Mary Ann Jackson

Birth : 1923-01-14, Los Angeles, California, USA

Death : 2003-12-17

History

American former child actress who appeared in Our Gang short subjects series between 1928 and 1931. Her career began under the shadow of her actor relatives, mother Charlotte Jackson, and older sister, "Peaches" Jackson". Jackson made her film debut in a 1925 Ruth Taylor short, "Dangerous Curves". Her first big break came with the role of Baby Smith in the comedy short series "The Smiths", which starred Billy Gilbert. Se made her feature debut in 1927's "Smith's Pony". Jackson joined the Hour Gang (Little Rascals) cast in 1928, at the tail end of the silent era. Often used as the second female lead or the spunky older sister of "Wheezer" (Bobby Hutchins), Mary Ann's snappy delivery came in handy during the series's somewhat rocky transition to sound. With her bob hairstyle and freckles, tomboyish Mary Ann was a vast departure from the winsome miniature heroines who would populate the series before and after her tenure. Mary Ann Jackson died of heart attack at her home, at the age of 80. She was cremated and ashes scattered off the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 

Movies

The Our Gang Story
Mary Ann (archive footage)
Join all you favorites--Spanky, Buckwheat, Alfalfa, Darla, Butch, Froggy and more--in a jam-packed special covering more than twenty years and 200 episodes of Hal Roach's inimitable brand of childhood magic. This fascinating video offers insight into the Gang's personal lives, as rare footage follows each member's career through the joys and misfortunes that went along with being one of America's most beloved kids. See how the series began in 1922 and changed after the first all-talking release in 1929, why Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney never made the Gang, a fifteenth anniversary reunion, and clips from their only feature.
Her First Beau
Student
15-year-old Penelope (Penny) Wood has two great interests - Chuck Harris and the hope that some day she might become a famous,great writer. Chuck also has two interests - his home-made glider and the hope that some day he will go to Tech college. His indifference to Penny is her chief source of annoyance. Mervyn Roberts, Penny's uncle who is only five years older than she is, arrives home with a guest, Roger Van Vleck, and Penny falls for Roger's sophistication. Chuck, resentful, continues to work on his glider over his father's objections. His father wants it destroyed but Elmer Tuttle, their hired man, hides it.
Stage Mother
Auditioning Child Dancer
Kitty Lorraine has one purpose in life: turning her daughter Shirley into a star. Kitty controls every aspect of the girl's nascent career -- even blackmailing a stage manager so that Shirley can take a more prestigious gig. But Kitty goes too far when she breaks up her daughter's budding relationship with sweet artist Warren Foster. Heartbroken, Shirley sets off on a series of disastrous but profitable relationships.
Laughing Sinners
Betty
Ivy Stevens is a cafe entertainer in love with a shifty salesman who deserts her. In attempting to commit suicide, she is saved by Carl, a Salvation Army officer. Encouraged by Carl, Ivy joins the Salvation Army. When her old flame re-enters her life, Ivy finds she is still attracted and begins another affair with him.
Bargain Day
Mary Ann
Wheezer and Stymie, door-to-door salesmen, meet a lonely little rich girl.
The Stolen Jools
Mary Ann Jackson
Famous actress Norma Shearer's jewels are stolen… (Star-packed promotional short film intended to raise funds for the National Variety Artists Tuberculosis Sanatorium.)
Little Daddy
Mary Ann
Farina plans a going-away party for Stymie as authorities prepare to place him in an orphanage.
Love Business
Mary Ann Cooper
Miss Crabtree, the teacher Jackie has a crush on, rents a room at Jackie's house.
Helping Grandma
Mary Ann
The kids' adopted grandma decides to sell her store, but can't decide whom to sell it to. The kids try to help her out.
Teacher's Pet
Mary Ann
Jackie prepares a series of elaborate jokes for his new teacher.
Pups Is Pups
Mary Ann
The gang decides to enter their animals in a local pet show.
Bear Shooters
Mary Ann
The gang decides to go camping with a little bear hunting on the side. A pair of poachers decides to try and scare them off with a gorilla suit but the gang decides to try and capture the gorilla instead.
Las fantasmas
Juanito gets locked out of his house in the middle of a windy night. Spanish language version of When the Wind Blows (1930)
When The Wind Blows
Mary Ann
Jackie throws his schoolbook out the window in disgust, but then climbs outside to retrieve it. Finding himself locked out, he tries various means of getting back inside without his parents finding out. When his parents mistake his noises for a burglar, a local policeman is called, but he seems incompetent to catch either the phony burglar or the real one who has shown up in the meantime
The First Seven Years
Mary Ann
Jackie gets in a duel over the affections of Mary Ann.
Shivering Shakespeare
Mary Ann
The gang is participating in a program sponsored by the Golden Age Dramatic League. They present their own fractured version of Quo Vadis. Things go from bad to worse when the neighborhood tough kids disrupt the show. The pie fight is given a new twist by use of some slow motion sequences.
