Arbor Day

Released: May 2, 1936
Director: Fred Newmeyer
Episode Length: 16:41 (8/34)
Alfalfa's screen time: 5:51 (15/34) 35% (28/34)
Lines of dialogue spoken by Alfalfa: 15 (28/34)
Songs: "Behold the little woodsmen's shout" and "Trees"
What does this data mean?

Skip episode synopsis and go directly to commentary

Hal Roach Studios publicity photo for "Arbor Day".
See larger image now.

The Green Street Grammar School is putting on an Arbor Day program. The master of ceremonies is Mr. Cass (Maurice Cass), an officious but genial and slightly absent-minded gentleman. Meanwhile, outside, Spanky is planning on playing hooky; he doesn't want to take part in the program. Alfalfa tries to convince Spanky to report to school with him, but the truant officer, Mr. Smithers, shows up and hauls them both off to school.

At the same time, a husband and wife team of midget circus performers (Olive and George Brasno), tired of their day-to-day circus drudgery, switch clothes with two youngsters and escape to the park for the afternoon. Mr. Smithers, having deposited Spanky and Alfalfa back at school, also bring the Brasnos back to school, thinking they are wayward pupils. Despite their protests, they have no choice but to watch the Arbor Day program, featuring the kids in a series of celebratory recitations, dances, and songs. The highlight of the program is Alfalfa's rendition of Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees", put to music (learn more at Alfalfa's Greatest Hits.) Just as the show is about to end, the Brasnos get up on stage and sing a little number: a jaunty tune which sounds a little bit too provocative for the genteel proceedings. Just as Mr. Cass halts their number, the circus owner shows up and explains that the Brasnos are not students, they are his performers. As the circus owner carries away the Brasnos, Mr. Cass fires the overzealous Mr. Smithers, much to the delight of Alfalfa and Spanky.

Alfalfa and Spanky, relaxing on the studio backlot
around the time of "Arbor Day". The two got along
very well off-camera, despite their parents' own
rivalry regarding screen time and billing of their
talented sons.

Commentary
"Arbor Day" is an unpretentious and totally enjoyable outing. While not exactly a laugh-fest, its effectiveness lies in its many subtle vignettes and performances; it is an episode ideal for repeat viewings. Like so many of the most memorable Little Rascals films, its centerpiece is a stage performance, this time a slightly corny but nonetheless charming Arbor Day pageant. It includes elements that in many respects parallel 1930's "Shivering Shakespeare" (an apt shorthand synopsis of "Arbor Day" could be that it is a soft-core, smaller-scale re-imagining of "Shakespeare".) Both films feature a stuffy "master/mistress" of ceremonies (Mr. Cass in "Arbor Day" and Mrs. Funston Evergreen Kennedy in "Shakespeare). Both programs feature kids who are not always quite sure of what they have to do next, and receive help from off-stage prompters. Both have central characters who struggle to memorize a key segment of their dialogue in their respective plays (Chubby writes his dialogue on his toga, Alfalfa agonizes over crib notes prior to the "Arbor Day" program.) Both films feature interlopers who ultimately bring the proceedings to an abrupt end (the pie-throwing "mugs" in "Shakespeare", and little people George and Olive Brasno whose brassy vaudevillian number gets them chased off the stage by Mr. Cass.) And, most important of all, both films are very good.

In no other Little Rascals appearance is Alfalfa more obedient and well-behaved as in "Arbor Day". This is not the rapscallion Alfalfa of "Sprucin' Up", or the overconfident Alfalfa of "Came the Brawn". Early on in "Arbor Day", he is seen earnestly and quietly memorizing the "Behold the little woodsman's shout" verse he is due to deliver in the program. When he happens upon Spanky trying to evade the truant officer, Alfalfa gently scolds Spanky and implores him to reconsider and report to school. When Spanky resists the idea, Alfalfa asks him innocently if Spanky wouldn't consider going if for no other reason than to hear Alfalfa's own scheduled recital which, he tells Spanky, Miss Lawrence says he "puts in his whole soul".

And when the duo is finally collected by truant officer Mr. Smithers and gently nudged in the direction of the school, Alfalfa asks Smithers, "You're going to see our show, aren't you?"

Collectible figurine depicting
Spanky in his woodsman
costume in "Arbor Day".

Once the show begins, we see the students perform a variety of different skits and fairly intricate dance numbers. The kids compensate for their lack of polish by the obvious effort and care they have put into the project. Even Spanky, who earlier wanted nothing to do with the whole business, sucks it up and bravely performs quite nicely, despite stumbling a bit in his woodsman duet with Alfalfa. In keeping with this quieter, more responsible Alfalfa, he provides a whispered course-correcting prompt to his pal: "You're supposed to say 'why not' ".

Hal Roach Studios publicity poster for "Arbor Day".
Note Spanky gets sole billing.

Darla is especially cute in her brief "Mother Nature" role, and Buckwheat has a classic moment when he forgets his line and is helped by his mother (future Academy Award™ winner Hattie McDaniel). George and Olive Brasno turn in another enjoyable performance as sideshow performers entangled in a case of mistaken identity, just as they were in the previous year's "Shrimps For a Day". And Kathryn Sheldon is fine in her small role as prim, nervous off-stage talent coordinator, a role she would later repeat to even greater effect in "Rushin' Ballet". Also significant is our very first look at the lovely Rosina Lawrence, who would, beginning in the subsequent Little Rascals season, appear six times as the kids' teacher, Miss Lawrence (sometimes she would also be officially billed as "Miss Jones".)


Darla Hood, ca. "Arbor Day"

But the real scene-stealer is the memorable performance of Maurice Cass. Born in what is now Lithuania in 1884, Cass made a career of playing conductors, professors, and other similar characters requiring his special brand of genial, slightly absent-minded officiousness. It would have been nice to have seen more of Cass in other Little Rascals films.

"Arbor Day", with its impressive production values, finely nuanced performances, and, of course, our hero's immortal rendition of "Trees", earns from 4alfalfa.com

5 cowlicks (out of a possible 5)

Return to "Episode Commentary" main page

Home   •   Episode Commentary   •   An Alfalfa Appreciation
    Alfalfaddendum   •  Alfalfa's Greatest Hits
The Froggy Files   •   Alfography   •   Alfalfa Nation  •  Censored!!
Rascology   •  Dear Alfalfa   •   Alfalfalinks
News/Updates  •   Contact Us

Back to top