Expert: Barbara L. Baker - 12/14/2006

Question
can you please settle  an argument of some friends of mine...? what were the main characters names on little rascals show? thanks alot, mark

Answer
Dear Mark:  I'm sorry this has taken awhile--I got derailed with our final exams at the university where I teach.

The question you've asked is not as simple as it might first appear.  First, which "Little Rascals" are you referring to?  There is, for example, the 1994 movie, but also the 1955 TV show that actually consisted of 100 of the old Hal Roach "Our Gang" shorts that were made from 1929-1938.  I will operate on the assumption that is the series you are asking about.

Even there, a problem arises.  Shot to take advantage of a new interest in children in movies, the "Our Gang" shorts had a number of children over the 11 years they were in production (children outgrew their roles).  So deciding who the "main characters" were at any one time is a bit problematic.

The most famous cast probably came after the introduction of sound, when children like Jackie Copper, Dickie Morre and Scotty Beckett became part of the gang for a short period (all of these later became stars on their own).  

The core of the group during the so-called "golden period" of the 1930s probably is the best known, however. This group included George "Spanky" McFarland, Carol "Alfalfa" Switzer, Darla Hood, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Norman "Chubby" Chaney and Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins, with other characters supporting them (sometimes these characters went by the name of the child actor, in other cases they were given a nickname similar to the main cast members, e.g. "Buckwheat," "Bubbles," and several others). The only real constant character, however, was Pete the dog.

Because of their success, with one short winning an Oscar in 1936, Roach made one feature film with the gang, called "General Spanky" (also 1936).

I hope this gives you some answer to your question, and, again, I'm sorry it took me awhile to track it down.