In 1935, a group of young kids, including Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Bernard Punsly, and Gabriel Dell, were hired to star in Sidney Kingsley's New York City Broadway play entitled 'Dead End'. In 1937, Samuel Goldwyn, the founder of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, was impressed by the play and offered the kids film contracts. As a result, the kids embarked on a career-defining transition to Hollywood and formed a group known as the 'Dead End Kids'. In turn, Goldwyn adapted the Broadway play into the motion picture Dead End (1937), directed by William Wyler, with a cast consisting of Humphrey Bogart, Joel McCrea, and Sylvia Sidney. During the production of Wyler’s Dead End, however, the kids caused trouble and began breaking the studio's sets; therefore, Samuel Goldwyn decided to sell the kids’ film contracts to Warner Bros. once production ended. Under their new contracts with Warner Bros., the Dead End Kids were immediately thrown into two motion pictures in 1938. The first Warner’s studio picture the kids worked on was Lewis Seiler's Crime School (1938), alongside Humphrey Bogart for the second consecutive time. The third picture was Michael Curtiz's Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), wherein James Cagney mentored the kids, while Humphrey Bogart played a supporting role.
The same year, four out of the six members of the Dead End Kids—not including Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan—agreed to be hired by Universal Pictures to star in Harold Young's Little Tough Guy (1938). Leo Gorcey's brother, David Gorcey, joined the cast of Little Tough Guy, along with Hal E. Chester. As the picture achieved commercial success, Huntz Hall, Billy Halop, Bernard Punsly, and Gabriel Dell each signed a contract with Universal Pictures to launch a 'Little Tough Guys' film series. Bobby Jordan eventually signed with Universal Pictures to join the film series, while Leo Gorcey remained solely under contract with Warner Bros. At this point in their careers, the group of kids (except for Leo Gorcey) were part of two groups: the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys. Now, the Dead End Kids were still contract players for Warner Bros., so they continued to show up in Warner Bros. studio pictures wherever needed. Thus, in 1939, the Dead End Kids acted alongside John Garfield and Claude Rains in They Made Me a Criminal (1939), their own juvenile delinquency picture, Hell’s Kitchen (1939), as well as Angels Wash Their Faces (1939), and On Dress Parade (1939).
The next part of the kids' movie career is kind of complicated to explain. As their careers progressed, it became harder for the kids to be available at the same time. Some of them might have been working over at Warner Bros., while others were working over at Monogram Pictures Corporation or Universal Pictures. For the sake of the timeline, we will start with the run of Universal Pictures' studio projects that several of Warner Bros.' Dead End Kids worked on. Throughout the early 1940s, Universal required the Dead End Kids (known as Little Tough Guys at Universal) to star in various pictures, but that didn't always go to plan. So, Universal was, therefore, required to use the available kids and place them in crime pictures alongside other contract players. This wasn't a major issue, however, as this group of kids quickly became familiar with one another. It also wasn't the first time most of those kids worked together. Billy Halop and Huntz Hall starred in Call a Messenger (1940) as the Dead Kid Ends, while David Gorcey, Hal E. Chester, Billy Benedict, and Harris Berger filled the remaining roles but were known as Little Tough Guys.
Beginning with Call a Messenger, Universal decided to market their crime pictures as "Billy Halop and Huntz Hall of the Dead End Kids with the Little Tough Guys." This marketing technique continued in You're Not So Tough (1940), a serial film: Junior G-Men (1940), Give Us Wings (1940), Hit the Road (1941), Mob Town (1941), Sea Raiders (1941), another serial film: Junior G-Men of the Air (1942), Tough As They Come (1942), and Mug Town (1942). A variety of these films involved members of the Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys joining together, moving in groups, or otherwise not acting in every film. Sometimes it may have only been two Dead End Kids and one other contract player, such as David Gorcey. The cast never consisted of the same recurring actors who signed with Universal. It was all just a matter of: "If he's available, we'll put him with him and have him in that group, and we also need one more player to fill this role." It was just a bit of chopping and changing wherever needed and wherever possible.
Harkening back to 1940, Sam Katzman, the producer at Monogram Pictures Corporation, desired to construct his own group of tough kids, inspired by the Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys. Therefore, Katzman decided to green-light a newly developed film called East Side Kids (1940), starring two members of the Little Tough Guys: Hal E. Chester and Harris Berger. The rest of the East Side Kids' roles were filled in by various other contract players who worked over at Monogram Pictures. After the release of Monogram Pictures' East Side Kids (1940), Katzman signed Leo Gorcey and Bobby Jordan to star in an East Side Kids film series, starting with Boys of the City (1940). The rest of this group was filled out by David Gorcey, Hal E. Chester, Frankie Burke, Ernest Morrison (also known as Sunshine Sammy), Donald Haines, and Eugene Francis. These were the main East Side Kids.
