The Story Behind "The Little Rascals" and the Cast That Brought it to Life
Between the 1920s and the 1940s, America was captivated by a group of spunky young kids known as Our Gang. Originally screened as a series of short films, Our Gang found new life on broadcast television under the name of The Little Rascals. Darla, Spanky, Buckwheat and Alfalfa made their way into the hearts of one generation after the other, eventually inspiring an animated series and a feature length movie adaptation, which was released in 1994. But what happened to the original Our Gang crew in the years that have gone by? Read on to find out!
Our Gang
The idea for Our Gang came to Hal Roach, the creator and producer of the show, after he had attended an audition with a child actress who was trying out for a movie role. Roach noticed that the girl seemed overly rehearsed and that her behavior and clothing made her look like a small adult - which he found quite amusing. When he went home later that day, he looked out his window and saw a group of kids playing across the street. Captivated, he didn't notice time had passed, and thus he came to the realization that there is actual entertainment value in watching kids being kids - and came up with the idea for Our Gang on the spot.
Breaking New Ground
Child acting has been around for a long, long time. All sorts of film and theater productions required children to act alongside adults, and casting a child in a dramatic role was no big revelation. In order to accomplish this, kids, no matter how young, were taught "traditional" acting methods, and expected to perform just like their older colleagues. Our Gang changed all that, by allowing its cast of children to act - well, to act like children! Their natural dynamic captivated audiences and changed child acting forever.
George “Spanky” McFarland
George McFarland is probably the most famous of the Little Rascals crew. "Discovered" at the age of three after his aunt sent in photos in response to a casting call put out by Hal Roach, George was invited for a screen test, and ultimately became one of the show's stars - portraying Spanky between 1932 and 1942. After he left the show, McFarland went on to serve in the US Air Force, but came back to television in the mid '50s to host a kids' TV program called The Spanky Show.
Why Was George Called "Spanky"?
The nickname "Spanky" may have some pretty negative connotations today, but back in the '30s, it meant something else completely. George received his nickname after a Los Angeles newspaper reporter referred to him as a "spanky child" - not meaning the disciplinary act, but rather, that George was a smart and gifted kid. The name stuck, and George was known as Spanky from that day forward.
Battle of the Egos
George McFarland, with his character Spanky, quickly became the Our Gang leader thanks to his charismatic on-screen persona - but while fans and producers loved him for it, one person who wasn't happy with his success was his fellow child star, Carl Switzer, who played Alfalfa. Switzer felt like he was competing with McFarland for screen time, and the two had a tense relationship - although not as tense as their fathers', who would reportedly bicker often in attempts to make sure their respective sons would get the most exposure possible.
Darla Jean
Darla Jean Hood started acting on Our Gang in 1935. Her mother, a music teacher, had encouraged her to pursue the performing arts, and shortly after her third birthday the two traveled to New York, where she was seen by Joe Rivkin, Hal Roach Studios' casting director. Rivkin immediately spotted Darla Jean's talent, and invited her and her mother for a screen test in Culver City, California. The rest is history: Darla went on to be become one of the most well-loved and memorable Little Rascals, and would appear in film and television shows for decades to come.
Movie Adaptation
Following the success of the Our Gang shorts, producer Hal Roach decided to try and make a feature length film in 1936. Titled General Spanky, the movie featured George McFarland as a Civil War general - but despite the beloved actor and character, the film failed to make an impact. In fact, the financial toll the production took was so severe, that Hal Roach Studios actually had to sell the Our Gang property to MGM Studios in order to break even.
The Best Form of Flattery
Our Gang's success gave rise to a slew of imitators which took the show's popular format and tried to recreate it - with varying success. Some of these imitations, like The Kiddie Troupers, Toonerville Trolley and the Baby Burlesks, gave rise to stars like Eddie Bracken, Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney - while others were less successful, and felt more like knockoffs than adaptations. Some small-town versions went as far as copying Our Gang's scripts and claiming that their versions were affiliated with Hal Roach's popular franchise!
Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer
Alongside Spanky and Darla, one of the most famous Rascals was probably Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. Carl was known as the trickster of the bunch, both in front and behind the camera, and would often play practical jokes on his fellow actors - so much so that they would sometimes get in the way of filming! After Our Gang wrapped, Carl continued to act in a variety of roles and movies - but on January 21, 1951, he found himself in an altrecation over a small sum of money, which tragically resulted in his death. He was 31 years old.
Status Symbol
Being on Our Gang was more than just a jumping board into the entertainment industry; it was a status symbol denoting prestige and distinction, and even well-established actors wanted in. Eddie Bracken, for instance, wrote in his official biography that he was a part of Our Gang, despite having acted in The Kiddie Troupers, instead - and he's not the only one. Tony-award winning actress Nanette Fabray claimed she had appeared on the show, contrary to archival records, as did Joyce Haber, a well-established gossip columnist.
Buckwheat
Today, the role of Buckwheat on Our Gang is most closely associated with Billie Thomas - but he wasn't the first child actor to portray the character. In fact, before Thomas, Buckwheat was played by a girl - and Thomas' gender was left intentionally ambiguous for a while. After he finished his stint on Our Gang, Billie joined the army. “After the Army, I wasn’t really interested in the hassle of performing,” Thomas later told an interviewer. “Even the big stars had to chase around an audition; it seemed like a rat race to me, with no security.”
Rainbow Coalition
Our Gang wasn't just groundbreaking in its approach to its child actors' acting methods - it was also revolutionary for its egalitarian portrayal of black and white actors, side by side. The treatment of black actors wasn't limited to just what was seen on camera - Ernie Morrison, who played Sunshine Sammy, was the first black actor ever to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood. “When it came to race, Hal Roach was color-blind,” cast members later recalled.
Underpaid and Unsung
Although the Our Gang franchise was huge back in the day, the actors who were at the heart of it didn't receive much by modern film production standards. Their weekly salaries ranged from $40 to $200 a week, and they didn't see a penny from the TV reruns or the use of their likenesses by the studio. George McFarland was only posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the rest of the original cast members were largely unrewarded for their efforts.
Hal Roach, the Man Behind the Rascals
Hal Roach is known for having conceived of and produced Our Gang, but he was also the man behind another incredibly successful film franchise: Laurel and Hardy. The grandson of Irish immigrants, Roach decided to try his luck in Hollywood after a short period of living in Alaska. He took on a wide array of acting roles, and after coming into some money, started producing short films.
An Honorary Oscar
During WWII, Roach was drafted into the US Army's Signal Corps, where he continued producing movies - this time training films for soldiers. He continued to work well into old age, and in 1984 received an honorary Academy Award, which was presented to him by none other than George "Spanky" McFarland. But that was far from being the last Hollywood had seen of the legendary producer.
A Standing Ovation
In 1992, Hal Roach attended the 64th Academy Awards in Los Angeles as a guest of honor. Billy Crystal was hosting the ceremony that year, and asked Hal to rise for a standing ovation from the crowd. Roach then went on to give an entire thank you speech - without a microphone. No one could hear what the legendary producer had to say, but people still cheered at the end. Billy Crystal then summed the speech up by saying "I think that's appropriate - because Mr. Roach started in silent films!"
Living to a 100
The Little Rascals was a show with one of the youngest ensemble casts in film and TV history, and Hal Roach was nearly 40 when he started producing it - but he managed to outlive many of the show's stars, as well as some of his own children. Hal passed away in 1992, a few short months after receiving a standing ovation at the Oscars, at the ripe old age of 100. During his long life, he had managed to change the face of the entertainment industry forever.
Petey the Dog
Sure, Buckwheat, Alfalfa and Spanky are important characters in The Little Rascals - but the show wouldn't be complete without one very important canine companion: Petey the Dog. Petey was originally played by a dog named Pal the Wonder Dog, who was easily identifiably thanks to the naturally occurring ring that partially surrounded his eye. The production used makeup to complete the circle - and his signature look - and would continue to paint a ring around the eyes of the dogs who took up the role in the years to come.
