Boys Will Be Joys

film no. 42

availability:

Amusement Park Comedies from the 1920's (VHS) from Encore Home Video and
Amusement Park Comedies (VHS) from A-1 Video: These copies are mostly original, but with a remade ending title. The picture quality is fairly good, and most of the footage seen in other available prints is contained here. There's about five seconds of repeated footage near the beginning, which seems to overlap a missing portion of the film, including one of the inter-titles otherwise shown in the Grapevine version listed below. The print totals 19-44, with 19:31 of it original footage. Most of the original film is included.
Rascals Silents Vol. 2 (VHS) from A-1 Video: This copy is identical to Encore Home Video's.
Our Gang Volume #4 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also from The Picture Palace: This copy is essentially the same as Encore's, but the picture quality is poor, and there is some footage missing. It does contain one inter-title missing from the Encore version, though. The print totals 18:27, with 18:24 of it original footage. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.
Our Gang Silent Comedies (Volume 1) (VHS) from Nostalgia Family Video: This version derives from the same source as Grapevine's, but adds an additional title card at the end. The print totals 18:36, with 18:31 of it original footage.
Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 10 (VHS) from Video Classics: This copy is identical to Grapevine's.
Our Gang Comedy Festival II (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: This copy is a TV print from the Mischief Makers series entitled "Carnival Time." The footage shown in the first volume of "Our Gang Comedy Festival" is deleted from this version. The initials 'GT' are superimposed in the lower right-hand corner throughout the print, and the VHS is in LP mode. The original footage totals 7:53. This VHS was included as part of the Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack, while the DVD was included as part of a 5 DVD set of the same name released Mar. 2004.
Our Gang Comedy Festival (VHS/DVD) from GoodTimes Home Video: Copyrighted in 1986 by Movietime Inc. Released on VHS in 1987, it was made available on DVD in 2000. A clip lasting 4:18 is included, deriving from a TV print from the Mischief Makers series. The VHS was also part of a collection called Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack in 2002. The DVD was also part of a collection called Our Gang Collector Series 4 Pack in 2001, which was superseded by Our Gang Collector Series 5 Pack in Mar. 2004. It was also included as part of the Our Gang Double Feature released June 25, 2002, The Best Of Our Gang Volume 2 (DVD) released June 1, 2004, and The TV Laugh Pack DVD (released Dec. 6, 2005).
Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 4 (VHS) from HenryButch: This print is the same as the Grapevine version.

technical details:

Production A-42.

Filmed April 13 to 24, 1925, except for the circus parade footage, which derives from "Jubilo, Jr." (no. 29), and was shot sometime between February 25 and March 8, 1924.

Copyrighted July 6, 1925, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. MU3100. Since the copyright was not renewed, this film is now in the public domain.

Released July 26, 1925. It was the 41st film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Boys Will Be Joys".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1006, "Carnival Time," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17311.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach: Credited in the film as a presenter.
Supervised by F. Richard Jones: Credited in the film as supervising director.
Directed by Robert F. McGowan: This credit appears in the film, but without his middle initial.
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.
Story by Hal E. Roach: This credit doesn't appear in the film.
Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
Passed by the National Board of Review: As indicated in the film.
studio personnel
possible uncredited involvement

the kids:

