Some of the gang in the late 1920s. Image: Travalanche
Today we had a conversation with a 10 year-old boy hawking a product for his school fundraiser.
He opened with: “This is the product we’re selling, and here are the Facts about it.” He answered questions without consulting an adult, and assured us we could pay Cash on Delivery.
We were impressed by his self-sufficiency. Come to think of it, he reminded us of some of the kids in the long-running Our Gang film series (1922-1944).
The Our Gang shorts were the creation of Hal Roach, producer of the Laurel and Hardy films. The shorts feature the adventures of children from a poor neighbourhood who, bizarrely, have access to remarkable resources. The plots are amusing, sometimes touching, and playful.
Many of the stories are what you’d expect of a group of kids. In one film, some of the gang want to run away and become pirates. In another, the kids try to sabotage their teacher’s alleged romance.
In Our Gang Follies of 1938, the gang stages a variety show in the basement of a neighbourhood building. The subterranean theatre is modest indeed, but the Sets! The Costumes! It looks like the children raided the MGM wardrobe department – which they did, in a way, because by this time, MGM had bought the series from creator Roach.
Some of the most memorable characters (L-R): Alfalfa, Spanky, Buckwheat, and Porky. Image: AmoMama
The stories are usually told from the children’s point of view. Sometimes adults advance the plot, but at other times they pose a hindrance.
This is a world made by and for kids, a place of dazzling imagination and potential. The gang decides to go camping, and behold! Here’s a mule and wagon to take them to the wilderness. (But oops – they inadvertently set up camp near a bootlegger, who dons a gorilla costume to scare them away.)
Our Gang actors are known for being natural and, for the most part, unaffected. In one film, three very young children sneak into the school to raid lunchboxes in the hallway, gorging themselves on stolen pieces of pie, completely non-self-conscious. After all, who among us doesn’t dream of sneaking pie?
The kids are also quite jocular. In the Follies short, a girl named Darla enthuses about making “hundreds of thousands of dollars” because it sounds more impressive than “millions”.
The world belongs to these children, and they’re Taking It On, unafraid and uninhibited, the way childhood ought to be.
In the beginning, at Hal Roach Studios, the cast was recruited from the children of studio employees. As the series grew in popularity, however, talent contests were held to replace kids who were “aging out”.
Although the series has been criticized for African American stereotypes, it was one of the first Hollywood productions to portray black and white children as equals. According to Wikipedia, cast member Ernie Morrison was “the first black actor signed to a long-term contract in Hollywood history and the first major black star in Hollywood history.”
In 1938, Roach sold the series to MGM, which had been distributing the films for over a decade. MGM had deep pockets, but many critics say the shorts became less interesting. They were more subdued and featured less slapstick than the Roach years. Production on Our Gang ended in 1944.
However, in the 1950s, Roach was able to make a series of deals to bring the shorts to television. The series was re-branded as The Little Rascals, which re-ignited their popularity.
If you haven’t seen the Our Gang/The Little Rascals series, you can catch them on YouTube. Sometimes it does a person good to see these crazy, intrepid kids in action.
I used to watch The Little Rascals in the late 1950s, I guess. And maybe in the early 60s. I didn’t realize that the shows were re-packagings of films from earlier decades. Maybe I’ll watch an episode or two on YouTube.
Ah, the sweetness of those kids. I, too, used to catch them on Saturday morning TV and was fondly familiar with Spanky and the Gang (hmmm…good name for a 60s band…). Of course, I was very interested to see how Darla fit into the whole thing, not to mention Miss Crabtree. Pure comedy, pure fun and a wonderful and perfect choice for the laughter that makes the best medicine.
While reading your article I could hear Marvin Hatley’s Gang/Rascals musical cues throughout. I love all the kids from the silent to MGM days, but that big studio really took the heart out of the series and replaced it with gloss. There are still laughs to be found and it was a pleasure strolling down Memory Lane with you.
Thanks for taking me on a journey into the distant past of my childhood! I fondly remember watching the Little Rascals with my brother on a black and white TV in our living room. I don’t remember much about the Rascals’ adventures, but I do remember Spanky and Alfalfa and Darla and Buckwheat and pretty Miss Crabtree. Such fun.
