MegoMonk
Oct 6, '07, 9:46 AM
Besides the Waltons, it seems like Mego's Our Gang line gete the least attention on the boards here. I am a huge fan of the Our Gang/Little Rascals. Here are a few facts/questions I have noted about the Mego OG figures.
First, when Mego licensed the rights to make these figures, they would have licensed them from MGM, not Hal Roach studios. The reason I can tell this is because of Mickey Gubitosi(Robert Blake). The 1st 169 Our Gang shorts were produced by Roach between 1923 and 1938. In 1938 he sold the Our Gang production, including all of the actors contracts and the rights to the Our Gang name to MGM. This did not include Gubitosi/Blake, who was not hired until a year later. To most Our Gang/Little Rascals fans, the first appearance of the Mickey character was the jump the shark moment. Roach never would have hired him.
Another question is why they did not make a Butch figure. I guess nobody but Neal Kublan would know if Mego ever considered a Butch figure. There could have been legal problems if they did produce one. Tommy "butch" Bond originally appeared in the early 30's a a character named Tommy. He was let go after 2 years. In the late 30's he was brought back to play Butch. However, as Butch he worked on a per picture basis, and was not under contract. He claimed that because of this, that he owned the rights to his own likeness. He warned MGM a number of times not to license his image. Eventually he sued, and won a settlement from MGM.
Lastly, some trivia. The six actors/characters that Mego did produce only appeared together in 2 Our Gang shorts, 1939's "Joy scouts" and "Auto Antics". By 1939, Porky had grown taller than Spanky, despite the fact he was 5 years younger. MGM decided to let him go, and let Gubitosi/Blake take his spot in the Gang.
Kevin
First, when Mego licensed the rights to make these figures, they would have licensed them from MGM, not Hal Roach studios. The reason I can tell this is because of Mickey Gubitosi(Robert Blake). The 1st 169 Our Gang shorts were produced by Roach between 1923 and 1938. In 1938 he sold the Our Gang production, including all of the actors contracts and the rights to the Our Gang name to MGM. This did not include Gubitosi/Blake, who was not hired until a year later. To most Our Gang/Little Rascals fans, the first appearance of the Mickey character was the jump the shark moment. Roach never would have hired him.
Another question is why they did not make a Butch figure. I guess nobody but Neal Kublan would know if Mego ever considered a Butch figure. There could have been legal problems if they did produce one. Tommy "butch" Bond originally appeared in the early 30's a a character named Tommy. He was let go after 2 years. In the late 30's he was brought back to play Butch. However, as Butch he worked on a per picture basis, and was not under contract. He claimed that because of this, that he owned the rights to his own likeness. He warned MGM a number of times not to license his image. Eventually he sued, and won a settlement from MGM.
Lastly, some trivia. The six actors/characters that Mego did produce only appeared together in 2 Our Gang shorts, 1939's "Joy scouts" and "Auto Antics". By 1939, Porky had grown taller than Spanky, despite the fact he was 5 years younger. MGM decided to let him go, and let Gubitosi/Blake take his spot in the Gang.
Kevin