Talk:Spanky McFarland

Untitled
The below appears to have been written by a family member:

George Robert Phillips McFarland (Spanky) was born in Dallas, TX on Oct. 2, 1928 - not in Ft. Worth as many bios report. His middle names were family names, Robert after our father; Phillips, our mother's maiden name. George was our father's brother's name. Other bios report his middle name as Emmett - which is our father's middle name. Our brother, Tommy, was also named after our father - Thomas Emmett McFarland. Tommy passed away in 1982, and Spanky suddenly on June 30, 1993 followed by our mother just 30 days later. I am 12 years younger than Spank, 10 years younger than Tommy and 3-1/2 years older than our youngest sibling - Roderick Eugene McFarland. Rod and I are quite close and both try to keep the stories straight about Spank.

Thanks for this opportunity.

Amanda McFarland Hall AHall44787 at cs.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mav (talk • contribs) 02:42, 27 July 2002 (UTC)

Sorry about the birth-death dates mistake Maveric Paul Melville Austin —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.49.196.232 (talk) 14:50, 27 July 2002 (UTC)
 * Oh no! I'm not mad or anything Paul. I just edited the article in the wiki way -- albeit with some more knowlege on how articles look here. This in only due to the fact that I've been around since January and have since become a wikipediholic. Cheers! --mav 14:57 Jul 27, 2002 (PDT)

Hmmm. I see that Talk: pages don't follow redirects, although once they are redirects the only way to get at the talk page is by entering the URL directly. There's some worthwhile discussion on one of the invisible talk pages about honoring Mrs. Hall's exclusive contribution to Wikipedia by quoting it directly.Ortolan88 15:13 Jul 27, 2002 (PDT)
 * If I understand you correctly, you're referring to the fact that a redirect of an *article* does not affect the *talk page* with the same title, if any. That's correct; if you move a page, you should also remember to move the talk page separately if one exists.
 * It's been suggested that the article-move feature be expanded to all users and automatically carry along existing talk pages when moving articles; if you agree or disagree, please post your suggestions as a follow-up to feature request #585583. --Brion VIBBER 15:39 Jul 27, 2002 (PDT)

That's it. Going to the redirect page takes you to the target page, so you have no opportunity to inspect the talk page of the redirected page via the interface, but only via directly entered URL. I'll go to the feature request, but I put the note here in the hopes that someone would see it (tnx), and also that someone would follow up on the pleasant and appropriate suggestion of quoting the text from the family member as it stands. Ortolan88 15:50 Jul 27, 2002 (PDT)
 * Hum, I would be very hesitant to allow somebody who has been a logged-in user for 5 minutes the ability to move a page. It is not at all possible to expect such a person to instantly be familiar with our naming conventions. Therefore this feature should be limited to long-time trusted users who are familiar with our policies and naming conventions.
 * With that said I suggest we re-implement something like "trusted user"status on a 30 day/30 edit (or whatever) basis so that 'old hands' could edit protected pages, move articles and their histories and do any other non-meta sysop functions. --mav —Preceding undated comment added at 16:08, 27 July 2002 (UTC)
 * Actually, you can get to it: when you've followed a redirect, there's a bit under the title that says "Redirected from Oldarticlename". Click on the old name, and you're taken to the old article; you can click the talk link from there.
 * It's possible that the useability of that link isn't obvious enough to people who don't already know it works. --Brion VIBBER —Preceding undated comment added at 16:19, 27 July 2002 (UTC)
 * I didn't notice it, and I'm a pretty hip guy, so it is semi-invisible, but not invisible. The essence of the redirect is not that it was redirected, but that you have gotten to the right place! I made a suggested implementation on the bug site given above, that there should be a link to the old talk page, not a wholesale movement of text, on the grounds that talk page authors have no discipline and god knows what a talk page would look like after being softwarily merged three or four times. Ortolan88 16:43 Jul 27, 2002 (PDT)

Needs references!
nearly the whole thing needs outside references for Mr McFarlands life. Otherwise a pretty decent bio. --Rocksanddirt 21:58, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Did George "Spanky" McFarland ever live in Hemet, California. There is a rather remote ranch house located on a mesa here in Hemet. Local rumor is that Spanky lived there at one time.Denver9 17:56, 30 August 2007

The United States Air Force was established on September 18, 1947; thus, if Spanky joined the Army Air Force, he did so before the age of 24; or, he was born before 1928. -- DJ

 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.171.144.169 (talk) 20:53, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

