Listened to Carl Switzer as Alfalfa on YouTube. Not the right voice. But I have seen Switzer in two movies in the past few days. He plays the boy who opens the dance floor over the pool in Its a Wonderful Life, and his photo is used as Dog Face Haynes the Haynes sisters’s brother.
A while ago someone suggested hearing the gravelly croaky voice of a child actor from early films. I can hear it, but cannot recall the actor/character’s name. From Our Gang or similar series?
I love your Crabgrass tale.