technical details:
Production K-16.
Filmed November 24 to December 14, 1926. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.
Copyrighted February 14, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23667. Renewed January 10, 1955, with
registration no. R142091. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2022.
Released March 13, 1927. It was the 58th film in the series to be released.
Silent two-reeler.
Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Ten Years
Old".'
Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1017, "A Double Birthday," copyrighted
Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17322. Footage also went into episode no. 1072, "An Average Day,"
copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17774.
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. He resigned on March 9th, four days before this film was
released.
- Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Anthony
Mack
- Maltin & Bann list only Mack, and the film reflects this. The 1926 studio datebook indicates that
McGowan directed except on December 2 to 4, when Mack, referred to as McGowan, Jr., directed. The F in McGowan's name
stands for Francis. Mack was his nephew, whose real name was Robert A. (for Anthony) McGowan. According to the
payroll summaries, Mack was still an assistant director during this period.
- Assistant Director: Charles Oelze
- According to Rob Stone's list as well as the payroll summaries.
- Photographed by Art Lloyd
- This credit appears in the film. Rob Stone's list indicates that an extra cameraman was used on
December 7th and 8th.
- Assistant Cameraman: W. V. Draper
- This credit derives from Draper's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant cameraman during this
period.
- Edited by Richard Currier
- This credit appears in the film.
- Cutter: Lloyd Campbell
- This credit derives from Campbell's payroll status as the Our Gang cutter during this period.
- Titles by H. M. Walker
- This credit appears in the film.
- Props by Don Sandstrom and Timothy O'Donnell
- According to Rob Stone's list.
- 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 Pal's rolling eyes.
- Story by Hal E. Roach
- This credit doesn't appear in the film.
- Animal trainer: Tony Campanaro
- He was Pal's trainer.
- Teacher: Fern Carter
- Released by Pathé Exchange, Inc.
- Passed by the National Board of Review
- As 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
- possible uncredited involvement
- writing - Robert F. McGowan, Robert A.
McGowan, Hal Yates, Carl Harbaugh, Jean Yarbrough and Frank Butler may have been among the
gag writers.
the kids:
- Joe Cobb as "Joe"
- Lead role. He's the star of the film, baking a cake and preparing for a party that doesn't
happen, so he goes to Jackie's party.
- Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"
- Featured role. He shows up at Joe's to let him know where all the kids are. He provides most of the
comic moments in the film.
- Jackie Condon as "Jackie"
- Featured role. He's the rich kid that invites the gang to his party. He starts off with Little Lord
Fauntleroy curls, but his father lets him get a haircut for his birthday.
- Jannie Hoskins
- Supporting role. She accompanies Farina pretty much throughout the film.
- Mildred Kornman as "Mildred"
- Supporting role. She's featured at Joe's house during the cake baking scene, and throws various
objects into the batter.
- Bobby "Bonedust" Young as "Bone Dust"
- Supporting role. He gets butted by the goat, and is with the gang pretty much throughout the film.
- Jay R. Smith as "Jay-R"
- Supporting role. He gets a rubber tube stuck in his mouth, then notices that his piece of cake is inflating.
- Elmer "Scooter" Lowry
- Supporting role. At the party, he pulls nails out of his mouth.
- Jimsy Boudwin
- Supporting role. He's the boy that eats the soap.
- Johnny Aber
- Supporting role. He gets squirted in the face.
- Andy Shuford
- Supporting role. He's seen as one of the main gang members in this film.
- Doris Oelze
- Extra. She's among the rich kids. In the shot where they all curtsy, she's two kids to the left
of Jean Darling. She also gets a closeup with Carl Busch.
- Carl Busch
- Extra. A 1927 casting directory credits his involvement in this film. In the shot where they all curtsy,
he's three kids to the left of Jean Darling. He also gets a closeup with Doris Oelze.
