Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Honky Donkey (1934) - Filming Locations
Watch the Quick Preview Video below, and scroll down for information about the filming locations.
Historical Production & Location Reference
| Film: | Honky Donkey (1934) |
| Stars: | Our Gang / The Little Rascals (George "Spanky" McFarland, Wally Albright, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Scotty Beckett, Tommy Bond, Don Barclay) |
| Studio: | Hal Roach Studios |
- Venice Blvd And Bagley Avenue Intersection: The scene where Barclay drives Wally into the alley was filmed just off this intersection. We get a great view of Main Street in Culver City along with the Culver Hotel in the distance, and the back of 9401 Venice Blvd, one of the oldest buildings in the area, built in 1915 and still standing today.
- The Hal Roach Studios Administration Building: The final scene of Algebra the donkey chasing people outside was filmed on the front lawn of the Hal Roach Studios, which was located at 8820 Washington Blvd until it was demolished in 1963..
Production & Preservation Note: Highlighting a transitional phase in the series' mid-1934 formatting where on location filming was being drastically reduced, nevertheless there is a scene of Wally being driven by Barclay into a real-world alley right off the busy intersection of Venice Blvd and Bagley Avenue in Los Angeles. The view today is almost identical as it was in 1934 due to the historic preservation of Main Street in Culver City.
The Plot
Wally Albright stars as a rich kid tired of his sheltered life who just wants to play with "real kids." In the 1934 classic Our Gang / The Little Rascals movie Honky-Donkey, he famously instructs his driver to "drive down some alleys, and some dirty ones." It's there he discovers Stymie, Spanky, Scotty and the Gang and their iconic donkey, Algebra!
Exploring A Historic Culver City Alley Filming Location
As a highlight of our Los Angeles filming locations tour, we take a then and now look at a historic intersection and alleyway that has remained remarkably unchanged for nearly a century: Venice Blvd and Bagley Avenue on the Westside of Los Angeles. This site is a holy grail for fans of classic cinema.
A Landmark of Golden Age Comedy
This intersection wasn't just used as a filming Location for Our Gang / The Little Rascals; it was a favorite filming location for other movies made by the Hal Roach Studios. You can spot this landmark filming location in several other 1920s and 1930s hits, including:
Laurel and Hardy - Bacon Grabbers (1929)
Charley Chase - A Treat For The Boys (1927)
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Preserving Los Angeles Film History
In a city known for constant redevelopment, this location is a rare treasure. Remarkably, every building captured on film in 1934 for Honky-Donkey is still standing today.
While watching the footage, keep a lookout for a glimpse of the historic Culver Hotel at the beginning of the video — a landmark that remains a centerpiece of the area to this day.
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Member Exclusive - Full Then and Now Documentary Video and Photo Gallery
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Our Gang / The Little Rascals - Honky-Donkey - Complete Filming Locations Photo Gallery