technical details:
Production K-12.
Filmed August 5 to September 4, 1926. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Released November 21, 1926. It was the 54th film in the series to be released.
Copyrighted December 13, 1926, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23419. Since the copyright was not
renewed, this film is now in the public domain.
This film was reissued and played in theaters through 1930.
Silent two-reeler.
Probable opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "War
Feathers".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1007, "Ride 'Em Cowboy," copyrighted
Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17312.
the crew:
- Produced by Hal Roach
- Probably credited in the film as a presenter.
- Supervised by F. Richard Jones
- Probably credited in the film as supervising director.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Robert A.
McGowan
- Maltin & Bann list only Robert F. McGowan, and the film credits probably reflect this, but without
his middle initial, which stands for Francis. Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan was his nephew, and it's the
1926 studio datebook that reveals him as the director of this film (as Robert McGowan, Jr.), with his uncle
directing the added scenes. The nephew was later credited as Anthony Mack. According to the payroll summaries, the nephew
was still officially an assistant director during this period.
- Assistant Director: Charles Oelze
- According to Rob Stone's list.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- According to Rob Stone's list. This credit might not appear in the film.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Cutter: Edmund Hannan
- This credit derives from Hannan's payroll status as the Our Gang cutter starting the week ending Aug.
28th.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit probably appears in the film.
- Props by Don Sandstrom and Timothy O'Donnell
- Sandstrom is listed by Rob Stone. Both names are listed as prop men for the unit in the payroll summaries
from this period.
- Animation by S. E. Overton
- This credit derives from Overton's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. The
animation in this film involves Farina's bulging eyes.
- Story by Hal E. Roach
- This credit probably doesn't appear in the film.
- Watchman: E. B. Pence
- This credit derives from his listing in the studio payroll summary for the week ending Aug. 20th.
- 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
- still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
- transportation director - Bob Davis
- school teacher - Fern Carter was probably away
from the studio while this film was being made, though the payroll summaries reveal that she was receiving her salary
during this period.
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A.
McGowan, Carl Harbaugh, Frank Butler and James
Parrott may have been among the gag writers.
- animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been
among the animal trainers.
the kids:
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Featured role. He's basically the star of the short. He steals an Indian kid's clothing and ends
up on a reservation. After escaping, he joins the other kids at the outlaw's ranch.
- Joe Cobb
- Featured role. Introduced in the titles as "Leaping Lollypop." Johnny calls him
"Chief." He's featured throughout the film, shooting arrows and trying to keep Scooter from sneezing.
- Johnny Downs
- Featured role. He seems to be the leader of the gang, and does some Bronco busting at the ranch.
- Jannie Hoskins as "Mango"
- Supporting role. She's seen off and on, and has the closing gag, in which she swallows the half dollar.
- Bobby "Bonedust" Young
- Supporting role. Maltin & Bann seem to indicate that the nickname was used in this film, but it
doesn't appear in either of these prints. He's given a gag in which his pants fall down.
- Elmer "Scooter" Lowry
- Supporting role. It's his sneeze that alerts the outlaws to the kids in the wagon.
- Jackie Condon
- Supporting role. He mostly does ensemble acting in this film.
- Peggy Ahern
- Supporting role. Listed as Peggy Ahearn by Maltin & Bann. She's mainly part of the ensemble.
- Jay R. Smith
- Supporting role. He basically does ensemble acting in this film.
- Mildred Kornman
- Small part. She's seen off and on, mainly being carried by other kids.
- other kids
- Supporting role. The only remaining kid is the Indian boy. Farina switches clothes with him.
the animals:
- parrot 008 as "Marmaduke"
- Small part. Presumably the same parrot as previously seen.
- Dinah the Mule
- Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. She kicks the outlaws right into the well. Somebody has
painted some large spots on her.
- donkey 013
- Extra. Possibly the same donkey from "Back Stage" (no. 13), but perhaps not.
- donkey 041
- Extra. Looks like the donkey from "Mary, Queen Of Tots" (no. 41). Accompanies the other
donkey while wandering around the town square.
- other animals
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) The bear that appears during the Indian sequence.
- (2.) A cow made up to look like a buffalo. Not previously seen.
- (3.) Various horses ridden by the lawmen, the outlaws, and the Indians. There is a white horse ridden by one of
the Indians, which might be horse 014. There's also a dark horse with a white spot on its snout ridden by one of the
deputies that could be the horse from "Fast Company" (no. 16).
the adults:
- Garry O'Dell as "'Bicarbonated' Billy"
- Supporting role. He breaks out of jail and later lets the kids play at his ranch.
- Chet Brandenberg as one of the outlaws
- Supporting role. He's the one with the long scar across his face.