Boy, it’s been years since I saw the “Gang.” I remember them airing on Saturday mornings, along with the cartoons my brother and I would never miss. Fun stuff!
Yes. I only saw a few episodes (as there was so much Saturday morning TV to choose from in the 70s and 80s it seems, looking back!). There was also a US show called The Red Hand Gang which was very popular in the UK, made in the late 70s about the exploits of a small gang of kids, which was really good too.
I’m a bit of a new convert to the Little Rascals. As a kid, I think I saw the 90s film once, but it didn’t really stick with me (at that time). Recently, I’ve been seeing the original shorts as they’ve been restored and released on Blu-ray. At this moment, I’ve mainly seen the first nineteen or so talkie shorts (in order), and I’ve been having a blast with them! I’m not quite as far as some of those including the most famous Rascals yet, but I look forward to seeing them when I get that far!
I think I saw the 90s film once, too – or at least, I tried to see it, but couldn’t make it all the way through. It didn’t have the charm of the original shorts, I thought.
Blu-ray would be a wonderful way to see these shorts. I need to look into this! I have DVDs, which are decent quality, but I should trade ’em in for Blue-rays.
I thoroughly recommend the Blu-rays! They are available from ClassicFlix, who last year tried a crowdfunding campaign to restore them. When it failed, they decided to go ahead with the project. It’s been a passion project for them, and it shows! They just released the third volume (so far, all the shorts have been the talkies in original release order, with about 11 shorts each for the first three volumes), and the fourth (of a planned six volumes) is already scheduled for early next year. Like I said, I’m only on the second volume, but they look FANTASTIC!
Back when I was a kid, local stations would show the Our Gang shorts when a movie didn’t fill out the scheduled time block. I probably saw all the Our Gang shorts before I ever saw the Little Rascals. That may be the reason I favor Our Gang over the earlier group that included many of the same members. It’s always fun to see one of them pop up as a teen or adult in a later movie!
Enjoyed your write-up, Ruth! And what a great topic! I used to watch The Little Rascals after school — I enjoyed learning some of the history about them that I never knew. And I just saw Stymie Beard yesterday on an episode of Good Times!
I’ve seen few Our Gang shorts, but I liked what I see. As you wrote, they are everything childhood is about: innocence, playfulness and camaraderie. Great post, as always.
Such a fun post, Ruth! I had some of the Our Gang shorts on VHS as a kid, but it’s been years since I’ve revisited this delightful group. Your post is tempting me to track some down on YouTube 😉 Looks like a fun weekend ahead!
Silver Screenings 
I used to watch The Little Rascals in the late 1950s, I guess. And maybe in the early 60s. I didn’t realize that the shows were re-packagings of films from earlier decades. Maybe I’ll watch an episode or two on YouTube.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you get the chance to revisit these films. Sometimes a person needs a good dose of Our Gang, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the sweetness of those kids. I, too, used to catch them on Saturday morning TV and was fondly familiar with Spanky and the Gang (hmmm…good name for a 60s band…). Of course, I was very interested to see how Darla fit into the whole thing, not to mention Miss Crabtree. Pure comedy, pure fun and a wonderful and perfect choice for the laughter that makes the best medicine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! “Spanks and the Gang”!! A terrific name. As for Darla, she is one of the true stars of the gang, in my eyes.
LikeLike
While reading your article I could hear Marvin Hatley’s Gang/Rascals musical cues throughout. I love all the kids from the silent to MGM days, but that big studio really took the heart out of the series and replaced it with gloss. There are still laughs to be found and it was a pleasure strolling down Memory Lane with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the charm of the pre-MGM shorts. Not as glossy as the MGM films, as you say, but that’s what made them great.
LikeLike
Thanks for taking me on a journey into the distant past of my childhood! I fondly remember watching the Little Rascals with my brother on a black and white TV in our living room. I don’t remember much about the Rascals’ adventures, but I do remember Spanky and Alfalfa and Darla and Buckwheat and pretty Miss Crabtree. Such fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were a lot of fun, weren’t they? Thise kids embraced a real joie de vivre.
