tom's Uncle".'
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
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- 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 credited 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 hair standing up on the cat's back and the
title cards used as Joe's mother calls him.
- 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:
- the performers
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Featured role. He plays Uncle Tom in the gang's production, but is repeatedly interrupted by his mom.
- Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"
- Featured role. He plays Simon Legree, and is the one in charge.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Supporting role. He plays Topsy in the performance.
- Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bonedust"
- Supporting role. He starts off as the dim-witted curtain puller, but is later part of the show.
- Mary Kornman as "Mary"
- Supporting role. She plays Little Eva.
- Johnny Downs
- Supporting role. He plays Marks, the lawyer.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He also has a part in the play.
- Nancy McKee as "Nancy"
- Supporting role. She's the other female lead besides Mary.
- other performers
- Bit part. The one remaining performer is the girl in blackface during the whipping scene.
- kids behind the scenes
- Jay R. Smith
- Supporting role. He's basically a stage hand, getting more footage than the other backstage kids.
- Jannie Hoskins
- Supporting role. She's in the loft throwing eggs at the actors.
- Clarke Robinson
- Bit part. He plays French horn in the orchestra, and also appears at the beginning of the film.
- David Campbell
- Bit part. He's the blonde boy shown at the beginning of the film.
- other kids
- Bit parts. There are a few other kids working behind the scenes, including a door man, a cashier, and the boy riding the mule.
- the audience
- Gabe Saenz
- Supporting role. He's the tough kid that tries to break up the show.
- Billy Naylor
- Bit part. I'm pretty sure this is the Jewish stereotype in the audience.
- Peggy Eames
- Bit part. There's a closeup of her laughing when Joe takes the stage without his makeup.
- other kids
- Bit parts and extras. There are perhaps forty kids in the audience.
- questionable listings
- Maltin & Bann list Scooter Lowry for this film, and indeed, he was placed under long-term contract about midway through the shooting. However, for his first two weeks under
contract, his salary was charged to "Thundering Fleas." During the third week, his salary was charged to "Uncle Tom's Uncle," but by that time, shooting had finished
for this film. The authors also list Jackie Hanes, but his salary was charged to the current Glenn Tryon productions. They also list Bobby Green, David Durand, Bobby Mallon and Billy Butts,
but none of these names are supported by the payroll ledger.
the animals:
- Buster
- Small part. This is the dog that crosses the ice with Farina. Appeared as "Magnolia" in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51).
- Pal
- Small part. He's Joe's dog.
- dog 034
- Bit part. The dog from "The Big Town" (no. 34).
- dog 003
- Bit part. Appears to be the same dog featured in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).
- dog 043
- Bit part. Presumably the same dachshund that appeared in "Better Movies" (no. 43).
- other animals
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The goat that plays "Buchanan," who provides the explosion at the end of the film.
- (2.) The mule, which Maltin & Bann identify as Dinah, but which doesn't seem like a match to me.
- (3.) The black cat that eats the dove.
- (4.) The cat chased by Pal.
- (5.) The piglet that plays Elsie.
- (6.) The little dog seen backstage.
- (7.) A large goose hanging around outside the barn.
- (8.) A second piglet.
- (9.) At least four chickens.
- (10.) At least one pigeon serving as the dove.
- (11.) A second goose hanging around with the large goose.
the adults:
- Anna Magruder as Joe's mom
- Supporting role. She appears repeatedly to wash Joe's face and put him to work.
- other adults
- Bit part. The only remaining adult is the mailman, who appears briefly blowing a whistle. We don't get a good look at him.
the locations:
- Palms district, Los Angeles
- Some of the footage taken on January 20th was shot in Palms. Other footage on that day was shot at the studio. When the kids are running from the goat, they run south down the alley
situated parallel to and between Motor and Vinton, having entered on Woodbine Street. The camera shows them from both directions. It looks very much like it's been raining recently
in these shots. The goat winds up in the area east of Motor and north of Featherstone. A shot of the kids on top of one of the short cliffs shows the house at the corner of National and
Vinton, as well as part of the Palms Lumber Co.
miscellaneous:
16 shooting dates went into the making of this film. The day after retakes were shot for "Baby Clothes" (no. 49), the 'start' date arrived for "Uncle
Tom's Uncle" on Jan. 12th. Shooting continued until Feb. 3rd, when it was considered 'finished.' However, the datebook entries for Jan. 22nd and 23rd read 'work
suspended account sickness,' and the entry for Jan. 26th reads 'picture tied up account illness of Farina.' And of course, no shooting took place on Jan. 17th, 24th and 31st,
which were all Sundays. And for some reason, no shooting took place on Jan. 15th. Four and a half weeks after shooting finished, the Our Gang unit began filming "Thundering
Fleas" (no. 51).
40 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.