The Little Rascals is so funny and entertaining. I love watching the reruns. George was a wonderful child actor. He had a magnificent cameo on Cheers. Much love for George McFarland.
As a kid my parents first introduced us to The Little Rascals in the 80's. I've never stopped loving Spanky and the gang. When I had kids I bought the series on DVD so they could have them in their childhood memories. For the past 30 years I've had a picture of them hanging on my wall with all the rest of my family photos. 💖
"SPANKY" was one of the cutest and most adorable babies and toddlers. He just made you want to squeeze him. As a kid actor, he was a natural ! He was always the main reason I would watch "The Little Rascals."
@FactsVerse Anything retro that would be hard to get ahold of. I used to watch a lot of "Flash Gordon" with Buster Crabbe when I was like 5 and 6. You don't see much info on the show or him. I do know he was an athlete and Olympic medal swimmer.
I liked him as Spanky, but also liked him as an adult. He seemed very sensible and seemed to retain some of the cuteness he had as a child. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless You and stay safe 🙏 ❤️
Met him in the late 80s. I was a young Actor in Dallas. He came to speak to us and our School, Studio. He was gracious, had some great stories, and helped us to have dreams but also keep it realistic. Appreciate his caring ways, after meeting so many in Hollywood who really couldn't care less.
I’m in my 70’s and every time they’re on I watch them. I started in 1963 when I was a young teen and have seen most shorts at least 1000 times!!! I love them!!! Alfalfa, Spanky, Darla, Buckwheat made the series!
Seemed like a really nice and humble guy! Would've loved to meet him. Glad he didn't get caught up in the fast lane that plagues so many other child stars.
@@FactsVerse mush and milk episode. Spanky: don't drink the milk! Co-star: why? Spanky: it's spoiled! 🤣 That whole episode was hilarious, l watched it before church this morning! He was just a toddler cracking me up! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Still watch and have a few DVDs. Introduced my grands to them too. Spanky was the spokesperson and the one that turned out most normal. The others had such tragic lives.
Well, at least one of the cutest. In Our Gang, the cutest faces in my book included Spanky, Cotton (Stymie's real life little brother), Scotty and Dickie Moore.
I had the opportunity to attend an Evening with Spanky event and took my elderly father . It may well have been the highlight of my dad’s final years. Dad had run a theater in the 30s and had shown the “Rascals “ as a pre movie short. Dad got to talk to Spanky and to him it was one of the things he talked about to his dying days. It turned out to be a Priceless gift to him. I loved the Little Rascals and could see myself being the Scottie character.
He was doing some actual acting - speaking lines - while he was still just a toddler. That's a special kid. I also recall some crank was claiming to have played Buckwheat and was owed money but George put the kay-bosh on that as he had been friends with the actor who played Buckwheat into adulthood and that man had died.
Hal Roach was inspired to create the little rascals (the series real name was "our gang". It wasn't called little rascals until it went into tv syndication) when he saw a bunch of kids playing. He was in his office, giving an audition to an over talented, overrehearsed little girl. Roach was bored by her. After the audition was over and the girl and her mother left, Roach looked out his office window. His movie lot was next door to a lumber yard and his office window overlooked the lumber yard. He saw a group of kids playing and fighting over a 2x4 piece of wood. Those normal every day kids, doing normal kid stuff, held his rapt attention. Before he knew it, a whole half hour had passed. It made him realize that he can make movies of every day kids doing normal kid things, it would hold the attention of movie audiences as well. The first our gang film was released in 1922 and the rest is history
I've seem some of those silent films, and they were made in silent mode up until 1929. The "special effects" were quite impressive, even for those days! Those kids worked hard just to make it look like they were having fun, which, in the eyes of children, having fun WAS hard work! Love those kids, and may they all Rest In Peace. 😂🤣🧏♂️🙋♀️🤦♂️👩⚕️👩🎓🧑🏫👩⚖️🧑🔧🎥🎬📺😔
I was at a jukebox and vending machine show in Fort Worth in 1993, and surprisingly, Spanky was signing autographs there. Growing up in the 1950s and watching "Our Gang" on TV, it was an amazing opportunity to meet him. He was selling autographed 8x10 photos and I bought one for myself and one for each of my two younger brothers. He was an insurance salesman at the time. Sadly, Spanky died two weeks later, but it will always be a memorable moment in my life to have met one of my childhood idols.
As a young kid growing up every time I watch them they always made me laugh. Almost 70 now. Thank you very much. I m glad I grew up in the era I did. Just saying
George "Spanky" McFarland's fame spilled over into other arenas including music. The late 1960's pop band, "Spanky and Our Gang", was actually named after George as the lead singer, Elaine McFarlane, had a similar surname, but ended with a different letter (George's name ended with a "d"). She became known as "Elaine Spanky McFarlane" and this led to the naming of the band, "Spanky and Our Gang". Great video, thanks!
Favorite Spanky moment was when his mom took him to get a portrait. The photographer told him to keep his eye on the birdie which was situated on the camera. The birdie fell and he kept staring at the floor. When his mom told him to put his eye on the birdie like the photographer said, he got off the chair, crawled on the floor and put his eye on the birdie on the floor. Too much. I love those shows as a kid. And how
Laurel and Hardy made a cameo appearance in that film, appearing briefly as children that the photographer character once took pictures of. The film itself was called "Wild Poses," I believe. Both the L&H shorts and the "Little Rascals" movies were made by the Hal Roach Studio.
Always loved Spanky. He was the only one that did not take any crap from the others and give it back in spades. One of my favorites lines was when he was with Scotty trying to control the donkey who needed a bell to calm down. When their one bell, which was a clock broke, he took the bike bell and rang it, calming the donkey. Scotty said "We did it" which prompted Spanky to say "What do you mean "We"!! "
I own the entire Our Gang series on VHS. I along with my friends would watch the shows on UHF Channel 52 in 1973 and 74. We would gather after school every day to tune in. I would encourage today's youngsters to watch these as well. With all of this mental manipulation thru social media devices polluting their young minds, Our Gang would help them see what true childhood innocence really looks like.