the gang
Mickey Daniels as "Mickey": Featured role. He's the leader and the designer of the gang's amusement park.
Allen "Farina" Hoskins: Supporting role. The nickname doesn't appear in the film. He has a few comic moments, culminating with the skunk gag at the end of the film.
Joe Cobb: Supporting role. He's given virtually nothing to do outside of ensemble work.
Johnny Downs: Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble work in this film.
Jackie Condon: Supporting role. He does ensemble acting in this short.
Mary Kornman: Supporting role. She does mostly ensemble acting in this film.
other kids
Jannie Hoskins: Supporting role. She provides occasional comedy relief, first as the boys are trying to read their blueprint, then later when she visits the skunk.
boy 032a: Bit part. He's the blonde boy that takes a look at the skunk. Previously in "Every Man For Himself" (no. 32) and "Ask Grandma" (no. 38).
boy 005b: Bit part. This looks like one of the boys from "A Quiet Street" (no. 5). He's the one in charge of the weighing machine.
Jay R. Smith: Bit part. He appears briefly with one of the black boys. This was his series debut.
boy 042: Bit part. He's the spokesman for the boys that are tired of working and want to go on the rides.
boy 003: Bit part. He's among the boys building and operating the rides.
boy 021: Bit part. This might be the first boy helped onto the roller coaster by the old man.
other kids: Small parts, bit parts and extras.
(1.) The black boy known as "The Grate Affrican Dodger."
(2.) The boy playing catcher in the baseball game.
(3.) The black boy shown talking to Jay. He could possibly be the same black boy from "Official Officers" (no. 40), but a better print is needed to confirm this.
(4.) Four additional players at the baseball game.
(5.) Probably at least ten more boys helping to operate rides other than the ones I've specified.
(6.) Dozens of kids attending the gang's fair.
unconfirmed listings: Maltin & Bann list Andy Samuel, but I can't spot him in these prints. It might just be that he's part of the "Jubilo, Jr." (no. 29) footage, but even that's difficult to confirm. Just possibly, he might be the tallest boy among the ones working at the fair.

the animals:

donkey 040: Supporting role. Listed as Dinah the Mule by Maltin & Bann. This is the donkey pulling the gang's wagon. The chauffeur has quite a job getting him out of the limo. Previously seen in "Official Officers" (no. 40).
Pal: Small part. He's shown mostly as the gang goes to visit the millionaire.
Buster: Small part. This is the small white dog that also accompanies the gang on their visit. Later called "Magnolia" in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51).
skunk 014: Bit part. Presumably the same skunk as seen previously, as usual, it provides the closing gag.
other animals: Bit part. Also appearing is a pig that seems to be a prize at one of the booths.

the adults:

Paul Weigel as "Henry Mills," board chairman: Lead role. He's virtually the star of the film, deciding that he'd rather partake in boyhood games than take his company seriously.
man 034 as the chauffeur: Featured role. Previously appeared in "The Big Town" (no. 34). He provides a lot of the comic moments in this film.
George B. French as one of the board members: Small part. He seems to be the spokesman for the rest of the board members.
Charles Bachman as "Jim," the surveyor: Small part. He appears early in the film to let the gang know their lot is going to be taken from them.
Allen Cavan as one of the board members: Small part. He's the one that gets the hammer on his foot.
Charley Young as one of the board members: Small part. He can be seen mainly during the board meeting.
Eric Mayne as one of the board members: Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's the bearded guy that runs the water ride with Weigel.
William Gillespie as one of the board members: Small part. He's pretty hard to spot, but I'm pretty sure he's there.
Noah Young as the police officer: Bit part. According to Maltin & Bann. I guess it kind of looks like him, but there's too much shadow.
other adults: Bit parts and extras.
(1.) Six remaining members of the board of directors. Maltin & Bann list William A. Orlamond, but I don't think he's in this film. He may be the man working at the top of the roller coaster. Also, is the man lugging sandbags the same one that wants success in "Shivering Spooks" (no. 52)?
(2.) The receptionist at the company. Looks like the receptionist from "Mike Fright" (no. 130).
(3.) The store owner whose window is broken by the baseball.
(4.) Two additional surveyors.
(5.) Several people shown in the opening footage of a real amusement park, particularly those shown on the roller coaster.

the locations:

Demini Gas: I'm not sure if I'm reading it correctly, but I think the last name is Demini, and it's definitely a gas station.

miscellaneous:

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

Copyright Feb. 13, 2005, by Robert Demoss.
2005 updates: 2/23, 2/27, 3/27, 4/25, 12/15.
2006 updates: 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 5/16, 6/12, 10/25.
2007 updates: 4/1, 10/22, 11/5, 11/9, 11/25.
2008 updates: 2/21, 3/31.

Thanks to Rob Stone, Joe Moore, Robin Cook and Mark Brumfield for assistance on this page.