Thundering Fleas

film no. 51

availability:

Our Gang (VHS) from Video Yesteryear: Released 1987, and reissued Feb. 1992, with an EP version released Sep. 1999. This copy is a home movie print made by Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago. The picture quality is good. The print totals 27:02, with 26:54 of it original footage. Even though the length is largely due to a slower projection speed, almost all of the original film is included.
Laurel & Hardy: The Original Brats & More Hal Roach Classics from Universal: Released 2004. This is a PAL DVD from the UK. The print totals 18:01, with 17:40 of it original footage, but this includes freeze-frames of the inter-titles. The picture quality is good, but the very last bit with the statue is cut short.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS) from Video Classics and
Our Gang Comedies VII (VHS) from The Picture Palace: This copy is virtually the same as Video Yesteryear's, but of lesser quality. The print totals 22:36, with 22:29 of it original footage.
Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy: Early Silent Classics Volume 2 (DVD) from Alpha Video: Released Feb. 22, 2005. This version includes only the second half of the film, with very poor picture quality.
The Laurel Or Hardy Collection (5 DVD set) from Passport Video: Released 2006. The print totals only 9:39, with 9:34 of it original footage, covering only the second half of the film, and the picture quality is fairly poor. I would guess that this is the same version released by Alpha Video the previous year.
Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era (VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor: A clip lasting 0:05 is included, showing the kids before the wedding, with narration added.
SlapHappy: Vol. 9 (DVD) from Fishigan Films: Released 2003. Originally produced in 2001. Includes a clip from this film. This volume is also included as part of The SlapHappy Collection (11 DVD set).
special note: Amazon.com indicates that this film is included on The Lost Films Of Laurel And Hardy - The Complete Collection Vol. 9 (VHS/DVD) from Hal Roach Studios, but it is, in fact, not.

technical details:

Production K-9.

Filmed March 8 to 25, 1926.

Copyrighted May 26, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU22775. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released July 4, 1926. This is according to both Rob Stone's Laurel Or Hardy and Richard Lewis Ward's A History Of The Hal Roach Studios. Maltin & Bann list July 18th. It was the 51st film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

A five second clip was used in the Glenn Tryon comedy "45 Minutes From Hollywood" that derived from the rushes for this film, and is very similar to the version of the scene that made the final cut.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Thundering Fleas".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1046, "The Flea Circus," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17351.

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: Robert A. McGowan and Charles Oelze: According to Rob Stone's book. This credit would not have appeared in the film. McGowan was the director's nephew.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: According to Rob Stone's notes. This credit might not appear in the film.
Edited by Richard Currier and Lloyd Campbell: This credit probably appears in the film with Currier's name. Maltin & Bann list Currier, while Rob Stone's book lists Campbell as a cutter.
Titles by H. M. Walker: This credit probably appears in the film.
Story by Hal E. Roach, Hal Yates and Carl Harbaugh: This credit probably doesn't appear in the film. Maltin & Bann list Roach, while Rob Stone lists Yates and Harbaugh.
Props by Leo Samwell, Ted Driscoll and Don Sandstrom: According to Rob Stone's book.
Cartoons by E. H. Young: According to Rob Stone's book. This credit would not have appeared in the film.
Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
Passed by the National Board of Review: Probably indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Featured role. The nickname doesn't appear in these prints. It's his dog that has the fleas, and he's basically the link between the disparate elements in the film.
Mary Kornman as "Mary": Supporting role. She sets up the kiddie wedding and gets married to Joe, all in anticipation of her sister's wedding.
Joe Cobb: Supporting role. He appears in the first scene getting married to Mary. Later, he pairs up with Jay to search for fleas.
Elmer "Scooter" Lowry as "Skooter": Supporting role. He's the new kid on the block and pairs up with Farina.
Johnny Downs: Supporting role. He's Mary's brother. He pairs up with Mickey to search for fleas.
Jackie Condon: Supporting role. He's the minister in the kiddie wedding. He later searches for fleas at the dog pound.
Mickey Daniels: Supporting role. He appears in most of the scenes, and pairs up with Johnny on their search for fleas, but isn't given too much of his own to do. This was his last appearance in the series, barring reunion appearances.
Jay R. Smith: Supporting role. He pairs up with Joe to search for fleas.
Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bonedust": Small part. He's shown in the kiddie wedding scene providing the music.
Mildred Kornman: Small part. She appears as Scooter's little sister.
Jannie Hoskins: Small part. She appears in the opening kiddie wedding scene.
Lassie Lou Ahern: Small part. She's the flower girl at the adult wedding.
other kids: Small part and extras. There are at least two more girls at the adult wedding.

the animals:

