Post by mtw12055 on Oct 27, 2023 15:52:34 GMT -5
Our own Bob Demoss solved a couple of longstanding mysteries - more specifically the names of the kids who played "Powder-Puff" and "Big Shot."
As some may already know, "Powder-Puff" was the older Black kid that was temporarily used in between Ernie Morrison and Gene (Pineapple) Jackson. He only appeared in The Sun Down Limited and Every Man for Himself.
The Roach studio payroll ledgers from the weeks of those two shorts kept mentioning someone named Kid Miller. These ledgers aren't the easiest texts to read as names are presented in one giant list with no mention of who was working on which production at the studio. However, this 'Kid' kid was typically lumped with the likes of Andy Samuel and George Warde (Sing Joy).
Later, around the weeks of Every Man for Himself, one Fleming Miller starts to appear in the ledgers, again alongside some of the Our Gang supporting players.
And incidentally, neither name appears during any other dates. So, surely that means he's our guy.
"Big Shot" was discovered by accident during a deep dive through newspapers.com. A photograph of Buckwheat Thomas and Big Shot on the set of 1-2-3 Go! was found, with the following text below it:
So, there you have it. Fleming "Kid" Miller played "Powder-Puff" and Edward Lewis played "Big Shot."
But wait, there's more...
Remember that kid who impersonated Fred Astaire in Calling All Kids? No? Yeah, it's not one of my favorite shorts either. But anyway, long thought to perhaps be David Polonsky, a Jan 21, 1943 report in The Pittsburgh Press completely tosses that name out the window:
Outside of his turn as Fred Astaire, Dickie Love appeared in a few 1940s musicals for Universal Pictures, and can be spotted in Spanky and Alfalfa's reunion movie, Johnny Doughboy
Check at more at: theluckycorner.com/
As some may already know, "Powder-Puff" was the older Black kid that was temporarily used in between Ernie Morrison and Gene (Pineapple) Jackson. He only appeared in The Sun Down Limited and Every Man for Himself.
The Roach studio payroll ledgers from the weeks of those two shorts kept mentioning someone named Kid Miller. These ledgers aren't the easiest texts to read as names are presented in one giant list with no mention of who was working on which production at the studio. However, this 'Kid' kid was typically lumped with the likes of Andy Samuel and George Warde (Sing Joy).
Later, around the weeks of Every Man for Himself, one Fleming Miller starts to appear in the ledgers, again alongside some of the Our Gang supporting players.
And incidentally, neither name appears during any other dates. So, surely that means he's our guy.
"Big Shot" was discovered by accident during a deep dive through newspapers.com. A photograph of Buckwheat Thomas and Big Shot on the set of 1-2-3 Go! was found, with the following text below it:
"1-2-3 GO!", an Our Gang comedy emphasizing the importance of careful street crossing as indicated here by "Buckwheat" Thomas scolding of his careless screen brother, young Edward Lewis, will be shown at Loew's tomorrow through July 16 in cooperation with New Rochelle Safety Council's celebration of Child Safety Week beginning Saturday.
So, there you have it. Fleming "Kid" Miller played "Powder-Puff" and Edward Lewis played "Big Shot."
But wait, there's more...
Remember that kid who impersonated Fred Astaire in Calling All Kids? No? Yeah, it's not one of my favorite shorts either. But anyway, long thought to perhaps be David Polonsky, a Jan 21, 1943 report in The Pittsburgh Press completely tosses that name out the window:
With studios going all out for all-star casts, M-G-M has gathered an assemblage of important 'names' for the Our Gang musical, 'Calling All Kids.' The 'stars' and their youthful counterparts include 'Eleanore Powell' - Jackie Horner; 'Fred Astaire' - Dickie Love; 'Judy Garland' - Marlene Kinghorn; 'Carmen Miranda' - Janet Burston; 'Rochester' - Buckwheat Thomas, and 'Virginia O'Brien' - Marlene Mains.
Outside of his turn as Fred Astaire, Dickie Love appeared in a few 1940s musicals for Universal Pictures, and can be spotted in Spanky and Alfalfa's reunion movie, Johnny Doughboy
Check at more at: theluckycorner.com/
