Love My Dog

technical details:

Production K-17.

Filmed December 21, 1926 to January 4, 1927. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Copyrighted April 11, 1927, by Pathé Exchange, Inc. Registration no. LU23845. Renewed January 10, 1955, with registration no. R142093. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2022.

Released April 17, 1927. This is according to Maltin & Bann. In Richard Lewis Ward's book A History Of The Hal Roach Studios, the date is given as April 10th. It was the 59th film in the series to be released.

Silent two-reeler.

Opening title: '"Our Gang" Comedies - Hal Roach presents His Rascals in "Love My Dog".'

Released into TV syndication as Mischief Makers episode no. 1037, "Dog Catchers," copyrighted Sep. 1, 1960, with registration number LP17342. 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

He wasn't credited anymore, but he still held the position of director-general when this film was made. He had resigned by the time the film was released.

Directed by Robert F. McGowan

This credit probably appears in the film, but without his middle initial.

Assistant Directors: Robert A. McGowan and Charles Oelze

McGowan was occasionally receiving onscreen directorial credit as Anthony Mack during this period, but not for this film. Rob Stone's list credits both as assistant directors, which is reflected in the payroll summaries during this period.

Photographed by Art Lloyd, Len Powers and William A. Collins

According to Rob Stone's list. Powers and Collins were the initial photographers, until Lloyd took over on December 27th. Collins is listed by last name only in Rob Stone's list, but there was somebody in the property department named William A. Collins who may have doubled as a cinematographer.

Assistant Cameraman: W. V. Draper

This credit derives from Draper's payroll status as the Our Gang assistant cameraman during this period.

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 probably appears in the film. The inter-titles have a burlap look.

Animation by S. E. Overton

This credit derives from Overton's payroll status as the studio animator during this period. The words of the ventriloquist are animated in this film.

Props by Don Sandstrom, Sherbourne Shields and Timothy O'Donnell

According to Rob Stone's list, Shields (listed as Shourds) assisted Sandstrom initially, and then O'Donnell replaced him on the 27th of December. Sandstrom and O'Donnell are listed in the payroll summaries for this period.

Story by Hal E. Roach

This credit probably 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

editing - Richard Currier was the supervising editor during this period.

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:

Allen "Farina" Hoskins as "Farina"

Lead role. He's the star of the film, adopting a stray dog and then doing everything he can to save him from the dog catcher.

Joe Cobb

Supporting role. He's the one who suggests that Farina enter his dog at the gang's dog show.

Jackie Condon

Supporting role. He seems to be in charge at the dog show, and is given somewhat of a leadership role in this short.

Jay R. Smith

Supporting role. He notices that the dog catchers are outside.

Elmer "Scooter" Lowry

Supporting role. He dresses his dog as a Swiss goat.

Bobby "Bonedust" Young

Supporting role. Nickname according to Maltin & Bann. He can't get past the dog catchers with his dog stuffed down his pants.

Mildred Kornman

Small part. She's shown separately from the rest of the kids, wandering onto a ledge and being rescued by Farina's dog.

Clarke Robinson

Small part. He's the boy the gang pays to punch them in their noses.

Bobby Mallon

Small part. He notices the posting about the hypothermia epidemic and warns the gang.

Doris Oelze

Extra. In the shot where the tall girl is petting the dog, Doris is standing next to her. She's also seen from behind petting a dachshund.

Andy Shuford

Extra. He's mostly seen in the background during the dog show.

other kids

Bit parts and extras.

(1.) The girl that owns the puppy being examined by Jackie. She looks like a boy, but is later seen wearing a dress.

(2.) A slightly taller girl doubling for Mildred as Oleander pulls her off the ledge.

(2.) As many as five more girls at the dog show, and at least a couple of additional boys not already mentioned.

the animals:

dog 057 as "Oleander"

Featured role. This is the dog Farina adopts. He gets to do quite a lot of stuff, including freeing the dogs from the dogcatcher's wagon (twice) and rescuing Mildred from the ledge.

dog 034

Small part. This is Jackie's dog. He disguises him as a cow.

Buster

Small part. This is Scooter's dog, and is disguised as a Swiss goat.

Pal as "Buck"

Small part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He's Jay's dog, and is disguised as a bear.

dog 003

Bit part. Shown at the beginning of the film nursing several puppies.

dog 043

Bit part. Presumably the same dachshund that appeared previously.

Dinah the Mule

Bit part. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. Shown pulling the wagon that the kids use to race to the pound.

dog 059

Bit part. This is the Pekingese dog that's passed off as a "Champeen How'ling Dog."

other animals

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) The little white dog belonging to Bonedust. Looks similar to the dog in "A Pleasant Journey" (no. 11), but I don't think it's the same.

(2.) The "Airplane Dog," part airdale and part plane.

(3.) The "Bird-Dog."

(4.) The puppy being examined by Jackie.

(5.) The black kitten that Mildred follows onto the ledge.

(6.) Six dogs freed from the back of the dogcatcher's truck.

(7.) About 12 puppies nursing on dog 003.

(8.) A dog shown in a cage in the background of the pound scene.

