In later years some family members would affectionately refer to him as "Spank". He also appeared in: "Spanky" redirects here. [8] Portions of Spanky's screen test are included in a 1932 Our Gang entry, Spanky. In January 1931, in response to a trade magazine advertisement from Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California, requesting photographs of "cute kids", Spanky's Aunt Dottie (Virginia's sister) sent pictures from Sonny's portfolio. Her father, James Claude Hood, Jr., a banker, and especially her mother, Elizabeth (nee Davner), prodded Darla's innate musical talents with singing and dancing lessons i… An invitation for a screen test arrived that spring, leading to his acting career. Paramedics tried to revive him for approximately 30 minutes before transporting him to Baylor University Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas. [10][failed verification] In mid-1938, Hal Roach sold the Our Gang unit to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who began casting for a new "team leader" character in Spanky's vein and ended up rehiring McFarland himself. Get ready to dive into TV history and take a then-and-now look at the original Little Rascals. When you think back to The Little Rascals — or Our Gang, if that’s your preference — undoubtedly a favorite character comes to mind, whether it be Spanky, Jackie, Joe Cobb, Alfalfa or any of the others. He allegedly confronted a hunting partner over a $50 debt and was shot to death. But after high school he fell prey to a life of petty theft and a heroin addiction that would hound him until he completed a rehab program in the mid-1960s. [13] A cenotaph for McFarland to be placed at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas, has been approved, but according to the cemetery's website, has yet to be installed.[14]. He was selling for Philco-Ford Corporation, where he advanced to national sales training director. Darla Hood was born in a small rural Oklahoma town on Sunday, November 8th, 1931, she grew up as dark-banged cute girl, Darla Hood began her association with the motley \"Our Gang\" group at the tender age of 2 1/2, as she stated on the The Jack Benny Program (1950). The actress who played the rascals’ favorite teacher, Miss Crabtree has been a big name in the movie universe since the… He attended Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Texas. Spanky McFarland's only starring feature-film role was in the 1936 Hal Roach film General Spanky, an unsuccessful attempt to move the Our Gang series into features. [8], In 1952, at age 24, McFarland joined the United States Air Force. He was 79. White children and Black children played and laughed together, free from the complicated adult world. William "Billie" Thomas Jr. (March 12, 1931 – October 10, 1980) was an American child actor best remembered for portraying the character of Buckwheat in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) short films from 1934 until the series' end in 1944. In the mid-1950s, when the Our Gang comedies were sweeping the nation on TV, McFarland hosted an afternoon children's show, The Spanky Show, on KOTV television in Tulsa, Oklahoma. McFarland was in his bedroom in Keller, Texas, getting dressed on June 30, 1993, when he suddenly collapsed. [6][7] He had three siblings: Thomas ("Tommy", who appeared in a few Our Gang episodes as "Dynamite"), Amanda, and Roderick ("Rod"). In January 1994, McFarland posthumously joined fellow alumnus Jackie Cooper to become one of only two Our Gang members to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Robert Blake was found innocent by a jury of the charges of killing his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. As a mom, I introduced them to my own kids. He was an actor, known for, ‘The Florida Project’ Director Sean Baker on His Modern-Day ‘Little Rascals’ and America’s Hidden Homeless, Why Sean Baker’s ‘The Florida Project’ Was the Hot Buy of Cannes, Most Exciting Movie Fictional Scout Troop, Face-Off: Laurel & Hardy or Charlie Chaplin, When We Were Young...: Growing Up on the Silver Screen, Hollywoods Spaßfabrik - Als die Bilder Lachen lernten. [8] Switzer's character became as much of a scene-stealer as the young McFarland was, and the two boys' fathers fought constantly over screen time and star billing for their children.[9]. Upon his return to civilian life, indelibly typecast in the public's mind as "Spanky" from Our Gang, he found himself unable to find work in show business. Successful post-Rascals career as … Spanky was an example of such a child in his earliest movies—a toddler who could act—so the name had meaning to the movie-going audience of that era that was lost for later generations. ... (also known as The Little Rascals) produced between 1922 and 1944. The Little Rascals (TV Series 1955) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. But beyond the human cast members, who could resist the charm of the kids’ favorite pet, Pete (or, as we prefer, Petey) the Pup, truly a boy or girl’s best friend? The Our Gang shorts were later syndicated to television as The Little Rascals. [citation needed], After that stint, he continued at odd jobs: selling wine, operating a restaurant and night club, and selling appliances, electronics, and furniture. Their legend continued on the big screen in the 1994 Universal release, The Little Rascals. Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services. Bug Hall/ Alfalfa. McFarland claimed that "Spanky's" bar on East 7th Street used his name and face for thirteen years without permission. Before joining the Our Gang comedies, "Sonny", as he was called by his family, modeled children's clothing for a Dallas department store and was also seen around the Dallas area on highway billboards and in print advertisements for Wonder Bread. Dickie Moore as Dickie, Matthew Beard as Stymie and George McFarland as Spanky in 1932's 'Birthday Blues,' one of the 'Our Gang' series, later to be known as 'The Little Rascals.' What happened to The Little Rascals after 1994? I watched “Spanky and The Little Rascals” as re-runs on TV when I was a kid. Bug Hall was just 9 when he beat out thousands of youngsters to land the iconic … LITTLE RASCALS, THE, Spanky McFarland, Wheezer (Bobby Hutchins), Dorothy DeBorba, Breezy Brisbane (Kendall McComas), Donald Haines, Stymie, Petey c. 1932. by Billy Ingram & Kevin S. Butler. The term "a spanky child" was late-19th- to early-20th-century slang for an intelligent, gifted toddler. For other uses, see, George Robert Phillips McFarland or George Emmett McFarland. PST.) McFarland contradicted the tale, saying that the name was given by a Los Angeles newspaper reporter. He remained in the MGM Our Gang productions until his final appearance in the series Unexpected Riches in 1942, at age fourteen. In 1990, McFarland filed a $100,000.00 lawsuit against a bar owner in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Thomas Ross Bond, who played Butch the bully in the "Our Gang" and "The Little Rascals" serials of the 1930s, has died. [8] Station executives prevented McFarland from developing and expanding the show's format, and by 1960 McFarland had quit the show. Spanky was played by George McFarland. The lawsuit also called for McFarland to receive all of the internal merchandise and equipment featuring his likeness. (Originally published on August 5, 2019 at 10 a.m. Pete the Pup (original, 1924 – June 1930; second Pete, September 9, 1929 – January 28, 1946) was a character in Hal Roach's Our Gang comedies (later known as The Little Rascals) during the 1930s, otherwise known as "Pete, the dog with the ring around his eye", or simply "Petey".The second Pete was an American Staffordshire Terrier named Lucenay’s Peter. He was also in the early years and was one of the youngest members of the gang. His earliest films show him as an outspoken toddler, grumpily going along with the rest of the gang. Rounding out the popular Our Gang favorites were Spanky, Buckwheat, Stymie, and of course Petey, the dog. He also appeared as a juvenile performer in many non-Roach feature films, including the Wheeler & Woolsey comedy Kentucky Kernels and two Fritz Lang features of the 1940s. George 'Spanky' McFarland was born on October 2, 1928 in Dallas, Texas, USA as George Robert Phillips McFarland. We watched these old 1933 videos of Spanky and The Little Rascals, not to be confused with the 1994 movie, The Little Rascals, which was based on these original shorts. What ever happened to those people? Bert Convy (l.), with (l-r): Tommy Bond, George ‘Spanky’ McFarland, Sidney Kibrick from Our Gang’/’Little Rascals, 1989-90, (Burt and Bert Productions/courtesy Everett Collection) George “Spanky” McFarland died unexpectedly on June 30, 1993, at age 64, the cause believed to … George McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for his appearances as a child as Spanky in the Our Gang series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. He was a native of Los Angeles He was later found liable for her wrongful death by a California civil court. The nickname "Spanky" is erroneously said to have arisen from warnings by his mother not to misbehave during one of the initial discussions with Hal Roach in his office. McFarland appeared as "Spanky" in 95 Our Gang films between 1932 and 1942. George McFarland (October 2, 1928 – June 30, 1993) was an American actor most famous for his appearances as a child as Spanky in the Our Gang series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. RELATED: Here’s What Happened to Spanky from ‘The Little Rascals’ as Told by a Close Friend IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Donna Reed, James Stewart, Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer, 1946 Some of his credits include Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1942), Johnny Doughboy (also 1942, co-starring Spanky), The Great Mike (1944) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946). In 1955, while the Rascals were just beginning their run in NYC, George "Spanky" McFarland hosted the Little Rascals films in a clubhouse setting on CBS affiliate KOTV in Tulsa, Oklahoma. [8] He also traveled the country doing speaking engagements and lectures about his movie roles and his days on The Little Rascals. Spanky also had his own namesake charity golf classic for 16 years, held in Marion, Indiana. