''Commencement Day'' is a 1924 short silent

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Robert F. McGowan Robert Francis McGowan (July 11, 1882 – January 27, 1955) was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the ''Our Gang'' short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933. Career Before moving to Los Angeles, ...

. It was the 25th ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' short subject to be released.

Plot

Mickey gets in a fight with another boy over Mary. The parents show up for Commencement Day at school and listen to the kids recite and play their musical instruments. Jackie puts pepper in Joe's saxophone. Mickey loses his frog. Farina falls in a well. While the parents are out rescuing Farina, the kids get in a

food fight A food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which foodstuffs are thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made nor meant to harm others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food th ...

Production notes

When the silent Pathé ''Our Gang'' comedies were syndicated for television as "The Mischief Makers" in 1960, ''Commencement Day'' was retitled ''Little Red Schoolhouse''. This film was also made available for the 16mm home movie market as ''Graduation Day''.

Cast

The Gang

Joe Cobb Joe Frank Cobb (November 7, 1916 – May 21, 2002) was an American child actor, most notable for appearing as the original "fat boy" in the ''Our Gang'' comedies from 1922 to 1929. Early life and career Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on Novemb ...

as Joe * Jackie Condon as Jackie *

Mickey Daniels Richard Daniels Jr. (October 11, 1914 – August 20, 1970) known professionally as Mickey Daniels, was an American actor. Signed by Hal Roach in 1921, he was, along with Joe Cobb, Jackie Condon, Jackie Davis, Mary Kornman, and Ernie Morrison, a ...

as Mickey *

Allen Hoskins Allen Clayton Hoskins (August 9, 1920 – July 26, 1980) was an American child actor, who portrayed the character of Farina in 105 ''Our Gang'' short films from 1922 to 1931. Acting career 1920–1936 ''Our Gang'' Stardom Born in Bosto ...

as Farina *

Mary Kornman Mary Kornman (born Mary Agnes Evans, December 27, 1915 – June 1, 1973) was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the ''Our Gang'' series during the Pathé silent era. ''Our Gang'' She was born as Mary Agnes Evans, and ...

as Mary *

Ernie Morrison Ernest Fredric Morrison (December 20, 1912 – July 24, 1989) was an American child actor, comedian, vaudevillian, and dancer who also performed under the stage-name Sunshine Sammy Morrison. He was the only black member of the ''East Side Kids'' ...

as Sunshine Sammy * Jannie Hoskins as Mango * Dinah the Mule as herself

Additional cast

* Gabe Saienz as Snoozer, the bully *

Andy Samuel Andy Samuel (April 10, 1909 – March 5, 1992) was an American child actor most notable for his appearances in 19 ''Our Gang'' comedies over a three-year period. Career Samuel's film debut in that series was the 1923 short, '' The Big Sho ...

as Andy * George B. French as school teacher * Helen Gilmore as Joe's mother *

Gus Leonard Gus "Pop" Leonard (February 4, 1859 – March 27, 1939) was an American film actor. Biography The French-born actor began his long career on the stage in San Francisco, California, while he was still a child in the 1860s. In later years, he sp ...

as Parent with ear-horn *

Lyle Tayo Lyle Tayo (born Lyle Minnie Shipman; January 19, 1889 – May 2, 1971), aka Lyle Barton, was an American film actress who appeared in more than 50 films between 1921 and 1948, appearing in many short comedies at the Hal Roach Studios, severa ...

as Mary's mother *

Dorothy Vernon Dorothy Vernon (1544 – 24 June 1584), the younger daughter of Sir George Vernon and Margaret ''nee'' Talbois (or Tailboys), was the heiress of Haddon Hall, an English country house in Derbyshire with its origins in the 12th century. She marri ...

as Mickey's mother * Charley Young as Parent

References

External links

* 1924 films American black-and-white films Films directed by Robert F. McGowan Hal Roach Studios short films 1924 comedy films Our Gang films 1924 short films 1920s American films Silent American comedy short films 1920s English-language films English-language comedy short films {{short-silent-comedy-film-stub