Harry Spear
1922 - 2006
School Begins
Robert A. McGowan
Joe Cobb, Jean Darling
One of a handful of currently unavailable Hal Roach/MGM “Our Gang” silent films, School Begins was a series of gags built around the unenviable ritual of returning to school during the first week of September. School begins and some gang members are forging notes from their mother wanting out. Then too-young Wheezer parades by the school with escaped circus seals following him, causing a disturbance.
School Begins
The Smile Wins
Robert F. McGowan
Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon
Farina's mother is very ill and the mortgage is due. He tries to take over her laundry business, but the kids just wreck the clothes. Joe takes pity and devises a scheme to make money: the gang builds their own oil well.
The Smile Wins
The Ol' Gray Hoss
Robert A. McGowan
Charles A. Bachman, Joe Cobb
This story revolves around an old man who feels alone in the world aside from the gang who keeps him company and his old horse. He runs a horse and buggy business, but he has new competition: an auto taxi. The gang helps him to maintain his job by sabotaging the other man's.
The Ol' Gray Hoss
Wiggle Your Ears
Robert F. McGowan
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins, Harry Spear
This is a really strange, but thought provoking film. Here, beloved Mary literally lets Harry Spear kick her behind, spend her money on him, and forces her to push his kiddie car, all so that she could get the occasional joy of watching Harry "Wiggle His Ears." Armchair Freudians and double-entendre fans will quickly get the "joke" here. He quickly dumps Mary for pintsized blonde bombshell Jean Darling. What happens? You'll see.
Wiggle Your Ears
Fair and Muddy
Charles Oelze
Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon
Living in an orphanage, the gang has to deal with Amanda, a child-hating spinster. To receive a bequest from a rich uncle, she must acquire a child. Thinking suspicion, the gang causes all kinds of havoc toward her including a mud battle.
Fair and Muddy
Spook Spoofing
Robert F. McGowan
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins, Joe Cobb
As a joke, several members of the gang convince Farina, who is "brave but superstitious", that he's caused the demise of a young acquaintance and must therefore lay the body (actually still very alive) to rest in the old burying ground, under the watchful eye of "the graveyard witch". The joke backfires spectacularly on the pranksters.
Spook Spoofing
Cat, Dog & Co.
Robert A. McGowan
Joe Cobb, Jean Darling
Farina, Joe, and friends use dogs to power their "roadsters," but following a lesson from the head of the Be Kind to Animals Society, they make it their cause to rescue animals from bad treatment. Joe even manages to find patience for a nagging flea that persists in biting him. Meanwhile, Wheezer, who has been tormenting animals with his games, dreams that the animals have turned the tables on him.
Cat, Dog & Co.
Barnum & Ringling, Inc.
Robert F. McGowan
Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon
The kids decide to put on a circus at the local hotel. Seeing various pets and other domestic animals dressed up like circus animals was very cute--particularly the dachshund dressed as a seal! However, the animals all get loose and terrorize the hotel guests--including a drunk played by Oliver Hardy.
Barnum & Ringling, Inc.
