Roy Exum: How We Learned To Play

  • Sunday, October 4, 2015
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

A couple of years ago I was reading a fascinating story that asserted the “Little Rascals” taught generations of children how to play with each other. When the comedy show about children in a poor neighborhood originated in 1922, there were just silent movies but in 1929, when the “talkies” were introduced, children and adults alike were mesmerized by the wonderful humor that producer Hal Roach created week after week.

Last month two more members of “Our Gang” died, leaving only five still alive. Child star Dick Moore, who was known was “Dickie” in the hysterical shows, died last Monday, following the death of Jean Darling on Sept. 4. Of course, Jean was the first heart-throb of Alfalfa – much to the chagrin of Spanky -- while Dickie was best friends with “Petie,” the dog with the circle around his eye.

The last show was filmed in 1944 so if you see an episode please realize it is over 70 years old. What hasn’t changed is the humor and the way Roach let the children be themselves. My earliest memories when we were growing up, include Saturday mornings around the TV. The shows of their adventures were hysterical and you had to be real sick to miss one.

The fat kid with the pompadour was the ringleader – Spanky -- but Froggie, Buckwheat, Alfalfa and Stymie were all like members of our family. Really. I remember Porky and Waldo, Chubby and Butch. They were a hoot.

Then there is this: For many years after the show went off the air, historians and the people who make today’s movies and comedy shows tried to put their finger on what made the “Little Rascals” so immortal. You can still see them on some TV stations and finally Leonard Maltin --- who wasn’t born until 1950 – broke the code.

Maltin, who has written a flurry of books about the film industry, delved into the “Little Rascals” and, to his amazement, discovered every child was regarded equally. Back in the ‘30s and ‘40s this was hardly the case in America’s society. But when the kids played in their poor neighborhood, girls were just as important as boys, and the black and white kids adored each other.

Don’t you see? Millions of kids learned to interact with one another by the example Roach instilled and was able to produce so successfully. It is a well-known fact that no child has ever been born a racist or sexist. Somebody has to teach a kid to hate. Not the “Little Rascals,” they were having too much fun.

Watch some of those black-and-white episodes on YouTube and you’ll see exactly what Leonard Matlin discovered.  

For the record, the last remaining “Little Rascals” are Robert “Mickey” Blake (yes, he was later “Baretta), Sidney “Woim” Kibrick, Jerry “Rich Kid” Tucker, Mildred “Millie” Kornman, and Leonard “Percy” Landy. Do the math and you’ll find they are all in the 80s or 90s. What a troupe.

With that said, here are some of the best emails from this week’s Internet offerings:

* * *

WALKING WITH A PREGNANT WIFE

The room was full of pregnant women with their husbands. The instructor said, "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is especially beneficial. It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier.  Just pace yourself, make plenty of stops and try to stay on a soft surface like grass or a path."

"And, Gentlemen, remember - you're in this together. It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her.  In fact, that shared experience would be good for you both."

The room suddenly became very quiet as the men absorbed this information. After a few moments a man, name unknown, at the back of the room, slowly raised his hand. "Yes?" said the Instructor.

"I was just wondering if it would be all right, if she carries a golf bag while we walk?"

Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it? This level of sensitivity simply cannot be taught.

* * *

BRILLIANCE IN THREE PARTS

PART I: 

A.  Back off and let those men who want to marry men, marry men.

B. Allow those women who want to marry women, marry women.

C. Allow those folks who want to abort their babies, abort their babies.

D. In three generations, there will be no Democrats.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Part II:

Democrats historically have had blind eyes to the facts and prefer to dwell in denial and be blindly herded like cattle.  Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It is the poor who habitually elect Democrats ....... notice how poor they still are!

Part III:

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves." -- Abraham Lincoln

"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a closer look at the American Indian." – Henry Ford

“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason. -- Mark Twain

* * *

THE BEST EDITORIAL EVER

You may have heard two members of the Michigan legislature who were caught in a huge sex scandal -- State Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat want their jobs back, despite a torrid extra-marital affair that got both ousted as state lawmakers. Both were married with kids, which made things worse, but apparently shame doesn’t last long if you are a politician.

Several weeks ago, in a joint opinion by The Grand Rapids Press and Kalamazoo Gazette editorial boards, whose newspaper coverage areas include the 80th District, the shortest editorial in the history of journalism appeared. There appeared in both papers just one word – “No.”

On Friday the two were sued by former staff members, alleging they were fired “solely in retaliation” after informing the legislature of “a hostile work environment” which is a violation of Michigan’s “whistle-blower” law.

royexum@aol.com

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