Darla Jean Hood (November 8, 1931 – June 13, 1979) was an American child actress. She was born in Leedey, Oklahoma, the only child of James Claude Hood and Elizabeth Davner. Her father worked in a bank and her mother was a music teacher. Image File history File links Darla_hood. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leedey is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, California. ... is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... The term child actor is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion the latter is also called a former child actor. ... Leedey is a town in Dewey County, Oklahoma, United States. ...

Our Gang

Darla's mother started her in singing and dancing at an early age, taking her to lessons in Oklahoma City. Just after her third birthday, she was taken to New York City where she was seen by Joe Rivkin, a casting director for Hal Roach Studios, who arranged a screen test. She was then taken to Culver City, California, to appear in the Our Gang movies. OKC redirects here. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Harold Eugene Roach ( January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer from 1910s to 1980s, born in Elmira, New York. ... Screen Test was a British childrens quiz show produced by the BBC which ran from 1969 to 1984. ... Motto: The Heart of Screenland Location of Culver City in Los Angeles County, California Coordinates: , Country State County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1917-09-07 [2] Government  - City Manager Jerry Fulwood [1] Area  - City  5. ... A poster for the 1931 Our Gang comedy Love Business featuring depictions of (from left to right): Pete the Pup, Jackie Cooper, and Norman Chubby Chaney. ... This article is about motion pictures. ...

Hood made her debut in The Bohemian Girl with Laurel and Hardy. From 1935 to 1941, she played Darla in Our Gang. Her coquettish character typically was the love interest of Alfalfa, Butch, or (usually) Waldo. One of her most memorable moments was singing a romantic song entitled "I'm in the Mood for Love" in The Pinch Singer. The Bohemian Girl is a 1936 feature film version of the operetta The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe. ... Laurel and Hardy, in a promotional still from their 1937 feature film Way Out West. ... See also: 1934 in film 1935 1936 in film 1930s in film years in film film Events Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). ... The year 1941 in film involved some significant events. ... A poster for the 1931 Our Gang comedy Love Business featuring depictions of (from left to right): Pete the Pup, Jackie Cooper, and Norman Chubby Chaney. ... Carl Dean Alfalfa Switzer (August 7, 1927 – January 21, 1959) was an American child actor, professional dog breeder and expert hunting guide, most notable for appearing in the Our Gang short subjects series as Alfalfa, one of the series most popular and best-remembered characters. ... Tommy Bond as Butch during his second Our Gang tenure. ... Darwood Kenneth Smith, also known by the stagename Darwood Kaye (September 8, 1929 - May 15, 2002) was an American former child actor, most notable for his semi-regular role as the snooty rich kid Waldo in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1937 to 1940. ... Im in the Mood for Love is a popular song. ...

After Our Gang

When she outgrew her role in Our Gang, she appeared in a couple of other movies and attended school in Los Angeles. While at Fairfax High School, she organized a vocal group called the Enchanters with four boys. Shortly after graduation, the quartet was booked by producer and star Ken Murray for his famous "Blackouts," a stage variety show. The group remained with Murray's Blackouts during its long run in New York and Hollywood. Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Ken Murray Ken Murray (July 14, 1903 - October 12, 1988) was an American entertainer. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue...

Hood then went out on her own with singing engagements in nightclubs and guest appearances on TV. She was a regular on The Ken Murray Show from 1950 to 1951. In 1955, she was a leading lady in the act of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. She had a hit record in 1957, "I Just Wanna Be Free," and appeared in the movie Calypso Heat Wave singing a duet with Johnny Desmond. A nightclub (often dance club or club, particularly in the UK) is an entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... See also: 1949 in television, other events of 1950, 1951 in television and the list of years in television. // Events February 12 - European Broadcasting Union (EBU) inaugurated. ... See also: 1950 in television, other events of 1951, 1952 in television and the list of years in television. // Events May 28 - The US Supreme Court upholds the FCCs approval of the CBS color television system. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Sam Bermans caricature of Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen for 1947 NBC promotion book Edgar John Bergen (February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American actor and radio performer, best known as a ventriloquist. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Johnny Desmond (November 14, 1920-September 6, 1985) was an American popular singer. ...

