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1929A Day With Our Gang— Hal Roach / Whitman Publishing
Original 1929 stapled softcover bookletA Day With Our Gang, written byEleanor Lewis Packerand published byWhitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin.
The title page states:
- “The Merry Rascals of Our Gang Appear Exclusively in Hal Roach Comedies”
- Pictures by STAX
- © 1929 Whitman Publishing Company
- Printed in U.S.A.
This 20-page booklet combines a story about the Our Gang children with black-and-white photographs and large, brightly printed color portraits. Featured Gang members includeJoe Cobb, Farina / Allen Hoskins, Harry Spear, Wheezer / Bobby Hutchins, Jean Darling, and Mary Ann Jackson, along withPete the Pup.
The front illustration shows the Gang aboard a studio bus marked“Our Gang Comedies”and“Hal Roach Studios, Culver City.”
The publication was designed so that the large pictures could be removed for display; the title page specifically mentions a line along the binding side of the large pictures to facilitate cutting them out for framing.
Format:Stapled pictorial softcover / wraps
Pages:20 pages including covers
Publisher:Whitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wisconsin
Year:1929
Author:Eleanor Lewis Packer
Pictures:Credited to STAX
Condition
Complete 20-page copy in used vintage condition.
- Approximately7/8 inch has been cut/truncated from the top of the front cover
- Former-owner handwriting on the cover, including“Alvina Steinbach”and“1929”
- Additional handwriting on the first page
- First page has a tear at the top, just to the right of the handwritten name
- Small tear at the bottom of the third page
- Stapled in four places; some oxidation/corrosion is present on the staples
- Corners are bumped
- General age toning/yellowing to the paper
- Some spotting, handling wear and edge wear consistent with age
- Color illustrations remain notably bright
- Please review all photographs carefully for condition and completeness
The top trimming is substantial and clearly visible, so it has been taken into account in the condition description.
Historical Context
Published in 1929, this book dates from the period when Hal Roach’sOur Gangcomedies were making the transition from silent films to synchronized sound and talking pictures. Several children portrayed in the book—including Bobby Hutchins, Mary Ann Jackson, Joe Cobb, Allen “Farina” Hoskins, Jean Darling and Harry Spear—also appeared in the 1929 Our Gang talkieSmall Talk.
An appealing original piece of late-silent/early-sound Hollywood juvenile-film memorabilia with numerous contemporary photographs and full-page color portraits.