LikeLike
They are among my favorites. Terrific choice for the laughter event.
Aurora
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! These crazy kids never get old for me.
LikeLike
Interestingly, even kids who have never seen The Little Rascals because of their age know of Alfalfa…….Great memories:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s an excellent point. Alfalfa has timeless appeal, doesn’t he?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boy, it’s been years since I saw the “Gang.” I remember them airing on Saturday mornings, along with the cartoons my brother and I would never miss. Fun stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think a lot of people were introduced to them on Saturday mornings. Television station managers knew what they were doing! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too was introduced to them as The Little Rascals via Saturday morning TV in the UK, around the mid 70s. Brilliant fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow – on TV in the UK, too! Man, these kids were a global sensation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I only saw a few episodes (as there was so much Saturday morning TV to choose from in the 70s and 80s it seems, looking back!). There was also a US show called The Red Hand Gang which was very popular in the UK, made in the late 70s about the exploits of a small gang of kids, which was really good too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just looked on YouTube, and there are some Red Hand episodes. Thanks! I’m going to watch a few of these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m tempted to look back at them myself! Will have a go tomorrow 🙂 I remember the theme tune and titles for it were good as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a bit of a new convert to the Little Rascals. As a kid, I think I saw the 90s film once, but it didn’t really stick with me (at that time). Recently, I’ve been seeing the original shorts as they’ve been restored and released on Blu-ray. At this moment, I’ve mainly seen the first nineteen or so talkie shorts (in order), and I’ve been having a blast with them! I’m not quite as far as some of those including the most famous Rascals yet, but I look forward to seeing them when I get that far!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I saw the 90s film once, too – or at least, I tried to see it, but couldn’t make it all the way through. It didn’t have the charm of the original shorts, I thought.
Blu-ray would be a wonderful way to see these shorts. I need to look into this! I have DVDs, which are decent quality, but I should trade ’em in for Blue-rays.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thoroughly recommend the Blu-rays! They are available from ClassicFlix, who last year tried a crowdfunding campaign to restore them. When it failed, they decided to go ahead with the project. It’s been a passion project for them, and it shows! They just released the third volume (so far, all the shorts have been the talkies in original release order, with about 11 shorts each for the first three volumes), and the fourth (of a planned six volumes) is already scheduled for early next year. Like I said, I’m only on the second volume, but they look FANTASTIC!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve sold me. Thanks!
LikeLike
Back when I was a kid, local stations would show the Our Gang shorts when a movie didn’t fill out the scheduled time block. I probably saw all the Our Gang shorts before I ever saw the Little Rascals. That may be the reason I favor Our Gang over the earlier group that included many of the same members. It’s always fun to see one of them pop up as a teen or adult in a later movie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! Like Carl Switzer in It’s a Wonderful Life, for example.
It’s surprising to see how many people were introduced to Our Gang/Little Rascals via television.
LikeLike
Enjoyed your write-up, Ruth! And what a great topic! I used to watch The Little Rascals after school — I enjoyed learning some of the history about them that I never knew. And I just saw Stymie Beard yesterday on an episode of Good Times!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stymie Beard! He was adorable as a kid. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve seen few Our Gang shorts, but I liked what I see. As you wrote, they are everything childhood is about: innocence, playfulness and camaraderie. Great post, as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Our Gang shorts really do capture the essence of childhood, don’t they? I feel like a kid again whenever I watch hem.
LikeLike
I loved watching this show as a kid on Saturday mornings in the 70s. I never realized they were from the 20’s to 40s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great way to start a Saturday morning!
LikeLike
Oh, this put such a big smile on my face! We used to watch these all the time as kids–a staple of our Saturday mornings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great way to spend a Saturday morning. Those crazy kids never get old for me. They always make me laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a fun post, Ruth! I had some of the Our Gang shorts on VHS as a kid, but it’s been years since I’ve revisited this delightful group. Your post is tempting me to track some down on YouTube 😉 Looks like a fun weekend ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Our Gang kids are so much fun, aren’t they? So natural on camera. I hope you can catch up with some of them this weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person