Moan and Groan
Mary Ann
The gang goes digging for treasure in an old abandoned house against Kennedy the Cop's wishes.
Saturday's Lesson
Mary Ann
A man dressed as the devil scares the gang into minding their mothers.
Bouncing Babies
Mary Ann
With Wheezer's new baby brother getting all the attention, he tries to send the baby back.
Cat, Dog & Co.
Mary Ann
Farina, Joe, and friends use dogs to power their "roadsters," but following a lesson from the head of the Be Kind to Animals Society, they make it their cause to rescue animals from bad treatment. Joe even manages to find patience for a nagging flea that persists in biting him. Meanwhile, Wheezer, who has been tormenting animals with his games, dreams that the animals have turned the tables on him.
Boxing Gloves
Mary Ann
The Rascals have a boxing arena that could pack them in if they could find fighters who would actually mix it up. Harry and Farina notice a rivalry between two very large young kids, Joe and Chubby, that would fill the bill if only the two heavyweights would put aside their gentle natures. Farina gets an idea: tell each of the lads that the other will take a dive in the second round. So the fight begins and the stands are filled; but will the combatants actually throw a punch? Ernie has one more trick up his sleeve to get the fists flying and the crowd on its feet. Sweet science indeed.
Lazy Days
Mary Ann
While the other kids and animals find things to do on the farm, Farina becomes single-minded in his quest to do nothing at all.
Railroadin'
Mary Ann
The gang is playing around the railroad station, and Joe and Chubby's father, an engineer, lectures against the kids playing in such a dangerous area. True to his word, after Joe and Chubby's father leaves, a crazy man starts a train with most of the kids on it, save for Farina who is nearly run over several times. Once Farina manages to climb aboard himself, the kids attempt to stop the runaway locomotive, but have no luck until the engine crashes into a grocery truck. As it turns out, however, the entire incident is revealed to be a dream Farina had as Joe and Chubby's father lectured the kids about rail-yard safety.
Little Mother
Mary Ann
Little Mother is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Little Mother was the 87th Our Gang short to be released. A silent film, it followed Our Gang's first sound film, Small Talk, on the release schedule.
Small Talk
Mary Ann
The gang are all orphans, hoping to be adopted by nice families where "spinach is not on the menu". Wheezer, the youngest child, gets adopted by a wealthy couple, while his older sister Mary Ann does not. The gang all comes to visit Wheezer in his new home, setting off an alarm that causes the police and the fire department to come over. At that time, Wheezer's new mother and father decide to adopt Mary Ann as well. The couple's friends all each adopt a child as well; even Farina is adopted by the maid at Wheezer's new home.
The New Aunt
Bubbles Smith
28th release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies.
Wiggle Your Ears
Mary Ann
This is a really strange, but thought provoking film. Here, beloved Mary literally lets Harry Spear kick her behind, spend her money on him, and forces her to push his kiddie car, all so that she could get the occasional joy of watching Harry "Wiggle His Ears." Armchair Freudians and double-entendre fans will quickly get the "joke" here. He quickly dumps Mary for pintsized blonde bombshell Jean Darling. What happens? You'll see.
The Rodeo
Bubbles Smith
The film begins with a family at home having a meal. The biggest laugh involved some candles being substituted for asparagus and the hilarity that resulted when the people and dog at them. Later, the decide to go to the rodeo but 1001 problems occur on the way there in the car.
The Holy Terror
Mary Ann
Mary Ann is becoming a serious problem to the other gang members and Joe was given the job of training and controlling her behavior.
Noisy Noises
Mary Ann
Joe Cobb is suffering through a toothache as well as having to babysit his little brother Rupert who won't stop crying. Every effort to calm Rupert is undone by an immediate commotion to wake him up. Joe rocks him to sleep, but then the neighbor starts playing his bass fiddle. Joe then rocks the cradle so hard it falls apart, and he trips and stumbles moving Rupert to the baby carriage, which subsequently rolls down hill through traffic with Rupert and a neighbor's monkey enjoying the ride.
Election Day
Mary Ann
This film revolves around Election Day, a day on which Jay R. and Joe are fighting to get votes. They warn the kids that they'll be socked in the jaw if they don't vote for them, but the kids are just trying to go about their business, namely Farina. His mother wants him to deliver laundry to her clients, but he can't go anywhere without being harassed by the gang. To escape them, he dons several costumes including that as an older woman, a dancer, and a scarecrow.
Fast Freight
Mary Ann
Fast Freight is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film. It was the 85th Our Gang short that was released. The gang takes a tramp's train ride and end up taking shelter in a haunter house.
The Spanking Age
Mary Ann
