BY KAMMIE RICHTER
PARIS — Adriene Troise has been intrigued with the “Little Rascals” for some time and the possibility of a curse on the young actors, many of whom died young.
Troise, a native of Queens, N.Y., began to research the character whom she found most interesting: the freckled Alfalfa, who used lard to get his hair to stand up in a cow-lick, and whose real name was Carl Switzer.
Switzer was murdered in 1959 at age 31 in an incident involving a dispute over a hunting dog and $50.
Troise said, “It broke my heart, and I decided to write about it.”
The “Little Rascals” was a series of movie comedies about the escapades of a group of childhood friends, which included boys and girls, and blacks and whites. The series was produced from 1922 until 1944, with more than 40 children who had starred in the various roles.
Troise found that Switzer was born in Paris, Ill., and had lived there until he was 7 years old. Switzer’s parents had wanted Carl and his brother, Harold, to be one of the “Little Rascals.” It had been difficult to find the money to move because it was during the Great Depression, so they had been singing together at the town square and at the sale barn in order to save pennies for the trip. Finally the Switzer family was able to move to Hollywood.
There were no auditions being held for “Little Rascals” at that time, but fate stepped in. One day at a lunch counter, Carl and Harold broke into song. Producer Hal Roach heard them and signed them up as the newest members of the “Little Rascals.”
Movie roles
Switzer had parts in several movies including “The Ten Commandments” as one of the slaves, and “The High and the Mighty” with John Wayne, with Switzer as the co-pilot.
Switzer’s photo was used in “White Christmas.” When Bing Crosby is shown a picture of him, Crosby said he knew him from the military as “freckled-faced Hanes.”
One of Switzer’s most memorable scenes was from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when he turned the key to open the separating gymnasium floor and the dancers fell into the pool.
Switzer had a part in a movie with Tony Curtis titled “The Defiant Ones.” Before the film was released Switzer was shot by Moses “Bud” Stiltz after an argument over a hunting dog.
Troise stopped to interview people in Paris who knew Switzer, and found abundant hospitality in the town, so much that she has been here since August, but will leave in a few weeks.
“Everyone was so nice and invited me to return,” Troise said.
The people of Paris have shared photos of Switzer with his dogs and the “Little Rascals.”
Dane Lindley, a local retired artist, was motivated to finish his painting of Alfalfa since Troise came to town.
Cousin in Tilton
One of Switzer’s cousins — Hila (Laufman) Inman — grew up in Paris and now lives in Tilton. Her mother and Switzer’s father were brother and sister.
Inman, who is almost 72, doesn’t remember spending time with Switzer, as she was younger than he was. When Switzer got older, however, he lived next to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in California, and invited his relatives to come out for fox hunting.
Inman remembers being upset that her mother wouldn’t let the family go to California; the girl wanted to meet the famous movie cowboy and his wife. Later, she wrote to the couple, and still has a letter from them.
Inman is retired from Iroquois Savings and Loan, and now works at Blue Kangaroo, which is owned by her daughter, Julie Rudolph.
Culture shock
Troise has experienced culture shock since she has been in Illinois, as she had never encountered things such as robins, coyotes, biscuits and gravy, and Midwestern storms. One day Troise was offered a ride in a combine.
“As a New Yorker who is used to seeing concrete, seeing the sunset over the harvested field in beautiful orange colors, and being able to see land as far as you can see is breathtakingly beautiful,” she said.
Troise has taken the true story of Alfalfa and turned it into fiction, called “A Turn in the Road.” It explores what might have happened if Switzer had had more positive influences in his life.
Troise’s neighbor in Paris, Pam Dawson, said, “Adriene read the first chapter to me, and it was so intriguing it made me want to come back for Chapter 2.”
Troise’s future endeavors include working on a series of educational games for families. She has been a K-5 math teacher, special education teacher, kindergarten teacher, tutor and poet.
TO HELP
Adriene Troise is seeking a publisher for her book about Carl Switzer, who was Alfalfa in “Little Rascals,” and may be contacted at (347) 753-2625.
