Stymie, Darla, Porky, Mom, Alfalfa, Spanky, Unknown, Butch, Santa
Production Notes[]
Length: 30 minutes
Producer: Robert A. King, Romeo Muller, Robert L. Rosen, Fred Wolf
Director: Charles Swenson, Fred Wolf
Editor: Rich Harrison
Writer: Romeo Muller
Released: December 3, 1979
Studio: King World Productions/Muller-Rosen Productions/Murakami Wolf Swenson
Porky, Stymie, Spanky, Darla, Alfalfa
Main Cast[]
- Philip Tanzini - Spanky
- Jimmy Gatherum - Alfalfa
- Randi Kiger - Darla
- Al Jocko Fann - Stymie
- Robby Kiger - Porky
- Frank Welker (unconfirmed) - Pete
Supporting Cast[]
- Jack Somack - Santa
- Darla Hood Granson - Mom
- Stymie Beard - The Butcher (Mr. Klugger)
- Cliff Norton - Angry Man
- Frank Nelson - Sales Clerk
- Melville A. Levin - Delivery Man
- Hal Smith - Uncle Hominy (Alfalfa's Uncle)
- Naomi Lewis - Sales Lady
- Ike Eisenmann - Bully
The Short[]
Plot: Spanky and Porky's mother is alone and working hard to take care of her kid. As the country is in the midst of the Depression (or "Impression" as Spanky calls it), money is tight with very little left over to buy anything nice. When the boys overhear Mom talking on the phone about a Blue Comet, they think she is ordering the Blue Comet train set for them and making their Christmas the best one ever. However, Mom isn't talking about the train but rather a vacuum cleaner. Realizing that she confused her sons, she exchanges a coat she had ordered for the train. When she gets sick and the boys realize the truth, they enlist the help of the gang to raise the money to get the coat back. Meanwhile, two neighborhood bullies steal the train set so now there are no gifts for anyone, and it's up to a rather grouchy Santa Claus to spread cheer to the family.
Quotes:
- "Porky, look! It's gone!" - Spanky
- "How can I look if it's gone?" - Porky
- "Thank you, Mister Conductor." - Alfalfa
- "Conductor? I don't see any trolley cars." - Stymie
Notes/Trivia[]
- Stymie replaces Buckwheat in the gang while the real Stymie voices the neighborhood butcher.
- The Special first aired on NBC on December 3, 1979, appearing most recently on ABC Family in December 2009.
- This was Darla Jean Hood's last role; she passed away nearly six months before the special premiered.
- Despite the fact that this special aired over thirty years after the last short, this could be considered the last "unofficial" Our Gang film in the series since it stars two former Our Gang kids Matthew Beard and Darla Jean Hood in guest voices.
- Darla's appearance in this special resembles Lucy from Peanuts.