Allen Clayton Hoskins (August 9, 1920 – July 26, 1980) was an American child actor, who portrayed the character of Farina in 105 Our Gang short films from 1922 to 1931.

His younger sister Jannie also appeared in the series as "Mango" (1926–1929) and Hoskins's aunt, Edith Fortier, was his guardian on set, his parents divorced in 1926.

The Studio was a family affair and often relatives, staff and other Roach Studio stars appeared in cameo roles or as extras in many of the films including Harold Lloyd, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Ernie Morrison's father, Ernie Morrison Sr. and Fern Carter's daughter, Wadell Carter.

In 1929 Hoskins' aunt and guardian on set, Edith Fortier, also appeared as an extra in the films Noisy Noises and Small Talk.

In 1931, Columnist Jack Lait wrote the following in his Highlights of Broadway, from the Circle to the Square column: Have you ever wondered what became of Farina, that little black dish that used to take all the punishment in the Our Gang comedies?

Lemme spill: Eight years ago Allen Clayton Hoskins, dressed as a girl pickaninny started getting bumps and stopping pies.

[7]On the same date, a column, with no byline, was published in The Register of Sandusky, Ohio: A star known the country over at the age of three and now eleven years old, flung on the discard.

While working as actors, all the children attended parties and special events at the studio, including Christmas, when they received any gift they asked for.

[5] In 1926, several newspapers, including one in Lima, Ohio, carried a story about Farina simply because (it was reported) he wanted to quit playing a girl.

Maltin wrote in his book about the excitement when the first talkie by Our Gang was released Simplistic as it may seem, early sound films were advertised as "The marvel of the age!

When Our Gang made a personal appearance tour they broke every record wherever they played- big cities and small... [5]As an indication of Hoskins's popularity, the song "Lil' Farina (Ev'rybody Loves You)," words by Harrison G. Smith and music by Alvano Mier, was published in 1925.

He and Joe Cobb, the original fat boy who lasted eight years are the exception to the four-year rule...[13] After Hoskins grew too old for his part, in 1931, he returned to Roach Studios for several cameo appearances but was not chosen for a long-term role.

... both "Our Gang" and Laurel & Hardy contributed their services to an amazing film called The Stolen Jools - a star-studded short featuring names like Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Buster Keaton, Maurice Chevalier and some fifty others.

The kids are shown slurping ice cream cones on Norma Shearer's front steps...[5]After his career with the Our Gang comedies ended in 1931, Farina and his sister Jannie toured in a vaudeville act accompanied by their mother, Florence Hoskins, in 1932.

Bradburn notes that the girl's instincts were on target as the printed interview with "the doggy pickanins of the movies" was a shambling sometimes condescending affair.

The occasion was special and the newspaper set up "chairs all around" Bradburn goes on to say that "...Lampman made lame attempts to act as if he was trying to keep up the façade of dignified reporter before giving in to a case of the cutes whenever Hoskins flashed a toothy grin..." The engagement began on February 12, 1932, with a Friday night spot as a special attraction at the Imperial Theatre...The next morning they performed at a matinee at the Imperial, then made brief appearances for adoring fans at two Kresge stores..."[15] Many of the original advertisements and photographs are included in this article.

With a voice that Lampan described as "flowing like an old darky melody" she praised the efforts of Scopes Trial Lawyer Clarence Darrow to improve conditions for blacks in America (presumably a reference to the Ossian Sweet case) and believes that her children's generation would overcome prejudice..." Also of interest is an advertisement promoting Farina's singing ability: "...Appearing this week at the Imperial Theatre, [he] will entertain you...singing the sensational hits Home (Where Shadows Fall), Fox Trot and Save the Last Dance for Me,, waltz.

In 1933 Hoskins, along with fellow graduates Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb and Mary Kornman returned to "Our Gang" for an encore appearance in Fish Hooky, but nothing more came of it.

In 1941 Hoskins was stationed at Monterey, California, where a reporter found him: Remember Farina, the kinky haired little "girl" in "Our Gang" comedies of the silent movie days?

[16]In one of her 1945 columns (published in various newspapers including the Lowell Sun) Louella Parsons wrote about Hoskins and other actors who served in World War II.

On the July 24th, 1953 episode of the program You Asked For It that reunited some members of the Our Gang cast, Hoskins explained why he abandoned acting: "I preferred a job that allowed me to eat regular.

A retrospective Associated Press article appeared in an Odessa, Texas, newspaper in 1979: ...During the McCarthy era Hoskins was questioned by the House Unamerican Activities Committee which found that as a teenager, he had attended dances sponsored by the Young Communist League and the Socialist Workers Party.

There he painted houses, washed dishes, "anything to make an honest buck", before entering a training program which led to a job as a Psychiatric Technician and eventually to his present position.

[21]Known to his friends as Al, he and his wife, Franzy, moved in the 1950s to Santa Rosa, where they raised their children and where he began his career in the field of rehabilitation.

The exact date he began working at Sonoma State Hospital, located in Eldridge, California, is not known, but by 1963 he was the Sheltered Workshop Director.

In addition to working full time, he became concerned about the problems of youth in the South Park area of Santa Rosa, where they lived.

In 1966 he appeared in the local paper, The Argus, reporting on the Workshop's effort to seek funding to complete an expansion: "We're using every inch of available space...We think we have a worthwhile program and we'd like the chance to do an even better job and serve more people..."[22]

"Once we have successfully bid on a contract, a plant manager usually is impressed with the quality of our work and the ability of our workers... We believe a job is the glue that holds people together."

Hoskins was still active in his professional rehabilitation career in 1975 when he was chosen, for his work as an actor, to be inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame at the second annual Oscar Micheaux Award ceremony held at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.

Instead the 58-year-old Hoskins said he struggled through years of house painting and dishwashing before landing his present job as Public Information Officer for the Alameda County Chapter of the Association for Retarded Children.