The Pigskin Palooka

film no. 160

availability:

The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Vol. 17 (VHS) from Cabin Fever and
The Little Rascals Remastered & Unedited Volume Three (4 LD set) from Cabin Fever: Released 1995. This is a complete original print with excellent picture quality. The total footage lasts 10:41. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (8 DVD set) from Genius Products: Released late Oct. 2008. This is identical to the Cabin Fever version. There is also a clip from this film shown in the main menu.
The Little Rascals Colorized Collection (VHS) from Hallmark Home Entertainment: Released Apr. 19, 1999. One of six same-named VHS releases, each with three colorized films, deriving from the Cabin Fever versions.
The Little Rascals Book XII (VHS) from Blackhawk Video: This is a home movie print from Blackhawk. The opening title and crew credits are remade, but the end title is original. The picture quality is very good. The original footage totals 10:19, but the original soundtrack lasts an additional 0:17.
The Little Rascals Two Reelers Vol. 6 (VHS) from Spotlite Video: This is the Blackhawk print, but with the company name blacked out. It was also included as part of a 6 VHS boxed set.
Rascal Dazzle (VHS/LD) from Embassy Home Entertainment: Original film released 1981. Video released 1984. A clip lasting 1:24 is included, showing the opening scene at the train station. This is followed by a clip lasting 2:01, showing Alfalfa winning the game, with music added.

technical details:

Production K-14.

Released October 23, 1937. It was the 160th film in the series to be released. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of MGM set a projected release date for this production of October 9, 1937.

Copyrighted November 2, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7549. Renewed May 12, 1965, with registration no. R361172. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "The Pigskin Palooka".'

King World Productions episode no. 1b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions. This version is listed as "Pigkin Palooka."

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Directed by Gordon Douglas: This credit appears in the film.
Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.: This credit appears in the film.
Film Editor: William Ziegler: This credit appears in the film.
Sound: William Randall: Not listed by Maltin & Bann. This credit appears in the film.
Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro: He trained the current Pete.
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
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa": Lead role. He brags about being a football star, and then has to prove himself on the field. He wears number 0.
George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky": Supporting role. He's the captain of his team and wears number 1.
Dickie Jones as "Spike": Supporting role. I'm assuming that his name is Spike, since he's the leader of the opposing team, which is called Spikes Tigers. He wears number 29.
Sidney Kibrick: Supporting role. He's second-in-command on the opposing team and has most of the dialogue with Dickie Jones. He wears number 9.
Darla Hood as "Darla": Supporting role. She's Alfalfa's sweetheart and leads the cheers at the game. The photo of her that Alfalfa looks at was later used in "Feed 'Em And Weep" (no. 167).
Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat": Small part. He scores the gang's first touchdown. Interestingly, his jersey has number 7 on the front and number 11 on the back. At one point, the script refers to him as "Bucky."
Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky": Small part. He wears number 12 and calls the plays on the field.
Gary Jasgur: Small part. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. They also indicate that the "Junior" moniker was used in this film, but this isn't the case. The script refers to him as "Gary." Listed in the daily film reports as Gary Jasquer. He's the 'time keaper' at the game.
Delmar Watson: Small part. He's the captain of the military academy's football team, and takes Alfalfa to task for wearing his uniform. The script refers to him as "Captain."
Cullen Johnson: Small part. He's the scorekeeper at the game.
Harold Switzer: Small part. He's number 44 on the team, and is best seen carrying Alfalfa to the game.
Larry Harris: Small part. He's the other boy besides Harold to carry Alfalfa on his shoulder.
Roger McGee: Small part. He wears number 20 on the opposing team, and is easily seen among the boys who say 'Right!' He's also sitting in the stands as Buckwheat tells Alfalfa that he'll be next. Oddly enough, he wears number 29 in the shot where the opposing team stands in the end zone, even though Dickie Jones also wears that number in the same shot.
Rex Downing: Bit part. He's the photographer taking Alfalfa's picture in the first scene. The script refers to him as "Cadet."
Norman Salling: Extra. A 1938 casting directory states that he played the bass drum in the marching band in this film. Maltin & Bann include Leon Holland in their cast listing, but the only kid that looks similar to him is Salling, so perhaps this is who they meant.
girl 160: Extra. She sits to the left in the stands, and is also near the front of the crowd at the train station.
Joe Strauch, Jr.: Extra. He's the fat boy in the marching band. Maltin & Bann list Marvin Trin, presumably for this role, but it's clearly not him.
Vincent Graeff: Extra. He's the trumpet player in the marching band. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Billy Ray Smith.
Darwood Kaye: Extra. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used in this film, but this isn't the case. He's on the gang's team, and not the referee, who's made up to look like him.
John Collum: Extra. He's on the gang's team.
Henry Lee: Extra. He sits two rows behind Darla in the stands. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. However, they list Alvin Buckelew in the 1977 edition of their book, and in Maltin's earlier The Great Movie Shorts. In these earlier books, they consistently list Henry Lee as Alvin Buckelew in films from this era.
Joe Levine: Extra. He's number 24 on the opposing team. He's also in the crowd in the closing shot.
Donald Proffitt: Extra. He's number 9 on the gang's team.
Tommy McFarland: Extra. He's number 43 on the gang's team.
Charles Flickinger: Extra. He's number 5 on the gang's team.
Daniel Boone: Extra. He's number 6 on the gang's team.
Barry Downing: Extra. He sits to the left of Darla in the stands. There's also a player on the gang's team, wearing number 16, that resembles him.
boy 141: Extra. He's number 34 on the opposing team. He's also sitting in the right portion of the stands.
Freddie Walburn: Extra. He's number 2 on the opposing team. He's also in the stands as the team first walks onto the field, and is later seen in the top row wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt.
Dix Davis: Extra. He sits on the right side in the stands, and later in the upper left. He's also towards the left in the final shot. It also appears that he wears number 33 for the opposing team.
Hugh Chapman: Extra. Judging by the placement of his signature on photos from this film, he's a member of the opposing team. It appears that he's the boy wearing number 17, though not necessarily for the entire film.
Paul Hilton: Extra. He can be seen carrying a sign at the beginning of the train station scene. He's also a member of the gang's team.
girl 148: Extra. She sits towards the left in the stands.
girl 159: Extra. She sits somewhere to the left of Barry Downing in the stands, as revealed in a couple of the shots. She's also noticeable in the final shot as the kids are leaving the field.
Floyd Fisher: Extra. He's sitting behind Barry Downing and in front of Payne Johnson in the stands.
Payne Johnson: Extra. He's standing to the right of Darla during the train station scene. He's later sitting in the back row of the bleachers on the left side. Later in the film, he's sitting to the right of Gary.
Robert Winckler: Extra. He's sitting in the back row in the stands.
Bobby Callahan: Extra. He can be seen among the kids in the final shot.
Baby Patsy May: She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles.
other kids: Extras. It should be kept in mind that the seating arrangements shifted around from day to day, so the above descriptions don't necessarily apply to every shot. It's also possible that a few replacements were made over the course of shooting. Maltin & Bann list Priscilla Lyon, but I can't spot her anywhere.
(1.) The referee, who is made to look like Waldo, but isn't him. I suspect this is Joe "Corky" Geil.
(2.) The two stretcher bearers.
(3.) The film shows two additional musicians in the marching band, though documentation states that it should be three additional musicians.
(4.) One more member of the gang's team, and three more members of the opposing team.
(5.) Ten more kids in the stands, if documentation holds true. It looks like there could be more than that.

