When they announced the end of Xanga as we know it, I decided to rerun some of my favorite blogs from past years. Some of these old blogs have been viewed thousands of times, and according to my site counter, have been googled from all over the world.
I haven't completely decided yet, but I probably won't stay with Xanga past July 15th. I'll make my decision at the last minute as I usually do.
In any case, I hope readers enjoy my old favorites as much as I do. "Our Gang" is one of the most viewed. I never really considered it completed. Every once in a while I came back and added to a biography or made some changes. It will most likely stay incomplete forever now.
From MAY 2005
OUR GANG
Remember Our Gang?
What ever happened to those people?
The OUR GANG CURSE?
CHUBBY
Norman Chaney was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1914. In 1929, he won a nationwide contest to replace Joe Cobb as "the fat kid" in the series. Cobb was being replaced because he was too old at 12 years old. Although he was two years older than Cobb, Chaney lied about his age and said he was born in 1918.
At only four feet tall and about 113 pounds, he was nicknamed "Chubby". Chaney outgrew his character looking older as he grew taller and increasingly heavier. In 1931 he left show business after not being offered another contract.
He returned to Maryland and entered public school. Never exceeding 4'11" in height, he weighed in excess of 300 pounds. He underwent surgery to correct a glandular problem in 1935 and became seriously ill, He passed away on May 29, 1936, at age 21.
Chaney was the first of the regular Our Gang crew to die and didn't live to see the end of the series.
ALFAFA ...
-- Carl Dean "Alfalfa Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois August 7, 1927. He and his older brother, Harold, sang and played a number of instruments and were well known locally.
On a family trip to California in 1934, 8-year-old Harold and 6-year-old Carl performed at the Our Gang Cafe which was open to the public. Hal Roach saw them and signed both Switzers to appear in the series. Harold was named "Slim" and "Deadpan" and Carl was dubbed "Alfalfa." Although Carl was an experienced singer and musician, his character Alfalfa was often called upon to sing off-key renditions of popular songs.
Alfalfa became more popular than Spanky McFarland which created a conflict between the boy's fathers who fought and argued constantly over their sons' screen time and salaries. Although Switzer and Spanky were friendly, his best friend was Tommy Bond, who played the "Butch the Bully".
Switzer had an unusual sense of humor and was known for playing cruel tricks on cast and crew members, often sabotaging the filming. Switzer's attitude towards authority could have influenced one of the younger actors, Robert Blake.
Both Switzers left the Our Gang series in 1940, when Carl was twelve. Switzer's last role as a star was in a brief series of "The Gas House Kids" where he brought back the "Alfalfa" character in 1946-1947.
In the early 1950s, Switzer moved to Kansas where he met and married Diane Collingwood, a grain elevator heiress. The marriage only lasted four months, but resulted in the birth of a son, Lance. In addition to acting, Switzer bred hunting dogs and guided hunting expeditions for actors and other notables.
Typecast as Alfalfa, he continued to act, on and off, in various supporting and character roles in movies and television until 1958. His final film role was in The Defiant Ones and on the television series The Roy Rogers Show. Switzer's difficult reputation and his typecasting as "Alfalfa" made it difficult for him to find quality work.
Unable to stay out of trouble, In 1958, he was shot in the arm by an unknown assailant and later that year he was placed on probation for cutting down trees in a National forest.
On January 21, 1959, he was involved in a dispute over a fifty dollar debt. He and a friend forced their way in another's house and demanded payment. A fight broke out and Switzer was shot and killed. There were several versions of the story given to police, but the shooter was acquitted. Switzer's death received only small notices in the newspapers because he died on the same day as Cecil B. DeMille.
BUCKWHEAT ...
-- William Thomas died at age 49 of a heart attack.
DARLA HOOD ...
-- Born in Oklahoma on November 8, 1931, her parents assisted Darla's talents with singing and dancing lessons in Oklahoma City. An agent spotted the four-year-old when she made an impromptu on stage singing debut in Times Square. He signed her to a 7 year contract at $75 a week and she became the "leading lady" in over 150 "Our Gang" films.
In 1945, after WWII, Darla had outgrown her role and had trouble dealing with the transition to teen actor. She attended Fairfax High in Hollywood and graduated with honors. She married at age 17 and formed the vocal group "Darla Hood and the Enchanters". they appeared in variety shows and provided background music for films. Another successful outlet for her was in the field of voice-over work in cartoons and commercials. She became an impressionist and voice artist.
Darla remained in some facet of show business until her death. She died in 1979 of heart failure at a North Hollywood hospital after contracting hepatitis following a minor operation. Buried at Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, she was only 47. Married twice, she had two children, Brett and Darla Jo.
BRISBANE ...
-- Kendall McComas, known as Breezy Brisbane, committed suicide at age 64.
FROGGY ...
-- William Robert Laughlin won fame as Froggy in 29 "Our Gang" comedies from 1940 to 1944.
His defining trait was a croaking voice that sounded like Popeye on helium. Although the character had no real personality, Froggy became the most popular "Little Rascal" to emerge from the series.
He was born in San Gabriel, California. Afflicted with crossed eyes, he had to wear thick glasses and was teased by other kids. To boost his confidence his mother enrolled him in drama classes, where he revealed a talent for imitating cartoon characters.
Laughlin joined "Our Gang" at age seven after an MGM talent scout spotted him doing his Popeye impression at a local theater. During his stint as Froggy he used his real voice only once, as a gag, in the film "1-2-3 Go!" (1941).
When "Our Gang" ended, "Froggy" left show business, and according to his family he relished his teen years away from the spotlight. He was delivering newspapers with a friend on a motor scooter in La Puente, California, when a speeding truck hit them from behind. Both boys were killed. Laughlin was 16, the youngest former Rascal to die.
Born, July 5, 1932, Died August 31, 1948.
MICKEY DANIELS ...
-- He died of scrrhosis of the liver at 55.
STYMIE ...
-- Mathew Bear led a life of crime and drugs. He died of pneumonia at age 56.
SCOTTY BECKETT ...
-- He died at age 38 following a brutal beating.
WHEEZER ...
-- Robert Hutchins was killed in an airplane accident at age 19.
PETE THE PUP ...
-- was poisoned by an unknown assailant.
BUTCH (THE BULLY)...
-- Tommy Bond is retired and lives in California.
SPANKY ...
-- George McFarland was a Ft Worth businessman who died of a heart attack in 1993
DOROTHY aka "ECHO"...
-- Dorothy Adelle DeBorba was born March 28, 1925 and was with the Gang for three years, beginning her career at age five. Dorothy left show business shortly after her Our Gang career. Today, she lives in Livermore, California.
WALDO ...
-- Darwood Kaye was killed by a hit and run driver while walking on the sidewalk
and MICKEY ...
-- Robert Blake was accused of murdering his wife
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