Joy Scouts (1939) — Our Gang / MGM
Overview
- Type: One-reel comedy short (~10 minutes)
- Series: Our Gang (180th entry overall)
- Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- Director: Edward Cahn
- Writers: Hal Law, Robert A. McGowan
- Cinematography: Ray June
- Editor: Roy Brickner
- Release Date: June 24, 1939
- Genre: Camping farce, Boy Scout parody
- Language: English
Cast
- Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer as Alfalfa
- George “Spanky” McFarland as Spanky
- Eugene “Porky” Lee as Porky
- Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas as Buckwheat
- Leonard Landy as Leonard
- Robert Blake (credited as Mickey Gubitosi) as Mickey — his Our Gang debut
- Forbes Murray as the Scoutmaster
- Boy Scout Troop 59 of Los Angeles as themselves
Plot Summary
After being told they’re too young to join the official Boy Scouts, the gang decides to form their own troop and head out for a camping adventure. Their enthusiasm quickly turns into disaster: they pitch a tent over a geyser, burn every meal they try to cook, get poison ivy, and are caught in a rainstorm. Eventually, a flood traps them — but real Boy Scouts arrive just in time to rescue them. The short ends with the gang humbled but still proud of their effort.
Style & Legacy
- Marks the first appearance of Mickey Gubitosi, later known as Robert Blake, who would remain a regular until the series ended in 1944
- Also the first Our Gang short directed by Edward Cahn, who would helm many later entries
- Noted for its camping gags, tent-on-geyser stunt, and popcorn pancake joke
- Frequently cited as a lighthearted transition into the MGM era of Our Gang, with more polished production and moral lessons
- A subtle endorsement of the Boy Scouts, contrasting the gang’s chaos with the Scouts’ discipline
Streaming Availability
You can watch Joy Scouts (1939) in full on YouTube:
Watch on YouTube – Full Short Film – Have to buy it to watch it
It may also appear in Our Gang DVD collections or Turner Classic Movies programming.