New Actors
When the 1994 feature-length remake of The Little Rascals went into production, the original cast members wanted to contribute. Sure, they obviously couldn't reprise their old roles - but they could have come on set, or even made cameos. The production, however, chose not to incorporate them into the film in any way. “It’s real cold. They have no respect for the old-timers. At least they could have recognized some of the living legends surviving from the first films,” Eugene Jackson, who played the original Sunshine Sammy, said in an interview.
It's Porky, O-Tay?
After the success of Spanky, the Our Gang production decided to add the character of Porky, played by the 18-month-old Eugene Gordon Lee. Chosen for his striking similarity to Spanky, Lee found a way to stand out thanks to his catch phrase "O-tay!" - which was, in later years, falsely attributed to Buckwheat. Lee grew at a rapid pace, and was replaced after he had grown too tall. In order to avoid association with his acting career, he ended up changing his name, and became a schoolteacher.
Keeping the Kids at Bay
Filming with kids is always a problem. It was a challenge back in the '20s and '30s, when Hal Roach was filming Our Gang, and it was a challenge in 1994, when director Penelope Spheeris was shooting The Little Rascals remake. Over the years, directors have had to find creative ways to overcome the challenges the dynamics between the kids in the cast provided. In her film, Spheeris decided to shoot the scenes out of order in the hopes of keeping the kids on friendly terms long enough to make filming possible. She started by filming the movie's fun middle part, then went on to film the beginning of the story, and finished with the end.
"We Got a Dollar"
One of the scenes the 1994 Little Rascals is best remembered for is when Porky and Buckwheat sing "We Got A Dollar". Surprisingly enough, the song was actually completely improvised by the two actors on set! The production felt the song was catchy enough to keep it in the movie, and it went on to become a classic!
The Iconic Wave
If you've watched the 1994 version of Little Rascals, you probably remember the hand under the chin wave that the kids did - and which became popular with viewers who saw the movie. Well, it turns out that it wasn't a scripted part of the film at all, but rather, a way to keep the kids entertained. The movie's director, Penelope Spheeris, made the wave up as a way to make the kids on set laugh, and it unexpectedly caught on - so much so that it became an important part of the film!
Brandon “Bug” Hall's Alfalfa
When the 1994 production were looking to cast someone in the role of Alfalfa, they eventually decided on Brandon "Bug" Hall. This was his very first acting gig - and he seemed to take to it with ease. Two years later, he would play Buster Stupid in The Stupids, as well as appear in films like The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas, Hercules, Safety Patrol and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. More recently, Hall made a cameo appearance as an ice cream man in the 2014 film The Little Rascals Save the Day, as well as appeared in guest roles on countless TV shows.
Just for the Camera
On screen, there was a lot of tension and fighting between the characters of Spanky, Alfalfa and Woim in the 1994 film version of the Little Rascals. But while the meanness and bullying may have seemed real to viewers, things couldn't have been more different between takes. The actors playing these iconic characters actually became incredibly close friends, and their on-screen dynamic was all an act. Pretty impressive for actors of their age!
The Olsen Twins Make an Appearance
When they were making the 1994 remake of Little Rascals, it was clear to everyone that the film was going to be huge - and many celebrities wanted a piece of the action - which explains why Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen appeared in the movie in one brief scene. It's fitting, because their roles in Full House were a sort of direct continuation of what Our Gang originally set out to do all those long decades ago.
Ross Bagely's Buckwheat
A lot of great actors got their start in The Little Rascals remake. Take Ross Bagely, for instance. He played Buckwheat in his first ever acting gig - and from there, only kept going. Following his performance in The Little Rascals, Bagely was cast as Nicky Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, opposite Tyra Banks and Will Smith. He didn't stop there, however. Bagely went on to act in movies like Eye for an Eye, Independence Day and Profiler - and garnered several awards and nominations for his acting - but has mostly retired from the industry in the years since.
The Reba McEntire Connection
Child star cameos in The Little Rascals remake were to be expected - but did you know that the Queen of Country, Reba McEntire, also made a cameo in the movie? Reba played the character of A. J. Ferguson, whom the gang originally thought was a man, until the big reveal. This wasn't Reba's only time portraying a man, though! Years later, she would star in a KFC commercial as Colonel Sanders himself!
