As I mentioned in my previous posting about the trip that Lisa and I took to Minneapolis for the Block-Heads Tent 30th Anniversary gathering, one of the major drawing points to get me there was the good chance that Gordon “Porky” Lee from the Our Gang series would be attending as a special guest. Living in Minneapolis at the time, he rarely made any appearances at collector shows or meetings in California – and he had yet to be invited to any Sons of the Desert conventions. I thought that this might be my only chance to get to meet one of my all-time favorite Little Rascals.
The host of the banquet taking place on March 1, 1996, Tracy Tolzmann was careful to warn me that Porky had only been invited to the banquet and was not yet a confirmed guest. I decided to risk the trip based on the other activities taking place and rare films being shown. Upon arrival, Tracy informed me that Porky had indeed intended to come to the banquet.
Even better still, Tracy arranged that Lisa and I be seated next to Porky during the banquet! This gave me plenty of opportunity to buy him a couple of beers, chat with him, and get him to sign some photos. He was also selling quite a few nice signed shots before the dinner began, so I left with an armful of signed photos and the experience of spending a couple of hours yukking it up with Porky.
One of the most interesting items I had him sign was an Our Gang magnet that I had actually purchased earlier that day in the Mall of America, the complex which housed the Playhouse Theater where our banquet was held – a truly one-of-a-kind souvenir.
The magnet on which Porky scrawled his nickname
Porky sold me this photo and commented on the dog, which he said was a gift to Hal Roach from Benito Mussolini
An odd gathering of Our Gang kids in a shot already signed by Robert Winckler and later signed by Sidney “Woim” Kibrick. Porky pointed out the presence of that dog again, an animal ingrained into his mind
Tommy McFarland, Buckwheat Thomas, Porky Lee, Darla Hood, Harold Switzer, Patsy May, Spanky McFarland, and Alfalfa Switzer in a unique Our Gang photo
He left the banquet before its conclusion, so I escorted him out and this is where he signed the stack of photos that I brought along and posed for photos with Lisa and me. Although he didn’t ask for any money to sign the pictures, I slipped a twenty and thanked him for being so cordial. He thanked me in return and said that it would help him out.
Porky and me outside the Playhouse Theater where the banquet was held – along with the garbage can on which he signed my photos
Porky was always happier to pose with the ladies…
It turns out that I did indeed get to see Porky one more time when he was a special guest of the Seattle Beau Hunks during their Sons convention in 2000 (which you can read more about here).
Continue with 1996…
Another great story! The two group shots from the studio I have never seen before. It is odd that the stars of the series were in the back row in the first. The second one is a GREAT photo with the McFarland and Switzer Brothers in it. Where do you get these marvelous photos?
Dave Chasteen
February 16th, 2008
I have a signed photo of Porky, thanks to you. I never did meet him, but I’m glad I have the photo. Thanks again!
Bill
February 16th, 2008
I met Porky in 1983 at a Way Out West meeting in LA.This meeting was his “coming out” so to speak.He had never done any sort of gathering or shows at this point.Sort of shy at first,we ended up sitting next to each other during the films and he made comments about them.To this day,my brother says that was one of the greatest nights of his life watching those films with the star of them.A magicial night!
Raul Moreno
August 27th, 2008
Get Patsy Barry to sign the Robert Winckcler one and you will have four.
Bob
August 29th, 2008