Something I've wondered about for more than 25 years: In the early 1980's I worked during school vacations for a man in Garland, TX who's best friend was a Tommy McFarland. My co-workers told me that Tommy was the brother of Spanky McFarland. Unfortunately, my boss and Tommy got in a drunken fight one night; Tommy stabbed my boss in the hand with a knife and my boss shot Tommy to death with the handgun he kept in his glove box. Was this Tommy really Spanky's brother? The year that Mrs. Hall mentions for Tommy's death would fit with that incident. It seems that I am too late to ask Mrs. Hall herself - I found this obituary for her: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/obituaries/stories/DN-hallob_29met.ART.State.Edition2.4bb6f97.html. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.213.197.135 (talk) 06:00, 26 September 2009 (UTC)

An interesting question! Using the Social Security Death Index I find the following: MCFARLAND, THOMAS; born 12 Nov 1930, died May 1982, age 51, last Social Security payment 75208 (Dallas, Dallas, TX), Issued in California, SSN 569-18-8140. This appears to be the right one insofar as Texas and California make sense. IMDb has his death date as May 21st 1982 - it matches SSDI's May 1982 date. - Guest — Preceding unsigned comment added by 151.207.246.4 (talk) 15:38, 31 May 2011 (UTC)

I believe George McFarland did live here in Hemet at one time. Years before I moved to Hemet I remember seeing an interview with George McFarland and he told the host he lived in Hemet. The host asked him why he chose Hemet and he only said it was because he liked it there. This would have been after 1966. A friend of mine had a sister who moved here to teach around that time. Prior to that I had never heard of Hemet and the name would not have stuck in my mind. Shortly after moving to Hemet my neighbor on Little Lake Road, began telling me about the town. He pointed to the forest of trees surrounding the estate next to Simpson Park and said that was the home of Spanky. He said he knew the Little Rascals star and that he was easy to recognize around town because of his robust size. George McFarland was often seen around town and in the local restaurants. Since my neighbor grew up in Homeland and has lived here in Hemet now for over 40 years, he would know. After McFarland's death, his son inherited the property and reportedly lived there for a while but I think it has been sold since. Lobalinda (talk) 20:18, 10 September 2013 (UTC)


 * Hi - Spanky's daughter here. Dad never lived in Hemet, CA, and we were living in Oklahoma City in 1966. Sorry... 96.8.130.132 (talk) 21:17, 6 October 2023 (UTC)

Um...can you say vandalism?
I'm not a Spanky expert, but this canNOT be right: " In 1976 George Lucas contacted McFarland to audition for the role of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars. However, never being a fan of science-fiction, McFarland declined the offer.

McFarland continued to make personal appearances and cameo roles in films and television, including an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. He also worked with Billy Sanders in the Phoenix, Arizona region to build a more healthy environment for Marshall Tucker Band fans."

Hunh? May I just delete all of this? Helenabucket (talk) 21:42, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Sorry I tried to enter this explanation in the comments but hit enter and it saved. The part about the Marshall Tucker Band is one of a number of incidents of vandalism by 'Iammikeyman' so I removed it. Look under the edits for "El Arco de Cabo San Lucas" for another example that has been reverted also by someone else. I also doubt the Darth Vader part but don't have time to research it now.

FYI I also looked into the Cheers reference and it is correct according to IMDB. - Anonymous Editor Guy — Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.126.248.6 (talk) 22:00, 12 October 2011 (UTC)

Hi I'm back. I removed the Darth Vader reference because: a) There is nothing on the Internet to back it up. b) Shooting for Star Wars began in March of 1976 so I am inclined to think that casting was earlier than 1976. c) George Lucas preferred to cast unknown actors so likely would not have picked George McFarland. - Anonymous Editor Guy — Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.126.248.6 (talk) 23:23, 12 October 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks! 71.35.103.206 (talk) 15:29, 2 October 2016 (UTC)

Requested move 2 October 2020

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: No consensus for this move  (t &#183; c)  buidhe  20:37, 28 October 2020 (UTC)

