On George W. Peck and the “Peck’s Bad Boy” Phenomenon

Hennery steals a pickle

We’ve had numerous occasions on which to mention the pop culture phenomenon of Peck’s Bad Boy, which was vital roughly from 1880 to 1940, in newspaper columns, books, stage plays, films, comic books, merch, popular songs, etc.

Who’s “Peck” when he’s at home? Why George W. Peck (1840-1916), a Wisconsin newspaper publisher, editor, humorist, and politician. He based his character of Hennery (Henry) Peck on a local telegraph messenger boy he knew in Milwaukee, and introduced him in newspaper humor pieces in the late 1870s. For some context, Mark Twain had given the world Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in 1876. And there were some other “Bad Boy” characters out there, hence Peck’s stubborn inclusion of his authorial surname in the branding of his books. It’s like saying, “Peck — your only authorized Bad Boy dealer!” The difference between Hennery and all the other “Bad Boys” in books was the DEPTH and BREADTH of the boy’s badness. Tom and Huck had some shame and invariably repented whatever damage or hurt they caused. Hennery Peck was the kind of rotten little punk who regrets being punished for his misdeeds, but that’s about the extent of it. He plays pranks, steals, gets in fights, and is an all around Holy Terror. These kinds of stories allowed readers to revel in the humorous destruction, and then to savor Hennery’s comeuppance. These were the days of corporal punishment. I’d say things were less gentle back then, but were they?

A series of popular books starring Peck’s Bad Boy were published between 1879 and 1908. It was first adapted for the stage by Charles Pidgin (1844-1923) in 1883. For around 30 years, these plays were staples of stock theatre productions all over the country. There were the official licensed productions by the Atkinson Comedy Company, but there were also numerous pirated productions by Daniel (Dan) Sully and others. As anyone who’s ever seen Yankee Doodle Dandy knows, young George M. Cohan first came to fame in the role of Hennery in an 1891 production, and took many beatings from local kids as a result. Harry Kelly had played him onstage as well. It seems likely that Peck’s Bad Boy was an influence on the Three Keatons’ vaudeville act as well.

The character inevitably made its way to the silver screen. There are several short “Bad Boy” films dating back as early as 1897, though it’s impossible to determine how attributable they are to the Peck character. But Peck lived long enough to see Biograph’sThe Bad Boy and the Groceryman (1905) and Essanay’sPeck’s Bad Boy (1908). Mabel Normand played a female version in Peck’s Bad Girl in 1918. Inevitably, Jackie Coogan played the lead in a 1921 movie version directed by Sam Wood. The first talkie was directed by Eddie Cline in 1934 and starred Jackie Cooper. And RKO made Peck’s Bad Boy with the Circus, starring Tommy Kelly in 1938.

There was a Peck’s Bad Boy radio serial in 1931, though little has been recorded about it.

Lastly, there was a late outlier, but a delightful one. Patty McCormack, the girl from The Bad Seed, starred in a 1959 television sit-com version of Peck’s Bad Girl, with Wendell Corey and Marsha Hunt as her parents. This sounds like a stroke of genius but it only lasted a single season.

Why didn’t the phenomenon last longer? Why weren’t there, say, later movie and tv reboots? Perhaps because there was similar product to hand (e.g. The Little Rascals, Leave it to Beaver, etc). Maybe it’s because by the 1960s ALL the children seemed bad, and producers didn’t want to encourage juvenile delinquency? Bart Simpson, by the way, is Peck’s Bad Boy TO THE LETTER.

We’ve buried a key piece of information, on purpose. George Peck wasn’t just a newspaperman and humorist. In 1890 he was elected Mayor of Milwaukee, and from 1891 to 1895 he served as Governor of Wisconsin! I wonder if he ever exchanged notes with Governor Lew Wallace? Both men were governors, best-selling authors, and Civil War veterans! Connections enough for a very small club!

Peck ran for Governor again as late as 1904, but he was beaten by Fighting Bob La Follette, and who can regret that? Peck died in 1916 of Bright’s Disease, which we now identify as nephritis.

For much more about George W. Peck and Peck’s Bad Boy see the terrific dedicated websitehere.

For more on the history of show business,consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, for more on silent and early cinema please check out my book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube.