Another co-star says that Alfie put an open switchblade in his pocket and tricked Darla into putting her hand in his pocket on the pretense that he had a ring for her from a Crackerjack box. The police charged a homeless man that Smith had befriended with his murder, after he used Smiths credit card and pawned his possessions. Here he is singing a love song while soap bubbles came out of his mouth, which was presumably theAvatarof its day: Switzer ended up dying in, well, one of the worst ways imaginable. Switzer then forced Stiltz into a closet, despite Stiltz having gotten his hands back on the gun. The pair allegedly arrived drunk at Stiltzs home in Mission Hills to collect the money Stiltz owed him. Switzers difficult reputation and his typecasting as Alfalfa made it difficult for him to find quality work. He followed up on the ban through his Instagram stating: "The truth will always be unpopular. Stiltz opened the door and Alfalfa said, "I want my fifty bucks and I want it now!" (Photo Credit: Robert F. McGowan/ Wikimedia Commons). THE TRAGIC 1959 DEATH OF THE LITTLE RASCALS' CARL 'ALFALFA' SWITZER By AARON HOMER History - Science As a child, the Illinois-born Carl Switzer stopped by the Hal Roach Studios while on vacation with his family in Southern California, and he soon was playing the lovable but dorky Alfalfa in the "Our Gang"/"Little Rascals" shorts. The rear projection system and the lights (with a thousand watts per bulb) were taking a long time to set up, so Alfie decided to use his time by going behind the screen and peeing on the bulbs. Supa Fluffy - Cute Animals & Pets. ", If you watch closely, you'll spot him doing a cameo in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and White Christmas (1954), both classics. Sometime in late 1958 or early 1959, Switzer agreed to train a hunting dog for Moses Stiltz but the dog ran off, and either Stiltz or Switzer offered a reward for the return of the lost animal. Infinite1UP - Video Games Carl Alfalfa Switzer was perhaps the most famous little rascal of the entire gang. One day, in 1934, while the family was on vacation touring Hollywood and the Hal Roach Studios, the kids performed an impromptu musical number in the studio cafe. The killing was held to be a justifiable homicide. If you would like to support me on Patreon please visit https://www.patreon.com/scottontapeFollow my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/scottontapeIf you would like to help support my travels and films you can PayPal me at https://www.paypal.me/scottontape99Join my Facebook group Scottontape#truecrime #alfalfa #ourgang Petes Channel - https://youtube.com/@3282pmCarl Switzer was born in Paris, Illinois in 1927. He never understood why audiences laughed when he sang his off-key tunes. In addition to acting, Switzer bred hunting dogs and guided hunting expeditions. Switzer had been training a hunting dog for a Moses Samuel Stiltz. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons). CLEVERJOURNEYS AMERICAN CRIME CHRONICLES SERIES. By the end of the year, Alfalfa was one of the main characters while Harolds Slim and Deadpan faded into the background. The Little Rascals, which debuted on television in 1955, introduced a band of ragtag children to the world. These black-and-white films enjoyed a whole new life in television in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and even now the classic shorts are seen by countless new generations on video and DVD (Image left: Wikipedia)Producer Hal Roach (who also produced the classic Laurel and Hardy films) produced dozens of Little Rascals and Our Gang comedy shorts throughout the depression years of the 1930s. (His assailant was never identified.). Harold was eight years old, and Alfalfa was six. Stilltz then grabbed a gun from the dresser. When the door opened, Switzer flashed a fake police badge and loudly yelled through the open door at Stiltz to let him in.Once inside, Stiltz and Switzer became involved into a heated argument. This all led to his eventual death in 1959 at the age of 31. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. He continued to appear in movies with various supporting roles, including I Love You Again, Going My Way, Courage of Lassie, and Its a Wonderful Life and starred in the John Wayne film Island in the Sky where he coined the phrase Whatevers customary, about the only line he spoke throughout the film, but one he repeated several times in it. Three stories have come forth about the shooting. I do not use any communications from emails in my writings or site. His older brother, Harold Switzer, was also in the original show. Our Gang was an American series of comedy short films that revolved around a group of ragtag children and their adventures. then he took the combined wads and put them inside the man's camera.According to other kids in the Our Gang cast: "Alfie would not pay attention to his school