Chasing a Myth Down Buffalo Street: Did The Little Rascals Film in Ithaca?

• Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY‑SA 4.0

There’s a charming bit of local folklore that many longtime Ithacans have heard: that a scene from The Little Rascals—or Our Gang, as it was originally known—was filmed right here on the steep slope of Buffalo Street, with kids careening downhill in soapbox cars or wagons.

It’s a fun image. It fits perfectly with the classic Rascals vibe: high jinks, hill races, and childlike chaos. But is it true?

The Truth Behind the Tale

As much as we might wish it were real, the story of The Little Rascals filming in Ithaca is, unfortunately, just a myth.

The short films that made up the Our Gang series were all produced by Hal Roach Studios, based in Culver City, California. Every episode—spanning from the silent era in the 1920s through the 1940s—was shot in or around the studio lot in Southern California. In fact, Roach himself once joked that you could count the number of palm trees in an Our Gang short, and that would be your proof it wasn’t filmed in upstate New York.

So where did this myth come from?

Roots in Real Film History

While The Little Rascals never rolled down Buffalo Street, Ithaca does have a real place in early film history. In the 1910s, long before Hollywood became synonymous with filmmaking, Ithaca was home to Wharton Studios. Situated in what is now Stewart Park, Wharton produced silent serials like The Exploits of Elaine and The Perils of Pauline, attracting stars and film crews to our scenic gorges and downtown streets.

It’s likely that this authentic legacy helped fertilize the myth. Over time, memories blur and stories evolve. Mix in the steep, cinematic incline of Buffalo Street and the city’s reputation as an early filmmaking hub, and it’s easy to see how a legend was born.

Why We Love the Legend

Local legends like this one are part of what gives Ithaca its character. Even though the story isn’t factually true, it reflects our community’s pride in its place in film history—and our affection for a good story.

So the next time someone tells you that The Little Rascals shot a scene here, you can smile and say, “Not quite—but did you know about Wharton Studios?”

Want more local legends, hidden histories, and whimsical truths?

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