This is a photograph taken to promote the product represented by the ball on which Mary Kornman is sitting. The man standing behind the Our Gang kids is Mr. Clarence E. Dunlop, president of Western States Manufacturing Company, Sioux City, Iowa. The ball was made to answer the question: "How large a slit will Western Weld patch repair?" You can see the strips of patch rubber running up and down the ball, which is eight feet (2.4 meters) in circumference. The ball was made from nine old tubes and Western Weld patch. The photograph was issued to dealers of Western States' products.
The ball was made in the basement of Raymond Dunlap, director of public education in the Los Angeles school district. It was made from patches of tire, one at a time, held together by Western Weld Patch Repair. The ball was first shown at the Orange County Fair, with the Gang making a public appearance to promote the product. Source: Pat Rushing, granddaughter of Raymond Dunlap.
The photograph was taken on the lawn directly behind the Hal Roach Studios administration building, which you can see on the left. The big brick building in the back is one of the two stages that were at the studio at that time. There is a parking lot directly behind the gang. If the photo appears a little odd on your screen, it's probably because the print paper of the photograph is textured. The scanner picked up some of that texture in a subtle way. On the back of the photo is stamped "R R Stuart Collection 2007 N. Hobart Blvd. Hollywood 27, Calif." My thanks to Chris Bungo for providing information about the location where the photograph was taken and what is visible in the background. My thanks to Rob Horton for providing a reference that identified the purpose of the photograph and the identity of the man in the picture.
The caption text is transcribed here exactly as it is on the photograph itself:
"WATCH YOUR CREDIT INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTOS
12 019 A. LIST FOR LOS ANGELES BUREAU (X)
MARY KORNMAN FILM ACTRESS ELOPES WITH CAMERAMAN
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF:--Miss Josephine [sic] Kornman, film actress and former leading lady of the original "Our Gang" comedies and Leo Tover, cameraman elope to Yuma, Ariz.,[sic] The wedding was originally planned for next week but due to Mr. Tover's scheduled picture work to commence next week the wedding was moved up a few days. Photo shows Miss Josephine [sic] Kornman and Leo Tover taken at a recent Hollywood premiere. 3/15/34"
The back of the photo is stamped with INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTOS, INC. copyright statement.
The caption text is transcribed here exactly as it is on the photograph itself:
"691412---WATCH YOUR CREDIT..INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTOS SLUG..(TOVERS)
THE ORIGINAL "CURL-GIRL" OF "OUR GANG"--AS A BRIDE
HOLLYWOOD, CAL.---Do you remember that cute little girl with the curls who was the first "leading lady" of the "Our Gang" comedies? Her name was Mary Kornman, then, but it's Mrs. Leo Tover, now. She eloped with the ace camerman and the ceremony was performed at Yuma, Arizona. Here they are, enjoying their first breakfast in Hollywood. "She's a good cook," says Leo.
(E-3-21-34)-11"
The back of the photo is stamped with INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTOS, INC. copyright statement.