Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang [Hardcover]

Ronald Genini (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

This is the autobiography of one of the original Our Gang-Little Rascals featuring Spanky, Buckwheat, Alfalfa, and of course Butch. Tommy Butch Bond takes us on a nostalgic trip to Hollywoods Golden Age. Bond played with many luminaries of that time of glitter and imagination including Eddie Cantor, Laural and Hardy, and Herbert Marshall. He takes us behind the scenes and tells us about movie magic with candor and humor that is both fascinating and heartwarming. From his adventures with Our Gang, to his role Jimmy Olsen in the first Superman Serials, and on through his 64 films, Tommys story will entertain and delight you.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A credo in the film business...Never work with animals, children or Tommy Bond! I say this with love. When we did Five Little Peppers Tommy was already a pro. [Edith Fellows]

Tommy Bond is a great gentleman and true acting talent in the genre of Coogan, Cooper, and Rooney. It was always a pleasure working with this juvenile artist. [George Sidney, Academy Award Winning Director [Our Gang, Annie Get your Gun, Showboat, Pal Joey, Bye Bye Birdie]

Tommy Bond is one of the reasons I fell in love with The Little Rascals. His rendition of Just Friends in Mush and Milk is one of my favorite scenes in the entire history of the series. [Leonard Maltin, co-author The Little Rascals, The Life and Times of Our Gang] -- Publisher Comments

About the Author

TOMMY BOND: Born in 1926 in Dallas, Tommy began his acting career at the age of 5 1/2 in the Hal Roach Our Gang film Spanky in 1932. He went on to appear in 64 films with many of the great stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Tommys career spans the time from early films, to radio and television. He is still performing today. In 1952 he married film starlet Pauline Francis Goebel a.k.a. Polly Darling of The Darling Sisters. They have a son Tommy Jr. who is currently a film producer. Tommy and Polly live in Madera California, but you wont find them home. Much of their time is spent making personal appearances at charity events, Sons of the Desert conventions, and Our Gang reunions. Tommy has been nominated for a star on Hollywood Boulevard, and the beloved character Butch has been recreated in a production of Our Gang by Steven Spielberg-Amblin Productions.

RON GENINI: Ron Genini was born in Oakland California. He wrote Romualdo Pacheco: A California in Two Eras, and Vamp: The Life and Times of Theda Bara, Americas First Star. Mr. Genini has also written articles for American Heritage and The Califonian. He currently resides in Fresno, California with his wife, Roberta. They have three sons.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Morgin Press Inc.; 1st edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963097652
• ISBN-13: 978-0963097651
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Doesn't End When Your Contract's Up, October 13, 2000

By 

James Paris "Tarnmoor" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang (Hardcover)

I was charmed and enthralled by Tommy "Butch" Bond's life story. Frankly, my expectations of show biz autobiographies is not high: Everyone seems to be so intent on blowing his or her own horn. Bond is a refreshing exception.

First of all, I think the Little Rascals walk on water. Hundreds of years from now, some extraterrestial on the Moons of Jupiter with all z's and x's in his (its?) name will enjoy these short films as much as I did when I was growing up. They are universal in their appeal. We still haven't got to the point in our society that a Stymie, a Farina, or a Buckwheat can live next door to a Spanky, an Alfalfa, or a Butch. Hal Roach's Little Rascals were way ahead of their time.

Of course, we all know what happened. MGM bought Our Gang from Roach and trashed the whole concept. It was time to move on and -- like so many child stars -- turn to booze, drugs, or crime. But wait a minute! Butch escapes the cliche and turns to radio, film, and even TV. And he marries the Texas beauty queen and lives happily ever after. Bond has this talent for reinventing himself and going from one positive experience to the other.

Now who would have thought that the one member of the Little Rascals you should have grown up emulating was Butch the bully?

This is a book that is not only well written: It will make you feel good about life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book. Provides great insight into Our Gang!, November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang (Hardcover)

This is an excellent source of information for any fan of the Our Gang/Little Rascals comedies of the 1920's and 30's. Plus, I have been in contact with Tommy "Butch" Bond, who informed me that there will be a limited quantity re-issue of this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best autobiography of the Little Rascals, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang (Hardcover)

The book of Tommy Bond has great insight into the Little Rascals and old Hollywood. It gives you the sense of being there, and gives info that you could get nowhere else for a inside account.