- Bobby Mallon
- Extra. He's one of the rich kids, and is standing behind Doris and Carl during their closeup. This
was his debut appearance.
- Jean Darling
- Extra. She's one of the rich kids, and is best seen standing towards the right in the shot where they all curtsy.
- other kids
- Supporting roles, small parts and bit parts.
- (1.) The freckle-faced boy that squirts liquid from his mouth. This may be the boy listed by Maltin & Bann
as Bret Black (also known as Buck Black).
- (2.) There are about a dozen more rich kids at the party, most notably the girl that plays Jackie's
stepsister. Among the other kids, Maltin & Bann list Peggy Eames, but I'm unable to spot her in the
available footage. It should be noted that she bears a resemblance to Doris Oelze, so perhaps this explains
it.
the animals:
- Pal as "Pal"
- Supporting role. He's Joe's dog, and is present during the cake baking scene. He also goes along
to Jackie's house.
- Buster
- Small part. This is Farina's dog.
- skunk 014
- Bit part. Presumably the same skunk as usual, but maybe not. This is Farina's gift for Jackie.
- other animals
- Small parts and bit parts.
- (1.) The goat used in the bullfighting sequence. Possibly the same goat seen in "Uncle Tom's Uncle"
(no. 50).
- (2.) The frog Jackie gets for his birthday.
- (3.) The two ducklings Jackie gets for his birthday.
the adults:
- George B. French as Jackie's dad
- Small part. He's seen early in the film, and allows Jackie to invite the gang to his birthday.
- Lyle Tayo as Joe's mom
- Small part. Joe pins the tail on her. She appears at the beginning of the film.
- Fay Holderness as Jackie's maid
- Bit part. She appears briefly speaking to the butler and Jackie. I suspect she may actually be his
governess. Maltin & Bann list May Beatty, but I'm pretty sure this is incorrect.
- F. F. Guenste as the butler
- Bit part. He appears briefly during Jackie's party, with the same role he always has in this series.
- Louise Brooks shown in a newspaper photo
- This photo appears in the newspaper that's been fashioned into a party hat for Joe.
- other adults
- Bit parts.
- (1.) Jackie's snobby mother.
- (2.) Another maid.
- (3.) The barber who cuts Jackie's hair.
the locations:
- Palms district, Los Angeles
- Farina and Mango escape the goat by running south from Woodbine down the alley parallel to and between
Motor and Vinton. The camera points both north and south at different times during this scene.
- Culver City
- Rob Stone's list indicates that footage was shot in Culver City on December 7th, 8th, and 14th, as
well as back at the studio.
- house
- The large house seen in the background during the bullfighting scene can also be seen in "One Wild
Ride" (no. 45).
miscellaneous:
18 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A little over a week after shooting finished for "Seeing The
World" (no. 55), the 'start' date arrived for "Ten Years Old" on Nov. 24th. Shooting
continued until Dec. 14th, when it was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Nov. 28th, Dec. 5th, or
Dec. 12th, which were all Sundays. Robert F. McGowan directed on most of the shooting dates, but his nephew, listed as
'McGowan Jr.' but actually named Robert A. McGowan, directed on Dec. 2nd, 3rd and 4th. A week after shooting
finished, the Our Gang unit began to film "Love My Dog" (no. 59).
There were 36 copies of this film printed for its initial release.
availability:
- Rascals Silents Vol. 5 (VHS/DVD) from
A-1 Video
- This is a nearly complete original print of the film with fairly good picture quality. There is a jumpcut as Jay hands
his invitation to Joe's party over to Jackie, which isn't a problem in the Mischief Makers version. The footage
totals 27:21.
- Rascals Silents Vol. 2 (VHS) from
A-1 Video
- A clip from this film lasting 0:36 appears as part of the hybrid Mischief Makers episode
entitled "An Average Day.".
- special note
- I've also been able to view a couple of home movie portions of this film, as well as the Mischief
Makers print.
See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.