the animals:

Leo: Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.
Pete the Pup IV: Bit part. He's seen as the kids are walking onto the football field. He's not mentioned in any of the documentation.

the adults:

adults: Bit parts. The only adults shown in the film are the porter and the engineer on the train. Only the porter is mentioned in the studio documentation, which would mean that the engineer is the real thing. There are also photos of football players on the wall of Alfalfa's room.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield: Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.
(A17.) This is played over the opening titles, and as Alfalfa poses for the photograph.
(A18.) The marching band plays this piece over the end title.

the locations:

Palms Depot, 10305 National Boulevard: Seen at its original location on National Boulevard in Palms, just east of Motor Avenue. It is currently located in Heritage Square on North Homer Street. The tracks are still tucked between the Santa Monica Freeway and the businesses on the north side of National Boulevard.

miscellaneous:

The title was a takeoff on "Pigskin Parade" from 1936, which featured Judy Garland and Johnny Downs.

Alfalfa's school is Dover Military Academy.

The game is between Spikes Tigers and Spankys All-Stars.

There is an ad for Delaware Punch on the fence next to the football field.

This film is 980 feet in length.

©Aug. 6, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 8/30, 10/26, 11/7, 12/19.
2006 updates: 2/11, 4/3, 5/16, 6/14, 7/2, 10/25.
2007 updates: 2/27, 4/1, 10/17, 10/22, 11/4.
2008 updates: 5/26, 7/12, 8/3, 8/28, 9/7, 9/22, 11/6, 11/26, 12/11, 12/12.
2009 updates: 6/1, 7/23.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore, Paul Mular, Piet Schreuders, Elliot Unkefer, Steven R. Wright, Debby Mendelsohn and bigshotjones for assistance on this page.