lessons in Mrs. Fern carter's class. There was also apparently a threat of violence from Switzer which prompted Stiltz to reach for the gun, to which both men struggled to gain control of. In 2013, Hall converted to Traditionalist Catholicism; later leaving Hollywood in 2020. George Robert Philips McFarland (October 2, 1928 - June 30, 1993) [6] was an American actor most famous for starring as a child as Spanky in the Our Gang series of short-subject comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. Since the Alfalfa gig obviously didn't last, Switzer fell on some pretty hard times as an adult even when theOur Gangcomedies were turned into the popular TV showThe Little Rascals, things didnt improve sinceroyalties werent a thing. TRAGIC DEATH Prior to a hunting guide job, Switzer had borrowed a hunting dog from Moses "Bud" Stiltz. His death went virtually unnoticed in the media, as Switzer died on the same day as the famous movie director, Cecil B. DeMille. A shot was fired but neither man was hit. Here are two photos of Alfalfa with Elizabeth Taylor in Theres One Born Every Minute: Alfalfa sings Im in the Mood for Love to Darla: COPYRIGHT 2023 EVE OUT OF THE GARDEN, DEILA TAYLOR, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, https://www.deilataylor.com/privacy-policy/. Prior to a hunting guide job, Switzer had borrowed a hunting dog from Moses Bud Stiltz. But he still had to make a living while he stayed involved in Hollywood. After an extensive search, his body was found on October 5, 2002, in a desert near Las Vegas. Alfalfa briefly gained possession of the gun, but Stiltz wrestled it back. Harold Switzer (left) and his brother Carl Switzer (right) (Photo Credit: Josemalaga/ Wikimedia Commons). However, Carl developed a reputation for being abrasive and difficult on the set. Dont miss out! -- Pictures of Bug Hall, the actor who payed Alfalfa in the 1994 film version of "The Little Rascals," went viral earlier this week, and the actor has taken on a very . What Happened To The Original Cast of The Little Rascals - DoYouRemember? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The dog was lost and Switzer offered a $35 reward for its return. Corrigan said he spotted a closed penknife at Switzers side which he presumed fell out of his pocket or his hand. THE TRAGIC 1959 DEATH OF THE LITTLE RASCALS' CARL 'ALFALFA - Grunge []. Marc Hoover: Carl Switzer, childhood star's death In the year 2000, a new witness, Tom Corrigan, came forward to testify. There he met and married Diane Collingwood, the heiress of grain elevator empire Collingwood Grain. Since then, he has continued to appear in films as a teenager and young adult. Even though Stiltz had gotten his hands on the gun, Switzer drew a hunting knife on Stiltz and yelled that he was going to kill him. Bug Hall - Wikipedia Photo Credit He's buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Homes & Hues - Home design, decor and gadgets The rest of his very short life emphasizes just that. In all likelihood, he was murdered, according to eyewitnesses, but the murderer said it was self-defense and got away with it. The lights exploded and filled the studio with a tremendous stench. Norman Chubby Chaney, circa 1930. His customers included, among others, Roy Rogers and Henry Fonda. At 7:00 pm that evening, families gathered in front of their televisions to watch one of the programs that night. Stiltz retreated to his bedroom and returned holding a .38-caliber revolver, but Switzer immediately grabbed the gun away from him, resulting in a shot being fired that hit the ceiling. Everyone had to be taken off the set as the crew and director fixed the bulbs and cleaned up the mess Alfalfa created that day." The success of The Little Rascals was great, but short-lived. 'The Little Rascals': The Life and Sad Death of Pete the Pup Please do not email me with private information. Carl Alfalfa Switzer, circa 1938. Alfalfa and Spanky From 'The Little Rascals' Remake Movie Reunite 20 He had some other roles in films a short cameo in the Christmas film, Its a Wonderful Life as the boyfriend/date of Mary Hatch: He also got a short cameo as a Hebrew slave in The Ten Commandments. Here he is, on the left, in the Roy Rogers Show on Jan. 27, 1952, seven years before his death: Carl Switzer (Alfalfa) was shot and killed at the age of 31. [1] Following Rascals, Hall appeared in John Landis's The Stupids and the soccer comedy The Big Green. Viewers of The Little Rascals might have been watching one of the off-tune singing of the star of The Little Rascals, Carl ALfalfa Switzer. Barbara Newland. There are a lot of famous movie roles that are widely considered to becursed, from Superman toTerminators John Connor to any and all characters that were played by Charlie Sheen. [4][5][bettersourceneeded], In June 2020, Bug Hall was arrested for inhaling an air duster, which a police investigation ruled as an attempted