He'll always be the best in the Our Gang shorts!! No one could touch him!! He was way beyond his time!! His timing was impeccable!! No child actor ever could touch him not even Shirley Temple!!
I fondly remember these films shown on television when I was a child in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sad audiences today are not offered more wholesome entertainment.
Best Spanky "Our Gang Short" was hands down....Kid from Borneo...his laughter in that show was infectious. My favorite Our Gang players were...Petey, Mary Ann Jackson and Farina.
I am 65 now and while I came to the States in 69' at the age of 12, The Little Rascals was my first attraction on TV and source of learning english. I cherish those memories. Glad we have re-runs today.
I watched Spanky and the Rascals as a kid in the early 1970s, and an important thing never occurred to me as a kid, as it does now as a grandparent. The clips of him as a little boy remind me of my grandson, and this video brought a tear to my eye, knowing what I know now vs what I knew as a kid. Thank you George McFarland, for all you did. You were cute as hell as a little boy, you acted well and brought humor and fun to a generation and more of kids, and you are much respected. Thank you, sir, and rest in peace.
Spanky was one of my favorites in "The Little Rascals," along with Darla. He was always trying to "impress" her and win her over with his tactics. 🙏 RIP SPANKY 🙏
Spanky: don't drink the milk. Co-star: why? Spanky: it's spoiled. Now 56, my siblings and I still chant this while our kids look at us like we're crazy. 🤣
He was a very nice man.I met him when i was 14 at a celebrity golf tournament for charity. He was happy i actually knew who he was.I got a hug for it.And being a gentleman ,he asked first. I have his autograph .
George was s neighbor of mine in Keller, Texas in the late 70’s. I actually met him when he walked into a garage sale I was having. He was a nice everyday guy.
Not one memory,but a childhood with no internet and ten thousand distractions,our lives were simple in the seventies but we enjoyed watching them all!!!!
I remember Spanky came to Detroit to fill in for I believe Johnny Ginger as they were showing a little rascals film they had a camera on Spanky watching the film , he had the biggest smile on his face .
I watched those guys one some of the earliest time it was on TV. I'm 71, now - just another cute little girl is now an old lady - but just watching this stuff you've pulled together gave me a shock - a time-machine time portal. I can't really express that time. but I loved those guys, and bless your heart - to put this together was a work of kindness and a shock in terms of mortal time.
We watched The little rascals DAILY in the early 70's. It was our neighborhood's favorite tv show. I still laugh to this day about the cake making video!! Sit on stove and stir! 😂😂😂❤️
I remember a bar in Saint Paul Minnesota (called Spanky's), that stole Spanky's name and photo, and used it for the 'Name of their bar, and their bar 'Logo'. It was there for YEARS. It turned out that 'Spanky' had a friend who lived in Minnesota, he took a picture of the outside of the bar [and sign] and sent it to Spanky himself, and said "look at this, they're using your name and photo". He quickly hired an attorney who sent the owner of the bar a "Cease & Desist Letter" and that was the end of it. The bar changed it's name.
watched the reruns over n over n over.. always liked the Little Rascals version more than the Original Our Gang... and like Spanky in his youngest and early years.. Po'hky and Buckwheat were two of my other faves..
@@michaelpalmieri7335 If you recall, "Porky" never really pronounced the "R" in his name when he said it.. that was my reference.. it was "Poh'kee" best i can reproduce in spelling..😆
@@FactsVerse i gotta go with the time Spanky is dressed up as a Roman, for a kids show competition, and he wants to win it for a little girl whose mom is poor and cant afford a dress she wants. "Friends Romans and Countrymen--and he gets zapped by his friends with pea shooters. cuz they are Supposed to sabotage his routine, only NOW< he wants to win, not lose".. that.. is a gem.... 2nd... heck i cant recall all.. the Gang has a band, and its another competition.. at the end,, the guy in the sound booth, surrounded by tubes for the sound machine/radio station (??), after having his hat blown off for the 10th time, just starts smashing ALL THE TUBES.. its hilarious.. but.. nearly all of them were..
My family lived in Tulsa in the 60s and early 70s. I remember my dad saying he'd been approached by Spanky McFarland about some kind of investment opportunity, I think in the late 60s. Whatever it was he passed on it.
I liked Spanky in The Little Rascals because he was cute and hilarious along with the rest of the gang. One of my favorite episodes of him is called Bedtime Worries, but I also like some other ones. I am glad that Spanky did not get the Curse of The Little Rascals gang, but he still died young. RIP George "Spanky" McFarland. You are loved and missed everyday!
I know what you mean about the "curse of the Little Rascals." A lot of the actors from the series had hard lives when they were grown up, and some of them died tragic deaths. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (I think that's how his last name was spelled) was killed in 1959, in a bar room brawl, if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately, the incident didn't receive much publicity because it occurred on the same day that movie mogul Cecil B. DeMille passed on. Naturally, the latter death got more attention because he was considered one of the greatest movie producers in Hollywood, whereas "Alfalfa" was considered an old "has-been." His death was later ruled "justifiable homicide." Billie Thomas, who played "Buckwheat," died from a drug overdose in the 1980s. Ironically, he passed away on the same night that comedian Eddie Murphy began doing his parodies of Buckwheat on "Saturday Night Live." After Murphy had performed his first "Buckwheat" skit, Billie Thomas's son called him up and asked him how he could make fun of his father on the same night he died in such a horrible way. It turned out that Murphy didn't even know that the real Buckwheat was dead.
Being from Texas myself, I was proud of George (Spanky) McFarland. Choo Choo was really funny. I loved seeing him and Carl (Alfalfa together) Fishy Tales is one of my favs. to see both of them in. I got to see Saturday or sometimes after school re-runs of these wonderful classics.
