Fishy Tales

technical details:

Production K-12.

Release no. C-592.

Filmed July 26 to August 2, 1937. See the 'miscellaneous' section below for details.

Title sheet prepared by Elmer Raguse on August 17, 1937.

Negative shipped on August 19, 1937.

Cutting continuity submitted August 20, 1937.

First preview on August 20, 1937.

Released August 28, 1937. It was the 158th film in the series to be released. Early in the film season, Fred Quimby of MGM set a projected release date for this production of July 17, 1937. This film fulfilled Roach's commitment of 12 one-reelers for the 1936/37 season.

Copyrighted September 8, 1937, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Corporation. Registration no. LP7425. Renewed May 12, 1965, with registration no. R361170. This copyright is currently due to expire at the end of 2032.

All-talking one-reeler.

Opening title: 'Hal Roach presents Our Gang in "Fishy Tales".'

King World Productions episode no. 53b, available in both colorized and original black-and-white versions.

the crew:

Produced by Hal Roach

Credited in the film as a presenter.

Directed by Gordon Douglas

This credit appears in the film.

Assistant Director: Barney Carr

This credit derives from production documents.

2nd Assistant Director: Hal Roach, Jr.

This credit derives from the daily film reports.

Photography: Art Lloyd, A. S. C.

This credit appears in the film.

Film Editor: William Ziegler

This credit appears in the film.

Sound: William Randall

This credit appears in the film.

Script Clerk: Morton

This credit derives from the daily film reports, which don't give the first name.

Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Indicated in the opening title card.

Passed by the National Board of Review

As indicated in the film.

Western Electric System

As indicated in the film.

Approved by the Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America

Certificate no. 3603.

studio personnel

vice president in charge of production - S. S. Van Keuren

secretary-treasurer - Mat O'Brien

Roach's assistant on production activities - Lawrence Tarver

assistant secretary-treasurer, comptroller - Hugh Huber

film editor and sound department - Elmer Raguse

story department - Jack Jevne

property department - W. L. Stevens

process department - Roy Seawright

still photographer - Clarence "Stax" Graves

musical director - Marvin Hatley

men's wardrobe - Harry Black

paymaster - Mrs. Grace Cash

transportation director - Bob Davis

school teacher - Fern Carter

possible uncredited involvement

writing - James Parrott, Hal Law, Felix Adler, Harry Langdon and Gordon Douglas may have been among the gag writers.

property department - Charles Oelze was probably involved in this capacity.

animal training - Tony Campanaro may have been among the animal trainers.

special effects - Probably the work of Roy Seawright.

the kids:

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa"

Lead role. Spanky refers to him variously as "Eagle-Eye Alfalfa," "Professor" and "Professor Eagle-Eye." His William Tell routine leads him into a dilemma with Butch, which leads to a fake injury.

George "Spanky" McFarland as "Spanky" aka "Spank"

Featured role. He runs the show, both with the William Tell routine, and with the charade put on to fool Butch.

Tommy Bond as "Butch"

Featured role. He changes his mind about beating up Alfalfa after seeing his injury.

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas as "Buckwheat"

Supporting role. Spanky introduces him as "Fearless Buckwheat, the William Tell of the South." He fills in for Porky in the act.

Eugene "Porky" Lee as "Porky"

Supporting role. He forfeits his part in the act by eating all the apples.

Sidney Kibrick as "Woim"

Supporting role. The script refers to him as "The Woim." He accompanies Butch through much of the film, serving as a secretary of sorts.

Gary Jasgur as "Junior"

Supporting role. Listed by Maltin & Bann as Gary Jasgar. The script refers to him as "Gary." He sits in the Judges Stand at the beginning of the film, and ultimately is the reason for Alfalfa's troubles.

Harold Switzer

Double and extra. He sits at the far right in the back row. Later in the film, it's his foot we see hanging through the hole in the bed.

Darwood Kaye

Extra. Maltin & Bann indicate that the "Waldo" moniker was used, but he's nameless in this short. He also doesn't wear glasses. He sits at the far right in the front row.

Darla Hood

Extra. She sits at the far left in the front row.

Tommy McFarland

Extra. He sits next to Darwood Kaye.

Dickie DeNeut

Extra. He sits next to Darla.

Billy Minderhout

Extra. Not listed by Maltin & Bann. He sits between Dickie and Tommy.

John Collum

Extra. He sits at the far left in the back row.

Barbara Goodrich

Extra. She sits at the center of the back row.

