Dorothy DeBorba (1925 - 2010)

Paul E. Gierucki · Post by **Paul E. Gierucki** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:26 pm

From the WAY OUT WEST Tent Newsletter:

We are saddened to report the passing of longtime Way Out West and Our Gang member Dorothy de Borba. She has long suffered from emphysema and lung disease, and finally succumbed to her illness on June 2nd. For those who didn't know Dorothy, she played "Echo" in Hal Roach's Our Gang shorts. Dorothy became a member of the Sons of the Desert in 1980, loyally attending banquets in Los Angeles and International Conventions until her health longer allowed her to travel. She was planning on attending the International Convention in Sacramento, which will take place in two weeks. Dorothy will be cremated and there will be no service, but donations may be made in her name to the American Lung Association.

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:06 pm

Aww, RIP.

Wasn't she in the short when the gang was doing Julius Caesar and Norman Chaney was Nero?

Jack Theakston · Post by **Jack Theakston** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:21 pm

I was fortunate to meet Ms. DeBorba once (aside from Tommy Bond, the only other Our Gang member I think I ever did meet).

Is that the last of the Our Gang kids?

Paul E. Gierucki · Post by **Paul E. Gierucki** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:46 pm

Jackie Cooper, Dickie Moore, Mickey Gubitosi (Robert Blake), Jean Darling, Mildred Kornman, Jerry Tucker, Jackie Lynn Taylor, Marianne Edwards and Leonard Landy. There might be a few other incidental players, but this is about it.

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:02 pm

Very sad. Has Jackie Cooper ever participated in any Our Gang commemorative stuff?

Paul E. Gierucki · Post by **Paul E. Gierucki** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:03 pm

I was fortunate to have meet several Our Gangers over the years -- mostly by way of the Sons of the Desert -- including George "Spanky" McFarland, Dorothy DeBorba, Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison, Jean Darling, Eugene "Pineapple" Jackson, Jerry Tucker, Tommy Bond, and Eugene "Porky" Lee. Sadly, most are gone now.

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:07 pm

I met Spanky along with Hal Roach back in '92. Just months later, both were gone. I can't help but feel a little bit responsible. I also met Cary Grant and Gene Kelly, who each died shortly thereafter. I still have my ticket stub to New Years Eve with Ricky Nelson on that fateful night. Now you know why I never go to the Ray Courts Celebrity Shows.

boblipton · Post by **boblipton** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:13 pm

I've got a couple of ex-partners I'd like you to meet, Jim

Bob

drednm · Post by **drednm** » Thu Jun 03, 2010 2:58 pm

Wasn't Elaine Stritch in the Our Gang shorts?

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Fri Jun 04, 2010 4:56 am

I always liked Ozzie Nelson's music & the TV series(as The Nelson's due to the ads over titles in the US version) played for ever on our TV from the beginning(normal TV programming from Jan 1957 after the 1956 Olympics in my Hometown). Ricky played probably his last outside-USA gigs at a nightspot around the corner from my home of the past 50+ years before he was killed which is still a popular venue for local & imported acts although most of the fare is not my type. The cops love having breath testings near the venue. Now called The Sandbelt it used to be called Southside Six, obviously a play on words of the TV series Surfside Six that was very popular here at the time this place went up.