Sounds like a fine and well lived life. What a truly memorable character he played. I feel his legacy is solid as steel. WELL DONE, SPANKY! We loved you!
I'm a 56 year old man into this very day The Little rascals is my number one all-time favorite television show. I own most of the collections on VHS and on DVD and watch them regularly. In addition to "Spanky" being my nickname given to me over 40 years ago by a close group of friends spanky has always been my second favorite character from the series with my first being Porky & Buckwheat as a duo (much like Laurel and Hardy).
@@FactsVerse My apologies for being "long winded" without ever answering your question directly. Unfortunately there are so many hilarious moments from various reels that I can't just name one. BUT I can say I prefer the ones with younger Spanky as well as the ones with Porky & Buckwheat. Once again my apologies for the previous long comment.
I was born in 1959 and the Little rascals Was exactly the way I grew up we were really just like these kids man oh man what great wonderful memories, Little rascals, Popeye the sailor man,Three Stooges,My three sons, Dennis the menace,Leave it to beaver, Beverly Hillbillies,Green Acres, Gilligan's Island,Lost in Space,Sammy Terry from Indiana scared every Hoosier kid in Indiana lol,So many other great shows to many to mention,But what a great wonderful time to grow up,Kids I feel so sorry for them of this today's weird horrible world,Mickey mouse club can't forget that one,In Indiana it was the Popeye and Janie Show,And cowboy Bob cartoon hour I bet you Hoosier kids remember these ,To think those great days are over and today's world it's absolutely heartbreaking.
I grew up watching the Our Gang/Little Rascals shorts, have always loved them, they've never been equalled. I loved the short, " Spanky", such a funny short with Spanky in the window throwing money to all the neighborhood kids!
When I was in college in early 80s, but I missed him. They rarely had anyone I wanted to see, and I didn't find out til it was too late. Loved the Little Rascals / Our Gang on Sunday after church on Fred Kirby's Little Rascals Show on WBTV in Charlotte.
“I like choclat clake”. I don’t remember the name of that episode but he was so adorable my sister and I still quote that line and laugh. Oh, the good old days. How we loved him!
We'd always watch the Little Rascals before we walked to school in the mornings. Now I watch them on Tubi! I liked Spanky when he was a toddler/younger kid.
I was lucky to catch Our Gang shorts on streaming channels, etc and they are quite funny, fun, and entertaining. Picking a favorite of the several I watched is impossible because so many were so great. Was his test screening the one where he tries to killing the bugs with a hammer? That's a classic. But there are many others as well. Thanks for sharing!
It's a bit complicated. Free Eats was his very first little rascals film. But his second one, "Spanky" where he does his bug hunting thing, they edited in his test footage for that movie.
I love every episode and every character how could u not they were all so cute but my favorite spanky episode is the bug hunting one ..HE had the cutest laugh and voice...God bless them all
Grew up watching our gang and Raskles( 1970s). Loved toddler Spanky. Even as he got older he had such a great personality. Knowing how child actors were treated then, glad he didn't go off the rails. Unfortunately, Alfalfa didn't fair so well.
As a child and even as an adult, you'd have to drag me away, with a bit of difficulty, from the TV when The Little Rascals and Our Gang was on. Oh, I believe, around the late 60's or early 70's, the was a short-lived rock band called "Spanky and Our Gang". Do not recall which variety show if the time on which I saw them on.
@@FactsVerse Don’t remember the title but when the wild man from Borneo followed them to get their candy and they thought he was going to eat them. He chased them while saying yum yum eat em up lol it was great!
My friend Debbie's brother had 2 auditions for the 1950's show he didn't get the part; I had met Debbie in elementary school back in 1969 and her mom told me about it. There was a show during the 1970's called Bowling for Dollars that he was on, I don't remember how much he won though.
@@FactsVerse: Our Gang Follies of 1936 where the supreme voices of the Brian sisters sing the outstanding melody How You Gonna Keep Her Down on the Farm Now That She's Seen Paree. One of the Brian sisters may still be alive!
OH Boy Oh BOY, "The Little Rascals" What A Classic Watched So Much In The 70's Growing Up REST In PEACE, Mr. George McFarland,✨🎩🎙️🕊️🎷💙💛💙🎥🎞️📺📻✨🎩🎙️🕊️🎷💙💛💙🎥🎞️
I recall seeing this as a child tv show on Saturday mornings. I could tell it was from another time … bc of the indoor / outdoor sets. My mama said, she said used to see these on Saturday early shows when the movie houses first open up. > I knew he was set up to be the star of the show; but I liked Darla & Porkie. > All the kids were wonderful..
Spanky didn't give whooping cough to Baby Leroy. Leroy was isolated for observation after being exposed to Spanky's whooping cough, and after 10 days was cleared by the doctors. Spanky, on the other hand, went through six weeks of recuperation. Spanky's 90-day suspension was evidently lifted, as the gap in his work schedule wound up being less than 60 days. And this is NOT what caused the series to reduce to 6 films for the 1933-34 season - that decision had been made prior to Spanky's loanout to Paramount. And the guy at 5:35 is not Spanky, but one of his many imposters.
George Spanky McFarland I think was my favourite star of the Our Gang comedies he was so cute as a child and I I'm sure glad he didn't fall into the drug or alcohol abuse of child stars if you read up about all the other child stars in our gang comedies most of them died early in age including Alfalfa when he was involved in a knife fight in a bar Our Gang comedies will always be something to watch even in the future and people will still like it I sure do
He still had his foot in entetainment,he did what he could,had a successful life by all accounts,not bad,really enjoyed Little Rascals/Our Gang growing up!