In January 1959, she released a new record, Quiet Village. Joe Rivkin, who discovered her as a child, saw the cover and cast her in her final film role, which was also her first adult role in a movie. She played a secretary in the suspense drama The Bat (1959) with Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bat is a 1959 film featuring Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead. ... See also: 1958 in film 1959 1960 in film 1950s in film 1960s in film years in film film Events The Three Stooges make their 180th and last short film, Sappy Bullfighters. ... Vincent Leonard Price Jr. ... Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900 – April 30, 1994) was an Oscar-nominated American character actress. ...

Hood was a guest on such TV shows of the early 1960s as Tell It to Groucho starring Groucho Marx and The Jack Benny Show, where she appeared on October 30, 1962 as "Darla" in a spoof of the old Our Gang shows with Jack Benny (who appeared as Alfalfa). She did singing and voice-over on TV commercials, which included Campbell Soup and Chicken of the Sea Tuna. She appeared in her own nightclub act at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, the Copacabana in New York, and the Sahara in Las Vegas. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... Groucho redirects here. ... Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was a comedian, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the most prominent early stars of American radio and television. ... Jack Benny (February 14, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois – December 26, 1974 in Beverly Hills, California), born Benjamin Kubelsky, was an American comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television, and film actor. ... Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) (also known as Campbells) is undeniably the most well-known producer of canned soups and related products in the United States (and possibly the world). ... Laser lights illuminate the dance floor at a Gatecrasher dance music event in Sheffield, England A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... Alternate spelling: see Cocoanut Grove (disambiguation). ... Copacabana Beach. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ...

During the 1960s and 1970s, she went to many Our Gang/Little Rascals festivals and conventions, meeting and greeting the various generations of fans. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

Sudden Death

Darla was busy organizing a 1980 Little Rascals reunion for the Los Angeles Chapter of The Sons of the Desert when she underwent minor surgery at a North Hollywood hospital. Following the procedure, Darla contracted acute hepatitis under suspicious circumstances and died suddenly on June 13, 1979. She was only 47. ^[1] The Sons of the Desert is a Laurel and Hardy appreciation group started in the 1960s. ... Hepatitis (plural hepatitides) implies injury to liver characterised by presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

The Our Gang community was stunned at Darla's unexpected passing. Fellow Our Gang member Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas said, "I hate to hear it. It's a shock. She was an awfully nice person, a fine woman. We got along real good as kids." ^[2] Billie Thomas (originally William Thomas, Jr. ...

Darla is interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood. Hollywood Forever Cemetery entrance Hollywood Forever Cemetery entrance Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles, California. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue...

Personal life

Hood had two marriages, insurance salesman Robert W. Decker (1955 to 1957) and record company head Jose Granson (married 1957). She and Granson had three children. Tommy "Butch" Bond mentioned that her marriage to Granson was difficult as he was confined to a wheelchair due to a stroke. As a result, pursuing her career was not easy. ^[3] Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Tommy Bond as Butch during his second Our Gang tenure. ... Wheelchair seating in a theater. ... For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ...

Trivia

• Sometime in the 1950s, Darla Hood recorded two songs with the Ray Whitaker Orchestra, "Only Yours" and "Silent Island", for RayNote Records.
• Darla Hood is mentioned in the song "Purple Stain" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the lines:

Knock on wood we all stay good

'Cause we all live in Hollywood

With Dracula and Darla Hood

Unspoken words we're understood

Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. ...

Notes

1. ^ Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang, p. 274. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9
2. ^ Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang, p. 274. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9
3. ^ Bond, Tommy and Genini, Ron (1994). Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang/The Little Rascals, p 71. Delaware: Morgan Press. ISBN 0-9630976-5-2

Leonard Maltin (born December 18, 1950 in New York City) is a widely known and respected American film critic. ... Leonard Maltin (born December 18, 1950 in New York City) is a widely known and respected American film critic. ... Tommy Bond as Butch during his second Our Gang tenure. ...

References

• Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9.
• Bond, Tommy and Genini, Ron (1994). Darn Right It's Butch: Memories of Our Gang/The Little Rascals. Delaware: Morgan Press. ISBN 0-9630976-5-2.

Leonard Maltin (born December 18, 1950 in New York City) is a widely known and respected American film critic. ... Tommy Bond as Butch during his second Our Gang tenure. ...

External links

• Darla Hood at the Internet Movie Database
• Darla Hood website