Amazon Commissions Earned

“The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection (Centennial Edition)” is officially coming to Blu-ray Disc on November 15th via ClassicFlix.  This will include all six volumes [previously released] of the classic shorts, for a total of 80 sound short films spanning across a 7-disc set.  These shorts have been restored and you can find some info about that below.

“About the restorations: Each short has been newly scanned from original Hal Roach 35mm film elements. Remastered, uncut and beautifully restored, now you can see The Little Rascals like never before. With restorations so glorious, it will be like watching these iconic shorts for the first time!”

The tech specs include 1080p HD video presentation in the 1.37:1 (4×3 full frame) aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono lossless Mono sound, and each Blu-ray volume [out of six total] will be on BD-50 discs.  The bonus disc will be on a BD-25.  You can now find The Complete Collection Blu-ray set available for preorder over at Amazon as well as directly from the ClassicFix.com website.  Speaking of ClassicFlix’s website, you there can also preorder an exclusive bonus disc found in this set if you have previously purchased volumes 1-6 of their Blu-ray releases.  That “Centennial” bonus disc will include the following extras.

• Newly recorded introduction by Leonard Maltin – The Rascals at 100
• Presentation of the only surviving foreign language shorts in which Our Gang performed:
  • Las Fantasmas (1930, When the Wind Blows performed in Spanish) – Note: Survives fully intact
  • Los Cazadores de Osos (1930, Bear Shooters performed in Spanish) – Note: Only reel 2 is presented here. Image survives for both reels, but only audio survives for reel 2
  • Temps d’Hiver (1930, A Tough Winter performed in French) – Note: Only reel 1 survives
• Three newly restored Our Gang silent shorts:
  • The Big Show (1923)
  • Dogs of War! (1923)
  • Mary, Queen of Tots (1925)
• Good Old Days – The Music of Our Gang featurette
• Then and Now – A Special Tour of Our Gang Locations featurette
• Our Gang Centennial at the Hollywood Museum – Highlights from the opening day gala kicking off the Museum’s exhibit celebrating 100 years of The Little Rascals. Appearances include Leonard Maltin, Richard W. Bann, Maria Roach (Hal’s daughter) and Sidney Kibrick (Woim), the last surviving main player of the Hal Roach era
• Our Gang Reunion – Watch The Gang on “You Asked for It” television show from February 22nd, 1951 featuring Allen “Farina” Hoskins, Johnny Downs, Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb and Jackie Condon. Also appearing is on-set teacher Fern Carter, cameraman Art Lloyd and director Bob McGowan
• A Day in the Life of Spanky and Porky – Follow Spanky and Porky around in Boulder, Colorado the week of April 1st, 1985 as they take the stage, answer questions and sign autographs as guests at the annual “Trivia Bowl” event
• The Little Rascals Jukebox – Listen to your favorite Our Gang tunes
• Image galleries
• Other rarities:
  • Speed-O-Byke theater ad with Spanky
  • In-theater ad announcing in-person appearance by Mary Ann Jackson featuring previously unseen outtake footage
  • Excerpt of mid-1930s screen test for unknown film with Mary Ann Jackson directed by Norman Z. McLeod (no sound)
  • In-theater ad announcing in-person appearance by Norman “Chubby” Chaney
  • Spanky McFarland interviewed by Tommy Bond, Jr. at a plaque commemoration ceremony just outside the old location of Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, Ca.
  • Art Lloyd home movies featuring Spanky and Joe Cobb (no sound)
  • Commercial for MGM Our Gang
  • Audition reel (filmed in the mid-1950s) from short-term, but memorable Our Gang player Jackie Lynn Taylor