Baby Patsy May

She's not in the film itself, but her photo is shown during the opening titles. She was actually on the set during the first two days of filming, but this only seems to have amounted to at least one promotional photo.

other kids

Extras. There are two more boys in the back row. Maltin & Bann list Dorian Johnston, who isn't either of them. Studio documentation reveals that an additional extra was used on July 26th, but not on the following day, after which they were no longer needed.

the animals:

Leo

Bit part. The MGM lion appears at the opening of the film.

Pete the Pup IV

He's not actually in the film, but his photo is shown during the opening titles.

other animals

Small parts and bit parts.

(1.) The seven cats that get under Alfalfa's bed.

(2.) Numerous sandcrabs.

(3.) A dead fish.

the adults:

There are no adults in this film.

the music:

"Good Old Days" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931.

(A15.) This is played over the opening titles and as we first see Buckwheat.

(A17.) This is played as Alfalfa crashes through the wall and the end title appears.

"Colonial Gayeties" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted May 7, 1936. This is played as Spanky introduces Eagle-Eye Alfalfa and Porky eats the apple. This is the version heard in "Hearts Are Thumps" (no. 153), which differs from the version reproduced by the Beau Hunks.

"Up In Room 14" by Leroy Shield

This is played, with an edit at the end, as Alfalfa successfully shoots the apple on Buckwheat's head.

"On To The Show" by Leroy Shield

Copyrighted Jan. 10, 1931. One verse of this piece is played as Butch reads the note. This sounds like it was probably a recent recording at the time and not one of the earlier versions.

"Fastie" by Leroy Shield

Parts of this piece are played as the gang reads the note from Butch.

"Stair Steps" by T. Marvin Hatley

Copyrighted Dec. 9, 1933. This is played as Junior tickles Alfalfa's foot.

piece 158a

This is played as Butch and Woim walk into the clubhouse. A part of it is repeated as the cats are under Alfalfa's bed.

"Don't Explain" by T. Marvin Hatley

Copyrighted July 16, 1937. This is played as Spanky tells Butch the story of Alfalfa's injury.

"Ants (Hurry)" by Leroy Shield

Also known as "Antics" and "Sneaking," but not to be confused with the other pieces with those names. This is played as Spanky shows Alfalfa's leg to Butch and starts hammering it. It's partly repeated as Butch and Woim go for a doctor and let the cats in.

piece 158d

This is a laugh effect piece played as Alfalfa first feels the sandcrab on his toe.

piece 158e

This sounds like bits of various pieces, played as the cats get under the bed and Alfalfa crashes through the wall. Within this collection of bits is a part of piece 158a.

the locations:

Hal E. Roach Studios

Almost the entire film was shot on Stage 4. The one exception would be the scene in front of Butch's house, which was shot on Stage 1.

miscellaneous:

