Arbor Day is a 1936 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer. It was the 145th Our Gang short to be released.
Contents
Plot
Spanky attempts to hide from the truant officer and avoid going to school, where he is being forced to participate in the Green Street Grammar School's annual Arbor Day show. Alfalfa tries to talk him out of his fears, but truant officer Smithers happens along to personally usher both children to school himself.
Meanwhile, a husband and wife dwarf pair (George and Olive Brasno) walk out on their circus sideshow jobs. They disguise themselves as children to enjoy a day about town, but Smithers mistakes them for actual children and takes them to school. At school, the kids trudge through their Arbor Day recitals and songs (Alfalfa contributes a squeaky rendition of Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" set to music by Oscar Rasbach.) When the dwarfs-in-disguise offer to join in the show, they contribute a shimmy routine which shocks the entire audience of faculty and parents. The circus proprietor turns up to apprehend the two dwarfs, who, as they are carried away back to the circus, call out to the recital audience "Come over and see a good show sometime!" Principal Cass then informs Smithers he's fired, to Spanky and Alfala's delight.
Cast
The Gang
Darla Hood as Darla
George McFarland as Spanky
Carl Switzer as Alfalfa
Billie Thomas as Buckwheat
Additional cast
Daniel Boone - Brown-haired boy in pageant
Gloria Brown as Ballet dancer
Betsy Gay as Ballet dancer
George Brasno as Man Midget
Olive Brasno as Woman Midget
Maurice Cass as Mr. Cass
George Guhl as Truant Officer Smithers
Rosina Lawrence as Miss Lawrence
Hattie McDaniel as Buckwheat's mother
Dick Rush as Murphy, the side show barker
Kathryn Sheldon as Miss Argyle
May Wallace as Autograph Seeker
John Collum as Classroom extra
Jack Egger as Classroom extra
Bobby Dunn as Crowd Extra
Rolfe Sedan as Crowd Extra