technical details:
Production A-35.
Filmed October 20 to 25, and November 1 to 4, 1924. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted January 19, 1925, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU21047. Since the copyright was not
renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
Released February 8, 1925. It was the 35th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Circus
Fever".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1026, "Spring Fever," copyrighted Sep. 1,
1960, with registration number LP17331.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- 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: Lloyd French
- This credit derives from French's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant director during this
period.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Edited by Thomas J. Crizer
- This credit probably appears in the film. In an inside joke, the circus is called "Crizer's
Colossal Circus."
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Props by Charles Oelze and Don Sandstrom
- 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. H. C. Greening was listed in the studio
payroll summaries as an Our Gang gag man during this period. Edward Flannigan began to be listed the week ending
Nov. 25th, so he may have contributed gags to this film as well.
- Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro
- He was Pal's trainer.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- 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
- laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
- publicity director - Garrett Graham
- purchasing agent - Clyde Hopkins
- still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - Robert F. McGowan,
Thomas J. Crizer and
James Parrott may have contributed gags.
the kids:
- Mickey Daniels as "Mickey"
- Featured role. Below his bedroom window on the outside wall, his name is spelled "Micky." As
usual, he's the guy with all the bright ideas.
- Joe Cobb as"Joe" aka "Joey"
- Featured role. He gets quite a lot of footage trying to keep from waking up.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He joins along with Mickey and Joe on their quest to see the circus.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Supporting role. He's a "she" in this film. He and Gene are quarantined, and he provides
some comedy relief when the doctor comes to visit.
- Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson as "Gene"
- Supporting role. He isn't given too much to do, other than be present in the scenes with Farina.
- Mary Kornman as "Mary"
- Small part. She doesn't appear too much in this print, but she's the one that informs the boys
that the kids are getting free tickets to the circus.
- Billy Murphy
- Small part. He's the younger sibling of Mickey (who has to give him a bath) and Jackie. Sometimes listed in the payroll
ledger as "Baby Murphy."
- David Durand
- Small part. This is another younger sibling of Mickey and Jackie.
- Johnny Downs
- Small part. He's shown riding Mary around on his bike. This was his series debut.
- Dorothy Hughes, Dorothy Seay and Peggy Ahern
- Small parts. These three girls are seen in the slow-motion scene as well as the final shot outside the window. Maltin & Bann list
Peggy (as Peggy Ahearn).
- other kids
- Bit parts and extras. In the shots with the three girls listed directed above, two boys are also present. There are also at least twenty kids
shown filing into the school building. The payroll ledger doesn't list any of them, and the camera's position outside the chain link fence
suggests that we're looking at the real thing with kids that probably don't even know they're being filmed. Maltin & Bann list
Ivadell Carter (as Wadell Carter), but if "The Love Bug" (no. 37) is any indication, then they're misidentifying
Dorothy Hughes.
the animals:
- Pal
- Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He gets some pretty good footage trying to wake up
Joe.
- other animals
- Bit parts. Three kittens are shown at the beginning of the film, one of whom gets drenched by Mickey.
the adults:
- Helen Gilmore as Mickey and Jackie's mom
- Supporting role. She's given a fair amount of footage in this one.
- Grace Wood as Joe's mom
- Supporting role. She appears about as often as Gilmore. She later appeared in "Thundering
Fleas" (no. 51) and "Spanky" (no. 113).
- Joseph Morrison as "Dr. Royal Fitzhugh Sorghum"
- Supporting role. He has an extended scene examining Farina and Gene.
- Charley Lloyd as "Doctor Pipp"
- Small part. He visits Mickey and Jackie and determines that they're not sick. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Charley Young.
- other adults
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) Gene and Farina's mother, who could just as easily be a man, and is definitely a white person in blackface.
- (2.) The painter shown briefly shooing the boys away after they've painted the spots on their faces.
- (3.) Quite a few people shown in the background while Morrison is driving down the street.
the locations:
- Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles
- Joseph Morrison drives his car up and down Motor Avenue in this film. We see glimpses of the Peoples
Water Company at 3392 Motor, Palms Realty right next to it at 3388 Motor, and the grocery store next to that at
3384 Motor. Most conspicuous of all is the Micholithic Mfg. Co. on the same side of the block, which is extensively
shown during this sequence. We're led to believe that Farina and Gene live right across the street from this location.
In fact, we see quite a lot of the west side of the street as Mickey, Joe and Jackie, inspect Morrison's car and get
shooed away. We also see the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor as Morrison pulls away. The Micholithic building had
previously housed the Palms Chamber of Commerce. The new location at 3438 Motor is also shown in this film. I also strongly
suspect that the shot of the children walking into the school was achieved at Palms Elementary School at 3520 Motor Ave.
- other locations
- There are many locations that are illegible. Beyond the brick wall with the poster on it is a sign that
says "Oak."
miscellaneous:
8 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Roughly two and a half weeks after shooting finished for "The
Big Town" (no. 34), the 'start' date arrived for "Circus Fever" on Oct. 20th. Shooting
continued until Oct. 25th. After a few days, shooting began on "Dog Days" (no. 36). Filming was divided
between the two films on Nov. 1st, and was devoted exclusively to "Circus Fever" on Nov. 4th, which turned out
to be the last day of filming for that short. After this, filming continued for "Dog Days." No shooting took
place on Sundays.
Doctor Pipp: "We must teach these little rascals a lesson - So they'll never dare play sick again
-"
Even though the flyer advertising the circus calls it "Crizer's Colossal Circus," the poster on the fence
is for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. The poster is weathered, since the June 2 date was already
months into the past.
Mickey and Joe communicate with each other using a 'tube phone' that stretches between their respective
bedrooms. At each end is a drawing on the wall which conceals the phone. At Joe's end is a drawing of a horse, which
was later seen in "The Fourth Alarm!" (no. 53).
During this period, the 1924 studio datebook begins to phase out the describing of the weather on the various shooting
dates. However, it was described as 'clear' on both Oct. 20th and 24th.
There were 33 copies of this film printed for its initial release.
availability:
- Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 4 (VHS) from
Video Classics and
- Our Gang Comedies IV
(VHS) from The Picture Palace
- This copy is a home movie print by Pathé with original inter-titles. The opening title reads
"Pathé presents His Rascals in Circus Fever." The print totals 23:44, with 23:30 of it original
footage.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.