I think you've got one film mixed up with another. The one where Spanky finds the secret panel where his cheapskate father keeps his money was his second film, which was called "Spanky." The one where Spanky's dad (played by a different actor) won't buy his wife (Spanky's mother) a new dress for her birthday was entitled "Birthday Blues." In that one, Spanky's older brother (played by Dickie Moore) decides to find a way to make some money so he can buy the dress for his mother's birthday, so he and his friend, Stymie, decide to bake a cake and put prizes inside it for their friends, who first have to pay to get into the house so they can eat the cake. (Stymie got the idea from the minister of the church he and his family attend) Things don't turn out too well, however, because the other kids don't like the prizes they find in the cake and they start a fight where they're throwing bits and pieces of the cake at each other, messing up Dickie's house in the process. When his dad comes home from work, he chases the kids out of the house. When he finds out that Dickie (who's just returning home with the dress he bought with the money his friends paid) brought the children into the house, he gives the boy a spanking before he can give him a chance to explain everything. When his mom comes home, however, she lets him tell his side of the story, about how he just wanted to raise some cash for her new dress. When dad hears of this, he decides that all will be forgiven. The next day, the now more gentle father takes his wife, now wearing her new dress, and their sons to church.
I met Spanky when I was 5. My parents owned a retail store in Northern Oklahoma. Spanky was traveling around as a representative for Philco and stopped in at the store. Daddy brought him home for lunch. Later he was speaking at a college campus where I worked. I was able to speak to him then, too. Nice guy!
Glad to know that you had a nice time with Spanky! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
I loved the reel with baby Spanky shooting the flies with the pop gun. It showed real life in that era as well as showed the wide split in society, rich to poor.
Reading all the comments on this video, and the love for Spanky and the Gang, makes me think there may yet be hope for mankind. Keep on keepin on y'all, and thank you.
I loved watching the little rascals when i was a kid Rest In Peace George.
We're happy to know that you're a fan! Who is your favorite cast member?
@@FactsVerse
Spanky
Alfalfa
Darla
Buckwheat
Froggy
Miss Crabtree ( June Marlowe )
Jackie Cooper
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
The Little Rascals is so funny and entertaining. I love watching the reruns. George was a wonderful child actor. He had a magnificent cameo on Cheers. Much love for George McFarland.
that was a good episode of Cheers
Glad to know that you're a fan of the show! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse Pups is Pups
Spanky is one of my favorite characters
Keep your eye on the birdie.He kept popping the photographer in the nose afraid he was going to get shot.
As a kid my parents first introduced us to The Little Rascals in the 80's. I've never stopped loving Spanky and the gang. When I had kids I bought the series on DVD so they could have them in their childhood memories. For the past 30 years I've had a picture of them hanging on my wall with all the rest of my family photos. 💖
I met him a few times before he passed. Really nice man. He loved his family.
It would have been nice if they had mentioned he had married and had a family. Good to know.
"SPANKY" was one of the cutest and most adorable babies and toddlers. He just made you want to squeeze him. As a kid actor, he was a natural ! He was always the main reason I would watch "The Little Rascals."
Beautiful words, thank you for your message for Spanky. What other types of video would you like to see?
@FactsVerse Anything retro that would be hard to get ahold of. I used to watch a lot of "Flash Gordon" with Buster Crabbe when I was like 5 and 6. You don't see much info on the show or him. I do know he was an athlete and Olympic medal swimmer.
I liked him as Spanky, but also liked him as an adult. He seemed very sensible and seemed to retain some of the cuteness he had as a child. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless You and stay safe 🙏 ❤️
Met him in the late 80s. I was a young Actor in Dallas. He came to speak to us and our School, Studio. He was gracious, had some great stories, and helped us to have dreams but also keep it realistic. Appreciate his caring ways, after meeting so many in Hollywood who really couldn't care less.
Glad to know that you had a nice time meeting George! Thank you for sharing your life story. Be safe and have a great weekend 💕
George MacFarland was once quoted as saying about his career, “I started at the top and worked my way down.”
4862cjc: Ha Ha!!! I love it!
sad but true😒😒
😵💤YAWN💤 SO
@@roberttelarket4934 🧔🏿IM RUSSIAN ⬇️
👱🏻♂️ AND IM PLAYING WIT MY LIONEL TRAIN SET 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃
@@forgottenfilmchannel1194 🦶🏻👴🏻🦶🏻WATTS SAD U HAVING NO GIRLFRIEND AND NO JOB? YES DATS VERY SAD ⬇️
🦶🏻👴🏻🦶🏻NOW SMELL MY FEET
Spanky will Always will be remembered!! Still watch him today! 🙌🏻. 20/22. R.I.P. Spanky! ❤️🙏🏻 🤔. And the Gand too! ❤️👍
I’m in my 70’s and every time they’re on I watch them. I started in 1963 when I was a young teen and have seen most shorts at least 1000 times!!! I love them!!!
Alfalfa, Spanky, Darla, Buckwheat made the series!
He escaped the 'Child Actor curse', and actually had a very good life and career, after The Little Rascals. Rest In Peace, George McFarland.
Seems he was a good and happy person .
Looks like John Goodman
Good - I was thinking that he was a smart kid -
I grew up on the little rascals.
George McFarland was a natural. One of the best child stars ever. RIP.
I grew up watching the Little Rascals. Love them! ❤️
Us too! Who is your favorite cast member?
@@FactsVerse
Spanky
Alfalfa
Buckwheat
Darla
Froggy
Miss Crabtree ( June Marlowe )
Jackie Cooper
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Seemed like a really nice and humble guy! Would've loved to meet him. Glad he didn't get caught up in the fast lane that plagues so many other child stars.
Plagues... also to the audience... children neighbors turned into adults...plagued...🤕😓😶...I miss....🍵
I thought he was so cute and precious when he was a little! I loved him! I was just a kid watching The Little Rascals!
my favs with Spanky are when he was small. I agree he was adorable
Glad to know that you're a fan! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse mush and milk episode.
Spanky: don't drink the milk!
Co-star: why?
