Olga Edith Therkorn

Biography

Olga was the exuberant and supremely self-confident daughter of a Los Angeles police officer and a strong mother who had aspired in her youth to be a dancer. Olga had been enrolled in one of Hollywood's top dance schools for six years when Hal Roach director, Robert McGowan, contacted the school looking for a pair of performers for a two-reeler he was preparing to produce. Although his description called for younger performers, the irrepressible Olga (age 11) and her dance partner, Billy Farnum (age 12), lobbied their teacher for the opportunity. The film turned out to be the Little Rascals outing, "Mush and Milk". The dance school organized a trip to see the finished product when it screened the following year in Los Angeles. Many of the teachers and students were surprised and disappointed when Spanky McFarland was depicted holding his nose as a negative commentary on the pair's performance, but Olga was completely unfazed and was said to have thoroughly enjoyed seeing herself and Billy performing their routine. Olga did not share her mother's interest in show business but reportedly maintained a very high-energy social life before eventually marrying and having two children.