Pay As You Exit

technical details:

Production K-3.

Release no. C-583.

Filmed October 14 to 19, 1936. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Negative shipped on November 4, 1936.

According to Maltin & Bann, this film was released October 24, 1936, making it the 148th film in the series to be released. However, judging by the dates listed above it seems more likely that it was released around the time of the copyright date.

Copyrighted November 17, 1936, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP6761. Renewed July 27, 1964, with registration no. R341917. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2031.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Pay As You Exit".'

King World Productions episode no. 53a, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Gordon Douglas

This credit appears in the film.

Assistant Director: Charles Oelze

This credit derives from production documents.

Second Assistant Director: Alex Finlayson

This credit derives from a memo indicating his starting date on Oct. 12th.

Photography: Walter Lundin, A. S. C.

This credit appears in the film.

Film Editor: William Ziegler

This credit appears in the film.

Sound: Earl Sitar

This credit appears in the film.

Writer: Robert A. McGowan

This credit derives from a memo which indicates his hiring as an Our Gang writer on Oct. 5th.

Prop Man: Goode

This credit derives from the production sheets, which don't provide the first name.

Script Clerk: Murphy

This credit derives from the daily film reports, which don't provide the first name.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As indicated in the film.

Western Electric System

As indicated in the film.

Approved by the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America

Certificate no. 2790.

studio personnel

secretary-treasurer-general manager - Mat O'Brien

vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren

Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver

assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber

film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse

story department - Jack Jevne

casting - Joe Rivkin

publicity and advertising - Fred Purner

art department - Arthur I. Royce

construction department - C. E. Christensen

paint department - James Follette

property department - W. L. Stevens

electrical department - William Lewis

laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin

process department - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves

musical director - Marvin Hatley

men's wardrobe - Harry Black

women's wardrobe - Dorothy Callahan

makeup department - Jack Casey

hairdressing - Peggy Zardo

purchasing department - Russell Walker

cashier - Mrs. M. Van Keuren

paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash

transportation director - Bob Davis

garage - Walter Johnson

commissary - W. M. Furlong

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

writing - Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Hal Law, John Guedel, Felix Adler, Harry Langdon, Richard Flournoy and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"

Featured role. He plays Romeo in the play and lets the kids pay as they exit.

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky"

Featured role. He organizes the play and plays Juliet's father, in addition to doing his old act.

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat" aka "Professor"

Supporting role. He replaces Darla as Juliet.

Darla Hood as "Darla"

Supporting role. She plays Juliet, but walks out because of Alfalfa's onion breath.

Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"

Supporting role. He's the less-than-perfect stage hand.

Joe Cobb

Small part. He's the leader among the kids in the audience, and the only one with his own dialogue.

Harold Switzer

Extra. He's next to Joe throughout the film.

Rex Downing

Extra. He's next to Joe throughout the film.

Paul Hilton

Extra. He sits at the left end of the front bench. Maltin & Bann list Bobs Watson, and I think they probably mean this kid.

Billy Atkinson

Extra. He sits at the right end of the front bench.

Sidney Kibrick

Extra. He sits towards the left in the audience.

Harry McCrillis

Extra. He's the other fat boy besides Joe. Maltin & Bann credit Marvin Trin (actually Strin).

Barbara O'Brien

Extra. She sits behind Rex.

Barbara Bletcher

Extra. In the opening scene, she's standing right behind Joe Cobb. During the show, she sits at the far right in the second row.

Natalie Lowell

Extra. She's in the third row, at times leaning forward to talk to Barbara O'Brien.

Robert Winckler

Extra. Maltin & Bann list him as Robert Winkler. He's in the back part of the audience.

Louise Williams

Extra. She's one of the blonde girls in the audience, sitting approximately behind Joe Cobb.

Jack Egger

Extra. He sits behind Joe Cobb in the audience.

John Collum

Extra. He's in back on the right side.

Baby Patsy May

She doesn't appear in the film, but her photograph is included in the opening titles.

other kids

Extras. It appears there are six more kids in the audience, which would mean that the production sheets listing 19 extras were correct and not the ones listing 18. The little blonde girl looks like she might be Joan Gray.

the animals:

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

Pete the Pup IV

He's not actually in the film, but his photo is shown during the opening titles.

other animals

Bit part. The only other animal in this film is the chicken that Alfalfa has to remove from the stage.

the adults:

There are no adults in this film, but a man's voice can be heard after Spanky is stabbed. Perhaps it's Gordon Douglas.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A15.) Most of this piece is played over the opening titles.

"Yankee Doodle"

This derives from a 15th century Dutch harvesting song. Richard Schuckburgh wrote the words as we know them today during the French and Indian War to ridicule the colonists. During the Revolutionary War, colonists used it as a rallying anthem. In this film, an instrumental version is played (twice) by Buckwheat and Darla. A Hatley arrangement of this tune was copyrighted on Mar. 19, 1937, along with other titles from "General Spanky" (no. 150).

"In My Canoe" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. Most of this piece is played as Romeo and Juliet meet with each other. This is the version reproduced on the first Beau Hunks CD.