The films in the East Side Kids series were regarded as 'B-grade pictures'. They were low-budget films. But not to the point where they had no quality at all. The films were just low-budget compared to major Hollywood studio projects. But, then again, Monogram Pictures was a budgeted studio. Their business model wasn't as ambitious or money-oriented as that of Universal Pictures or Warner Bros. The primary purpose of the East Side Kids film series was to showcase each picture as part of a double feature, specifically within theatres that only play double features. So, you may have watched a 60+ minute East Side Kids 'B' picture before a main attraction film began. It was something audiences anticipated on a Saturday morning or afternoon at a movie theatre.
Following Boys of the City, the East Side Kids film series took off, leading to them starring in a collection of Monogram's studio pictures, such as That Gang of Mine (1940), Pride of the Bowery (1940), and Flying Wild (1941). From this point on, Huntz Hall joined the group and became the newest member of the East Side Kids. The first film that Huntz Hall starred in as a member of the gang was Bowery Blitzkrieg (1941). The next picture the gang starred in together was a horror-comedy: Spooks Run Wild (1941). In this picture, the kids worked with Bela Lugosi, a major horror actor who was primarily under contract with Universal Pictures. Gabriel Dell joined the group for their next run of films, consisting of: Mr. Wise Guy (1942), Let's Get Tough! (1942), Smart Alecks (1942), 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge (1942), Kid Dynamite (1943), Clancy Street Boys (1943), another horror-comedy with Bela Lugosi as well as Ava Gardner: Ghosts on the Loose (1943), Mr. Muggs Steps Out (1943), Million Dollar Kids (1944), Follow the Leader (1944), Block Busters (1944), Bowery Champs (1944), Docks of New York (1945), Mr. Muggs Rides Again (1945), and the final East Side Kids picture, Come Out Fighting (1945).
In 1945, Leo Gorcey informed Monogram Pictures Corporation that he desired a higher weekly salary for his role in the East Side Kids film series. Monogram Pictures refused his request, leading Leo Gorcey to leave the group. By which, Gorcey, his agent, Jan Grippo, and Huntz Hall decided to form a production company called ‘Jan Grippo Productions’. Under their new production company, Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall revived the East Side Kids film series at Monogram Pictures Corporation. As well as reviving the series, they revamped the film series, renaming it ‘Leo Gorcey and The Bowery Boys’. Gorcey led the group along with Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan, Billy Benedict, and David Gorcey. Those were the main members of the group. William Frames started as a main member of the group in The Bowery Boys' first picture, Live Wires (1946), but it was temporary. It was in their next picture, In Fast Company (1946), that David Gorcey permanently filled that role.
Throughout the film series, each main member of the group played the same character. Leo Gorcey played 'Slip Mahoney', Huntz Hall played 'Sach Jones', Bobby Jordan was given his own name, 'Bobby', for his character, William Benedict was known as 'Whitey', and David Gorcey was referred to as 'Chuck'. Gabriel Dell also had recurring performances within the series. He was known as 'Gabe Moreno'. But he didn't join until a little while into the series. Eventually, he was classed as a main member of the group. Additionally, Bennie Bartlett played the role of 'Butch', a key member of the gang until Buddy Gorman replaced him.
After In Fast Company, Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys starred in a long run of pictures together, which consisted of: Bowery Bombshell (1946), Spook Busters (1946), Mr. Hex (1946), Hard Boiled Mahoney (1946), News Hounds (1947), and Bowery Buckaroos (1947), Bobby Jordan's last film with the group. The remaining kids went on to star in Angels' Alley (1948), Jinx Money (1948), Smugglers' Cove (1948), Trouble Makers (1948), Fighting Fools (1949), Hold That Baby! (1949), Angels in Disguise (1949), Master Minds (1949), Blonde Dynamite (1950), Lucky Losers (1950), Triple Trouble (1950), Blues Busters (1950), Bowery Battalion (1951), Ghost Chasers (1951), Let's Go Navy! (1951), Crazy Over Horses (1951), Hold That Line (1952), Here Come the Marines (1952), Feudin' Fools (1952), and the final "Monograms Pictures Corporation production" (as the production company changed its name to Allied Artists Pictures) of the series: No Holds Barred (1952). Under their new name, Allied Artists Pictures continued to produce and distribute the film series for the boys. Their remaining pictures included Jalopy (1953), Loose in London (1953), Clipped Wings (1953), and Private Eyes (1953).