Spanky: it's spoiled! 🤣
That whole episode was hilarious, l watched it before church this morning! He was just a toddler cracking me up! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Still watch and have a few DVDs. Introduced my grands to them too. Spanky was the spokesperson and the one that turned out most normal. The others had such tragic lives.
Spanky McFarland was the cutest little boy in history.
We absolutely agree! Thank you for your watching our video. Be on the lookout for the next one!
Yes...just loved his cubby lil cheeks!! Such a adorable lil guy!!
Well, at least one of the cutest. In Our Gang, the cutest faces in my book included Spanky, Cotton (Stymie's real life little brother), Scotty and Dickie Moore.
Boy I love chocolate clake...
I had the opportunity to attend an Evening with Spanky event and took my elderly father . It may well have been the highlight of my dad’s final years. Dad had run a theater in the 30s and had shown the “Rascals “ as a pre movie short. Dad got to talk to Spanky and to him it was one of the things he talked about to his dying days. It turned out to be a Priceless gift to him. I loved the Little Rascals and could see myself being the Scottie character.
Rest In Peace Spanky . I hope you and dad are chatting and laughing there in Heaven. mp
He was doing some actual acting - speaking lines - while he was still just a toddler. That's a special kid.
I also recall some crank was claiming to have played Buckwheat and was owed money but George put the kay-bosh on that as he had been friends with the actor who played Buckwheat into adulthood and that man had died.
This was beautiful. I'm glad he had a full life. I'm grateful for the love and laughter he and his gang brought to so many people.
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Hal Roach was inspired to create the little rascals (the series real name was "our gang". It wasn't called little rascals until it went into tv syndication) when he saw a bunch of kids playing.
He was in his office, giving an audition to an over talented, overrehearsed little girl. Roach was bored by her. After the audition was over and the girl and her mother left, Roach looked out his office window.
His movie lot was next door to a lumber yard and his office window overlooked the lumber yard. He saw a group of kids playing and fighting over a 2x4 piece of wood. Those normal every day kids, doing normal kid stuff, held his rapt attention. Before he knew it, a whole half hour had passed.
It made him realize that he can make movies of every day kids doing normal kid things, it would hold the attention of movie audiences as well. The first our gang film was released in 1922 and the rest is history
I've seem some of those silent films, and they were made in silent mode up until 1929. The "special effects" were quite impressive, even for those days! Those kids worked hard just to make it look like they were having fun, which, in the eyes of children, having fun WAS hard work! Love those kids, and may they all Rest In Peace. 😂🤣🧏♂️🙋♀️🤦♂️👩⚕️👩🎓🧑🏫👩⚖️🧑🔧🎥🎬📺😔
He did them dirty
I was at a jukebox and vending machine show in Fort Worth in 1993, and surprisingly, Spanky was signing autographs there. Growing up in the 1950s and watching "Our Gang" on TV, it was an amazing opportunity to meet him. He was selling autographed 8x10 photos and I bought one for myself and one for each of my two younger brothers. He was an insurance salesman at the time. Sadly, Spanky died two weeks later, but it will always be a memorable moment in my life to have met one of my childhood idols.
As a young kid growing up every time I watch them they always made me laugh. Almost 70 now. Thank you very much. I m glad I grew up in the era I did. Just saying
George "Spanky" McFarland's fame spilled over into other arenas including music. The late 1960's pop band, "Spanky and Our Gang", was actually named after George as the lead singer, Elaine McFarlane, had a similar surname, but ended with a different letter (George's name ended with a "d"). She became known as "Elaine Spanky McFarlane" and this led to the naming of the band, "Spanky and Our Gang". Great video, thanks!
Favorite Spanky moment was when his mom took him to get a portrait. The photographer told him to keep his eye on the birdie which was situated on the camera. The birdie fell and he kept staring at the floor. When his mom told him to put his eye on the birdie like the photographer said, he got off the chair, crawled on the floor and put his eye on the birdie on the floor. Too much. I love those shows as a kid. And how
Thank you for sharing your favorite moment of Spanky! Be safe and have a great day 💗
Laurel and Hardy made a cameo appearance in that film, appearing briefly as children that the photographer character once took pictures of. The film itself was called "Wild Poses," I believe.
Both the L&H shorts and the "Little Rascals" movies were made by the Hal Roach Studio.
Yes, "And How!" I remember that scene. Really funny!
“I AM looking at it!”
Always loved Spanky. He was the only one that did not take any crap from the others and give it back in spades. One of my favorites lines was when he was with Scotty trying to control the donkey who needed a bell to calm down. When their one bell, which was a clock broke, he took the bike bell and rang it, calming the donkey. Scotty said "We did it" which prompted Spanky to say "What do you mean "We"!! "
Beautiful memories of the Our Gang Series when first arriving on this wonderful country way back in.'62.♡
Uncle George was my fav yum yum eatem up! That was so funny!!! Thanks for the memories patriot God Bless You sir..
I own the entire Our Gang series on VHS. I along with my friends would watch the shows on UHF Channel 52 in 1973 and 74. We would gather after school every day to tune in. I would encourage today's youngsters to watch these as well. With all of this mental manipulation thru social media devices polluting their young minds, Our Gang would help them see what true childhood innocence really looks like.
He'll always be the best in the Our Gang shorts!! No one could touch him!! He was way beyond his time!! His timing was impeccable!! No child actor ever could touch him not even Shirley Temple!!
I agree
I loved his cameo on Cheers. I love just how he said "Oh yeah." The best delivery I can think of.
Me too
I remember watching The Little Rascals after school in the 70s.
Thank you for sharing your life story! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
I watched during the 80's
I fondly remember these films shown on television when I was a child in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sad audiences today are not offered more wholesome entertainment.
Best Spanky "Our Gang Short" was hands down....Kid from Borneo...his laughter in that show was infectious. My favorite Our Gang players were...Petey, Mary Ann Jackson and Farina.
Love that one!!