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/porky-from-little-rascals-dies Share on Facebook and Twitter with friends and family.SUBSCRIBE AND CLICK THE BELL FOR MORE VIDS. Watch Daily Pop weekdays at 11 a.m., only on E! The Our Gang shorts were later syndicated to television as The Little Rascals. I watched “Spanky and The Little Rascals” as re-runs on TV when I was a kid. [11] During the 1990s, after his self-described "semi-retirement", Spanky lent his name and celebrity to help raise money for charities, primarily by participating in golf tournaments. This established Sonny early on in the local public's eye as an adorable child model and provided experience before cameras. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OUR GANG CAST?. He took less glamorous jobs, including work at a soft drink plant, a hamburger stand, and a popsicle factory. Spanky was played by George McFarland who went on to become a Forth Worth, Texas businessman before his death of a heart attack in 1993. The Little Rascals is currently available to stream on HBO Max. 1994 family comedy film by Penelope Spheeris The Little Rascals Theatrical release poster Directed byPenelope Spheeris Produced byBill Oakes Michael King Gerald R. Molen Screenplay byPaul Guay Stephen Mazur Penelope Spheeris Story byPaul Guay Stephen Mazur Penelope Spheeris Mike Scott Robert Wolterstorff Based onOur Gang by Hal Roach Starring Travis Tedford Kevin Jamal Woods Jordan Warkol Zachary Mabry Ross Elliot Bagley Courtland Mead Sam Saletta Blake Jeremy Collins Blake McIv… Our Gang (also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals) is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. He died on January 28, 1946. The Little Rascals premiered over 20 years ago on August 5, 1994. As a mom, I introduced them to my own kids. After Lucenay (the dog’s owner) was fired from Our Gang, he retired to Atlantic City. George 'Spanky' McFarland was born on October 2, 1928 in Dallas, Texas, USA as George Robert Phillips McFarland. [15]. Following the 1938 Our Gang short Came the Brawn, McFarland "retired" from Our Gang, beginning a personal appearance tour. As general manager, McFarland helped launch the classic movie channel The Nostalgia Channel in 1985. Our Gang / Little Rascals PART FOUR Our Gang / Little Rascals - What Happened to the Little Rascals? His final television performance was in 1993, playing himself in the cold open of the Cheers episode "Woody Gets An Election".[12]. His scene-stealing abilities brought him more attention, and by 1935 he was the de facto leader of the gang, often paired with Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, and always the enterprising "idea man". The case was eventually settled, and the owner changed the name to Checker's Bar. A report on the dimize or infamous Curse of the child stars that performed on the Old show "'the little rascals" The show included a studio audience and appearances by other celebrities such as James Arness, and it ran Little Rascals shorts. He was pronounced dead within 40 minutes of being admitted, at age 64. Discover something for everyone this month with some choice picks for the best movies and TV to stream in April. Little Rascals Cast – Neatorama. We watched these old 1933 videos of Spanky and The Little Rascals, not to be confused with the 1994 movie, The Little Rascals, which was based on these original shorts. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. It was believed that McFarland had died of "a heart attack or an aneurysm"; his remains were cremated shortly thereafter. He was an actor, known for Bedtime Worries (1933), … He was 16 – as old as Billy “Froggy” Laughlin — when he died. During this time, McFarland continued to make personal appearances and cameo roles in films and television, including an appearance on The Mike Douglas Show with Darla Hood and William "Buckwheat" Thomas. Use of the "Spanky" name by McFarland for subsequent business or personal activities was expressly granted to McFarland in one of his studio contracts. McFarland was born in Dallas, Texas, on October 2, 1928, to Virginia Winifred (née Phillips) and Robert Emmett McFarland. It was actually ruled that it was justifiable because Switzer had pulled out a knife first. While some may have preferred the original TV show of the same name, we think … Microfiche. In segregated 1920s and 1930s America, Our Gang was revolutionary in promoting an image of racial harmony. ... (“Spanky”): Appeared in 95 installments. ‘Little Rascals’ Actor Gordon Lee Dies (AP) Gordon Lee, the chubby child actor who played Spanky McFarland’s little brother Porky in the “Little Rascals” comedies, has died. "Spanky McFarland, 64, Actor In the 'Our Gang' Comedies", "George 'Spanky' McFarland, former Little Rascal, is dead", "George Robert Phillips McFarland [10744]", https://apnews.com/bb325a7134c38cac46c4d9127f3016ce, http://hometownbyhandlebar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/spanky-comeback-6-7-55-dmn.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spanky_McFarland&oldid=1010749905, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with failed verification from November 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2018, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 March 2021, at 02:58. Sixties folk-rock group Spanky and Our Gang named themselves after McFarland's character because singer Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane's surname was similar to his. 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