"Bouncing Babies" (1929): Our Gang at Halloween

The Our Gang theatrical shorts, retitled The Little Rascals for rerelease in theatres and on television, were among the most successful theatrical shorts in cinema history. The series of shorts began in 1922 and lasted until 1944 when the final one, "Dancing Romeo," was released. The shorts centred on a gang of neighbourhood children and was known for portraying children materialistically and realistically. The shorts were also unique for the era in showing black and white children interacting as equals.As might be expected of a series of shorts centred in children, the Our Gang shorts would touch upon Halloween from time to time. Among these shorts is "Bouncing Babies" (1929), which takes place on Halloween. In "Bouncing Babies" (1929), Wheezer (Bobby Hutchins) resents his family's new baby. Farina (Allen Hoskins) spins a yarn to Wheezer about exchanging an unwanted baby at the hospital for a goat. Of course, Wheezer believes him and then plots how he can get rid of his unwanted baby…