technical details:
Production K-16.
Filmed November 24 to December 14, 1926. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted February 14, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23667. Renewed January 10, 1955, with registration no. R142091. This copyright expired at the end of 2022,
and the film is now in the public domain.
Released March 13, 1927. It was the 58th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Ten Years Old".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1017, "A Double Birthday," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17322. Footage also went into
episode no. 1072, "An Average Day," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17774.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Credited in the film as a presenter.
- Supervised by F. Richard Jones
- Credited in the film as supervising director. He resigned on March 9th, four days before this film was released.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Anthony Mack
- Maltin & Bann list only Mack, and the film reflects this. The 1926 studio datebook indicates that McGowan directed except on December 2 to 4, when Mack, referred to as McGowan, Jr.,
directed. The F in McGowan's name stands for Francis. Mack was his nephew, whose real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. According to the payroll summaries, Mack was still
an assistant director during this period.
- Assistant Director: Charles Oelze
- According to Rob Stone's list as well as the payroll summaries.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film. Rob Stone's list indicates that an extra cameraman was used on December 7th and 8th.
- Assistant Cameraman: W. V. Draper
- This credit derives from Draper's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant cameraman during this period.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit 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 appears in the film.
- Props by Don Sandstrom and Timothy O'Donnell
- According to Rob Stone's list.
- Animation by S. E. Overton
- This credit derives from Overton's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. The animation in this film involves Pal's rolling eyes.
- 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
- As 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, Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Jean Yarbrough
and Frank Butler may have been among the gag writers.
the kids:
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Lead role. He's the star of the film, baking a cake and preparing for a party that doesn't happen, so he goes to Jackie's party.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Featured role. He shows up at Joe's to let him know where all the kids are. He provides most of the comic moments in the film.
- Jackie Condon as "Jackie"
- Featured role. He's the rich kid that invites the gang to his party. He starts off with Little Lord Fauntleroy curls, but his father lets him get a haircut for his birthday.
- Jannie Hoskins
- Supporting role. She accompanies Farina pretty much throughout the film.
- Mildred Kornman as "Mildred"
- Supporting role. She's featured at Joe's house during the cake baking scene, and throws various objects into the batter.
- Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bone Dust"
- Supporting role. He gets butted by the goat, and is with the gang pretty much throughout the film.
- Jay R. Smith as "Jay-R"
- Supporting role. He gets a rubber tube stuck in his mouth, then notices that his piece of cake is inflating.
- Elmer "Scooter" Lowry
- Supporting role. At the party, he pulls nails out of his mouth.
- Jimsy Boudwin
- Supporting role. He's the boy that eats the soap.
- Jack Hanlon
- Supporting role. He's the freckle-faced boy who squirts liquid from his mouth.
- Johnny Aber
- Supporting role. He gets squirted in the face.
- Yvonne Pelletier
- Supporting role. She's Jackie's stepsister.
- Andy Shuford
- Supporting role. He's seen as one of the main gang members in this film.
- Doris Oelze
- Extra. She's among the rich kids. In the shot where they all curtsy, she's two kids to the left of Jean Darling. She also gets a closeup with Carl Busch.
- Carl Busch
- Extra. A 1927 casting directory credits his involvement in this film, but the payroll ledger alternately lists somebody named Carl Kenworthy. However, the photo in the casting directory
is not only a facial match, but he's even wearing the same clothes as in the film. In the shot where they all curtsy, he's three kids to the left of Jean Darling. He also gets a
closeup with Doris Oelze where he points at the poor kids of the gang.
- Jean Darling
- Extra. She's one of the rich kids, and is best seen standing towards the right in the shot where they all curtsy.
- Peggy Eames
- Extra. In the shot of the kids curtsying, she's at the far right, next to Jean.
- Beverly Parrish
- Extra. In the shot of the kids crutsying, she's just to the right of Yvonne Pelletier.
- Dick Good
- Extra. In the shot of the kids curtsying, he's in the upper right.
