Updates

March 26, 2010

update for "General Spanky" (no. 150)

Interestingly enough, there's a photo of Buckwheat and Porky in the new book co-written by Buckwheat's son which was taken during the production of "General Spanky." As many people have observed, Porky is included in Maltin & Bann's cast listing for this film, but has generally been considered to be absent from the actual footage. Even Porky himself commented on this in an interview. Well, the photo brought about the realization that he was at least involved to some extent, and probably missed out on the film due to illness (a common occurrence for the Our Gang kids). After some close scrutiny, however, I've verified that Porky is indeed in the film - just don't blink or you might miss him. I've also come to the conclusion that there were two boys serving as the lookout at the gang's cave hideout, and not just Rex Downing.

March 22, 2010

update for Roach filmography

I've made a few changes to this filmography, detailed as follows:
1.) I've added a film called "Our Gang At Home," which was already mentioned in the filmography, but now I've got specific information about it.
2.) I took a closer look at Earl Mohan, the "Fite" series, the "Kelly" series, and the "Hunky Dory" series, and realized that they're all basically the same thing. So the information for these is a bit clearer.
3.) I've removed "Jailbirds Of Paradise" from my Roach list. This was included in Richard Lewis Ward's filmography in his A History Of The Hal Roach Studios. It looks apparent to me that this was an "MGM Musical Revue," and not from the Roach "Musical" series.
4.) I've identified certain comedies as being part of the "Rolin" series, and later, the "Hal Roach" series. These names were given to most of the one-reelers made between 1919 and 1926, but not all of them. The point at which I switch from "Rolin" to "Hal Roach" is fairly arbitrary, and approximately corresponds to the date of the company's name-change and the start of the new film season.
5.) I've added a few names here and there to the All Star and Musical episodes in order to show how the focus of these series switched from one star to another over time.
6.) I've otherwise made various minor changes. For instance, I've altered a couple of titles to bring them in line with lobby posters - that is, for films that I haven't seen. The changes usually amount to adding or removing the word "The," or adding a hyphen.

March 21, 2010

update for "Boxing Gloves" (no. 91)

I've added some information regarding the release date for this film. It's apparent that it was the final 1928/29 release, but was delayed for about a month.

update for "A Tough Winter" (no. 99)

If "Boxing Gloves" was a 1928/29 release, then "A Tough Winter" would have been the final installment of the projected schedule of eight Our Gang shorts for the 1929/30 season, and not an additional 'bonus' episode as previously speculated.

update for "Lazy Days" (no. 92)

I've added a little bit of material for the release date, in light of the "Boxing Gloves" info.

update for "The Smile Wins" (no. 66)

I've added Wheezer to the cast listing for this film - not because he's in the footage, but because I've come across a photo showing him with the other kids, with everybody in costume for this film.

March 19, 2010

update for "Little Papa" (no. 139)

As it turns out, Eva Lee Kuney really did work in this film. It seems fairly obvious to me that she was hired to double for Patsy Dittemore, since it's Patsy's face that's always shown.

update for "Sprucin' Up" (no. 137)

In a similar twist, it turns out that Dorian Johnston really did work in this film. However, it's almost certain that the 'sidewalk' sequence was totally reshot, and that Johnston was no longer in the cast by that time and didn't end up in the film (or the photo in Maltin & Bann's book, for that matter). I've also decided to refer to Robert Lentz as Bobby Lentz, since the payroll ledgers list him that way.

March 14, 2010

update for "Crazy House" (no. 76)

I've added some music information to this page. However, I've only been able to identify one of the pieces heard in the film. I've also added an alternate first name for Ben Parsons.

update for "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no. 74)

I just noticed an error in the music listing for this film involving 'piece 074e.' This has been corrected.

March 13, 2010

update for "Mike Fright" (no. 130)

I've added information about a short film called "Show Kids," which features the same group of little girls performing "My Little Grass Shack."

update for "Our Gang Follies Of 1936" (no. 141)

I've added additional information for the musical piece "Narcissus."

update for "Spanky" (no. 113)

A member of thelittlerascals.net message forum named "wheeepwooow" noticed the use of Major Mite as a stand-in for Spanky in this short.

update for "Came The Brawn" (no. 166)

I've corrected the spelling of Ernie Weckbaugh's name, having previously spelled it "Wechbaugh." My thanks to Kay Becker for this correction. I've also decided to refer to him as Ernie, rather than Ernest, since he uses this nickname, and presumably did so as a child.

update for "Surprised Parties" (no. 207)

There are two versions of the end credit for this film, as detailed on the page. My thanks to Joe McCaig for pointing this out.

update for Roach and Seawright filmographies

I've added five new titles which utilized archival footage from "One Million B.C." My thanks to Tony Foy for this information.

update for "Teacher's Beau" (no. 136)

I've deleted Jacqueline Cagney Miller, Lon Poff and Barbara Goodrich from this cast listing since they're not in the payroll ledgers. I've also verified that Dorian Johnston, Jackie White and Gene Reynolds are not listed in the payroll ledgers for this film.

update for "Anniversary Trouble" (no. 134)

Another member of thelittlerascals.net, this one called "bigshotjones," mentioned the possibility that Buckwheat is repeating a phrase from the song "Old Black Joe" in this film. It seems conceivable enough to me that I've added the song to the webpage.

update for "Fish Hooky" (no. 120)

I've added a note about the nickname "Bumpy" given to Spanky on the back of a press photo for this film.

For updates from 2009, click here.

For updates from 2008, click here.

For updates from 2007, click here.

For updates from 2006, click here.

For updates from 2005, click here.