technical details:
Production G-7.
Filmed December 16 to 28, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Title sheet prepared by H. M. Walker on January 13, 1928.
Cutting continuity submitted January 21, 1928.
Copyrighted March 10, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP25215. Renewed August 11, 1955, with registration no. R154161. This copyright expired at
the end of 2023, and the film is now in the public domain.
Released March 10, 1928. It was the 73rd film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Edison, Marconi & Co."'
the crew:
- Produced by Robert F. McGowan for
Hal Roach
- The film credits Roach as a presenter, and designates it as "A Robert McGowan Production."
Maltin & Bann list Roach only for this credit.
- Supervised by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Anthony Mack
- The film gives sole credit to Mack, who was actually Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan, the nephew
of Robert F. According to the 1927 studio datebook, the uncle directed on all but one day of shooting. It isn't clear
which of the two directed on Dec. 28th.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Animation by Roy Seawright
- This credit derives from Seawright's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. This
film includes animated sound effects.
- Story by Robert F. McGowan
- This credit appears on the title page of the cutting continuity.
- Animal Trainer: Harry Lucenay
- He was Pete's owner and trainer.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- As indicated in the opening title card.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As indicated in the film.
- All Rights Reserved Under International Convention of Buenos Aires
- As indicated in the film.
- studio personnel
- director-general - Leo McCarey
- 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
- possible uncredited involvement
- assistant direction - Probably Charles Oelze.
- assistant cameraman - Probably Clair Boshard.
- cutting - Probably Lloyd Campbell.
- writing - Robert A. McGowan, Jean Yarbrough, Charlie Hall and Hal Yates may have been
among the gag writers.
- property department - Charles Oelze, Don
Sandstrom and Thomas Benton Roberts were probably involved in this capacity.
the kids:
- Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins as "Wheezer"
- Lead role. He takes the gang on a wild ride in their submarine car.
- Jay R. Smith as "Jay" aka
"J. Edison Westinghouse Smith"
- Featured role. He's the inventor that's designed the car.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins
- Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in the titles. He's given several funny bits of business along the way.
- Joe Cobb
- Supporting role. He gets a decent amount of the dialogue, but is mostly along for the ride (pardon the pun).
- Harry Spear
- Supporting role. He's mostly part of the ensemble in this film.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
- questionable listings
- Maltin & Bann list both Jean Darling and
Mildred Kornman, but the cutting continuity
doesn't mention them. The cutting continuity mentions two nameless boys, one of whom turns out to be Harry, but the
other isn't revealed. However, he's probably Jackie Condon.
the animals:
- Pete (no. 1)
- Supporting role. He helps Wheezer take his nightgown off, and otherwise is present in the gang's garage.
- Leo
- Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
- other animals
- Bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The owl that turns his head as the car passes.
- (2.) The mule running down the alley from the car.
- (3.) The chickens that the car drives through.
the adults:
- Grace Woods as Jay's mother
- Supporting role. She doesn't have much faith in his future. She's also Wheezer's mom.
- other adults
- Supporting roles, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) Jay's father, a gas inspector, who believes in his son.
- (2.) The painter who loses his ladder.
- (3.) The man pushed into the water and his friend who soon joins him.
- (4.) The fire chief and the other firemen, and the man who jumps from the building.
- (5.) The four men whose faces are blackened with soot.
- (6.) The cop with the whistle.
- (7.) The man with the baby buggy.
- (8.) The man who loses his pants.
- (9.) The man blowing up the stump.
- (10.) The motorcycle cop.
- (11.) There are probably several additional pedestrians and drivers shown. A publicity photos shows a man, resembling Ham Kinsey, being pushed into a light pole.
miscellaneous:
7 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Filming was still ongoing for "Rainy Days" (no.
72) when the 'start' date for "Edison, Marconi & Co." arrived on Dec. 16th. It's probable
that the footage being shot for "Rainy Days" involved animation, and that the Our Gang unit was chiefly
involved with "Edison, Marconi & Co." Shooting continued until Dec. 22nd with Robert F. McGowan directing.
No shooting took place on Dec. 18th, which was a Sunday. On Dec. 21st, activity was divided between "Edison, Marconi
& Co." and "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." (no. 74), while on Dec. 22nd, it was divided between
all three films. After this, Anthony Mack (listed as McGowan, Jr.) began directing "Rainy Days," while
McGowan (listed as McGowan, Sr.) continued with "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." Work on "Edison,
Marconi & Co." didn't resume until Dec. 28th, when all three films were again in production. It isn't
clear which of the two directed "Edison, Marconi & Co." on this date, but it was the date on which the film
was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Dec. 25th, which was both Christmas and a Sunday, nor on the
26th or 27th. After this, shooting continued for "Barnum & Ringling, Inc." into 1928.
The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B401.
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