- Billy Lord
- Extra. In the first group shot of the rich kids getting a look at the Gang, he's just to the left of Jackie's older sister, with his face partially hidden from view. We get a
closer look at him in the closeup of Carl Busch and Doris Oelze.
- other kids
- Bit parts. There are nine additional rich kids shown in the shot where they all curtsy. Conveniently enough, the payroll ledger lists nine more kids on the four shooting dates that
included the rich kids. One additional person named Owen O'Brien is listed among them, but he only worked on Dec. 8th, the first of those four days, and probably is not in the
curtsying shot. The remaining kids are Mary Dow, Marvel Rawson, Helen Parrish, Dorothy Carroll, Lucile Cobb, Jack Ross, Merwin Jones,
Freddie Foster and Robert Draper. It appears that the number of boys versus girls doesn't work out, but I think one of the boys was given Fauntleroy-style curls like
Jackie Condon had in this film. He can be seen just to the left of Carl Busch as Carl points to the poor kids. Another boy, seen right behind Carl in this shot, sure looks like Bobby Mallon,
but he's not listed in the ledger for this film. Maltin & Bann list Bret Black, who is also not in the ledger.
the animals:
- Pal as "Pal"
- Supporting role. He's Joe's dog, and is present during the cake baking scene. He also goes along to Jackie's house.
- Buster
- Small part. This is Farina's dog.
- skunk 014
- Bit part. Presumably the same skunk as usual, but maybe not. This is Farina's gift for Jackie.
- other animals
- Small parts and bit parts.
- (1.) The goat used in the bullfighting sequence. Possibly the same goat seen in "Uncle Tom's Uncle" (no. 50).
- (2.) The frog Jackie gets for his birthday.
- (3.) The two ducklings Jackie gets for his birthday.
the adults:
- George B. French as Jackie's dad
- Small part. He's seen early in the film, and allows Jackie to invite the gang to his birthday.
- Lyle Tayo as Joe's mom
- Small part. Joe pins the tail on her. She appears at the beginning of the film.
- Fay Holderness as Jackie's governess
- Small part. She appears briefly a couple of times. Maltin & Bann list her as May Beatty, and as playing Jackie's maid, but there's already another maid in the film who's
dressed a lot more like a maid.
- Evelyn Burns as Jackie's stepmother
- Small part. She haughtily sides with her own daughter and against Jackie.
- Fred F. Guenste as the butler
- Bit part. He appears briefly during Jackie's party, with the same role he always has in this series.
- Eugenie Grey as the maid
- Bit part. She's seen briefly. I've made this ID by process of elimination from the payroll ledger, so it's subject to correction.
- other adults
- Bit parts.
- (1.) The man who comes to take Joe's radio.
- (3.) The barber who cuts Jackie's hair.
- in still images
- The newspaper that's been fashioned into a party hat for Joe has a photo of Louise Brooks on it.
the locations:
- Palms district, Los Angeles
- Farina and Mango escape the goat by running south from Woodbine down the alley parallel to and between Motor and Vinton. The camera points both north and south at different times during
this scene.
- Culver City
- Rob Stone's list indicates that footage was shot in Culver City on December 7th, 8th, and 14th, as well as back at the studio.
- house
- The large house seen in the background during the bullfighting scene can also be seen in "One Wild Ride" (no. 45).
miscellaneous:
18 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A little over a week after shooting finished for "Seeing The World" (no. 55), the 'start' date arrived for
"Ten Years Old" on Nov. 24th. Shooting continued until Dec. 14th, when it was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Nov. 28th, Dec. 5th, or Dec. 12th, which were
all Sundays. Robert F. McGowan directed on most of the shooting dates, but his nephew, listed as 'McGowan Jr.' but actually named Robert A. McGowan, directed on Dec. 2nd, 3rd and
4th. A week after shooting finished, the Our Gang unit began to film "Love My Dog" (no. 59).
A couple of publicity photos for this film reveal an unused scene involving a boxing match between Jackie (still with his hair long) and Yvonne Pelletier. The other adults of the
house are all looking on.
36 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.