Jan Grippo on AllMovie

American producer Jan Grippo was responsible for sanitizing the image of the rough and tumble Bowery Boys. Originally the "Boys," who were first known as the Dead End Kids, were seen as young urban hoodlums with few redeeming qualities, but by the time Grippo finished with them, they were more comical and good-hearted than potential threats to society. Grippo began as a cartoonist for the New York Herald-Tribune Syndicate. In 1937, he went to Hollywood to become an agent. Later he produced over 24 Bowery Boys films.