George McFarland → George "Spanky" McFarland – Per WP:COMMONNAME. Subject was never known to the public as simply George McFarland nor was he ever billed under that specific name. His stage name was George "Spanky" McFarland or "Spanky" McFarland / Spanky McFarland or simply "Spanky". He was never credited as George McFarland and film sources reference him as George "Spanky" McFarland. Although the use of in Wikipedia's main title headers is usually discouraged, it is permitted per WP:NICKNAME: Avoid adding a nickname, or a contracted version of the original given name(s), in quotes, or parentheses, between first and last name (for example: Bill Clinton, not William "Bill" Clinton), unless it is the form most frequently used in independent reliable sources (see § Middle names and initials). Here are George "Spanky" McFarland's entries in IMDb, American Film Institute Catalog, Turner Classic Movies, AllMovie, TVGuide and Find a Grave. His on-screen billing can be seen in the opening credits of various films, such as General Spanky or Johnny Doughboy. —Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 02:20, 2 October 2020 (UTC) —Relisting. BegbertBiggs (talk) 09:18, 10 October 2020 (UTC) —Relisting. Jerm (talk) 04:06, 21 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment why not Spanky McFarland? Looks like some of those entries use that form.--Ortizesp (talk) 15:18, 10 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment. We don't put nicknames in quotation marks in titles of biography articles. If the article must be moved, it should be moved to Spanky McFarland. Rreagan007 (talk) 15:38, 10 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Comment - pointing out that we have Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, so this request isn't unprecedented. -- Netoholic @ 18:02, 10 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Those should probably be moved to different titles. Rreagan007 (talk) 22:14, 10 October 2020 (UTC)
 * The key phrase, as mentioned in the nomination, is "". While databases inconsistently indicate subject as George "Spanky" McFarland, "Spanky" McFarland or Spanky McFarland, those same databases are consistent in listing Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas via those forms. Thus, for the sake of WP:CONSISTENCY in this case, it would be best to use the full name — George "Spanky" McFarland — rather than simply "Spanky" McFarland (with or without the quotes) — the on-screen billing for all three child actors consistently uses quotation marks, such as here or here for Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer. —Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 02:11, 11 October 2020 (UTC)


 * Support per nom, discussion, and consistency with Buckwheat and Alfalfa. Randy Kryn (talk) 12:12, 21 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose per WP:NICKNAMES. George "Spanky" McFarland is not the most frequently used form. There isn't really a most frequent. If anything, Spanky McFarland seems to be slightly more common.  Bait30   Talk 2 me pls? 02:41, 23 October 2020 (UTC)

Requested move 2 December 2020

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: Consensus to move to Spanky McFarland. There's a broad consensus that the title should contain "Spanky" in one form or another, and this one seems very common and, even with all things equal, more concise. No such user (talk) 13:50, 17 December 2020 (UTC)

George McFarland → Spanky McFarland – Per WP:COMMONNAME. Subject was never known to the public as simply George McFarland nor was he ever billed under that specific name. His stage name was either George "Spanky" McFarland, "Spanky" McFarland, Spanky McFarland or simply "Spanky". Here are McFarland's entries in IMDb, American Film Institute Catalog, Turner Classic Movies, AllMovie, TVGuide and Find a Grave. His on-screen billing can be seen in the opening credits of various films, such as General Spanky or Johnny Doughboy. — Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 23:10, 2 December 2020 (UTC) —Relisting. — Nnadigoodluck  █ █ █ 09:47, 10 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Support per nom.--Ortizesp (talk) 04:37, 3 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Oppose the article should at George "Spanky" McFarland (like we do for several of his castmates). -- Netoholic @ 11:41, 4 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, the George McFarland → George "Spanky" McFarland nomination could not achieve consensus two months ago at Talk:George McFarland, above, where the five participants submitted three comments, one support vote and one oppose vote. Submission of this current nomination has been encouraged by the fact that, among the five participants, three seemed to be expressing willingness to support the form "Spanky McFarland", while the other two participants, including yourself, did not directly oppose it.
 * Unlike Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer and Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, who were primarily or entirely billed under those stage name forms, George "Spanky" McFarland was also billed as simply Spanky McFarland. If this nomination succeeds, he will be at least under his on-screen credited name, but if there is no consensus, he will remain under "George McFarland", a name which is not known to the public and which never appeared in on-screen credits.
 * Of course, if by chance consensus could now be achieved for George McFarland → George "Spanky" McFarland, I would gladly support that form. —Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 04:04, 5 December 2020 (UTC)


 * Support. Spanky McFarland is far more common and is currently a primary redirect to this article. The comparison with other Our Gang members is not really relevant; Only McFarland and Jackie Cooper have Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, and Cooper's is for his other work. Andrewa (talk) 10:54, 10 December 2020 (UTC)
 * The mention of Spanky McFarland's Hollywood Walk of Fame star is much appreciated and here is a link to it. —Roman Spinner (talk • contribs) 00:16, 17 December 2020 (UTC)


 * The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.