Six shooting dates went into the making of this film. Here's a breakdown of the activity, deriving from the call sheets, daily film reports, and various memos:
July 22 - A document from this date lists the kids that would be needed to make this film, consisting of the five main kids, Patsy, Tommy Bond, Sid Kibrick, Gary Jasgur and 10 extras.
July 24 - Film costs for the previous week were $1744.11.
July 26 - This was the first day of shooting. Scheduled were the five main kids, Patsy Mae (sic), Gary Jasgur, Tommy Bond, and 10 extra kids over the age of six. In the category of 'may work' was Sid Kibrick. Shooting was to take place on the exterior yard set, and the exterior barn and fence set, both on Stage 4. Also needed would be the special effects department for the shot of the rubber dart being fired. The title at this point was listed as "Our Gang - Untitled." The daily film report reveals that Sid Kibrick did indeed work on this day, but that all of the footage was shot on the exterior yard set. The entire day's footage went into the opening "Eagle-Eye Alfalfa" segment. A Carr memo from this date to Van Keuren, Huber and Collum, indicates that the five main kids, Patsy, Tommy and Sid all 'started' on this date. A Collum memo to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, states the same, but leaves out Tommy Bond's name.
July 27 - This was the second day of shooting. Scheduled were the four main boys, Tommy Bond, Sid Kibrick, and Gary Jasgur. Shooting was to take place on the exterior yard set on Stage 4. Originally, this day was to focus on the portion between Alfalfa fainting to the end of the scene. By the time the call sheet was prepared, it was apparent that some of the earlier part of the scene still needed to be finished. The daily film report reveals that Darla and Patsy were both present, as well as nine of the extras. The exterior yard and fence footage leftover from the previous day, and showing Buckwheat arriving, was accomplished, as well as the majority of the opening sequence. The title at this point was listed as "Untitled - 'Our Gang'." A Raguse memo from this date states that the title "Gun With The Wind" was being cleared. A Carr memo from this date to Van Keuren, Huber and Collum, states that Darla and Patsy both 'closed' on this date. A Collum memo to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, states the same.
July 28 - This was the third day of shooting. Scheduled were the four main boys, Tommy Bond, Sid Kibrick and Gary Jasgur. Shooting was to take place on the exterior yard set and interior barn set, both on Stage 4. Also scheduled was footage shot on the exterior 'Butch's house' set on Stage 1. The daily film report reveals that the exterior barn, interior barn and exterior fence sets were used, but not the set on Stage 1. The last part of the opening sequence, after Alfalfa faints, was finished, as well as the scene where the boys read Butch's note. The film at this point was listed as "Untitled - Our Gang."
July 29 - This was the fourth day of shooting. Scheduled were the four main boys, Gary Jasgur, Tommy Bond, and Sid Kibrick. Shooting was to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 4, as well as the delayed footage on the exterior 'Butch's house' set on Stage 1. The daily film report reveals that the Stage 1 footage was finally accomplished, as well as much of the earlier interior barn footage. The title at this point was listed as "Untitled (Our Gang)."
July 30 - This was the fifth day of shooting. Scheduled were the four main boys, Tommy Bond, Sid Kibrick, and Gary Jasgur. Shooting was to take place on the interior barn set and the exterior barn wall set, both on stage 4. The daily film report reveals that Harold Switzer worked as an extra on this date. For the most part, the remainder of the interior barn footage was shot, and the production was considered to be completed. The title at this point was listed as "Title Being Cleared (Our Gang)." A Carr memo from this date to Van Keuren, Huber and Collum, states that the four main boys, plus Tommy and Sid, all 'closed' on this date. A Collum memo to O'Brien, Van Keuren, Huber and Cash, states the same.
July 31 - Film costs for the previous week were $4160.26, bringing the total to $5904.37 so far.
Aug. 2 - This was the final day of shooting. Scheduled were Harold Switzer and Gary Jasgur. Shooting was to take place on the interior barn set on Stage 4 and was to consist solely of inserts. It seems almost certain that this refers to the shots of Gary under the bed with Alfalfa's foot hanging through the hole. But instead of Alfalfa showing up to work, his part was played by his brother Harold. The presence of Harold on the 30th may indicate that these inserts were supposed to be shot at that time, but Gary's tender age may have greatly limited his on-set time, requiring more footage to be shot on this day. The title at this point was listed as "Gun With The Wind." A Raguse memo from this date to Van Keuren and Douglas relays a wire from Mr. Orr of MGM in New York which states that "Gun With The Wind" was not available due to objections from Selznick.
Aug. 3 - A Douglas memo from this date to Van Keuren, Raguse and Funk, suggests the title "Fishy Tales" for this production. A Raguse memo states that this title replaced "Gun With The Wind."
Aug. 7 - Film costs for the previous week were $1039.75, bringing the total to $6944.12 so far.
Aug. 14 - Film costs for the previous were were $685.57, bringing the total to $7629.69 so far.
Aug. 18 - A Raguse memo from this date states that the domestic positive Movietone print was shipped to W. D. Kelly in New York, and that the Canadian negative and Canadian negative soundtrack were delivered.
Aug. 19 - A Raguse memo from this date states that the domestic negative and domestic negative soundtrack were delivered to the MGM lab in Culver City.
Sep. 18 - Film costs for the previous week were $318.05. The total so far was reported to be $7847.74, though this is a hundred dollars less than it should be. This late addition to the film costs suggests some last minute activity on this production.

"Gun With The Wind" was also the working title for "The Little Ranger" (no. 170).

The negative cost on this film as of Aug. 28th was $29,348.95.

The script submitted to MGM was given the catalog number B419.

On July 17th (about midway between the previous film and this one), Spanky took part in a baseball game between film comedians and leading men at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. The comedians won the game 7 to 6. Spanky got a hit, but Vince Barnett wheeled him around to second base in a perambulator. A protesting Spanky insisted on running the rest of the way himself.

The gang's club is called The Wise Owl Club.

This film was 976 feet in length.

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

© Robert Demoss.