| Radio Bugs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Cyril Endfield |
| Written by | Hal Law Robert A. McGowan |
| Starring | Billy Laughlin Bobby Blake Janet Burston Billie Thomas |
| Cinematography | Walter Lundin |
| Edited by | John D. Faure |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 10:50 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $22,121 [1] |
Radio Bugs is a 1944 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. [2] It was the 218th Our Gang short to be released. [3]
Froggy and his parents enjoy a Red Skelton USO performance over the radio. Learning from his father that comedians make a lot of money, Froggy decides that he and the gang should become radio comedians. They buy a joke book from a local used bookstore, and crash the lobby of a local dentists' office looking for a sponsor. The gang's horrible jokes and worse singing cause the waiting dental patients pain and distress, leading to their being thrown off the premises.
Returning to the bookstore to look for another joke book, one of the bookstore patrons, a ham actor, convinces the kids to go into Shakespearean drama instead of comedy. Donning appropriate costumes, the gang attempts to audition their "sad and tragic" Shakespearean radio act for another potential sponsor, a funeral home, but the triplet owners of the company fall over themselves laughing at the gang's dramatic acting.
On their way home, the crestfallen kids happen upon the host of the Cantfall Cake Hourradio show, who is interviewing passersby on the street. Amused by the children's costumes, he decides to ask the kids his interview question for the day: "what do you think is the crying need of radio today?" The gang's reply: "a sponsor!"
Radio Bugs was the third-to-last Our Gang shorts produced. It marks the directorial debut Cyril Endfield. The three Endfield-directed shorts — Radio Bugs, Dancing Romeo and Tale of a Dog — were all shot in late 1943, and released within two weeks of each other in April 1944. As with several other Our Gang films of this period, Radio Bugs lost money upon its original theatrical release. According to financial data prepared by MGM in 1956, Radio Bugs cost $22,121 to produce, but lost $4,759 at the box office. [1]
The real Red Skelton provides the voiceover for the radio show Froggy's family enjoys during the first scenes of the film. One of the bit players in this short is Mickey Rooney's father Joe Yule, who portrays one of the pained dental patients.
The following is a complete list of the 220 Our Gang short films produced by Hal Roach Studios and/or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer between 1922 and 1944, numbered by order of release along with production order.
Dancing Romeo is a 1944 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. Produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 220th and final Our Gang short to be released.
Our Gang is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the producer of the Laurel and Hardy films, Our Gang shorts were produced from 1922 to 1944, spanning the silent film and early sound film periods of American cinema. Our Gang is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively natural way; Roach and original director Robert F. McGowan worked to film the unaffected, raw nuances apparent in regular children, rather than have them imitate adult acting styles. The series also broke new ground by portraying white and black children interacting as equals during the Jim Crow era of racial segregation in the United States.
Family Troubles is a one-reel comedy short subject and is an episode of the Our Gang series. It was released to theatres on April 3, 1943, produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the 212th Our Gang short to be released.
Waldo's Last Stand is a 1940 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 193rd Our Gang short to be released.
Baby Blues is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 196th Our Gang short to be released.
Robot Wrecks is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 200th Our Gang short to be released.
Helping Hands is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 201st Our Gang short to be released.
Wedding Worries is a 1941 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 202nd Our Gang short to be released.
Melodies Old and New is a 1942 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 203rd Our Gang short to be released.
Going to Press is a 1942 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 204th Our Gang short to be released.
Surprised Parties is a 1942 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn and starring George McFarland, Billie Thomas, Mickey Gubitosi, Billy Laughlin, and Janet Burston. It was the 206th Our Gang short to be released.
Rover's Big Chance is a 1942 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 208th Our Gang short to be released.
Mighty Lak a Goat is a 1942 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 209th Our Gang short to be released. The title is a reference to the 1901 song, "Mighty Lak' a Rose".
Benjamin Franklin, Jr. is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 211th Our Gang short to be released.
Election Daze is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 213th Our Gang short to be released.
Calling All Kids is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Sam Baerwitz. It was the 214th Our Gang short to be released.
Little Miss Pinkerton is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Herbert Glazer. It was the 216th Our Gang short to be released.
Three Smart Guys is a 1943 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn. It was the 217th Our Gang short to be released.
Tale of a Dog is a 1944 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Cyril Endfield. It was the 219th Our Gang short to be released, and the penultimate film in the series. Tale of a Dog was sold to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer not as an Our Gang comedy but as part of its MGM Miniatures variety series.
