Tire Trouble

technical details:

Production A-22.

Filmed August 14 to September 4, 1923. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted December 24, 1923 by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU19756. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain. Interestingly enough, the film shows the copyright year of 1924.

Released January 13, 1924. It was the 21st film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Tire Trouble".' This wording is substantiated by a publicity photo from this film.

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1058, "The Cure," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17362.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Probably credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film but without his middle initial.

Assistant Director: Clarence Morehouse

This credit derives from Morehouse's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director during this period.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Photographed by Harry W. Gerstad and R. E. Irish

This credit derives from the weekly studio payroll summaries, which indicate that Gerstad was the regular Our Gang cameraman during this period. He probably received sole credit for this, but the summaries also reveal that Irish worked five days during the middle week of shooting.

Props by Dick Gilbert and E. P. Norris

This credit derives from their payroll status as Our Gang prop men during this period.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the film. W. H. Belmont was included in the payroll summaries as an Our Gang writer during this period. Mark Goldaine was added to the payroll as a writer the week ending September 1st, which means he may have added a few gags towards the end of shooting for this film.

Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Passed by the National Board of Review

Probably indicated in the film.

studio personnel

general manager - Warren Doane

assistant general manager - L. A. French

secretary-treasurer - C. H. Roach

construction supervisor - C. E. Christensen

purchasing superintendent - John L. Murphy left the studio during this period

still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves

transportation director - Bob Davis

possible uncredited involvement

editing - Credit usually went to Thomas J. Crizer during this period.

writing - Robert F. McGowan, Thomas J. Crizer, James Parrott and Leo McCarey may have been among the gag writers.

the kids:

Mickey Daniels as "Mickie"

Featured role. He's basically the leader of the gang in this short, and gets some footage beating up on sissies.

Allen "Farina" Hoskins

Featured role. The nickname doesn't show up in any of these prints. He's given some solo footage during the pier sequence.

Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

Supporting role. The nickname doesn't show up in any of these prints. He's the victim of the gang's booby traps on their vehicle.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie"

Supporting role. He's the one that convinces the old man that he's not sick.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Supporting role. He meets up with a professional fat man at the pier.

Mary Kornman as "Mary"

Supporting role. She's mostly along for the ride, but is present in most of the scenes.

Donald Hughes as "Harold Webster"

Small part. Looks like him, anyway, laughing at the gang's taxi. His character name is written onto a card that he presents to the gang.

other kids

Bit parts and extras. Mickey and Ernie beat up on a couple of sissies, and then Mickey beats up another boy. There are other boys in the wealthy neighborhood, too, as part of a dance school for boys. In earlier scenes, a boy runs out in front of the taxi and gets paddled, and at one point, there are a couple of boys on the side of the road while the gang's taxi goes by.

the animals:

There are virtually no animals in these prints, which is extraordinary for a silent Our Gang film. There is, however, some kind of small animal in a compartment next to the driver's door of the taxi.

the adults:

Harry Rattenberry as "J. William McAllister"

Featured role. He's virtually the star of the film, befriending the gang and feeling better than he has in years.

woman 022 as the wife

Small part. She appears early in the film and then again at the end. She later appeared in "High Society" (no. 30).

George B. French as one of the doctors

Small part. The third doctor, and one I recognize.

Noah Young as one of the police officers

Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. Kind of looks like him. He and his partner enter the mansion to search for the kids.

Lyle Tayo as "Mme. La Rue"

Small part. According to Maltin & Bann. She's the woman who pulls the kids out of her car, and then calls a cop. It's too hard to identify her in these prints. I believe her character name is actually Mme. La Rues, since there's no apostrophe on the sign showing her name.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) Two additional men attending to McAllister, who might also be doctors.

(2.) The professional fat man at the pier.

(3.) The other cop that appears with Noah Young.

(4.) The motorcycle cop.

(5.) The maid.

(6.) The man who gets socked by the boxing glove on the gang's taxi.

(7.) The chauffeur of the car the gang has invaded.

(8.) The streetcar conductor plus whichever passengers can be seen.

(9.) The traffic cop.

(10.) The guy riding on the back of the ambulance.

(11.) Several adults outside the mansion.

(12.) Scores of people in the cars on the road.

(13.) Scores of people working at and visiting the pier.

the locations:

Venice Pier

This is where the amusement park footage was shot.

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

The taxi drives down the 3300 block of this street. Seen in the background are the Palms Hardware Co. at 3351 Motor and the house at 3359 Motor later used in "The Old Wallop" (no. 68).

Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles

The taxi picks up Ernie and Farina on the north side of this street at the alley between Motor and Vinton Avenues. Seen in the background is the large house at the corner of National and Vinton. Also seen is the back of the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor.

the wealthy neighborhood

It appears that at least some of the footage in the wealthy neighborhood was shot on the same streets as in "One Terrible Day" (no. 4). The gateway to the street is definitely the same, and the shot of the walkway looking towards the sidewalk seems to be the same as well. This spot also seems to be used in "Mary, Queen Of Tots" (no. 41).

billboard

There's a Ford billboard in the scene where the gang's driving their cab.

miscellaneous:

18 shooting dates went into the making of this film. The day after shooting finished for "Derby Day" (no. 21), the Our Gang unit began filming "Tire Trouble" on Aug. 14th. Shooting continued until the 'finish' date of Sep. 4th. After this, nearly a week passed before shooting began for "Big Business" (no. 23). No shooting took place on Aug. 19th, Aug. 26th, or Sep. 2nd, which were all Sundays, nor on Sep. 3rd, which was Labor Day.

The 1923 studio datebook reveals what the weather was like on the various shooting dates. On the vast majority of dates, it's described as 'clear.' However, Aug. 17th is described as 'cloudy AM,' Aug. 18th as 'cloudy' and Aug. 21st as 'foggy.' No description is given for the Sundays or the holiday.

This film was the third of six in the fourth 'series' of Our Gang films.

There were 40 copies of this film printed for its initial release.

The rich boy's card says Sat., June 4.

availability:

Rascals Silents Vol. 2 (VHS) from A-1 Video

This is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "The Cure," but with a new opening title made by A-1. There are a few seconds of footage not included in the Video Yesteryear version. The print totals 12:33, with 12:13 of it original footage. Roughly two-thirds of the original film is included.

Our Gang . . . "Si Sic Omnes" (VHS) from Video Yesteryear

Released 1987. This is also the TV print, but with the TV opening titles and a few seconds missing from the scene with the two sissies. The print totals 18:53, with 18:33 of it original footage. This version is shown at a slower projection speed.

Amusement Park Comedies From The 1920's (VHS/DVD) from Encore Home Video and

Amusement Park Comedies (VHS) from A-1 Video

This is a digest print by Pathegram, perhaps a British 9.5mm print. It includes inter-titles, but they're remade, and don't seem to retain the original wording. The print totals 5:48, with 4:15 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 7 (VHS) from Video Classics

This copy has a generic opening title card which reads "Our Gang in Swell Time." The inter-titles look original, but the picture quality is very poor and a lot of footage has been left out. The print totals 11:33, with 11:30 of it original footage.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 9 (VHS) from HenryButch

This is the TV print taken from the Video Yesteryear volume. The ad for this volume mistakenly lists "One Wild Ride" (no. 45).

special note

I've also been able to view a short home movie clip from this film.

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.