In 1938, Roach folded his short films unit and sold Our Gang to MGM, who characteristically misunderstood, mishandled and destroyed it. (See the careers of Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers and Buster Keaton for further evidence.) As Spanky, Darla, Alfalfa and Buckwheat grew up, a host of new and charmless characters came along, including a young Mickey Gubitosi (who would change his name later to Bobby Blake and go on to a nice career in TV and movies) and Billy Laughlin as "Froggy". The simple storylines of the Roach years became poorly acted morality plays with titles like Time Out For Lessons. The Hal Roach kids, who could do wonders on any old Culver City backlot, looked strangely out of place amidst the splendor and glamour of MGM sets.
The MGM Our Gang shorts desperately needed Wheezer frolicking in bed with Pete the Pup, Dorothy DeBorba jumping into a mud-puddle, or Jackie Cooper spitting a wisecrack out of the side of his mouth, but those days were over. MGM produced 51 Our Gang shorts, some good, most bad, and then in 1944, after 22 years and 221 films, Our Gang disappeared from the movie screen forever.
(This article is a specially edited and re-arranged version of an article I wrote for Laurel and Hardy Central. Copyright © John V. Brennan, 2001.)
OUR GANG'S GREATEST HITS (a personal selection of the best of the sound shorts)
1929: Railroadin' 1930: The First Seven Years, Pups is Pups, Teacher's Pet, School's Out 1931: Helping Grandma, Love Business, Fly My Kite, Dogs is Dogs 1932: Readin' and Writin', Free Eats, The Pooch, Free Wheelin', Birthday Blues, 1933: The Kid from Borneo, Bedtime Worries, Wild Poses 1934: Hi'-Neighbor, Honky Donkey, Mike Fright, Mama's Little Pirate 1935: Anniversary Trouble, The Lucky Corner 1936: Second Childhood, Pay as You Exit 1937: Glove Taps, Rushin' Ballet, Night N' Gales, Fishy Tales 1938: Our Gang Follies of 1938, Three Men in a Tub
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