Alfalfa's Full Name and Character Background
Alfalfa's full name in The Little Rascals is Alfalfa Switzer, and the character is one of the most recognizable figures in the Our Gang / Little Rascals franchise. The name Alfalfa Switzer appears consistently across official credits, cast listings, and the 1995 feature film adaptation. The character is defined by his trademark cowlick, love of singing, and frequent misadventures with the gang. The Our Gang series began in 1922 and was later rebranded as The Little Rascals for television syndication, with Alfalfa Switzer becoming the breakout star of the 1930s episodes.
The character's full name is Alfalfa Switzer, and the actor who portrayed him was Carl Dean Switzer. Carl Switzer was born on August 7, 1927, and appeared as Alfalfa in numerous Our Gang shorts throughout the 1930s. The character's surname Switzer is the same as the actor's real surname, and the role became synonymous with Carl Switzer's early career. The Our Gang shorts were produced by Hal Roach Studios and later distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with Alfalfa Switzer featuring prominently in many of the most memorable episodes.
Actor Carl Switzer and Financial Legacy
Career Earnings and Posthumous Revenue
Carl Switzer earned a modest weekly salary during his Our Gang appearances in the 1930s, with typical rates for child actors at Hal Roach Studios ranging from $50 to $200 per week depending on the era and contract terms. After the series ended, Carl Switzer struggled to secure leading roles and worked sporadically in film and television. The character of Alfalfa Switzer continued to generate revenue through television syndication, home video releases, and licensing deals long after the original shorts ceased production.
The Our Gang / Little Rascals library is currently owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, which acquired the Hal Roach Studios catalog and related assets. The franchise generates ongoing income from streaming licensing, merchandise, and retrospective media packages featuring Alfalfa Switzer and other classic characters. The financial value of the Little Rascals brand is tied to its extensive library of over 200 short films and the enduring recognition of characters like Alfalfa Switzer. For an overview of the broader entertainment rights landscape, see the relevant overview at Forbes coverage of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment and the Hal Roach library.
Little Rascals Franchise and Ownership Structure
Corporate Ownership and Distribution
The Little Rascals franchise is managed through Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, which holds the rights to the Hal Roach Studios library. The company operates as a publicly traded entity under the ticker symbol CSSE on the NASDAQ, and its acquisition of the classic Our Gang shorts expanded its content portfolio significantly. The Alfalfa Switzer character remains one of the most marketable elements of the library, frequently appearing in compilations and licensed merchandise.
Distribution of the Little Rascals content occurs through streaming platforms, digital marketplaces, and traditional broadcast syndication, with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment controlling licensing agreements. The financial model relies on recurring licensing fees, subscription content value, and brand partnerships tied to the recognizable characters including Alfalfa Switzer. The SEC filings for Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment provide detailed financial data on content acquisitions and revenue streams, available at