- George B. French as one of the ranchers
- Supporting role. He's the one with the big moustache. He drives the wagon.
- Hayes Robertson as one of the conductors
- Small part. He's the black man that gets the arrow in his butt.
- Oscar Morgan as Farina's father
- Small part. He's a preacher and doesn't let his little boy play with the roughneck kids of the Gang.
- Sam Lufkin as the sheriff
- Small part. He arrests the head outlaw, then goes to fetch him out of the well.
- Chris Lynton and Charles Meakin as the novelty salesmen
- Bit parts. They discover that the kids have gone through their Indian novelties. Lynton is the white-haired gentleman, and listed by
Maltin & Bann as Allen Cavan.
- Ham Kinsey as one of the conductors
- Bit part. He's the one that announces that the train has arrived in Red Dog.
- Sammy Brooks as one of the men of Red Dog
- Extra. He's the short guy in town.
- other adults
- Small parts, bit parts and extras.
- (1.) One father and three mothers of the kids.
- (2.) The two Indians that carry Farina away, and about five additional Indians at the reservation.
- (3.) Two lawmen in addition to the sheriff, and three or four more that get in on the gunfight.
- (4.) Six or seven additional passengers on the train.
- (5.) Several additional men in Red Dog.
the locations:
- Chatsworth
- According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot at this location August 4th. However, the 1926 studio
datebook reveals that the Our Gang unit traveled to Chatsworth on this date, and presumably shot footage there over the
next few days.
- Inglewood
- According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot at this location August 9th.
- Santa Fe Railroad
- According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot at this location August 9th.
- Arnaz Ranch
- According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot at this location August 10th through
12th.
- Newhall
- According to Rob Stone's list, footage was shot at this location August 13th through 21st. However,
according to the 1926 studio datebook, the 21st was a non-working Sunday. It's possible that the unit was
returning from this location on that date.
miscellaneous:
20 shooting dates went into the making of this film. Over seven weeks had passed since shooting finished for "The
Fourth Alarm!" (no. 53). The studio was closed during four of these weeks. However, during this period,
the overseas footage for "Seeing The World" (no. 55) was shot. Two days later, on Aug. 4th, the Our Gang
unit traveled to Chatsworth for location shooting, which began on the 'start' date of Aug. 5th. Shooting continued
until the 'finish' date of Aug. 25th. During this time, footage was shot in Inglewood and at the Santa Fe Railroad
Station on Aug. 9th, at the Arnaz Ranch from the 10th to the 12th, and in Newhall from the 13th to the 21st. No shooting
took place on Aug. 8th, 15th and 22nd, which were all Sundays, nor on Aug. 6th and 21st. All of the shooting so far was
directed by Robert A. McGowan. A week after the finish date, added scenes were shot from Sep. 1st through 4th, which were
directed by Robert F. McGowan. Nearly a week later, shooting began for "Telling Whoppers" (no. 56).
The case full of Indian novelties says Far West Mfg. Co. Indian Novelties on the front. There are also a couple
of swastikas on there.
On Sunday, August 15th, in between shooting dates, Joe, Farina, Scooter, Johnny, Jackie, Mildred and Jay all attended the Los Angeles debut of "A Day
Off," a vaudeville act starring Mickey Daniels and Mary Kornman, both of whom had recently departed the series.
There were 38 copies of this film printed for its initial release.
availability:
- Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 2 (VHS)
from HenryButch
- This copy has mostly original inter-titles, but the opening title card is generic, and the film looks
a lot better than Video Classics' copy. However, there's some footage missing that appears in the other copy. The
print totals 17:50, with 17:47 of it original footage. Probably over three quarters of the original film is
included.
- Our Gang Silent Comedies Volume 3 (VHS) from
Video Classics and
- Our Gang Comedies III (VHS) from
The Picture Palace
- This copy is a home movie print made by Exclusive Movie Studios, Inc., in Chicago. The picture quality is
very poor, and there is footage missing. The print totals 18:54, with 18:46 of it original
footage.
- A Festival Of Silent Comedy (DVD) from
Reelclassicdvd.com
- This print is essentially the same as the HenryButch version, but has a brand new opening title, deriving
from the one used for "Derby Day" (no. 21). The footage totals 18:08.
- The Our Gang Collection - Volume 1
(DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com
- Released Feb. 2007. Previously released on "A Festival Of Silent Comedy."
- Jackie Remembers Our Gang - The Silent Era
(VHS/DVD) from Jackie Taylor
- A clip is shown on this tape lasting 5:26 and taken from an Exclusive Movie Studios home movie called
"Way Out West." Jackie Taylor and Johnny Downs do commentary over the footage. Another clip lasting 0:13 is
included, taken from two different parts of the film, with narration added.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.