Series: Our Gang @ MGM Director: Edward Cahn Producer: Jack Chertok, Richard Goldstone Screenplay: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan Photography: Jackson Rose Editor: Albert Akst Art director: Richard Duce Stars: Robert Blake, Darla Hood, George McFarland, Carl Switzer, Billy Laughlin, Billie Thomas, Leonard Landy, Darwood Kaye Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released: 05 October 1940 Length: 1 reel Production No.: 2686 Filming dates: April 22-25, 1940 Rating: 2/10

Waldo's Last Stand

Available on DVD:

Waldo is selling fresh lemonade when the gang walk up to him and his stand. They each offer their opinion on his product, none of them being overly positive. So they propose to spruce up their barn and advertise the lemonade at two cents a pop. Their first potential customer - Froggy walks in and sits down but he doesn't want a drink. Spanky, posing as the waiter introduces a musical band of kids as a group of tapdancers led by Darla do a routine for him. Okay so that's the first half of the film in its entirety! After the tapdancers are done Spanky repeats his offer of lemonade to a miserable-looking Froggy who again refuses. Mickey asks for lemonade on account that eating salted crackers has made him thirsty. This gives Spanky the idea to encourage others to do the same so that they will buy the drink. Spanky offers Froggy some free crackers as Alfalfa and co. start singing to him. Froggy stuffs cracker and after cracker into his mouth as he (and us) have to endure the awful melodic tones of Alfalfa singing not one, but TWO songs. Still nothing. Another dance number, with six girls and six boys as a heated lamp is placed under Froggy's chair in order to make him hot and thirsty. Nope! So Spanky asks why Froggy doesn't want any lemonade and he tells him it's because he doesn't have any money. More kids join in on the stage before finally everyone leaves. Spanky finally understands why nobody came to see their show... it's because every kid in town was in the show. What a crock.

Favourite bit The tap dance sequence from the girls is about the only scene that stands out - and that is not saying much!

Trivia • Film #194 in the series. • As of 2020 the copyright has not been renewed on this film. • Release number C-292. My opinion • Oh my dear god. I'm traumatised.

	Robert Blake Mickey
	Darla Hood Darla
	George McFarland Spanky
	Carl Switzer Alfalfa
	Billie Thomas Buckwheat
	Leonard Landy Leonard
	Darwood Kaye Waldo
	Billy Laughlin Froggy
	Bobby Somers Kid with record player
	Ned Norman Piano player
	Kay Tapscott Lead dancer
	Helen Guthrie Tap dancer
	Patricia Wheeler Tap dancer
	Rae-Nell Laskey Tap dancer
	Lavonne Battle Tap dancer
	Loree Lee Foxx Tap dancer
	Shirley Jean Doble Tap dancer / Florodora dancer
	Donna Jean Edmondson Tap dancer
	Janet Burston Jeanette
	Clyde Willson Clyde
	Patsy Irish Florodora dancer
	Maretta Light Florodora dancer
	Betty Jean Striegler Florodora dancer
	Jacqueline Krenk Tap dancer / Florodora dancer
	Patsy Anne Thompson Floradora dancer
	Mary Ann Such Singer

CREDITS (click image to enlarge)

POSTER (click any image to enlarge)

THE TAP DANCERS (click image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: The Little Rascals: The Life And Times Of Our Gang by Leonard Maltin & Richard W. Bann (book) Robert Peterson (identification of the 8 tap dancers) Steve Wright (identification of Janet Burston) Drina Mohacsi (help; identification of Betty Jean Striegler, Mary Ann Such, Jacqueline Krenk, Patsy Ann Thompson, Patsy Irish) This page was last updated on: 19 August 2022