alcohol poisoning. Pop Culturista - Pop Culture It had been found by crime scene investigators under his body, but with no blade exposed. Whatever Happened to Spanky from 'The Little Rascals'? - DoYouRemember? Corrigan recalled that his stepfather, Bud Stiltz, lied in his account of the event to the authorities. Carl Dean Switzer (August 7, 1927 [1] - January 21, 1959) was an American singer, child actor, dog breeder, and guide. Dickie Moore and Pete the pup in an Our Gang scene, circa 1932. According to co-star Darla Hood, "Alfie once put fish hooks in Spanky's back pockets and poor Spanky had to have stitches placed on his tush. For generations, Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Darla, Porky and friends have charmed audiences as "The Little Rascals," our "Our Gang" as they were originally known. He agreed but was never called. He became America's most loveable nerd. Unfortunately, the dog ran away during the hunting trip, urging Switzer to put out a $50 reward for its return. The television show Glee has recently been dubbed as cursed because of the passing of actress Naya Rivera, Mark Salling (and the subsequent charges against him), and Cory Monteith. Piott allegedly struck Stiltz in the head with a glass-domed clock, which caused him to bleed from his left eye. Tragic Details About The Little Rascals - Grunge During the inquest regarding Switzers death, it was revealed that what was originally reported as a hunting knife was in fact merely a penknife. When the dog was lost, Switzer offered a $50 reward for the dogs return. Robert Hutchins as Wheezer, circa 1930. She typically played the love interest of Butch or Alfalfa. The coroner's jury ruled the death as a justifiable homicide. Your email address will not be published. Several generations grew up watching these funny, talented kids in dozens of short subjects in the 1930s. Born in Paris, Illinois, both boys had musical talent. Switzer and a friend, photographer Jack Piott, went to the Stiltz home in Mission Hills to demand payment. In the studio caf, six-year-old Carl and his eight-year-old brother, Harold, performed an impromptu song-and-dance number. He and five others in the cast of The Little Rascals won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Youth Ensemble in a Motion Picture. We bring you the neatest, weirdest, and It used to drive him crazy.". Piott said a brief struggle ensued and Stiltz brandished a gun and shot Switzer, who was unarmed at the time, in the groin. [7][8], Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Alfalfa from "The Little Rascals" Actor, Bug Hall, Was Banned from Twitter for Pushing His Dangerous "Parenting Methods", "Kid Who Played Alfalfa Now Actual President of He-Man Woman Haters Club - Wonkette", "Actor Brandon "Bug" Hall Arrested on Suspicion of Huffing Air Duster Cans", "Little Rascals Star Bug Hall Arrested After Allegedly Inhaling Air Duster", "Bug Hall, known as Alfalfa in 'Little Rascals,' arrested after allegedly inhaling air duster", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bug_Hall&oldid=1162908465, Episode: "You Can't Save Them All, Grace", This page was last edited on 1 July 2023, at 20:47. After his Our Gang days ended in 1940, Switzer appeared (often uncredited) in small parts in nearly sixty films, including My Favorite Blonde (1942), The Human Comedy (1943), Going My Way (1944), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), State of the Union (1948), Pat and Mike (1952). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Darla Hood became his co-star and romance interest on screen. Sorry, creeps! We are thankful to our incredible sponsors! An Inside Look On The Strange Death Of Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer Switzer died of massive internal bleeding and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Madeline Hiltz is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Childrens mugshots from Edwardian England look like a depressing version of the Little Rascals, Lions And Tigers And Cows? The witness, 56-year-old Tom Corrigan, son of Western movie star Ray Crash Corrigan and stepson of Moses Stiltz, was present the night Switzer was killed. Months later, Switzer was arrested in Sequoia National Forest for cutting down 15 pine trees he sold as Christmas trees. Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer - IMDb Australias Dangerous Animals List Isnt What Youd Expect, Peter The Wild Boy The Feral Child Who Became A Royal Pet, Police arrest a 72-year-old suburban grandfather suspected of being the Golden State Killer, Im not dead yet: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gdel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, Little Ease: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. The Death of Our Gang's Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer - Reel Reviews I never saw Switzer in anything but the shorts. His weight issues resulted from a granular problem, and eventually, Chaney underwent surgery to help him lose weight. Bug Hall on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 1994. For another, Tom Corrigan, Stiltzs stepson, told a different version of what happened on that Wednesday night in Los Angeles. The Strange Death of Alfalfa - Neatorama Switzer then allegedly pulled a switchblade knife and screamed, Im going to kill you and was attempting to stab him with it, but just as Switzer was about to charge him, Stiltz raised the gun and shot Switzer in the groin. Switzer eventually moved away from acting and made money working odd jobs to make ends meet. The death of Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer is still a very murky chapter in Hollywood history. (Everett Collection) "Spanky," he continues, "had a healthy attitude about it, because when he was around 13 he had already outgrown his cuteness. Swizter was hit in the abdomen. On January 24, 2001, Bud Stiltzs stepson, Tom Corrigan, came forward with another version of Switzers death. The bullet went through the ceiling and a fragment hit Corrigan in the leg. You probably known him better as Alfalfa in the Our Gang comedies, later released on television as The Little Rascals. I remember watching the Little Rascals and so enjoyed it ,and all the laughter we had watching those shows. He was 14 years old at the time. He was best known for his role as Alfalfa in the short subjects series Our Gang . Interestingly, Alfalfa's famous schtick in The Little Rascal comedies had him singing off-key. This site is not affiliated with any church or group. At that age, especially boys, get kind of awkward-looking, and the voice changes. Neatorama is the neat side of the Web. the Our Gang shorts were part of my life in the 1950s. In 1980, Hood was integral in organizing a Little Rascals reunion. Stiltz then retreated to his bedroom and returned with a .38 caliber revolver. The Old Crime is New Again newsletter is a monthly email covering a topic that has not appeared in the blog. Among his more notable clients were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (Switzers godparents), and James Stewart. When Switzers stint with Our Gang ended in 1940, he continued to act but not frequently and often in uncredited bit parts. The truthful will always be persecuted. When Switzer's stint with Our Gang ended in 1940, he continued to act but not frequently and often in uncredited bit parts. Thanks for sharing Carls story, the young boy who played the character of Alfalfa and made us all love him. His sidekick, Jack Piott, was also being threatened to be killed by Stiltz in an act of self-defense, but his life was spared. Released by MGM, the Civil War farce General Spanky was a flop. Switzer entered the house followed by Jack Piott and stated that he was going to beat Stiltz. As the video starts, it is January 21, 1959 and were driving down Columbus Avenue, a street in the LA suburb of Mission Hills in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley. In October 2002, he was reported missing by his daughter. Spanky and Alfalfa at the Hal Roach Studios in 1935 The short biographical documentary examines the life of Carl Switzer from its beginning in Paris, Illinois on to Hollywood where he rose to the heights of stardom as a member of Hal Roach's "Our Gang." From there it follows him as his life and career falls to ruin. Some posts are updated and the original date will be posted at the bottom of the article. Later on, a coroner's jury cleared Stiltz of any wrongdoing. The Murder of 'Little Rascals' Star Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer For many years, it's been alleged by fans that the kids who appeared in the Little Rascals and Our Gang short films were cursed. Carl Switzer is interred at theHollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California. Chaneys weight became a serious health issue. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was the most famous and popular member of the Little Rascals comedy shorts series. Customization and personalization available. When Alfalfa went for it, the gun went off. (LogOut/ Stiltz told him he was \"crazy\" and to get the hell out of his house at which point all massive holy hell apparently broke loose. Science T-Shirts | Sci-Fi T-Shirts | Fantasy T-Shirts I feel sorry children who didnt get to experience what we did. He is an actor and producer, known for The Little Rascals (1994), Baby Driver (2017) and The Stupids (1996). And really, its almost impressive that hes found a way to have aworseformer Alfalfa life trajectory than the guy who was literally shot in the balls and died over $50. They have one child. Tomlinson has a joke for that, Its huge, its unexplored and its none of my business, Mission: Impossible III didnt bomb at the box office, but the promotion for it definitely inspired numerous