McGowan moved to California in the 1910s and made the acquaintance of Hal Roach, an aspiring film producer who opened his own studio in 1914.

McGowan was a natural with kids, and knew how to explain scenes and comic business to his young charges to elicit convincing performances out of them.

His favorite Our Gang kids were Allen "Farina" Hoskins, Mary Kornman, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, and George "Spanky" McFarland, whom McGowan declared a "natural".

McGowan's daughter Jerry was an actress and dancer herself; she would often sit in on Our Gang story meetings and appears onscreen in Shivering Shakespeare.

McGowan left Our Gang in 1933 due to the strain of dealing with stage mothers and additional hassles involved with directing child stars.