Whoopi Goldberg's Cameo
Another surprising cameo in the film was made by Whoopi Goldberg, who played Buckwheat's mom. We can only see her for an instant, but the Academy Award winner's face is clearly discernable - and the film makers couldn't help but make a pun on her name. When Buckwheat exclaims that his mom is there, Porky feigns excitement and sarcastically cries out "whoopi!" We guess this wasn't the first time Whoopi had to put up with that joke.
Brittany Ashton Holmes' Darla
It's hard to cast a child who could fill the original Darla's shoes - but in 1994 the casting director made the right choice when they cast Brittany Ashton Holmes in her role. Ashton Holmes is, to this day, best known for her portrayal of Darla in the movie, and while she did go on to act in several other movies, she decided to leave acting at the age of 7. Today, she is pursuing a degree in political science, and living her life away from the limelight.
Raven-Symoné
Another famous young actress to appear in The Little Rascals is Raven-Symoné - who was just starting out her career as a star at the time. She had a regular role on The Cosby Show, but this was only her second film appearance. Raven-Symoné played Stymie's girlfriend, who was also the vice president of the "He-Man Womun Haters Club." By the end of the movie, though, the boys realized they were in the wrong and started letting girls into their club as well - including Raven!
Blake McIver Ewing's Waldo
It's hard to imagine The Little Rascals without Waldo, the film's main villain. Played by Blake McIver Ewing, the nefarious Waldo manages to sow chaos and discord among the group, before they get over his antics. Ewing stayed in the entertainment world after 1994's The Little Rascals, becoming famous thanks to his role as Derek S. Boyd on Full House, as well as for voicing Eugene Horowitz on Hey Arnold.
20 Years Later
20 years after The Little Rascals first hit theaters, the entire cast got together for a re-shoot of the film's iconic poster - as well as to recreate several of the most well-loved scenes in the movie. It's pretty amazing to see that, even though so much time has passed since the movie was shot, the actors still look a lot like themselves!
Zachary Mabry's Porky
When Zachary Mabry was cast as Porky, Spanky's little brother and assistant, he was just four years old. While his performance was pretty great, the film was his only time acting. Since then, he's been living a very private life. He earned his degree in accounting and finance at the University of Oklahoma, and works today as an accountant in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. To us, he'll always be Porky, though!
Sam Saletta's Butch
Sam Saletta played the bully, Butch, on Little Rascals - but while this was the first role in his career, it was far from being the last. Since then, Salerra has voiced characters on shows like King of the Hill, The Kids from Room 402, Rocket Power and Rugrats. In addition to his voicework on TV, Saletta lent his voice to video games like Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Zero: Akai Chou. As for acting in front of the camera - well, he appeared in six episodes of 7th Heaven.
Kevin Jamal Woods's Stymie
Kevin Jamal Woods portrayed the character of Stymeie - the vice president of the "He Man Womun Haters Club." In addition to his work on Young Rascals, Woods also had roles in the movie A Perfect World as well as in Babe, where he voiced one of the puppies on the farm. Despite his success in the film industry, Woods elected to leave acting when he was still young, and went on to live a quieter life. He graduated from college in 2009, and currently lives and works in Texas, where he also produces music.
Travis Tedford's Spanky
Spanky is arguably the most important character in the movie. The de-facto leader of the gang, the character was named Spanky McFarland as a tribute to George McFarland, and played by Travis Tedford. Tedford went on to become a celebrity thanks to his leading role in Welch Juice's nationwide advertising campaign, as well as the roles he landed in A Bug's Life, the Amanda Show, Freaky Friday and The Final, before he finally retired from acting for good. Today, like several of his co-stars, Tedford lives and works in Texas.
The Dance Scene
In the scene where Alfalfa and Spanky crash Darla's ballet recital, the boys playing the characters actually wanted to learn the dance choreography and dance real ballet with the girls - but while that's a beautiful real-life sentiment, it didn't fit with the scene's vibe. Instead, director Penelope Spheeris wanted them to look as out of place as possible, so she instructed them to make up dance moves on their own - which got the exact result she was hoping for!
