IRON TIPS

Petey: The Little Rascals Dog
Petey became famous as one of the most lovable and recognized dogs in film history.
The Little Rascals (originally called Our Gang) is a short comedy film series created by producer Hal Roach. It's about a group of poor neighborhood children being their adventurous selves. Petey, seen as a nanny dog, is the kids loyal and affectionate companion who protects and entertains them.
The first dog to play Petey in The Little Rascals was an American pit bull terrier named Pal, owned by Harry Lucenay. Many sources say Pal was hired in 1927 and his career ended in 1930 when he died of suspected poisoning by someone with a grudge against Harry.
Pal's puppy Pete replaced him in the show after his death. According to Ted Lucenay, Harry's son who grew up with Pete, "There were other Petes, but this is the original Pete."
Many sources say Pal had a partial ring around his right eye which was made into a complete ring with a permanent dye by Hollywood make-up artist Max Factor, and Pete was given a complete ring around his left eye with make-up. However, according to Ted "The ring around his [Pete's] eye was natural, he was born with that." Tiffany Pifer, Ted's granddaughter, says "The black ring around Pete's left eye was not the work of a makeup artist. The natural skin coloration was such an oddity that it became certified by Ripley's Believe It or Not."
Pete retired from the show in 1932 after Harry was fired from the Hal Roach Studios, but the lovable dog continued to please his fans. The family would spend summers in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Harry would take Pete to the Steel Pier where children and adults could meet him and pose for photographs.
Pete died of old age in 1946 when Ted was 18 years old. Ted said "He was a gentle, playful and warm dog. He would sleep at the foot of my bed. He was just the regular family dog. I really miss him."
The child actors loved working with Pete. Jackie Cooper, who was allowed to take Pete home with him for the weekend, wrote in his autobiography "I loved that dog. To stay a whole weekend with Pete was my idea of glory and paradise combined."
After Pete's retirement, other unrelated dogs were used to play Petey in The Little Rascals, and rings were applied to their eyes, some around the right eye and some around the left eye.

A four-year-old child helping her family pick/dig potatoes, 1931.

The Shambles in York, pictured in 1900, is still one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe. It's a narrow street of mostly timber buildings that date back as far as the 13th Century.

A woman churning milk to butter while reading a book, 1897.

Elizabeth L. Gardner, WASP pilot during WWII, Harlingen Army Air Field, Texas.

Elvis Presley’s visit to radio station WHBQ on March 22, 1957, is a notable moment in Memphis history, reflecting the rock and roll legend’s close ties to his hometown and its people. The station was located in the Hotel Chisca, a prominent building on South Main Street. At the time, WHBQ was already legendary for playing Elvis's debut record “That’s All Right” in 1954, thanks to DJ Dewey Phillips. Dewey, known for his lively and unconventional style, became one of Elvis’s first supporters, introducing his music to wider audiences and helping him transition from a local talent to a national phenomenon. This friendship between Elvis and Dewey was a cornerstone of his early success, as Phillips’ enthusiastic promotion of Elvis’s sound encouraged fans to see him as a transformative new voice in American music.

On that spring day in 1957, fans eagerly gathered outside the Hotel Chisca to catch a glimpse of Elvis as he visited Phillips. The excitement was palpable; Elvis was already a superstar, but he maintained his down-to-earth connection with Memphis, often taking time to visit local spots and interact with fans. His car, a Continental Mark II, symbolized his rising status yet contrasted with his genuine warmth toward the crowd. These types of spontaneous fan encounters were not unusual for Elvis, who, despite his fame, continued to move through Memphis as one of its own. This moment in 1957 captures the essence of Elvis’s relationship with the city, where he was both a revered icon and a familiar face.

Tourist and his car at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Arizona, USA. 1914.

Maryland, 1909...
Photographer's Caption
Three families is the rule in these shacks, one room above and one below, but sometimes four families crowd in. Outdoor dining room at side[?] Maryland. Location: Maryland.
Source
National Child Labor Committee Lewis Hine photographer

The crowds on State Street, Chicago, 1895.

A Ford Model A Pick Up waits for a train to pass at a railroad crossing, 1930.

A family at a tent camp in Washington, 1861.