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 expired at the end of 2022, and
the film is now in the public domain.
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. The 1927 studio datebook credits only Mack as director, using the pseudonym
for the first time. His uncle, Robert F. McGowan, was on vacation and returned on April 10th. The payroll summaries from this period credit Oelze as an assistant director.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit derives from Lloyd's payroll status as the Our Gang cameraman during this period.
- Assistant Cameraman: Clair Boshard
- This credit derives from Boshard's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant cameraman beginning the week ending Apr. 2nd.
- 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, Timothy O'Donnell, R. O. Sanders, Harry Black and Harry Craven
- This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period. Black's name disappears from the payroll summaries after the week ending Apr. 2nd. Sanders'
name first appears the week ending Apr. 9th, and Craven's name the week ending Apr. 16th.
- 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
- general manager - Warren Doane
- assistant general manager - L. A. French
- secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach
- construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- optical effects supervisor - Roy Seawright
- 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, Jean Yarbrough and Frank
Butler may have been among the gag writers.
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 Hoskins
- Supporting role. The "Mango" 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.
- Godfrey Craig
- Extra. He's sitting in an aisle seat on the left side, as revealed in a lobby card photo. It's difficult to be sure with the poor quality film print, but I think he's the kid that
trips Joe.
- Jimsy Boudwin
- Extra. He's sitting in the front aisle seat on the left.
- 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.
- Jean Johnston
- Extra. She's sitting on the left side of the audience, as revealed in the lobby card photo.
- 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. A 1927 casting directory lists an actor named Bert Apling as appearing in this film, but I still need to familiarize myself with him.
- (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.
the locations:
- Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles
- After the monkey gets into the Krazy Kat costume, Farina runs from it in the space between the Palms Hardware Co. at 3351 Motor and the Arthur Boetsch Barber Shop at 3347
Motor. Seen in the background is the house behind the barber shop. The monkey ends up on the other side of the hardware store, in front of the house at 3359 Motor, where he encounters
Wheezer. Later, as the kids spot the monkey near the animal cages, they're standing in the field behind the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor. Also visible in this shot is the back of
the Shoe Repairing shop run by J. A. Pryor at 3406 Motor.
- Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles
- After the gang fails to return Mango to her original state, they run out of the yard, leaving Farina behind. They end up at the fence on the north side of Woodbine, just east of the
alley that runs midway between Motor and Vinton.
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.
34 still images were printed into numerous press photos to promote this film.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.