Tired Business Men

technical details:

Production K-18.

Filmed January 18 to February 3, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted April 11, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23848. Renewed January 10, 1955, with registration no. R142096. This copyright expired at the end of 2022, and the film is now in the public domain.

Released May 15, 1927. This is according to Maltin & Bann. In Richard Lewis Ward's book A History Of The Hal Roach Studios, the date is given as May 21st. It was the 60th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Tired Business Men".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1039, "Sweet Revenge," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17344, and recopyrighted May 15, 1961, with registration number LP19564.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Supervised by F. Richard Jones

He wasn't credited anymore, but he still held the position of director-general when this film was made. He had resigned by the time the film was released.

Directed by Anthony Mack, Charles Oelze and Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film. Mack's real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. The 1927 studio datebook credits only Mack as director, and identifies him as McGowan, Jr. His uncle, Robert F. McGowan, directed on Jan. 19th and then went on a long vacation. The payroll summaries list both Mack and Oelze as assistant directors during this period. Maltin & Bann credit Oelze with the 'special effects wizardry.'

Photographed by Art Lloyd

This credit derives from Lloyd's payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.

Assistant Cameraman: W. V. Draper

This credit derives from Draper's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant cameraman during this period.

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. The inter-titles in this film have reverted to the black motif of earlier films.

Props by Don Sandstrom, Timothy O'Donnell and Harry Black

This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period.

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 consists of an electric shock effect.

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

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

editing - Richard Currier was the supervising editor during this period.

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 essentially the star of the film, the new kid who gets initiated into the gang's club.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Supporting role. He gets most of the comedic business in this film.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie"

Supporting role. He's the "Grand Exhausted Ruler," and basically makes the decisions for the club.

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He seems to be second-in-command at the club.

Bobby "Bonedust" Young

Supporting role. Maltin & Bann indicate that the nickname was used, but it doesn't appear in this print. His big moment is when he gets his finger stuck in a bowling ball.

Jannie Hoskins

Supporting role. Her big moment is when she gets the whistle and climbs onto the roof.

Elmer "Scooter" Lowry as "Scooter"

Supporting role. He's given a new derby look in this film. Joe puts eggs in the derby and smashes it onto Scooter's head. His character name is scrawled onto the wall of the barn in one of the shots.

Jean Darling as "Bossy"

Supporting role. She appears off and on, but isn't given too much to do.

Bobby Mallon

Supporting role. He gets a moment in which his ears are wiggling. Is it my imagination, or does a double stand in for him during the scene outside Joe's window?

Johnny Aber

Supporting role. He bowls with Bonedust.

Andy Shuford

Supporting role. He retrieves the bowling balls at the end of the lane.

Jimsy Boudwin

Supporting role. He's mostly along for the ride in this film.

Peggy Eames

Small part. She's mostly in the background during the scenes inside the barn.

other kids

Supporting roles and bit parts.

(1.) The boy with the Dutch haircut.

(2.) The boy that keeps score at the bowling alley, but doesn't appear after that.

(3.) An additional black boy who doesn't seem to have made it into the film, but is seen in a couple of publicity photos of the kids outside their barn clubhouse.

undetermined kids

Maltin & Bann list Billy Butts for this film, but he doesn't appear in this print.

the animals:

cat 060 as "Tunney"

Supporting role. This is Joe's cat, and the one that the gang attaches the note to.

Pal

Small part. He sets up the pins at the bowling alley.

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.

(1.) Joe's dog, mostly seen at the start of the film fighting with Tunney.

(2.) The goat that plays "Lingering Roses." Possibly the goat seen previously in "Giants Vs. Yanks" (no. 12).

(3.) A duckling that appears out of an egg doubling as a pool ball.

(4.) Two chickens on the "fowl line" at the bowling alley.

the adults:

Charles A. Bachman as "Officer O'Farrell," Joe's dad

Supporting role. He's seen moving into a new house at the beginning of the film, and apprehending the robber at the end.

Harry Tenbrook as "Blow-'em-up Baker," the bank robber

Supporting role. He hides out in the gang's club. Maltin & Bann identify his character name as "Blow-'em-up Barnes." They may have been thinking of the 1921 film "Burn 'em Up Barnes."

Silas D. Wilcox as one of the other officers

Supporting role. He's the cop who speaks to Joe's dad. Seems to be in charge.

Ruth Robinson as Joe's mom

Bit part. She's shown at the beginning of the film in the car with her husband.

other adults

Supporting role, bit parts and extras.

(1.) Two other cops that answer the whistle Joe is blowing, plus four more in the group that storms the clubhouse.

(2.) The mailman.

(3.) Two moving men.

(4.) A pedestrian shown in the background as the moving vehicles are going down the road.

the locations:

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

As the family is driving to their new home, they come south down Motor and make a right turn on Tabor. Shown in this shot is the house featured in "Dog Heaven" (no. 70). When Joe initially blows the whistle, we see cops in various locations responding to it. One of them is at the northwest corner of Motor and Woodbine. Another is at the southeast corner of this same intersection, with the Masonic Hall behind him at 3402 Motor. Another is in front of the Mitholithic Mfg. Co. on the east side of the 3300 block.

Clarington Market

As Joe's family arrives in the neighborhood, they ride past this corner market, which was presumably on Clarington Avenue in Palms.

alley

The alley down which the cops chase the criminal was later used in "The Glorious Fourth" (no. 64).

miscellaneous:

15 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after filming had finished for "Love My Dog" (no. 59), the 'start' date arrived for "Tired Business Men" on Jan. 18th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Feb. 3rd. No shooting took place on Jan. 23rd or 30th, which were both Sundays. Robert A. McGowan (credited as McGowan Jr. in the 1927 datebook entries) directed on each of the shooting dates except Jan. 19, when his uncle, Robert F. McGowan, directed. After this, two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to shoot "Baby Brother" (no. 61).

According to Jay R. Smith, during the making of this film, he was fired from the series for pestering some chickens by rolling a ball at them. At the time, he rode back and forth to work on his bicycle, since he lived nearby. Upon his dismissal, he got on his bike and headed for home, only to be tracked down by a studio rep and reinstated. This is according to Jay himself in the "Inside The Clubhouse" documentary. Another source written shortly after his unfortunate death places it during "Chicken Feed" (no. 62).

40 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.