Fire Fighters (1922)

Hal Roach Studios
Starring:
 Ernest Morrison, Jackie Condon, Peggy Cartwright
Directed by: Robert F. McGowan, Tom McNamara

Synopsis: Booker T. Bacon (Ernest Morrison) helps out with his parents’ clothes washing business, but then helps the gang when they discover a still and realize it would make the perfect fire engine tank.

Kitty Cameo: The beginning of the short is presented as almost a separate story in which a dapper duck dressed in a shirt, hat and carrying a cane, flirts with a street walking chicken dressed in frills while a dog dressed as a policeman intervenes with the illegal tryst.  As the dog is chasing the duck away from the scene, a black cat darts out.

Our Gang - Fire Fighters black cat running across sidewalk

The dog changes direction and chases the cat through a fence (the dog needs to jump over) and then up a ladder.

Our Gang - Fire Fighters black cat running toward fence

The cat fights back from the roof, knocking the dog down, much to the happiness of the duck.

Our Gang - Fire Fighters black cat on roof fighting off dog on ladder

As it turns out these animals are being clothed by Booker, who is using the clothes is mom is washing to dress the animals (not sure about the size issue.)  It’s interesting to note the cat is the only one not dressed in clothes.

Later when the kids see two men doing something near a small shack they are curious.  The men undress the dog and tie it to the shed to keep the kids away.  But the kids simply pick up the black cat and drop it in front of the dog.  The cat takes off and the dog follows, pulling over the entire shed and revealing the hidden still inside.

Our Gang - Fire Fighters kids pick up black cat

Final Mewsings: Have you ever tried to put clothes on a cat?


Relevant Links:

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