The Terrible Catsafterme

I had no appreciation really for who Peggy Ahern was when I met her at the Hollywood ’80 convention, but was eager to have any of the former-child stars whom I encountered sign my little blue autograph book. Later I found out exactly who Peggy was…one of the short-term leading ladies of the Our Gang series from 1924 to 1927. Over this span of time she only appeared in seven of the silent films. Of utmost distinction was that she signed my autograph page, and then Woim Kibrick signed on the same page right under her as seen here.

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I can’t say that I actually remember meeting Our Gang member Joe Cobb during Hollywood ’80, but I always knew that I did because he signed my little blue autograph book. Now I am doubly certain as my friend Jimmy just sent me a nice shot of Joe Cobb at the Hollywood ’80 convention, with a dopey kid in a red t-shirt standing nearby getting an autograph. I never realized this great photo existed. As you may have guessed, the dopey kid (as seen below) is me. Read the rest of this entry »

My association with George “Spanky” McFarland began on July 31, 1980 when I snuck up behind him to eavesdrop on his interview in Culver City. Later that night, he appeared at the Our Gang reunion, but for some reason I didn’t get his autograph in my book at that time. Having flown in from Texas for the convention, Spanky was at the convention for its entire duration so I was able to get his signature later on – as I recall I got my book signed in the hospitality suite later that night.  Read the rest of this entry »

As an adult, he was featured as an extra in a number of my favorite TV series: Sanford and Son, Newhart, and Picket Fences, for example. As a child, he starred as Isaiah in the Academy Award winning 1931 feature Cimarron. But, most importantly, Eugene Jackson starred in six of the silent Our Gang films in 1924-25. As the third major black actor in the series, he was brought in to play the big brother to “Farina” after “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison had graduated from the series. He was christened as “Pineapple” because of his afro which seemed to stand on end, resembling the tropical fruit.  Read the rest of this entry »

Unfortunately, it has been five years since I have actually been able to see former Our Gang star Dorothy deBorba. Because of health reasons, namely that she requires an oxygen tank, she has been unable to travel from her home in Livermore, California for the last several years. Our association goes way back to this particular day at the Hollywood ’80 convention. I had already met Dorothy earlier that afternoon while she was being interviewed before the Culver City parade. It was there that I plunked myself down between her and Butch Bond to tune into what they were saying. Read the rest of this entry »