Mary Ann Jackson and Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins are the children of a widowed inventor who are forced to endure the cruelties of their stepmother and stepsister. The kids get even by rigging a few clever contraptions of their own. In the end the father sells a patent worth millions. Before that, the Our Gang kids bring out out the old "alum" gag, along with several other tried-and-true comedy bits.
The Ol' Gray Hoss
Mary Ann
This story revolves around an old man who feels alone in the world aside from the gang who keeps him company and his old horse. He runs a horse and buggy business, but he has new competition: an auto taxi. The gang helps him to maintain his job by sabotaging the other man's.
The Bargain Hunt
Bubbles Smith
The Smith Family goes for bargain hunt at a warehouse sale.
Growing Pains
Mary Ann
Mary Ann has a liking toward Wheezer. Her mother tells her that if she gives him cod liver oil, he can become a giant. A circus giant comes to board, learns the plan and substitutes for Wheezer.
School Begins
Mary Ann
One of a handful of currently unavailable Hal Roach/MGM “Our Gang” silent films, School Begins was a series of gags built around the unenviable ritual of returning to school during the first week of September. School begins and some gang members are forging notes from their mother wanting out. Then too-young Wheezer parades by the school with escaped circus seals following him, causing a disturbance.
The Burglar
Bubbles Smith
A man, accidentally locked out of his house is mistaken for a burglar as he attempts to re-enter the house. The gag is that the person mistaking him, is an actual burglar thinking the man to be a rival to his score.
Smith's Restaurant
Bubbles Smith
The Smiths open a restaurant, but can’t pay their bills because all of their customers won’t pay their checks.
Crazy House
Mary Ann
Crazy House is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 76th Our Gang short that was released. It was the final appearance of Jackie Condon, who was with the gang since the pilot episode of Our Gang in 1922.
Smith's Army Life
Bubbles Smith
19th release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies.
Smith's Cook
Bubbles Smith
The Smiths' cook, exasperated by giving up her day off in order to cook for an unappreciative guest, decides to leave her employment in order to get married. But when Mr Smith and his family set out to drive her across town to her bridegroom, everything goes wrong.
Smith's Pony
Bubbles Smith
The Smith's visit San Francisco to attend a horse show only to have their precocious daughter cause some minor comical mishaps and their over-sized canine refusing to obey commands.
Smith's Candy Shop
Bubbles Smith
13th release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies. The Smiths at the candy shop.
Smith's Fishing Trip
Bubbles Smith
Twelfth release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies and the family gos fishing while their house is renovated.
Smith's New Home
Bubbles Smith
Ninth release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies and the family buys a new home.
Smith's Customer
Bubbles Smith
Eighth release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies. Bubbles is up to mischief.
The Red Mill
Little Girl (uncredited)
A servant girl plays matchmaker for the local burgomaster's daughter while setting her own sights on a visiting Irishman.
Smith's Picnic
Bubbles Smith
The accident-prone Smith family (Raymond McKee, Ruth Hiatt, and Mary Ann Jackson) head to the beach in this Mack Sennett comedy directed by Alf Goulding. There they spoil a picnic held by "The Optimist's' Club," quickly turning the members into pessimists. This reconstructed version features racy scenes of starlet Mildred June in lingerie and having her bathing suit torn off by a fishing pole that were only included in prints shown in Germany.
Smith's Uncle
Bubbles Smith
Here it's Andy Clyde in a long beard as Raymond McKee's rich uncle Dan. He quickly becomes entangled with Carmelita Geraghty, the vamp next door, and her conniving brother Bud Jamison.
Smith's Landlord
Bubbles Smith
Third release in 'The Smith Family' series of 2-reel comedies. Omar the dog, usually the most sedate member of the Smith family, has a starring role in this episode, digging up the garden and stealing the landlord's hat.
Smith's Baby
Bubbles Smith
Baby Bubbles torments her babysitting grandmother (Sunshine Hart) while her parents enjoy a rare night out at the movies.
Spanking Breezes
Myrtle - Danny's Little Sister
"Spanking Breezes" is a short Mack Sennett comedy.
Remember When?
Rosemary
Little orphan Harry is separated from his childhood sweetheart. Years later, he finds she's a bearded lady in a circus.
The Little Rascals - The Complete Collection (Centennial Edition) Blu-ray
Mary Ann
For generations, Our Gang comedies have been enjoyed by millions of fans the world over. Now, celebrate the 100th anniversary of this iconic and beloved film series . In 1922, producer Hal Roach introduced the kiddie troupe known as “Our Gang” to theater audiences and kicked off one of the most popular and prolific franchises in the field of short subjects, with 220 one- and two-reel comedies released over a twenty-two year period. This 6-disc set is a must-have for any true Our Gang fan.