June's contract with Universal had expired and the studio chose not to renew it.  In 1929 the talkies were replacing silent films and Hollywood studios were looking for actors with stage training.  Since June lacked such training, major producers made her no offers.  She found herself working for smaller companies like Mascot and Hal Roach's studio.

June appeared as herself in her first sound film, the Charley Chase comedy short FAST WORK (1930).  In addition to being June's first talkie, FAST WORK was her first film for producer Hal Roach.  During the next two years, she would make some well-remembered movies for him. Another early talkie, the cliffhanging serial THE LONE DEFENDER (1930), reunited June with Rin-Tin-Tin.  But they made the picture for Mascot, not Warner Bros., and its low budget showed.  LONE DEFENDER is one of the few June Marlowe films that have remained somewhat accessible to film buffs. Unfortunately, it is not one of her best. Louis Goetten summed up the film thusly: "THE LONE DEFENDER was made on a shoestring budget; hence, it was shot wild (silent), and sound was dubbed in later...it was a miserable job--but good enough for a 'B' serial."

In 1930 June got her best-remembered role, that of the lovely and lovable schoolteacher Miss Crabtree in Hal Roach's Our Gang movies.  Reportedly, the part came to her by chance: one day, while shopping in a Los Angeles department store, June ran into Our Gang's director, Robert McGowan.  He told her that he was looking for someone to play the kids' teacher. Would June be interested?

June with Jackie Cooper and the Gang

June was not one to push herself forward in seeking roles. Louis observed: "In all the years June spent in pictures, she never sought roles. What she did came to her without effort. Had she been more interested she might have had a more distinguished career." Since her return from Europe, June would as soon go horseback riding as capture parts in pictures. But she thought that it would be fun to work with the Our Gang children at Roach's studio. McGowan took her to Roach, who suggested she wear a blond wig to match series star Jackie Cooper's fair hair. The results were pleasing indeed, and Our Gang had their new teacher. June's charms would help to place her six Our Gang films among the series' best. Her first appearance took place in the outstanding TEACHER'S PET (1930). TEACHER'S PET was so good it led to a number of follow-ups or sequels. Miss Crabtree is back in SCHOOL'S OUT (1930), and the very funny LOVE BUSINESS (1931). June enjoyed playing Miss Crabtree and became good friends with the young Cooper, off screen as well as on. He has frequently recalled the very real fondness he felt for her. After shooting, June would drop him off at his home and he was pleased and proud to ride beside her in her shiny new Lincoln Phaeton.

She had no idea at the time that her work in these little films would continue to charm audiences for decades to come. Today the popularity of these shorts has kept them alive in television reruns and on home video, delighting new generations of viewers. June was perfect for her part. She was young and decidedly pretty. Her sincere fondness for the children, her warmth and friendliness, her kindness and good manners all made her liked and respected by the Our Gang kids as well as by young viewers. The Gang liked their teacher because she would always talk to them and really listen to them. Miss Crabtree, for her part, was tolerant and patient no matter what mischief her young pupils were up to. When Jackie Cooper left Roach in 1931 to accept an offer from Paramount, June's role in the series changed.  She finished the series with LITTLE DADDY, SHIVER MY TIMBERS, and READIN' AND WRITIN'.

June as the Warden's daughter in PARDON US

June appeared in one other Hal Roach-MGM film: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's first full-length feature, PARDON US (1931). As the daughter of the prison warden, June is on screen for only a few minutes and has perhaps a dozen words in all to say. Originally, her part was larger. A scene which was filmed and deleted had Stan and Ollie rescuing her from a burning building.

From the De Bote En Bote fire scene,
deleted from the Pardon Us release.

June reportedly did one other feature, DEVIL ON DECK (1932), for a minor studio. Then, at nearly 30 years of age, she chose to relinquish her youthful roles. June retired from films in 1932.

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