bomb threats, Woo says the Nic Cage-John Travolta film was a Mad Magazine goof come to life. On August 31, 1948, the 16-year-old actor was delivering newspapers riding on the back of his scooter, while his friend operated the front. I am doing much research on the life of Mr. Switzer. Spanky, one of the leading members of the gang, spoke of Alfalfas most dangerous prank on-set: We were filming one day and the scene called for the kids to show their own movie on a process screen. Learn how your comment data is processed. He was sentenced to a years probation and ordered to pay a $225 fine. Switzer informed Stiltz that he wanted the money owed him, saying I want that 50 bucks you owe me now, and I mean now.. Web every day. In the early 1950s, Switzer moved to Kansas. Take thirty minutes out of your day and fall down this little rabbit hole. THE TRAGIC 1959 DEATH OF THE LITTLE RASCALS' CARL 'ALFALFA' SWITZER. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer - HubPages What Alfalfa From 'Little Rascals' Movie Looks Like 20 Years Later "Another time, "Alfie put an open switchblade in his pocket and tricked Darla into into putting her hand in his pocket on the pretense that he had a ring for her from a Crackerjack box. Based on the "Our Gang" series of comedy shorts from the '30s and '40s (via the Chicago Tribune ), the. Pal had appeared in several films before Our Gang. He died in this accident, at only 20 years old. (Photo Credit: Bettmann/ Getty Images), More from us: Childrens mugshots from Edwardian England look like a depressing version of the Little Rascals. It seems that the Little Rascal curse was not just limited to human actors. Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas - Wikipedia Following the divorce, he had a lot of trouble with alcohol abuse and run-ins with law enforcement. He died on January 21, 1959, the victim of a killer's bullet as he and another man argued over a lost hunting dog.In 1935 Switzer was added to the already successful Our Gang comedy series when he was only seven years old. According to police reports, only by begging was Piott able to save his own life. Since the Alfalfa gig obviously didn't last, Switzer fell on some pretty hard times as an adult even when the, someone over a dispute involving reward money for a lost dog, which only ended when the other guy, As for Bug Hall, the guy who played Alfalfa in the 1994 reboot, he, s made the leap from actor to religious loon. Switzer ended up dying in, well, one of the worst ways imaginable. So, he took out ads offering a reward for the dogs safe return. The narrators voice says life in Mission Hills was predictable and quiet. Most popular as a child actor during the 1990s, he is best known for portraying Our Gang kid Alfalfa in the 1994 film The Little Rascals. Otherwise, he threatened to kick the door in. Several days later on January 21, 1959, Switzer and his friend Jack Piott decided that Stiltz owed Switzer the $50 paid to the man who found the dog. I loved alfalfa. Apparently, Alfalfa had loaned out a hunting dog to Stiltz and Stiltz had not paid him the agreed-upon fee of $50.Stiltz was in the house with his wife and three stepchildren, and at this point, she and all three children ran to a neighbor's house. He claims that Switzer was drunk at the time of the incident and a knife was also found conveniently placed on Switzers person at the crime scene, which was later discovered as a penknife. The culprit, Moses . Book of Mormon, the earliest text, ed. He then witnessed his stepfather back Piott into the kitchen counter and threaten to kill him, but as the man begged for his life, they heard emergency sirens which is why Corrigan believed Stiltz didnt shoot him again. He is best known for his childhood roles as Alfalfa Switzer in The Little Rascals (1994), Newt Shaw in The Big Green (1995), and Buster Stupid in The Stupids (1996). (The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang), the Internet . 'Our Gang' Curse | Snopes.com While we may never fully know who was at fault here, its eerie that Switzers death was not widely covered in the news due to Cecil B. DeMilles death being on the same day. Tom left with his mother and the other children, coming back into the house just as the fatal shot went off that killed Switzer. Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer (1927-1959) Actor Soundtrack IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Carl Switzer was an American child actor, singer, dog breeder, and hunting guide from Paris, Illinois. During the fight, Switzer allegedly assaulted Stiltz with a clock and then produced a knife and that was when Stiltz shot Switzer, who died en route to the hospital. While many of the child stars went on to live normal, full lives, a substantial number perished horribly. She almost lost her fingers. He really was just a huge troublemaker. Three stories have come forth about the shooting.