Elmer Lowry
Lowry in 1926
Born(1919-12-19)December 19, 1919
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Diedc. May 1, 1989(1989-05-01) (aged 69)
Miami Beach, Florida, United States
OccupationChild actor
Years active1926–1934
SpouseShirley Lowry (m. 1940s–?)

Elmer Camden Lowry (December 19, 1919 – c. 1 May 1989[1]) was an American child actor and vaudevillian. He appeared in several Our Gang short films as Skooter.[2]

His character, Washington-born Skooter,[3] was fond of Charles G. Dawes, known for his freckles, hat, and personality. He was dubbed "the original tough guy", due to his mean, harsh "bad boy" persona in the Our Gang films, at times referred as villainous.[4][5][6] Known for his talented dancing, singing, and impersonations, Lowry was most well known for that during his vaudeville days.[7][8][9]

Early life

Lowry was born in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City on December 19, 1919, to Willard S. and Anna L. Lowry. At the age of five, he started in vaudeville.[10] He later moved to Hempstead after his parents divorced.[11] Originally nicknamed Skippy, his nickname became Scooter since "he was always scooting around".[2]

Acting career

Lowry got his start in Our Gang after he won a dance contest promoted by Gus Edwards.[12] The award was a thousand US dollars, two tickets to Hollywood and a year's contract with Hal Roach Studios.[13] He was the first Gang member to be from New York.[14] He made his first appearance in the film Thundering Fleas. At 7 years old, Lowry was often mistakenly called the youngest member of the gang, with him being mistakenly called 4 years old.[15] Lowry's character, young tough kid Skooter, was a popular character of the Gang.[16] He mostly appeared donning an undersized, white bucket hat. He appeared in a total of 13 Our Gang films. One time, Lowry interrupted an important conversation that Our Gang creator Hal Roach was talking in, in which Lowry wanted to join.[17] By the time he left, Lowry was paid $180.00, thrice the amount of his previous salary, $60.00. He was replaced by Harry Spear as the tough kid in the gang.

His final film was Chinatown Charlie as Oswald.[18][19]

Vaudeville

1920s

After Our Gang, he became a vaudevillian and made acts with his former Our Gang alumni. His first act was with former Our Gang alumnus Mary Kornman. They were later joined by Johnny Downs.[20][21] The three visited St. Joseph children's hospital in 1928, where the kids in the hospital became admirers of the gang, specifically the three. Lowry was not disturbed until a couple of nurses patted his head, which embarrassed him and almost took away his stage presence.[22] They met Providence, Rhode Island mayor James E. Dunne in 1928, with Lowry expressing his wish that Al Smith would win the presidential election.[23] Around this time, Lowry made acts with Joe Cobb.[24]

1930s

In 1930, Lowry, among others, toured in the RKO Palace.[25] He also was presented in a skit called Doin' Tough, in which episodes of Our Gang between 1926 and 1927 are shown, and after a while, Lowry comes on doing acts.[26][27] After, Lowry made "solo" acts.[28] In 1932, Lowry made a guest appearance in the Pittsburgh Press Seckatary Hawkins Club on 8 o'clock for half an hour over KQV.[29] He was still touring by 1934.[30]

Adult years

From his draft records, it was found that Scooter served in the U.S. military.[31][32] Between 1936 and 1950, Lowry was arrested for driving without a license, in which in two, he only served five days in prison.[33] Lowry was hit by a truck in 1937, so he had to be hospitalized due to chin, teeth, and right elbow injuries.[34] In 1938, 18 year old Lowry was unfortunately involved in an accident which injured retired builder Edward C. Merritt and his wife, in which Merritt couldn't control his vehicle.[35] In 1950, he faced court after calling the police claiming that his wife, Shirley, was trying to kill herself, even though she wasn't.[36] He went to jail after being charged with disorderly conduct.[33] After this, his whereabouts became mostly unknown, with the only hints being that he worked at a restaurant.[37][38]

Death

He resided in Miami Beach, Florida, with his mother, Anna. Anna died in 1972.[39] Lowry's dead body was found on May 1, 1989 in Miami Beach, Florida by local police. An ID proved that it was Lowry, with name and date of birth.[40][41]