Buster as "Magnolia": Featured role. This is Farina's dog, and the one with the fleas.
Pal: Bit part. Appears briefly as Clements extracts a flea from his fur. Not listed by Maltin & Bann.
parrot 008: Bit part. The parrot owned by Scooter's family, and presumably the same one seen in previous films.
dog 003: Bit part. The dog that Joe and Jay extract fleas from looks like the dog from "One Terrible Day" (no. 4).
mule 026: Bit part. Presumably the same white mule seen in "Commencement Day" (no. 26). He pulls Scooter's family's wagon.
other animals: Bit parts.
(1.) The dog that meets up with Magnolia.
(2.) The goat from which Mickey and Johnny extract fleas. Possibly the same goat as seen in "Uncle Tom's Uncle". (no. 50).
(3.) The rooster riding on the cart with Mildred.
(4.) The goldfish in the bowl that Farina drops. It isn't clear whether any of them are actually real.
bugwatch: At least a couple of the bugs in Clements' flea circus are real, but most of them are animated, including the animated star of the film, "Garfield."

the adults:

George B. French as "Prof. Clements": Supporting role. He runs the flea circus and sends the gang off to find Garfield.
James Finlayson as the justice of the peace: Supporting role. He finds it difficult to conduct the wedding once the fleas are unleashed.
Jerry Mandy as "Sheldon," the groom: Supporting role. Every time he tries to say "I do," he goes into an itching frenzy.
Martha Sleeper as the bride: Supporting role. The fleas eventually take her over as well, but in the end, she decides to use Mary's kiddie setup for the real thing.
Oliver Hardy as the police officer: Supporting role. He gets infested with fleas and loses his pants in the process.
Charley Chase as one of the wedding guests: Small part. He's the one with the flea in his moustache.
woman 035 as Skooter's mom: Bit part. Previously seen in "Circus Fever" (no. 35) and later in "Spanky" (no. 113).
Charlie Hall as one of the musicians: Bit part. He's playing the sax.
Alex Finlayson as one of the musicians: Bit part. I don't know what he looks like, but he's probably the violin player.
Harry Bowen as one of the flea circus spectators: Bit part. He's standing to the left of Clements, and is still there when most of the others have left.
Charley Young as one of the flea circus spectators: Bit part. He's standing to the right of Clements, and is still there when most of the others have left.
Allen Cavan as the father of the bride: Bit part. He's shown walking the bride to the altar.
Lyle Tayo as the pedestrian: Bit part. Identified by Maltin & Bann. It looks like her, but we never really get a good look in this print.
Dick Gilbert as Skooter's dad: Bit part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann, probably since he's not seen for more than a couple of seconds.
Sammy Brooks as one of the flea circus spectators: Bit part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This is presumably the really short guy from previous films.
Ham Kinsey as one of the wedding guests: Extra. He's seen to the far right in the shots of Martha Sleeper scratching herself.
other adults: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The sleeping man whose beard is caught afire by Farina and Scooter's magnifying glass.
(2.) The woman behind Finlayson who asks somebody to scratch her back for her. Looks like Clara Guiol.
(3.) The man playing the statue that goes into spasms.
(4.) The man playing the ukulele.
(5.) The woman playing the piano.
(6.) The man that seems to be Scooter's grandfather.
(7.) The painter that shoos Magnolia away from the statue.
(8.) The woman who talks to Hardy from the other side of the fence.
(9.) Perhaps twenty more guests at the wedding. Maltin & Bann list Sam Lufkin, but I still need to familiarize myself with him. One of the bridesmaids resembles Dorothy Coburn.
(10.) Three additional pedestrians watching Clements' flea circus.
(11.) Two women walking down the sidewalk while Hardy is pantsless.

the music (sort of):

"Here Comes The Bride" by Richard Wagner: Music written in 1841 as the "Bridal Chorus" from "Lohengrin." Sung by Bonedust during the kiddie wedding.
"Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!" by George F. Root: Written in the early 1860s. H. M. Walker makes reference to this Civil War song: " - Scratch - scratch - scratch - The fleas are marching - ". This song later appeared on the soundtrack of "The First Round-Up" (no. 128)

the locations:

Home Made Bakery: This is where Hardy discovers Farina carrying his pants.
the parkbench: The bench on which the bearded man is sleeping reads "United Builders." Could this be a mere advertisement, or was it the company inside the building behind the bench?
Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles: The farm adjacent to the vacant lot at the southwest corner of this intersection was used for the kiddie wedding. According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot in Palms on March 8th and 20th. I think the spot where Joe chases Farina out of a vacant lot and onto a sidewalk is on the south side of Woodbine just west of Motor.
barber shop: This is the same barber shop shown in "Monkey Business" (no. 48).
City Dog Pound: This is also shown in "Love My Dog" (no. 59).

miscellaneous:

There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

Copyright Feb. 22, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/27, 3/16, 3/17, 3/18, 3/20, 4/10, 4/25, 5/3, 11/29, 12/3.
2006 updates: 1/9, 2/11, 6/9, 6/12, 7/5, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 11/9, 11/25, 12/8.
2008 updates: 2/21, 2/26, 3/31, 4/25.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Paul Mular, Joe Moore and Randy Jones for assistance on this page.