Robert A. McGowan
Encyclopedia
Robert Anthony McGowan (May 22, 1901 - June 20, 1955) was an American
screenwriter
and film director
.
, McGowan is best known as a junior director for the Our Gang
short subject
s film
series from 1926 to 1930, and as the co-writer of the series during the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
period from 1938 to 1944. McGowan was named for his uncle, Our Gang senior director Robert F. McGowan
. Since both Robert McGowans worked on the series, Robert Anthony McGowan was usually credited as Anthony Mack.
While McGowan directed a number of Our Gang entries in the late-1920s, his work is considered lesser than that of his uncle. He appears on-screen in the 1932 short Free Wheeling
, in which he is socked by a boxing glove attached to the kids' makeshift taxi
.
ed for associating with blacklisted screenwriters. He died in Los Angeles, California on June 20, 1955, six months after his uncle, at the age of 54.
Mickie McGowan, one of McGowan's two daughters, is currently searching for her relatives, as McGowan's personal memorabilia was destroyed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Biography
Born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, McGowan is best known as a junior director for the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
short subject
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
s film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
series from 1926 to 1930, and as the co-writer of the series during the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
period from 1938 to 1944. McGowan was named for his uncle, Our Gang senior director Robert F. McGowan
Robert F. McGowan
Robert Francis McGowan was an American film director and producer, best known as the senior director of the Our Gang short subjects film series from 1922 until 1933.-Career:...
. Since both Robert McGowans worked on the series, Robert Anthony McGowan was usually credited as Anthony Mack.
While McGowan directed a number of Our Gang entries in the late-1920s, his work is considered lesser than that of his uncle. He appears on-screen in the 1932 short Free Wheeling
Free Wheeling
Free Wheeling is a 1932 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 117th Our Gang short that was released.-Plot:...
, in which he is socked by a boxing glove attached to the kids' makeshift taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
.
Death
His career came to an end during the Communist "witch hunt" era of the late-1940s, during which he was blacklistBlacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
ed for associating with blacklisted screenwriters. He died in Los Angeles, California on June 20, 1955, six months after his uncle, at the age of 54.
Personal
McGowan married Madeline Rosselle, the daughter of a choreographer, and had two children.Mickie McGowan, one of McGowan's two daughters, is currently searching for her relatives, as McGowan's personal memorabilia was destroyed.
Director filmography
- Shivering ShakespeareShivering ShakespeareShivering Shakespeare is an Our Gang short film directed by Robert A. McGowan under the pseudonym "Anthony Mack". Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 95th Our Gang short to be released.-Plot:...
(19301930 in film-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
) - Cat, Dog, & Co. (19291929 in film-Events:The days of the silent film are numbered. A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound is on.*January 20 - The movie In Old Arizona is released. The film is the first full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors....
) - Boxing GlovesBoxing Gloves (film)Boxing Gloves is a 1929 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan under the pseudonym "Anthony Mack". Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 9, 1929, it was the 90th Our Gang short to be released.-Plot:Joe's and Chubby's friendship is...
(1929) - The Holy TerrorThe Holy Terror (1929 film)The Holy Terror is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 83rd Our Gang short that was released and is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Mary Ann Jackson - Mary Ann* Joe Cobb - Joe Cobb...
(1929) - Election DayElection Day (film)Election Day is a 1929 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 81st Our Gang short that was released.-Cast:* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Unknown - Pleurisy* Joe Cobb - Joe Cobb* Jay R...
(1929) - Old Gray HossOld Gray HossOld Gray Hoss is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 78th Our Gang short that was released.-Cast:* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Joe Cobb - Joe* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer* Mary Ann Jackson - Mary Ann...
(19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) - Growing PainsGrowing Pains (film)Growing Pains is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 77th Our Gang short that was released and is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Mary Ann Jackson - Mary Ann* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer* Joe Cobb - Joe...
(1928) - School BeginsSchool BeginsSchool Begins is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 79th Our Gang short that was released and is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Jean Darling - Jean* Allen Hoskins - Farina...
(1928) - Edison, Marconi & Co.Edison, Marconi & Co.Edison, Marconi & Co. is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 73rd Our Gang short that was released and is now considered to be lost. This last known copy was at MGM's Vault no.7 in 1967 and was destroyed with other silent shorts.-Cast:* Bobby Hutchins...
(1928) - Rainy DaysRainy Days (film)Rainy Days is a 1928 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 71st Our Gang short that was released.-Cast:* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer* Jay R...
(1928) - Playin' HookeyPlayin' HookeyPlayin' Hookey is a 1928 short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 69th Our Gang short subject released.-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Jannie Hoskins - Zuccini* Jackie Condon - Jackie* Jay R...
(1928) - Dog HeavenDog HeavenDog Heaven is a 1927 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 68th Our Gang short that was released.-Cast:* Pete the Pup - Himself* Joe Cobb - Joe* Annette De Kirby - Clarabelle* Bobby Hutchins - Wheezer...
(19271927 in film-Events:*January 10 - Fritz Lang's science-fiction fantasy Metropolis premieres in Germany.*April 7 - Abel Gance's Napoleon often considered his best known and greatest masterpiece, premiers at the Paris Opéra and would demonstrate techniques and equipment that would not be used for years to...
) - Heebee JeebeesHeebee JeebeesHeebee Jeebees is a 1927 Our Gang short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan and Robert A. McGowan. It was the 67th Our Gang short that was released and is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Jackie Condon - Jackie...
(1927) - Chicken FeedChicken FeedChicken Feed is a 1927 short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 66th Our Gang short subject released.-Cast:* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Jannie Hoskins - Mango* Joe Cobb - Joe* Jackie Condon - Jackie* Jay R. Smith - Jay...
(1927) - Olympic GamesOlympic Games (film)Olympic Games is a 1927 short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 63rd Our Gang short subject released.-Plot:...
(1927) - Tired Business MenTired Business MenTired Business Men is a 1927 short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 60th Our Gang short subject released..-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Jackie Condon - Jackie* Jannie Hoskins - Mango...
(1927) - Ten Years OldTen Years OldTen Years Old is a 1927 short silent comedy film directed by Robert A. McGowan. It was the 58th Our Gang short subject released. It was remade as Birthday Blues in 1932.-Cast:* Joe Cobb - Joe* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Jannie Hoskins - Mango...
(1927) - Bring Home the TurkeyBring Home the TurkeyBring Home the Turkey is a 1927 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan and Robert A. McGowan. It was the 56th Our Gang short subject released.-Cast:* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Jannie Hoskins - Mango* Joe Cobb - Joe...
(1927) - Telling WhoppersTelling WhoppersTelling Whoppers is a 1926 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan and Robert A. McGowan. It was the 55th Our Gang short subject released.-Plot:...
(19261926 in film-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
) - War FeathersWar FeathersWar Feathers is a 1926 short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan and Robert A. McGowan. It was the 54th Our Gang short subject released.-Cast:* Allen Hoskins - Farina* Joe Cobb - Joe* Johnny Downs - Johnny* Jannie Hoskins - Mango...
(1926)