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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Aug 10, 2013 18:42:10 GMT -5
Although Billy said that his name was 'Malone' (an Irish surname) he sounded as if he was trying to put on a broad Scottish accent, although not very well.
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Post by mtw12055 on Aug 10, 2013 18:48:51 GMT -5
I edited down the movie clip so that it's just Billy's appearance... He's actually in the film twice. First in the bit you edited, and in a second bit (also in part two) where it's revealed that "Jerry" has a twin brother (with Froggy's voice). |
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Aug 10, 2013 19:07:37 GMT -5
No problemo, Froggy and his twin brother...
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Post by scotty1958 on Aug 10, 2013 20:39:56 GMT -5
If you watch the whole movie you'll see that Billy appears four times...
1) His main scene where he is another invader in the apartment, Jerry Malone, speaking in an accent meant to mock the woman occupying the apartment.
2) A gag twin scene where he uses his Froggy voice and says "Twins!"
3) The most realistic voice scene where he is rushing down a hallway and exclaims "Gangway!", in his natural voice.
4) A couple of hallway scenes where he is part of a crowd gathered outside of the apartment where he does not speak.
Not that great of a movie, but worth watching if you're a Billy Laughlin fan.
The very brief "Gangway!" scene with Billy running in the hallway is at about 7:49 in this clip:
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Aug 11, 2013 8:36:33 GMT -5
'Gangway!' video clip and as an animated GIF  |
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Post by lolaxoxo on Aug 20, 2013 12:30:06 GMT -5
This is very interesting. Thanks so much for posting!! Such a sad end for a wonderful man.
If I may ask, how did you contact The Los Angeles County Library? I would like to contact them.
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Post by myhomeo on Aug 20, 2013 16:23:15 GMT -5
Interesting the press reports didn't mention the 'Our Gang' connection. Presumably, it was right after the accident and that's not exactly the first thing his family would have brought up.
It was rather sweet of them to put it on his tombstone, though. It's quite remarkable how the shorts he appeared in are generally considered (though no fault of his own) the series' nadir but the 'Froggy' character's remembered fondly, especially by kids. He was one of the few characters reprised in the 1990's film.
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Post by scotty1958 on Aug 20, 2013 17:29:37 GMT -5
This is very interesting. Thanks so much for posting!! Such a sad end for a wonderful man. If I may ask, how did you contact The Los Angeles County Library? I would like to contact them. I emailed Reference Services, County of Los Angeles Public Library from their website. Just click on the "Contact Us" link at the upper right, and then "Email". I gave them the basic facts about the accident and they sent me the local news articles in a PDF file about three weeks later free of charge. It's good to know the real facts about what happened. Here is the link: Los Angeles Public LibraryTo myhomeo: The "Our Gang" connection was mentioned briefly in one of the articles in the L.A. Times from 9/3/1948. It's the third article down in my first post in this thread. Froggy's story is definitely a touching one with a sad ending. He's one of my favorites. Someday I'd like to visit his grave in person and pay my respects. I'm not sure if it will ever happen, but who knows. If it ever does, it would be his influence that would inspire me to take a cross country trip to see California in person, along with Alfalfa's influence. They both live on in spirit... |
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Post by scotty1958 on Sept 5, 2013 19:41:04 GMT -5
This picture was taken very recently by an Our Gang fan from California who visits Froggy's grave from time to time. This was taken on August 31, 2013, the 65th anniversary of his death. As you can see fans still remember him and leave momentoes on his marker...  |
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Oct 4, 2013 16:22:38 GMT -5
Actually Froggy was 'murdered by a hit and run driver.' Or at least that's what happened according to one YouTube video...
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Post by mtw12055 on Oct 4, 2013 17:00:36 GMT -5
Actually Froggy was 'murdered by a hit and run driver.' Or at least that's what happened according to one YouTube video... I do wish the user that put together this video (and its second part) checked her facts. For instance, when showing a picture of adult Donald Haines in (in part two), she used an image of the wrong Donald Haines.  |
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Post by Hard-boiled Harry on Oct 5, 2013 11:49:31 GMT -5
The law of averages states that she must have got at least one of her supposed 'facts' right but I'm afraid it was lost to me under the avalanche of misinformation.
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Post by mtw12055 on Oct 5, 2013 13:11:59 GMT -5
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Post by scotty1958 on Oct 5, 2013 19:21:34 GMT -5
It's exactly this type of nonsense in that video being spewed about Froggy's death that caused me to research it and find the real facts. Describing it as a "murder" takes it to a new level of nonsense. Sadly, accidents happen every day and inexperienced teenagers mixing in with adult traffic with tragic consequences is nothing new. If anyone wants copies of the 1948 newspaper articles about Billy Laughlin's death just email me at "jsmc1137@gmail.com" and I'll be glad to send you the PDF file that shows how wrong the person who put that video up is.
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Post by ggould1975 on Nov 14, 2013 16:44:19 GMT -5
This is such good news to find out more information on Froggy's death. However it is really sad, as a huge huge huge Froggy fan! He is definetly missed! He was such a true professional as a child actor! He was such a gental soul! I visited his grave back in 2005. Living in Montana im not too far it seems.  Froggy was terrific plain and simple! I will live the rest of my life being a fan of his! and admire him! as with Jackie Condon! Best silent Our Ganger ever!! |
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