(9.) A large goose wandering around the gang's dog show, which may or may not be the same as previously seen.

the adults:

Charles McMurphy as one of the dog catchers

Supporting role. He's the main dog catcher, the one that Farina battles with.

Jack O'Brien as one of the dog catchers

Supporting role. He's the one that gets chased off by the "mad dog."

Dick Gilbert as the attendant at the gas chamber

Small part. He's seen at the end of the film.

Stanley "Tiny" Sandford as "P. Fulton," attorney at law

Bit part. He's shown arriving at his office and getting attacked by Oleander.

Charley Lloyd as the office worker

Bit part. He's shown briefly leaving the office. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Charley Young.

other adults

Small parts, bit parts and extras.

(1.) At least two more dog catchers.

(2.) The ventriloquist, who makes Farina think his dog is talking.

(3.) The janitor.

(4.) The woman accompanying Charley Young.

(5.) The man in the office behind the window that reads "Dr. A. Meyers, Dentist."

(6.) Various pedestrians on the sidewalk below the ledge.

the locations:

Woodbine Street, Palms district, Los Angeles

The dogcatcher's wagon is parked on the south side of Woodbine between Motor and Vinton, just east of the alley. When Bobby Mallon reads the notice, he's directly across the street from this spot. As Scooter walks his dog, he's walking next to the People's Water Co. at 3392 Motor. However, he's walking along the Woodbine side of the building. The dogcatcher is at the east end of the building. The area between the building and the alley is where Joe and Farina hide as their dog frees the other dogs from the dogcatcher's wagon. The dogs then run up the alley to the north. As Jackie is walking his dog, he's walking west on Woodbine near the intersection with Vinton Avenue. However, the rear shot of Jackie looks like a different location, perhaps Vinton looking north towards National Boulevard. When Farina and Joe sit on the box with the dog inside, they're along the south wall of the Masonic Hall at 3402 Motor, with the edge of the building revealing Woodbine in the background. After the dogcatchers take their dog, the boys fight with them at the southeast corner of Motor and Woodbine in front of the Masonic Hall.

Motor Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

The nose-punching scene takes place in front of the house at 3451 Motor, with 3447 Motor also visible next to it. This location was also used in "Free Wheeling" (no. 117). Seen across the street in these scenes are the Palms Chamber of Commerce at 3438 Motor, Park & Dedrick Real Estate at 3454 Motor, and the Masonic Hall, which can be made out through the trees. The spot where the dog catchers catch up with Bonedust is the Mitholithic Mfg. Co. on the east side of the 3300 block. When the boys hop onto their wagon to race off to the pound, they start in front of the Palms Hardware Co. at 3351 Motor. Also visible in these shots is the Arthur Boetsch Barber Shop at 3347 Motor. When they knock on the gate of the pound, they're actually at the yard just south of the Palms Garage at 3304 Motor. Previously, there had been a white fence at this location, but now there were two billboards. The gate shown in this film has been temporarily placed between the billboards, with the same 'City Dog Pound' sign over it previously used in "Thundering Fleas" (no. 51), where it had been placed over the back fence of this same property. A partition has been set up just inside the gate to hide the fact that this is a different location than in the other dog pound shots.

National Boulevard

As the kids ride off to the pound, they go past the large house at the corner of National and Vinton. It also appears that they're riding along National right after this.

Mentone Avenue, Palms district, Los Angeles

Farina and Joe hide the dog under the back porch of a house on Mentone. In other Our Gang films, this house is normally seen in the background as activity takes place in the backyard.

law offices

These are shown at the outside of the building as the dogcatchers walk away with Oleander.

Coronado

I've seen one source speculate that some part of this film was shot in Coronado near San Diego.

miscellaneous:

11 shooting dates went into the making of this film. A week after shooting finished for "Ten Years Old" (no. 58), the 'start' date arrived for "Love My Dog" on Dec. 21st. Shooting continued until Jan. 4th, when it was considered 'finished.' No shooting took place on Dec. 26th or Jan. 2nd, which were both Sundays, nor on Dec. 25th or Jan. 1st, which were both holidays. Robert F. McGowan directed on each of the shooting dates. After this, two weeks passed before the Our Gang unit began to shoot "Tired Business Men" (no. 60).

In the category of unseen characters are "J. J. Judd," the City Veterinary, and "C. A. West," a lawyer whose name is on another one of the windows that Mildred crawls past.

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

availability:

Our Gang Volume #6 (VHS) from Grapevine Video and also The Picture Palace

This copy has the original opening and copyright titles, but no crew credits. The inter-titles are original, and the picture quality is good. The print totals 20:29, with 20:26 of it original footage. It appears that almost all of the original film is included. This version has appeared on numerous bootlegs.

The Our Gang Collection - Volume 1 (DVD) from Reelclassicdvd.com

Released Feb. 2007. This print is essentially the same as the one released by Grapevine. The footage totals 21:18.

Our Gang Silent Comedies Vol. 8 (VHS) from HenryButch

This copy is the same as Grapevine's.

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

A clip from this film lasting 3:53 appears as part of the hybrid Mischief Makers episode entitled "An Average Day.".

See anything that needs changing? Contact me at BtheW@aol.com.

© Robert Demoss.