Who Would You Have Liked to See More Of?

[mtw12055]

Not among the series regulars, but the kids who either only appeared occasionally or just barely.

I liked Philip Hurlic in “Feed ‘Em and Weep,” and thought he would have been a welcome addition to the Gang. Not as a replacement for Buckwheat, just another member.

And even though he awkwardly towered over the others, more Bonedust would have always been welcome.

[tboneator64]

In the MGM 'Our Gang' shorts, I would've liked to have seen more of Darryl Hickman and Juanita Quigley. Among the previous Hal Roach 'Our Gang' talkies, more of Wally Albright and Shirley Jean Rickert would have been nice.

CHEERS!

[dchord568]

Great question!

I've said before that I had a childhood crush on Dorothy DeBorba. I know she was a series regular and had a few memorable scenes (with Chubby in "Love Business," her defense of Stymie in "The Pooch"), but in many films she was just sort of along for the ride. I wish they could have found more for her to do.

Along those lines, Breezy Brisbane was a regular too (albeit for a relatively short time). But I'm impressed by his ability to do the smart-aleck bit ("Readin' and Writin') but then also show a kinder, softer side (his "interview" with Spanky in "Free Eats").

For a few closer to the question as posed, I would pick Dickie Jackson, Jackie Lynn Taylor, Dickie DeNeut

[rascalstooge]

Chubby and Dorothy.

[mtw12055]

All great choices!

Hickman might have been suitable replacement for Butch. He was more suave than the scrappy Tommy Bond, which could have been an interesting change of pace. Dickie Jones was another good candidate for the tough kid role.

Farina’s sister Jannie would have made for a good long term addition, though that makes me wonder if Stymie would have ever become a Rascal.

I always wished Bob McGowan had figured out how to use Gene Jackson / Pineapple. The guy had talent, but no one seemed to know what his character should be outside of “Farina’s brother with the crazy hair.” And Sonny Loy / Sing Joy, for that matter.

And yes, Dorothy was criminally underused. She even used to say, “they would always give the boys the best lines.”

[bigshotjones]

Artye Folze!

[RJH]

Going back to the earliest shorts, I would have liked to see more of Peggy Cartwright, and it would have been interesting to see John Hatton as Pat from the first "Our Gang" film continue as a regular gang member.

[mtw12055]

Scooter Lowry. Though there probably wouldn't have been enough room for both him and Harry Spear.

I'm tempted to add Leonard Landy. Why? Well, I can see why he wasn't kept. Objectively speaking, he wasn't necessary.

But Leonard was always a bit of an oddity that made the MGM shorts even stranger. He was the weird, quiet kid that was usually cool enough to hang out with the others. He sort of reminds me of Kenny from 'South Park' (minus being killed off every week).

Speaking of oddities, maybe an occasional Uh-Huh cameo. John Collum kept showing up as an extra (easy to do, since his pop worked at the Roach studio). He didn't need to be a series' regular, but little random cameos every few films might have been fun in that 'weird' sort of way.

And while he's not a kid, I wish someone had figured out how to better use Pete the Pup in the latter-day Roach shorts.