"Furioso" by J. S. Zamecnik

This is the piece played during the sword fight.

"He Peddled His Bristles To Women" by T. Marvin Hatley

Written with lyrics by Walter Weems. Copyrighted Apr. 4, 1934. An instrumental version is played during Spanky's weightlifting routine.

"Walkin' The Deck" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted July 30, 1936. This is played as Alfalfa gets ready to go up the ladder.

"Bassooning" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Aug. 13, 1931. Most of this piece is played as Alfalfa gets rid of the chicken.

"It Is To Laugh" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted 1930. This is played as Buckwheat plays Juliet. This is a different version than either of the versions reproduced by the Beau Hunks.

"Hide And Go Seek" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Dec. 23, 1930. A portion of this piece is played as Alfalfa crashes through the curtain and the end title appears.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Ranch

Both exterior and interior scenes were shot here. The opening exterior footage was shot here on the 14th. Assuming that Stage 5 was actually at the studio and not at the ranch, then interior scenes were shot here only on the 19th, and probably involved audience shots.

Hal E. Roach Studios

Assuming Stage 5 was actually at the studio and not at the ranch, then this is where most of the interior footage was shot, probably involving the play. My impression is that all of the footage shot on the 15th, 16th and 17th was shot here, as well as part of the footage of the 19th.

miscellaneous:

Five shooting dates went into the making of this film. Shooting began on Oct. 14th and continued until Oct. 19th. No shooting took place on Oct. 18th, which was a Sunday. October 19th also involved the shooting of additional footage for "General Spanky" (no. 150). Here's a breakdown of the activity, as derived from the call sheets, production sheets, location work sheets, daily film reports, and various memos:
Oct. 6 - A Van Keuren memo to Cash from this date indicates that Robert A. McGowan was placed on the payroll as a writer on this production on October 5th.
Oct. 10 - Film costs for the previous week were $175.81.
Oct. 12 - A Van Keuren memo to Huber from this date indicates that Alex Finlayson started as second assistant director on this production on October 12th.
Oct. 14 - This was the first day of shooting. A document from this day indicates that the original plan was to shoot the film over a period of four days, finishing on the 17th. Scheduled to work on each shooting date were the five main kids, plus 15 to 20 extra kids. Shooting was to take place on the exterior barn set at the Roach Ranch on the 14th, as well as back at the studio, with the specific instruction 'cover set int. barn Stage 5.' The remaining shooting dates were to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 5. It appears that plans for October 14th went as scheduled. The call sheet places the five main kids, 18 extras, and Joe Cobb, at the interior barn set on Stage 5 at the studio. The location work sheet for this date indicates that the five main kids, 18 extra kids, plus some teachers, were present at the exterior barn set at the Roach Ranch.
Oct. 15 - This was the second day of shooting. Scheduled were the five main kids and 18 extras, with shooting to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 5. According to the production sheet, there were 19 extra kids used on this day, plus one 'bit kid,' who was probably Joe Cobb. A Van Keuren memo to Huber from this date indicates that Charles Oelze started as assistant director on this production as of October 10th. Another memo from this date indicates that Mr. Decker approved of everything on the sign at the start of the film.
Oct. 16 - This was the third day of shooting. Scheduled were the five main kids, plus 18 extras and Joe Cobb, with shooting to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 5. According to the production sheet, 19 extra kids were used, as well as Joe.
Oct. 17 - This was the fourth day of shooting, which was scheduled to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 5. Present were the five main kids, plus 19 extras and Joe Cobb. A memo from this date indicates that "Pay As You Exit" was the official title at this point. The production sheets from this date were the last to label this film as 'untitled.' Film costs for the previous week were $2824.99, bringing the total to $3000.80 so far.
Oct. 18 - This was a Sunday, so no shooting took place.
Oct. 19 - This was the final day of shooting. Present were the five main kids, plus 18 extras, 1 bit (which the location work sheet reveals to be Joe Cobb) and 3 school teachers. Shooting took place on Stage 5. Shooting was also scheduled for the Hal Roach Ranch, weather permitting, though the location sheet mentions the interior barn set. This may have been an error, as it's already been established that this set was on Stage 5 at the studio, and exterior barn footage had been shot at the Ranch on the 14th. In any event, added scenes were also scheduled at the Ranch for "General Spanky" (no. 150) involving a white mule.
Oct. 20 - A call sheet was prepared for this date, with Douglas, Oelze, Goode and Lundeen (sic) all listed, but it isn't clear if any actual shooting took place. The words 'production closes today' are typed on the sheet.
Oct. 24 - Film costs for the previous week were $1013.28, bringing the total to $4014.08 so far.
Nov. 3 - An Elmer Raguse memo from this date indicates that the domestic positive Movietone print was shipped to W. D. Kelly.
Nov. 4 - An Elmer Raguse memo from this date indicates that the domestic negative and domestic negative soundtrack were delivered to the MGM lab.
Nov. 11 - An Elmer Raguse memo from this date indicates that the Canadian negative and negative soundtrack were delivered.

The negative cost on this film was $19,901.29.

This film was 958 feet in length.

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© Robert Demoss.