Chicken Feed

film no. 62

availability:

Our Gang Volume #6 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also The Picture Palace: This copy is a TV print from the Mischief Makers entitled "Monkey Magic." The print totals 12:20, with 12:04 of original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 8 (VHS) from HenryButch: This copy is identical to Grapevine's.
special note: I was also able to view a home movie clip from this film which shows some footage not included in the TV clip.

technical details:

Production K-20.

Filmed March 28 to April 15, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted June 9, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU24063. Renewed January 10, 1955, with registration no. R142105. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2022.

Released November 6, 1927. It was the 66th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

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

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1004, "Monkey Magic," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17309.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Probably credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Anthony Mack and Charles Oelze: This credit probably appears in the film. Mack's real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. His uncle, Robert F. McGowan, was on vacation and returned on April 10th.
Photographed by Art Lloyd: This credit derives from Lloyd's payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.
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. Roach was vacationing in Europe in the early part of 1927, so the credit may have been purely traditional.
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
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

the gang
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Lead role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He's virtually the star of the film, trying to reverse the damage done to his little sister.
Jannie "Mango" Hoskins: Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print, but Maltin & Bann indicate that it was used. The gang seemingly turns her into a monkey, and we don't see her again until towards the end of the film.
Joe Cobb: Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
Jackie Condon: Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
Jay R. Smith: Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
Elmer "Scooter" Lowry: Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
Bobby "Bonedust" Young: Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
other featured kids
Johnny Downs as "Prof. Presto Misterio": Supporting role. The gang learns his secret to changing people into animals. This was his final appearance in the series.
Jean Darling: Supporting role. She's Johnny's assistant.
Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins: Small part. The nickname doesn't appear in this print. He's seen briefly trying to catch the monkey while it's in the Krazy Kat costume.
other kids: Small part. Also of note is the boy that sprays the white paint all over Jannie.
the audience
Harry Spear: Bit part. He's the only one in the audience that says anything, at least in this print. This was his series debut.
Davey Monahan: Extra. He sits to the far right in the third row.
Bobby Mallon: Extra. He's also sitting in the third row.
Andy Shuford: Extra. He's also sitting in the third row.
other kids: Extras. There are probably at least 15 more kids in the audience, and that doesn't count whoever is on the left side, very few of whom are shown in this print.

the animals:

monkey 004: Supporting role. Presumably the same monkey shown previously.
dog 003: Bit part. Farina sits in front of this dog without realizing it.
Pal: Bit part. At least in this print, Pal is just barely seen at the very beginning of this film. This was his final appearance in the series.
other animals: Supporting roles, small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The bear that puts a fright into the gang.
(2.) The chicken that the monkey seems to change into, and which is eaten by the hobo.
(3.) Three lions are shown grabbing at Farina, although we're supposed to think there are four.
(4.) The white rabbit that Jean seemingly changes into.
(5.) The goose that gets into a ruckus with the monkey.
(6.) The three puppies that the monkey encounters while in the Krazy Kat costume.
(7.) About six additional chickens in the coop.

the adults:

Ham Kinsey as the animal trainer: Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. His face isn't clear enough in this print to be sure.
other adults: Supporting role and small parts.
(1.) The hobo, who catches the stray chicken and eats it.
(2.) Four adults dressed in lion costumes and grabbing at Farina in shots that are interspersed with shots of the real lions.

miscellaneous:

17 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Two weeks after shooting had finished for "Baby Brother" (no. 61), the 'start' date arrived for "Chicken Feed" on Mar. 28th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Apr. 15th. Anthony Mack was the director on each of the shooting dates. No shooting took place on Mar. 27th, Apr. 3rd, or Apr. 10th, which were all Sundays. After this, one week passed before the Our Gang unit began shooting "Olympic Games" (no. 63). It should be noted that Maltin & Bann list the filming dates for "Chicken Feed" as Mar. 26th to Apr. 10th. The latter date was a Sunday, which throws at least some doubt on this possibility, but it's possible that these dates come from the production sheets for this film, which are known to exist.

There were 34 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

©Mar. 5, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 4/25, 12/15.
2006 updates: 1/9, 4/3, 5/16, 6/8, 6/11, 6/12, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 12/8.
2008 updates: 2/21, 3/31, 4/25, 7/6.
2009 updates: 6/7, 6/15, 7/23.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore, Sue Larkin and Lynn Paden for assistance on this page.