Yum yum eat um up!!
I am 65 now and while I came to the States in 69' at the age of 12, The Little Rascals was my first attraction on TV and source of learning english. I cherish those memories. Glad we have re-runs today.
"I'm bug huntin'".....still remember that line!
Spanky was my favorite Little Rascal!
Glad to know that you're a fan of Spanky! Who comes in at second place?
@@FactsVerse Darla
I watched Spanky and the Rascals as a kid in the early 1970s, and an important thing never occurred to me as a kid, as it does now as a grandparent. The clips of him as a little boy remind me of my grandson, and this video brought a tear to my eye, knowing what I know now vs what I knew as a kid. Thank you George McFarland, for all you did. You were cute as hell as a little boy, you acted well and brought humor and fun to a generation and more of kids, and you are much respected. Thank you, sir, and rest in peace.
He was such a cute little boy! RIP 🙏 George. 💕
Spanky was one of my favorites in "The Little Rascals," along with Darla. He was always trying to "impress" her and win her over with his tactics.
🙏 RIP SPANKY 🙏
I've seen many of those "Little Rascals" films and I remember it was Alfalfa who was always trying to impress Darla.
@@michaelpalmieri7335 Really, it was both of them, let's be truthful and not argumentive.
And Alphalfa.
One of our favorites too but which episode appealed to you the most?
I loved the way how Spanky and Scottie act like Laural and Hardy
I grew up watching the little rascals & tried to never miss any of them. We all loved them. Especially Spanky & Buckwheat.
Spanky: don't drink the milk.
Co-star: why?
Spanky: it's spoiled.
Now 56, my siblings and I still chant this while our kids look at us like we're crazy. 🤣
I remember one. Stymie is holding an artichoke. He says, "It may choke Arty, but it won't choke Stymie."
@@ccoop3774 I remembered that one, too! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@ccoop3774 OMG! I just finished watching the don't drink the milk episode! I'm over here dying laughing! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Old Hag: Ah, spoiled nothing. You kids put that milk on your mush and eat it! EHHHHHHHHH!
Favorite Spanky moment was when he punches the Truant Officer in the nose. The look on both their faces were priceless 🤣
I loved Our Gang!
Glad to know that you're a fan of the show! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
He was a very nice man.I met him when i was 14 at a celebrity golf tournament for charity.
He was happy i actually knew who he was.I got a hug for it.And being a gentleman ,he asked first.
I have his autograph .
George was s neighbor of mine in Keller, Texas in the late 70’s. I actually met him when he walked into a garage sale I was having. He was a nice everyday guy.
As a 70's child I loved watching reruns of THE LITTLE RASCALS.. "BUG HUNTING" was always my favorite..
Such a cute baby & boy.
Not one memory,but a childhood with no internet and ten thousand distractions,our lives were simple in the seventies but we enjoyed watching them all!!!!
I remember Spanky came to Detroit to fill in for I believe Johnny Ginger as they were showing a little rascals film they had a camera on Spanky watching the film , he had the biggest smile on his face .
I was on that Spanky kids show in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 50s. It was called _Spanky's Clubhouse._ Wish I still had the beanie they gave the kids.
I grew up watching The Little Rascals !
I loved all of them :)
Thank you for sharing your life story. Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse Spanky :)
I met him once, when he was in his 50s, and told him he hadn't changed a bit. Well, he hadn't! Was delighted to talk to him.
I watched those guys one some of the earliest time it was on TV. I'm 71, now - just another cute little girl is now an old lady - but just watching this stuff you've pulled together gave me a shock - a time-machine time portal. I can't really express that time. but I loved those guys, and bless your heart - to put this together was a work of kindness and a shock in terms of mortal time.
We watched The little rascals DAILY in the early 70's. It was our neighborhood's favorite tv show. I still laugh to this day about the cake making video!! Sit on stove and stir! 😂😂😂❤️
We're happy to know that you're a fan of the Little Rascals! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
I remember a bar in Saint Paul Minnesota (called Spanky's), that stole Spanky's name and photo, and used it for the 'Name of their bar, and their bar 'Logo'. It was there for YEARS. It turned out that 'Spanky' had a friend who lived in Minnesota, he took a picture of the outside of the bar [and sign] and sent it to Spanky himself, and said "look at this, they're using your name and photo". He quickly hired an attorney who sent the owner of the bar a "Cease & Desist Letter" and that was the end of it. The bar changed it's name.
Born in 1970...i grew up on these guys...thank you reruns!!!!🍻
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watched the reruns over n over n over.. always liked the Little Rascals version more than the Original Our Gang...
and like Spanky in his youngest and early years.. Po'hky and Buckwheat were two of my other faves..
*Porky
@@michaelpalmieri7335 If you recall, "Porky" never really pronounced the "R" in his name when he said it.. that was my reference.. it was "Poh'kee" best i can reproduce in spelling..😆
We're happy to know that you're a fan of the show! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse i gotta go with the time Spanky is dressed up as a Roman, for a kids show competition, and he wants to win it for a little girl whose mom is poor and cant afford a dress she wants. "Friends Romans and Countrymen--and he gets zapped by his friends with pea shooters. cuz they are Supposed to sabotage his routine, only NOW< he wants to win, not lose".. that.. is a gem.... 2nd... heck i cant recall all.. the Gang has a band, and its another competition.. at the end,, the guy in the sound booth, surrounded by tubes for the sound machine/radio station (??), after having his hat blown off for the 10th time, just starts smashing ALL THE TUBES.. its hilarious.. but.. nearly all of them were..
My family lived in Tulsa in the 60s and early 70s. I remember my dad saying he'd been approached by Spanky McFarland about some kind of investment opportunity, I think in the late 60s. Whatever it was he passed on it.
My mom served him a beer in Dallas one time. I loved the Our Gang.
Spanky. Adorable little cherub
My favorite was when spanky told "uncle George" (wild man from Borneo) "You wouldn't want to eat me, my Mom says I'm spoiled!"