Additional films in the series were made under Allied Artists; however, the group name for the boys was slightly altered from this point on. Huntz Hall's name was eventually added to the group's title alongside Leo Gorcey's. Therefore, in Paris Playboys (1954), the group was known as Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and The Bowery Boys. This continued through films such as: The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters (1954), Jungle Gents (1954), Bowery to Bagdad (1955), High Society (1955), Spy Chasers (1955), Jail Busters (1955), Dig That Uranium (1955), and the final film of the series starring Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall: Crashing Las Vegas (1956). Following their run of serial films, Gorcey once again departed from the group, which became permanent. Gorcey was dealing with major life issues as well as difficulties accepting his weekly salary. There was no other way for his salary to be increased. If he created another production company and owned more than 40% of it (as he owned 40% of Jan Grippo Productions), or hypothetically had enough money to buy Allied Artists Productions single-handedly, he may have received a higher salary. But his money wasn't landing at any production company; it was landing on top of liquor store counters. Thus, he was in no condition to continue with the series long-term, even if he did receive a salary increase. At best, he may have been able to continue with the series for an additional year. However, he wouldn't have been doing himself any favours or his audience any favours.
With Gorcey now out of the series, Huntz Hall became the leader of the group. Therefore, for the final time, the group’s name was altered, becoming 'Huntz Hall and the Bowery Boys'. In Hall's group, there were only four members. The first film he starred in as the sole group leader was Fighting Trouble (1956), accompanied by Stanley Clements, David Gorcey, and Danny Welton. However, in their next film, Hot Shots (1956), Jimmy Murphy filled in for Stanley Clements. In their next picture, Stanley Clements and Jimmy Murphy acted together, with Danny Welton being replaced. Hold That Hypnotist (1957) introduced Eddie LeRoy as 'Blinky', with the group expanding to five members, acting in Spook Chasers (1957) and Looking for Danger (1957). But the group was back down to four members when Up in Smoke (1957) began production. The alterations didn’t negatively impact the group for a long period, anyway, as Huntz Hall's Bowery Boys only had a seven-picture run. By these means, their last picture in the series was entitled In the Money (1958). This picture shows Huntz Hall, Stanley Clements, David Gorcey, and Eddie LeRoy causing trouble together in London. It was the 48th film in the entire Bowery Boys series.
When examining the groups, it is clear that the Dead End Kids were most effective in the late 1930s, while the Little Tough Guys and the East Side Kids were at their best in the early 1940s. The Bowery Boys, however, were not of the same quality as the other groups, although they had longevity, which is something the other groups did not possess. The Bowery Boys ran for a long time. Their longevity was what really mattered - at least, at the time. The influence of each group was fundamental not only to the kids' careers but also to each major studio's success. The group that stood out among them all was the Dead End Kids. That group was of a high quality. Not just in terms of the members, but in terms of the pictures they were making over at Warners. Those pictures are regarded as landmark American films. If it wasn't for Universal hiring the kids, they could have made more crime pictures with Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney. Warners put the kids up against major Hollywood stars, which made for serious motion pictures, not in the same vein as the serial films that the kids transitioned into.
The film series belonging to the Little Tough Guys, the East Side Kids, and the Bowery Boys were slightly different. They were bankable studio products, except for the first film that started the Little Tough Guys group, which can be placed alongside Warner Bros.' Dead End, as both pictures saw Billy Halop play a troubled kid acting out and committing crimes, leading to him being on the run from the cops. In both pictures, he is mentored by his older sister, who had a romance with a man that she grew up with. Meanwhile, the rest of the kids tried to help Billy Halop's character by attempting to distract the cops and helping his sister hide her brother. Dead End can be taken more seriously than Little Tough Guy, but both pictures stand on their own from the film series.
Every kid in every group, whether they were a main member, a supporting member, or a member that filled a role now and again, had a ruthless attitude. Their morals were questionable, as it took a mentor to straighten them out. The kids just wanted to run their neighbourhoods and town. They didn't care who stood in their way. Nobody was an obstacle to them. They may have enjoyed acting like criminals and may have gotten away with a lot of crimes, but there came a point when they were up against the cops, and they just had to know where the line was, as well as what it would mean for their future - though they didn't always think of the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, having a group of tough kids star in a film series became a major trend. It was a trend that various major Hollywood studios desired. Columbia Pictures had something close in their crime pictures, but they never had what Warner Bros. or Universal Pictures had. Even Universal Pictures didn't have what Warner Bros. had with their 'Dead End Kids' series, but they were the closest out of any film studio.