Our Gang (from left: Tommy Bond (1926-2005), US child actor, Sidney Kibrick, US child actor, Scotty Beckett (1929-1968), US child actor, Carl Switzer (1927-1959), US child actor, Darla Hood (1931-1979), US child actress, and George McFarland (1928-1993), US child actor)) playing a cello in a publicity portrait, circa 1935. Later known as ‘The Little Rascals’ the comedy shorts starred Bond as ‘Tommy’, Kibrick as ‘The Woim’, Beckett as ‘Scotty’, Switzer as ‘Alfalfa’, Hood as ‘Darla’, and McFarland as ‘Spanky’. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
The franchise got its start in 1922, featuring more than 41 child actors as regular cast members. Speaking
‘Our Gang’ star Sidney Kibrick dies at 97
Kibrick was just five years old when he began his career as a member of the Little Rascals. He appeared in two dozen films between 1935 and 1939. Speaking with Boomer Magazine in 2023, Sidney revealed he was paid $750 a week.
“Sidney Kibrick also starred in other films, such as the 1938 film Just Around the Corner with Shirley Temple, and Jesse James, starring Tyrone Power, in 1939.
While he was only a child, Sidney Kibrick revealed that they worked countless hours each day, which was incredibly hard work.
“It was a grind making those shorts. We’d have two hours of schooling in the morning and then work anywhere from six to 16 hours until we finished,” he said. “There was a lot of work, no question about it, but our director Gordon Douglas was a terrific guy, and he was really able to get a lot out of each kid.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Hollywood Museum President Donelle Dadigan and original “Our Gang” actor Sidney Kibrick attend a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” classic children’s films at The Hollywood Museum on July 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
When he was 15 and had already been working 10 years in the business, Sidney Kibrick decided to leave fame behind. He struggled to convince his parents to let him quit the business.
Left show business at 15
