Everybody at one time or another has known a cute, fat precocious child like Spanky McFarland.

He could have lived next door to any family on any street in town.  His friends would have been kids like freckle-faced Alfalfa and a half dozen others of the kind that peopled the fourth and fifth grade classes at Central Ward or Peabody Schools in the early 1930's.  And it's almost certain that they would have used somebody's barn or storage shed as a club house for their "gang".

Where Spanky McFarland actually lived has been lost, but he was born in Denison and spent his early years there.  And he went on to star in "Our Gang" comedies, probably the most popular movie series about kids ever to come out of Hollywood.

The comedies continue to be made for a few years after McFarland outgrew his role and still are shown today as television reruns.  After his career as the chunky, lovable child star, McFarland went on to other endeavors and never returned to his old hometown.

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