Gas House Kids Go West

In New York City's "Gas House" district, rambunctious teenagers Alfalfa, Orvie, Chimp, Scat and Corky are chastised by fatherly Sgt. Timothy Casey for brawling with ballet student Leopold Pulaski. Casey announces that, because of the fight, the boys cannot participate in a basketball tournament, whose first prize is an all-expenses paid vacation at a California ranch. The tournament's understanding sponsor, widow Kitty Crowley, intercedes on the boys's behalf and convinces Casey, a long-standing admirer, to give the gang a second chance. Despite the surprisingly adept playing of a vengeful Leopold, who volunteers for the opposing team, the boys win the tournament. Later, Orvie suggests that, instead of using the $1,000 prize money to buy train tickets, the gang buy a jalopy and drive to California, then donate the leftover cash to charity. When the boys go to buy the jalopy, however, the car dealer offers to let them drive a new convertible to its buyer in California. The boys eagerly accept the deal, unaware that the convertible is stolen. Soon after the gang and the vacationing Casey leave the city, they are stopped by two policemen, who have identified the car's license plates. The unsuspecting Casey inadvertently convinces the junior officer that he has apprehended the car thieves, and the group drives on. Once they arrive in Thousand Oaks, California, Casey and the boys drop the convertible off at Steve Gilkie's car lot, then proceed to the Crowley ranch. There, they meet Kitty's daughter Nan and her fiancé, ranch foreman Jim Kingsley. After Nan takes the boys off to the bunkhouse, Kingsley is met by Steve in the stolen car. Steve, who is Kingsley's slow-witted assistant in various illegal activities, asks to hide the car in the Crowley barn until he can find a buyer for it. At first Kingsley, who is marrying Nan to gain control of the ranch and is phasing out his "penny ante" crimes, refuses to help, but then reluctantly agrees. While Steve covers the car with hay, the boys make their first awkward attempt at riding horses. Alfalfa immediately loses control of his horse and winds up in the barn. There, he overhears Steve tell Kingsley that he is picking up the car that night for a potential buyer. Alfalfa also hears Kingsley's plans to hold a barbeque for the boys in order to keep them away from the barn. Alfalfa sneaks out of the barn and reports his discovery to Casey and the gang. Orvie is then chosen to return to the barn that night and find out the car's motor number. Kitty, convinced that the play-acting Orvie is too sick to attend the barbecue, tells him that Kingsley has posted a ranch hand outside on the porch in case the invalid needs anything. Orvie tricks the ranch hand, however, and while Alfalfa stalls Steve at the barbecue with an endless western song, sneaks to the barn and retrieves the motor number. Meanwhile, at the barbeque, Casey proposes to a receptive Kitty, and Kingsley announces that he and Nan are marrying that Saturday. A few hours before the ceremony, Casey receives a wire from the New York police confirming the motor number as that of a stolen car. Anxious to prevent the marriage and aware that the only way to prove Kingsley's guilt is to catch him receiving another stolen car, the boys arrange with Sheriff Blake to "steal" his private car and sell it to Steve. After Steve hears a radio broadcast detailing the "theft," he rushes the car over to the Crowley barn, begging Kingsley for help. Furious at Steve's stupidity, Kingsley orders three ranch hands to dispose of him, unaware that Casey and the gang are hiding in the hay. Casey and the boys jump Kingsley and his men and begin a furious fight, which is interrupted by the arrival of the sheriff. Kingsley grabs the sheriff's gun and threatens to shoot Casey, but is stopped when Alfalfa drops a load of hay on his head. In the ensuing confusion, all the thieves are apprehended. Later, Casey and Kitty marry, while the boys take turns flirting with the now-available Nan.