Telling Whoppers

film no. 56

availability:

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

A clip from this film lasting 2:54 appears as part of the hybrid Mischief Makers episode entitled "An Average Day.".

special note

In addition to the TV episode, I've been able to view some of this short in home movie form.

technical details:

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 Anthony Mack

This credit probably appears in the film, but without McGowan's middle initial. The F stands for Francis. Mack was his nephew, whose real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. Rob Stone's list credits the uncle only.

Edited by Richard Currier

This credit probably appears in the film.

Titles by H. M. Walker

This credit probably appears in the film.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably doesn't appear in the 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
• laboratory superintendent - Charles Levin
• still photographer - Bud "Stax" Graves
• transportation director - Bob Davis
• school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

• assistant direction - Possibly Charles Oelze.
• photography - Credits during this period went to Art Lloyd, but William Draper or William A. Collins may have also been involved.
• editing - Bert Jordan and William Terhune were among the cutters during this period.
• writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A. McGowan, Carl Harbaugh and Frank Butler may have been among the gag writers.
• property department - Charles Oelze was involved in this capacity, and probably Don Sandstrom and ? O'Donnell, as well as possibly Ted Driscoll, Leo Samwell, William Draper, William A. Collins, Sherbourne Shields and Roy Seawright.
• animal training - Tony Campanaro was probably among the animal trainers. It's also known that Charles Oelze was involved in the scenes featuring the Oelze family dog.

the kids:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Featured role. He and Joe have the responsibility of doing away with Toughy, and when the bully is thought dead, they make a run for it.

Joe Cobb as "Joe"

Featured role. He and Farina are basically the stars of the short.

Johnny Downs as "Tuffy" aka "Toughey" aka "the Thompson boy"

Featured role. He's the kid that systematically bullies the neighborhood. The signs he puts up spell his name "Tuffy," but the inter-titles spell it "Toughey."

Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bonedust"

Supporting role. He's made to bark like a dog. He has more trouble than the others standing on his head.

Jay R. Smith as "Jay R."

Supporting role. In the TV print, he's the first boy that's made to stand on his head.

Jackie Condon as "Jackie"

Supporting role. In the TV print, he's the first boy that's made to pay the kitty.

Elmer "Scooter" Lowry as "Skooter"

Supporting role. He and Bonedust are made to bark like dogs.

Billy Naylor

Small part. He's the boy that overhears Toughey's mother talking to the cop and reports back to the gang.

Peggy Eames

Bit part. She tells Farina and Joe that Toughey has gone off to Chicago.

the animals:

Diamond

Bit part. This is the Boston Bull Terrier that licks Jay's face as he stands on his head. The dog was owned by Doris Oelze, daughter of Our Gang assistant director Charles Oelze.

other animals

Bit part. The only remaining animal in the footage I've viewed is the cat that knocks over the bust of George Washington.

the adults:

Dorothy Vernon as Toughey's mom

Small part. She summons a cop to report that her boy has been murdered, and later wallops Toughey.

Gene Morgan as one of the cops

Small part. He talks to Toughey's mom, and later tells the boys to run along and quit killing people.

Charley Young as the man near the swimming hole

Bit part. He chases Toughey away from the swimming hole.

other adults

Small parts and bit parts.
(1.) There are at least 11 more cops. Maltin & Bann list Silas D. Wilcox and Charles McAvoy among them, but it's too hard to tell in the footage I've seen.
(2.) The woman that pours water on Bonedust and Scooter as they howl like dogs.
(3.) There's one more man present next to the lake while Toughey's mom talks to the cop.

the locations:

Star Cars Auto Parts

As the cops are gathered in front of this building, Farina and Joe are hiding in a baby carriage in front of the furniture store to the right.

Robertson Boulevard

This is just a guess, but it looks like Farina and Joe race down this road in the baby carriage.

miscellaneous:

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