I liked Spanky in The Little Rascals because he was cute and hilarious along with the rest of the gang. One of my favorite episodes of him is called Bedtime Worries, but I also like some other ones. I am glad that Spanky did not get the Curse of The Little Rascals gang, but he still died young. RIP George "Spanky" McFarland. You are loved and missed everyday!
Glad to know that you're a fan of Spanky! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
I know what you mean about the "curse of the Little Rascals." A lot of the actors from the series had hard lives when they were grown up, and some of them died tragic deaths.
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (I think that's how his last name was spelled) was killed in 1959, in a bar room brawl, if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately, the incident didn't receive much publicity because it occurred on the same day that movie mogul Cecil B. DeMille passed on. Naturally, the latter death got more attention because he was considered one of the greatest movie producers in Hollywood, whereas "Alfalfa" was considered an old "has-been."
His death was later ruled "justifiable homicide."
Billie Thomas, who played "Buckwheat," died from a drug overdose in the 1980s. Ironically, he passed away on the same night that comedian Eddie Murphy began doing his parodies of Buckwheat on "Saturday Night Live." After Murphy had performed his first "Buckwheat" skit, Billie Thomas's son called him up and asked him how he could make fun of his father on the same night he died in such a horrible way. It turned out that Murphy didn't even know that the real Buckwheat was dead.
Being from Texas myself, I was proud of George (Spanky) McFarland. Choo Choo was really funny. I loved seeing him and Carl (Alfalfa together) Fishy Tales is one of my favs. to see both of them in. I got to see Saturday or sometimes after school re-runs of these wonderful classics.
I think you meant "Choo Choo."
@@michaelpalmieri7335 LOL! Yep. That's what I meant.
@@michaeltaylor1603
I see you corrected your error. That's good.
Sounds like a fine and well lived life. What a truly memorable character he played. I feel his legacy is solid as steel.
WELL DONE, SPANKY! We loved you!
“Are you gonna eat me, Uncle George? I don’t think I’ll taste good. Mom says I’m spoiled!”
-Spanky in The Kid From Borneo (1933)
Love that line!
They were ALL adorable. -- and priceless.
I'm a 56 year old man into this very day The Little rascals is my number one all-time favorite television show. I own most of the collections on VHS and on DVD and watch them regularly. In addition to "Spanky" being my nickname given to me over 40 years ago by a close group of friends spanky has always been my second favorite character from the series with my first being Porky & Buckwheat as a duo (much like Laurel and Hardy).
We're happy to know that you're a fan of the show! Thank you for sharing your life story and thoughts. Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse My apologies for being "long winded" without ever answering your question directly. Unfortunately there are so many hilarious moments from various reels that I can't just name one.
BUT I can say I prefer the ones with younger Spanky as well as the ones with Porky & Buckwheat. Once again my apologies for the previous long comment.
I was born in 1959 and the Little rascals Was exactly the way I grew up we were really just like these kids man oh man what great wonderful memories, Little rascals, Popeye the sailor man,Three Stooges,My three sons, Dennis the menace,Leave it to beaver, Beverly Hillbillies,Green Acres, Gilligan's Island,Lost in Space,Sammy Terry from Indiana scared every Hoosier kid in Indiana lol,So many other great shows to many to mention,But what a great wonderful time to grow up,Kids I feel so sorry for them of this today's weird horrible world,Mickey mouse club can't forget that one,In Indiana it was the Popeye and Janie Show,And cowboy Bob cartoon hour I bet you Hoosier kids remember these ,To think those great days are over and today's world it's absolutely heartbreaking.
I loved all of them All such sweet children and very talented
We're happy to know that you're a fan of the show! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
When all of them were playing
I grew up watching the Our Gang/Little Rascals shorts, have always loved them, they've never been equalled. I loved the short, " Spanky", such a funny short with Spanky in the window throwing money to all the neighborhood kids!
When I was in college in early 80s, but I missed him. They rarely had anyone I wanted to see, and I didn't find out til it was too late. Loved the Little Rascals / Our Gang on Sunday after church on Fred Kirby's Little Rascals Show on WBTV in Charlotte.
the 50s and 60s was families of love and closeness,nice cars,nice homes,fun loving families,along with our special movies and My Gang.
I loved Our Gang. Great show and Pete made the show as well as Buckwheat, Well they all were fantastic.
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“I like choclat clake”. I don’t remember the name of that episode but he was so adorable my sister and I still quote that line and laugh. Oh, the good old days. How we loved him!
Haa haaa me too I thought I was the only one that caught that..it was sooo adorable
The name of that episode is...Good eats
Some things are so cute that you never forget. Thanks for providing me with the name of the episode.
We'd always watch the Little Rascals before we walked to school in the mornings. Now I watch them on Tubi! I liked Spanky when he was a toddler/younger kid.
We're happy to know that you love the show. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. If we may ask, which episode did you like the best?
@@FactsVerse anything with Wheezer, and Spanky was so cute when he was just a wee lad.
I liked his conversation with "Uncle George" in the short, The Kid from Borneo...😀
I was lucky to catch Our Gang shorts on streaming channels, etc and they are quite funny, fun, and entertaining. Picking a favorite of the several I watched is impossible because so many were so great. Was his test screening the one where he tries to killing the bugs with a hammer? That's a classic. But there are many others as well. Thanks for sharing!
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It's a bit complicated.
Free Eats was his very first little rascals film. But his second one, "Spanky" where he does his bug hunting thing, they edited in his test footage for that movie.
@@lowbridge7070 good to know! thanks
I love every episode and every character how could u not they were all so cute but my favorite spanky episode is the bug hunting one ..HE had the cutest laugh and voice...God bless them all
You could see Our Gang on television reruns pretty heavily through the mid 80s.