Personal life

He had a sister, Lillian, who resided in Lakeland.[11] He married Shirley Helen Baker (1925-1987) in 1944.[42]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1926 Thundering Fleas Skooter Short film
1926 Shivering Spooks Skooter Short film
1926 The Fourth Alarm Skooter Short film
1926 War Feathers Skooter Short film
1926 Telling Whoppers Skooter Short film
1926 45 Minutes from Hollywood Skooter Short film
1927 Bring Home the Turkey Skooter Short film
1927 Seeing the World Skooter Short film
1927 Ten Years Old Skooter Short film
1927 Love My Dog Skooter Short film
1927 Tired Business Men Skooter Short film
1927 Baby Brother Skooter Short film
1927 Olympic Games Skooter Short film, deleted scene
1927 Chicken Feed Skooter Short film
1928 Chinatown Charlie Oswald

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Elmer Lowry DC.jpg". Another Nice Mess. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Moving Picture Exhibitors' Association (1926). The Moving picture world. California State Library. New York : The World Photographic Publishing Company. p. 276.
  3. ↑ Thundering Fleas, retrieved May 1, 2023
  4. ↑ The Border Cities Star. The Border Cities Star.
  5. ↑ The Lewiston Daily Sun. The Lewiston Daily Sun.
  6. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  7. ↑ Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express.
  8. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  9. ↑ The Toledo News-Bee. The Toledo News-Bee.
  10. ↑ Dalrymple, Dolly (January 10, 1930). "The Birmingham News".
  11. 1 2 "Elmer Lowry". Another Nice Mess.
  12. ↑ Humanities, National Endowment for the (December 26, 1931). "The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, December 26, 1931, Home Edition, Image 6". pp. PAGE 6. ISSN 2694-1872. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Cleveland Plain Dealer". August 11, 1932.
  14. ↑ Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company (1926). Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1926). PFA Library and Film Study Center UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Chicago, Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company.
  15. ↑ The Deseret News. The Deseret News.
  16. ↑ Marcus, Ben (June 7, 2011). The Skateboard: The Good, the Rad, and the Gnarly: An Illustrated History. MVP Books. ISBN 978-1-61060-209-9.
  17. ↑ Newark Sunday Call. Newark Sunday Call.
  18. ↑ Hodges, Graham Russell Gao (January 10, 2023). Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-64160-885-5.
  19. ↑ The Pittsburgh Press. The Pittsburgh Press.
  20. ↑ The Pittsburgh Press. The Pittsburgh Press.
  21. ↑ (27 August 1929). Mary, Johnny and Scooter on Parade, Indianapolis Times
  22. ↑ Evening Tribune. Evening Tribune.
  23. ↑ Evening Tribune. Evening Tribune.
  24. ↑ Massa, Steve. Rediscovering Roscoe: The Films of "Fatty" Arbuckle. BearManor Media.
  25. ↑ Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express.
  26. ↑ Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady Gazette.
  27. ↑ Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady Gazette.
  28. ↑ Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express. Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express.
  29. ↑ The Pittsburgh Press. The Pittsburgh Press.
  30. ↑ Reading Eagle. Reading Eagle.
  31. ↑ "Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards". Fold3. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Page 2 WWII Draft Registration Cards". Fold3. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  33. 1 2 Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene Register-Guard.
  34. ↑ "SCOOTER LOWRY hit by car BrooklynDailyEagle12Nov1937 - Newspapers.com". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 12, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ "ELMER LOWRY 9Mar1938 Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Newspapers.com". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 9, 1938. p. 2. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  36. ↑ "ELMER SCOOTER LOWRY in court Brooklyn Daily Eagle". Newspaper.com.
  37. ↑ "The Record American 14 Oct 1953, page 10". Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Vidette-Messenger of Porter County 15 Oct 1953, page 4". Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Anna Lowry DC.jpg". Another Nice Mess. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  40. ↑ "SCOOTERS's death in 1989 - The Little Rascals". Little Rascals Proboards. April 15, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Elmer "Scooter" Lowry". TheLuckyCorner.
  42. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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