Pete The Pup
Profile[]
Name: Pete
Nick Name: None
Played By: Various
Born: Unknown
Relatives: Pal, Minnie, Pansy (possible family)
Clubs: None
First Short: Olympic Games
Last Short: Party Fever
Character[]
Bio: Pete is the best friend of every little boy or girl. No matter what one thinks of the Staffordshire terrier breed ("pit bull"), Pete is the exception. Whether he's dressed up in sports gear or used to power or pull their conveyences, he is highly protective and ready to jump to the defense of any member of the gang. He seems to be very smart and playful, knowing what is best for the kids. He can also respond "yes" and "no" at times, and whenever he dreads whatever is going to happen, he can pull his front paws up over his head.
Pete turns out to initially be Wheezer's dog shortly after his revelation in Cat, Dog & Co.. Accused of being cruel to animals, Wheezer has a dream that encourages him to love animals, and afterward, Pete becomes his best friend. Sometimes allowed to sleep with Wheezer, this Pete gets accused of killing chickens in Dogs Is Dogs by Spud Bailey in order to cover up for his own dog, Nero, who actually does the crime. Rescued from the pound by Wheezer's aunt, Pete gets a new collar and goes with Wheezer to live with his father.
Pete is the father of several puppies in Pups Is Pups. These pups always run toward the sound of ringing bells, and one of them grows up to be the third Pete (ring over his left eye) that belongs to Stymie. When Stymie gets confused as an orphan for a train ride, he can't stand the thought of Pete being locked up in a cage so mcuh that he releases him and all the other animals present in Choo-Choo!. Although lost to the dog-catcher in The Pooch, Stymie gets him back, but in For Pete's Sake!, he's Wally's dog, hesitantly giving him up to Leonard's father to cover damage to his store. Unwilling to be just a watchdog, Pete destroys the toy store he is supposed to protect and Leonard's father is more than willing to return the dog just to be rid of him.
In Spanky, Pete belongs to Spanky McFarland, watching as Spanky shoots flies and bugs with a pop gun, but he's soon replaced by a fourth Pete (bullseye over right eye). He activates the gang's fire alarm system in Hook And Ladder, helps Spanky babysit the gang's younger siblings in Forgotten Babies, attacks the burglar in Bedtime Worries and brings the fleas along on the gang's camping trip in The First Round-Up. In The Pinch Singer, Pete mans the gong for the Eagles Club to end the bad try-outs for a radio contest. In Roamin' Holiday, he follows Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat and Porky out of town to Jenksville when the four run away from home. The boys use him to try and get free food, but the stunt only delivers dog biscuits.
Quotes: None
Notes/Trivia[]
- The American Kennel Club recognizes the Stafford terrier as a breed in 1935; Pete was allegedly the first member of the breed to be registered.
- Pete I began his career in non-Our Gang shorts, most prominently as 'Tige,' Buster Brown's dog in the Buster Brown film series. The role required a ring to be painted around Pete's eye. In 1927, Hal Roach was in need of a new dog to star in the Our Gang series, as the previous dog could only perform a few tricks. Roach met with Pete's owner, Harry Lucenay, and decided to hire Pete for the series. There was just one exception, Harry had to take the ring off of Pete's eye. Harry informed Hal that the ring was applied with permanent dye; Roach simply said, "What the hell, leave it on."
- There were reportedly more than a dozen dogs to have played Pete in the series. In one short alone, one would be used in close-ups, another for action shots and another one for stills. Furthermore, they used several for promotional appearances around the country at the same time while the real dog was busy appearing in the actual films. This is why in several of the shorts Pete would range from being stocky, younger or more chunky from scene to scene and even have the ring jump from eye to eye in the same short.
- Despite what sources say about the various Petes, there were actually three main Petes in the series. The first Pete debuted in Olympic Games (as 'Minnie'). He was renamed 'Pansy' for a few shorts, before finally settling into the name of 'Pete.' He continued to appear regularly with the series until his death in 1930, after completing A Tough Winter. The second Pete never actually appeared in the series. He appeared in publicity photos for Teacher's Pet. The third Pete debuted as a puppy in Pups Is Pups and made his last appearance in The Pooch. The fourth Pete debuted and Hook And Ladder and continued appearing in the series, making his last onscreen appearance in Party Fever (although he does appear in publicity photos for Aladdin's Lantern).
- As a young man, Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood got to meet Pete III when he was a boy in 1934.
- Following The Lucky Corner, Pete never featured prominently again in another short except a few token cameos and opening photos for appearance's sake.
- It is unknown who actually owns Petey cause sometimes he’s seen as Spanky’s, Wheezer‘s, Joe‘s and Stymie‘s dog.
- Pete also appears in the Oliver and Hardy short, The Stolen Jools, alongside Wheezer, Farina, Stymie, Chubby, Mary Ann, Shirley Jean and Echo. He has made appearances in every iyeration of the Our Gang franchise.
- Pete has the most absences from Our Gang over any of the other characters. He does not appear in Teacher's Pet, Helping Grandma, Free Wheeling, Wild Poses, Honky-Donkey, Shrimps For A Day, Little Papa, Little Sinner, Our Gang Follies Of 1936, Second Childhood, Arbor Day, Two Too Young, Pay As You Exit, Spooky Hooky, General Spanky, Glove Taps, Hearts Are Thumps, Three Smart Guys, Rushin' Ballet, Night 'N' Gales, Fishy Tales, Framing Youth, Mail And Female, Our Gang Follies Of 1938, Canned Fishing, Bear Facts, Three Smart Boys, Came The Brawn, Feed 'Em And Weep, Hide And Shriek and The Little Ranger.
- Pete, Spanky, Alfalfa and Waldo are the only characters to have their names in the title.
- Pete has his name in For Pete's Sake!.