Grew up watching our gang and Raskles( 1970s). Loved toddler Spanky. Even as he got older he had such a great personality. Knowing how child actors were treated then, glad he didn't go off the rails. Unfortunately, Alfalfa didn't fair so well.
Alfalfa died in Vietnam.
No he got shot, over a hunting dog
As a child and even as an adult, you'd have to drag me away, with a bit of difficulty, from the TV when The Little Rascals and Our Gang was on. Oh, I believe, around the late 60's or early 70's, the was a short-lived rock band called "Spanky and Our Gang". Do not recall which variety show if the time on which I saw them on.
Loved every episode what a great show Spanky was great and loved them all. Laurel and Hardy along with Howdy Doody were also favorites of mine.
We're happy to know that you love the show. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. If we may ask, which episode did you like the best?
@@FactsVerse Don’t remember the title but when the wild man from Borneo followed them to get their candy and they thought he was going to eat them. He chased them while saying yum yum eat em up lol it was great!
My friend Debbie's brother had 2 auditions for the 1950's show he didn't get the part; I had met Debbie in elementary school back in 1969 and her mom told me about it. There was a show during the 1970's called Bowling for Dollars that he was on, I don't remember how much he won though.
What do you mean??All of them were great actors. At 80 yrs old, I still watch their re-runs.
In my 70s and I still watch them and never get tired of them!
@@roberttelarket4934 They are adorable and timeless!
We definitely agree! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
@@FactsVerse: Our Gang Follies of 1936 where the supreme voices of the Brian sisters sing the outstanding melody How You Gonna Keep Her Down on the Farm Now That She's Seen Paree.
One of the Brian sisters may still be alive!
OH Boy Oh BOY, "The Little Rascals" What A Classic Watched So Much In The 70's Growing Up REST In PEACE, Mr. George McFarland,✨🎩🎙️🕊️🎷💙💛💙🎥🎞️📺📻✨🎩🎙️🕊️🎷💙💛💙🎥🎞️
I recall seeing this as a child tv show on Saturday mornings.
I could tell it was from another time … bc of the indoor / outdoor sets.
My mama said, she said used to see these on Saturday early shows when the movie houses first open up.
> I knew he was set up to be the star of the show; but I liked Darla & Porkie.
> All the kids were wonderful..
Spanky didn't give whooping cough to Baby Leroy. Leroy was isolated for observation after being exposed to Spanky's whooping cough, and after 10 days was cleared by the doctors. Spanky, on the other hand, went through six weeks of recuperation. Spanky's 90-day suspension was evidently lifted, as the gap in his work schedule wound up being less than 60 days. And this is NOT what caused the series to reduce to 6 films for the 1933-34 season - that decision had been made prior to Spanky's loanout to Paramount. And the guy at 5:35 is not Spanky, but one of his many imposters.
George Spanky McFarland I think was my favourite star of the Our Gang comedies he was so cute as a child and I I'm sure glad he didn't fall into the drug or alcohol abuse of child stars if you read up about all the other child stars in our gang comedies most of them died early in age including Alfalfa when he was involved in a knife fight in a bar Our Gang comedies will always be something to watch even in the future and people will still like it I sure do
He still had his foot in entetainment,he did what he could,had a successful life by all accounts,not bad,really enjoyed Little Rascals/Our Gang growing up!
Favorite episode Dad won't buy Mom a new dress and spanky finds dad's money 💰 Stash killing roaches 🤣
I think you've got one film mixed up with another. The one where Spanky finds the secret panel where his cheapskate father keeps his money was his second film, which was called "Spanky." The one where Spanky's dad (played by a different actor) won't buy his wife (Spanky's mother) a new dress for her birthday was entitled "Birthday Blues." In that one, Spanky's older brother (played by Dickie Moore) decides to find a way to make some money so he can buy the dress for his mother's birthday, so he and his friend, Stymie, decide to bake a cake and put prizes inside it for their friends, who first have to pay to get into the house so they can eat the cake. (Stymie got the idea from the minister of the church he and his family attend) Things don't turn out too well, however, because the other kids don't like the prizes they find in the cake and they start a fight where they're throwing bits and pieces of the cake at each other, messing up Dickie's house in the process. When his dad comes home from work, he chases the kids out of the house. When he finds out that Dickie (who's just returning home with the dress he bought with the money his friends paid) brought the children into the house, he gives the boy a spanking before he can give him a chance to explain everything. When his mom comes home, however, she lets him tell his side of the story, about how he just wanted to raise some cash for her new dress. When dad hears of this, he decides that all will be forgiven. The next day, the now more gentle father takes his wife, now wearing her new dress, and their sons to church.
I have a complete collection of the Little Rascals
My children loved them growing up
We're happy to know that your children loved Little Rascals! Which episode is your favorite?
How adorable❤
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I watched the reruns as a kid back in the 70's. I so enjoyed them.
We're happy to know that you loved the reruns! Which episode is the most memorable for you?
I met Spanky when I was 5. My parents owned a retail store in Northern Oklahoma. Spanky was traveling around as a representative for Philco and stopped in at the store. Daddy brought him home for lunch. Later he was speaking at a college campus where I worked. I was able to speak to him then, too. Nice guy!
He was the cutest little guy!! Those cheeks! Thank you for the informative background. 🕊️🙏❤️
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I watched Our Gang in the fifties and the Tulsa, Ok. Spanky show. Met him in a store later and got his autograph. A very nice man.
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I'm just wondering if there has ever been, in the history of humanity, anyone who has ever watched The Little Rascals that didn't thoroughly enjoy it?
I loved the Little Rascals when I was a kid in the 1970’s. My favorite Spanky episode was “Free Wheeling”.
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I loved the reel with baby Spanky shooting the flies with the pop gun. It showed real life in that era as well as showed the wide split in society, rich to poor.
Reading all the comments on this video, and the love for Spanky and the Gang, makes me think there may yet be hope for mankind. Keep on keepin on y'all, and thank you.