Playin' Hookey

film no. 65

availability:

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS) from Video Classics and

Our Gang Comedies VII (VHS) from The Picture Palace

This copy is a home movie print from the Motion Picture Bureau entitled "Who's Afraid?" The inter-titles are original, but the picture quality is very poor. The print totals 12:43, with 12:38 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included.

Rascals Silents Vol. 2 (VHS) from A-1 Video

A clip from this film lasting 4:50 appears as part of the hybrid Mischief Makers episode entitled "An Average Day.". The picture quality is fairly good, and the footage is not included in the Video Classics version.

technical details:

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Anthony Mack

This credit probably appears in the film. Mack is actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew of series director Robert F. McGowan.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

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 - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• photography - Credits during this period went to Art Lloyd, while others who may have been involved include William A. Collins.
• editing - Richard Currier was the supervising editor during this period, while Bert Jordan and William Terhune were among the cutters.
• writing - Story credits were in a transition from Hal E. Roach to a collaboration between Roach and Robert F. McGowan. Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough and Frank Butler may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom were probably involved in this capacity, and possibly Ted Driscoll, William A. Collins and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Harry Lucenay was Pete's trainer.
• animation - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Lead role. He basically takes the lead role, saving Pete from being shot, then taking him to the studio to act in a film.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Supporting role. He's introduced at home with his sister, then joins the gang to observe Pete's debut at the studio.

Jannie Hoskins as "Zuccini"

Supporting role. She's seen with Farina pretty much throughout the film.

Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins

Supporting role. He's Joe's little brother and is seen at the beginning of the film encouraging Pete to tear things up around the yard.

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.

Harry Spear

Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.

Jean Darling

Small part. She's Joe's little sister and is seen at the beginning of the film.

Mildred Kornman

Bit part. She's the baby the Pete must protect in his film debut.

the animals:

Pete (no. 1) as "Pansy"

Lead role. He's virtually the star of the film, getting himself estranged from his owners and breaking into the movies.

other animals

Bit parts.
(1.) A puppy with a ring around his eye.
(2.) A kitten on Farina's porch.
(3.) Three kittens in the laps of Wheezer and Jean.
(4.) About 15 chickens that have taken refuge on the power lines.

the adults:

at home

Budd Fine as Joe's dad

Supporting role. He decides that the only way to deal with Pete is to shoot him.

Lyle Tayo as Joe's mom

Supporting role. She's fed up with Pete, too, but not enough to want him dead.

at the studio

Edgar Dearing as "Herr Dun der Blitzen"

Supporting role. He's the director of the period drama, and a parody of German directors in general.

William Gillespie as one of the movie stars

Supporting role. He's the lead actor in the period drama, and the victim of the gang's repeated tramplings.

Stanley "Tiny" Sandford as "Mike," the studio guard

Supporting role. He's basically in charge of getting the gang off the studio grounds.

Charlie Hall as the movie star dressed as Chaplin

Supporting role. He's the lead actor in the Keystone-ish comedy.

other adults

Bit parts and extras.
(1.) The directors of the other three films the gang disrupts, plus cameramen for all four. There is also a property man that is presumably Charley Oelze, as listed by Maltin & Bann. There's also a wardrobe assistant, perhaps four musicians and a handful of other assistants. Charles Meakin, Lincoln Plummer and Harry Arras are listed by Maltin & Bann as movie-makers, but the faces can't be made out in this print.
(2.) The actress and the black woman who get hit by pies, presumably Dorothy Coburn and Edith Fortier respectively, as listed by Maltin & Bann.
(3.) The leading actress in the period drama.
(4.) The old woman in the melodrama.
(5.) The bearded man in the slapstick comedy.
(6.) The waiter in the slapstick comedy.
(7.) Eight Keystone-ish cops in the slapstick comedy, five of whom are listed by Maltin & Bann as Ed Brandenberg, Chet Brandenberg, Jack Hill, Arthur Millett and Sam Lufkin.
(8.) Seven cops from the prison film chasing the kids around.
(9.) The convict from the prison film.
(10.) Four villains that threaten Mildred.
(11.) Various actors in costume chasing the kids around. Initially there are two lions, three monkeys and a bear, but there seems to be an additional monkey and bear later on. Then there is a devil and four skeletons, and then two guys in a triceratops costume.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios

Including Stage One, which is seen in the shot where the camera follows the gang as they walk onto the stage.

Motor and Woodbine Avenues, Palms district, Los Angeles

Joe's yard is adjacent to the vacant lot at the southwest corner of this intersection.

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