A kiddie short ?

The entire rascals weren't classified as kiddie shorts they were used in movies as for the general audience. Even taking one short away wouldn't deter them from being for a general audience. I have heard many times that this short would scare some kids who were in a play at school as they would think what happened to Spanky's mother would happen to there mother. On the other had i'll bet many a kid sitting in a school play wanted this ending to happen to some pretty mommy.

In general I've heard what you said told to me many times over the years , as many others also believed what you do. But all the Our Gang comedies were for a general audience and not slated for a children's market. Later on when they were sold to King world and aimed at a children's TV audience then it became strictly for children. I am very surprised that no one ever complained about "BL" as it did seem to have a plot that would certainly not be appropriate for kids. I have never heard of any parental group saying that "BL" should not be aired.

This definitely was not for kids, but personally I felt sorrier for Daisy than I did for Spanky's mother. How could they laugh at a poor little sweet girl like that? I think I even heard some applaud. That was sadistic and totally unnecessary. I saw this short on You-tube for the first time yesterday, near the end, and I felt very sorry for Spanky, but I re-watched it and he told the gang to "give him the works", so he would not have to do that ever again. The audience also probably just thought it was just show, but still, seems pretty frightening for someone who has stage fright and cannot understand or take in heckling. Seems pretty cruel to do that to children. Honestly, in comparison, I did not feel sorry for the mother at all, she got what she deserved.

I don't think it's so scary; it certainly shows Spanky's mother to be a stupid, vain woman who deserves to be exposed in front of an audience--and, according to what appears in the Quotes section, very likely she could have appeared on stage in front of the audience in brassiere and panties--if she even wore them in the first place!

Kids were included among the general audience instead of being consigned to innocuous "kid-friendly" shows like nowadays. They're more resilient than we give them credit for.