Paul Colt's Blog, page 36
October 20, 2018
Tim McCoy
Seduced by a traveling Wild West Show, Tim McCoy dropped out of college and headed west. He found ranch work in Wyoming, embracing the western life style. He became an expert horseman, competitive roper and student of Native American language and culture. His cowboy days were interrupted by WW I, where he distinguished himself in the fledgling Army Air Corps. Later in WW II he would rise to the rank of colonel and brevet brigadier general at the tender age of twenty eight.
In 1923 Hollywood called for the first time. Casting for the film The Covered Wagon called for a large number of Native American extras. McCoy was hired to apply his fluency in Indian sign language to assist in direction. Later he led a smaller Native American group in a stage presentation introduction to early screenings of the film in Hollywood. While he returned to Wyoming his handsome good looks were noticed. In 1926 he signed a contract with MGM to do a film series. Cast in his first feature War Paint, a star was born.
In 1929 Tim hit the serial circuit with Universal before moving on to Columbia. There he turned out oaters literally by the dozens, highlighted by a 1932 role in Two Fisted Law alongside John Wayne and Walter Brennan. McCoy took a time out from film making in 1936 to tour with his own Wild West Show. It didn’t take long for the show to go broke. By 1938 Tim was back in the B Western business, doing eight films a year at $4,000.00 a week. In 1941 McCoy joined Buck Jones in Jones’ The Rough Riders series. The Rough Riders hit it big for Monogram Pictures until WW II interrupted McCoy’s career, effectively putting an end to his film work.
Colonel Tim McCoy’s contributions to western film earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Great Western Performers. Tim McCoy died at Fort Huachuca military hospital in Arizona in 1978 at the age of 86. He is buried in the family plot in Saginaw, Michigan.
Next Week: Ken Maynard
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Paul
In 1923 Hollywood called for the first time. Casting for the film The Covered Wagon called for a large number of Native American extras. McCoy was hired to apply his fluency in Indian sign language to assist in direction. Later he led a smaller Native American group in a stage presentation introduction to early screenings of the film in Hollywood. While he returned to Wyoming his handsome good looks were noticed. In 1926 he signed a contract with MGM to do a film series. Cast in his first feature War Paint, a star was born.
In 1929 Tim hit the serial circuit with Universal before moving on to Columbia. There he turned out oaters literally by the dozens, highlighted by a 1932 role in Two Fisted Law alongside John Wayne and Walter Brennan. McCoy took a time out from film making in 1936 to tour with his own Wild West Show. It didn’t take long for the show to go broke. By 1938 Tim was back in the B Western business, doing eight films a year at $4,000.00 a week. In 1941 McCoy joined Buck Jones in Jones’ The Rough Riders series. The Rough Riders hit it big for Monogram Pictures until WW II interrupted McCoy’s career, effectively putting an end to his film work.
Colonel Tim McCoy’s contributions to western film earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Great Western Performers. Tim McCoy died at Fort Huachuca military hospital in Arizona in 1978 at the age of 86. He is buried in the family plot in Saginaw, Michigan.
Next Week: Ken Maynard
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Paul
October 13, 2018
Lash LaRue
When we did our series on Cowboy Heroes last year, we got a lot of requests to include Lash LaRue. He certainly had his fans. As the western genre goes, he fits more naturally in the ‘B’ Western bin. Born Alfred LaRue (doesn’t quite have the ring does it?) in Gretna, Louisiana, the family moved to L. A. where Al took to film work at age 27. He had a street-tough demeanor and voice to rival Humphrey Bogart. You wouldn’t think that set him up for western stardom; but producer director Bob Tansey did; or at least eventually did.
In 1945 Tansey needed a side-kick to cast opposite singing cowboy star Eddie Dean. He thought Al LaRue, as he was then known, fit the part; but he wanted an actor who could handle a bull whip. Out of an abundance of desire for the part and a paucity of truth, LaRue told Tansey he could wield a whip. What could be so hard about throwing a whip right? Al rented a whip and started practicing, soon discovering the whipper could also become a whippee. Al figured he’d be fired as soon as Tansey exposed his fib. Al did really well acting the role of the Cheyenne Kid, prompting Tansey to offer him a three film deal at three times his salary. At that Al confessed, showing Tansey the wounds from his self-inflicted flogging. It struck the director as funny. Al kept the part, got a new contract and a bull whip coach he put to good use.
Al did eight films as the Cheyenne Kid before getting his own series in 1948. He evolved his ‘man in black’ character, leading to the Lash LaRue screen name familiar to us now. He did eleven ‘B’ Western films from ’48 – ’51. During this period he made frequent personal appearances at local theaters where his films were featured. LaRue’s on screen success spawned a line of western comic books many of us remember. More than a hundred issues were published between 1949 and 1961, selling millions of copies around the world.
Lash LaRue’s later career toyed with a few TV guest-star roles, but personal appearances were the bread and butter of his professional life in those years. He frequently visited western film festivals where his pleasant and friendly personality became a fan favorite. Lash LaRue died of emphysema in 1996 at the age of seventy-eight.
Next Week: Tim McCoy
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Paul
In 1945 Tansey needed a side-kick to cast opposite singing cowboy star Eddie Dean. He thought Al LaRue, as he was then known, fit the part; but he wanted an actor who could handle a bull whip. Out of an abundance of desire for the part and a paucity of truth, LaRue told Tansey he could wield a whip. What could be so hard about throwing a whip right? Al rented a whip and started practicing, soon discovering the whipper could also become a whippee. Al figured he’d be fired as soon as Tansey exposed his fib. Al did really well acting the role of the Cheyenne Kid, prompting Tansey to offer him a three film deal at three times his salary. At that Al confessed, showing Tansey the wounds from his self-inflicted flogging. It struck the director as funny. Al kept the part, got a new contract and a bull whip coach he put to good use.
Al did eight films as the Cheyenne Kid before getting his own series in 1948. He evolved his ‘man in black’ character, leading to the Lash LaRue screen name familiar to us now. He did eleven ‘B’ Western films from ’48 – ’51. During this period he made frequent personal appearances at local theaters where his films were featured. LaRue’s on screen success spawned a line of western comic books many of us remember. More than a hundred issues were published between 1949 and 1961, selling millions of copies around the world.
Lash LaRue’s later career toyed with a few TV guest-star roles, but personal appearances were the bread and butter of his professional life in those years. He frequently visited western film festivals where his pleasant and friendly personality became a fan favorite. Lash LaRue died of emphysema in 1996 at the age of seventy-eight.
Next Week: Tim McCoy
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Paul
October 6, 2018
Rocky Lane
Allen Rocky Lane was first discovered by Fox Films, the production company that would later become 20th Century Fox. He appeared in twenty four films between 1929 and 1936 for Fox and Warner Brothers. RKO cast him in his first western, 1938’s Law West of Tombstone. Followed soon after by his first career at Republic Pictures.
In 1940 Republic cast him Mounty Sergeant David King in the serial King of the Royal Mounted. It became the first in a series of films about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police character. Other titles included The Yukon Patrol and 1942’s King of the Mounties. In 1946 Republic moved Lane into the role of Red Ryder along with Little Beaver co-star Robert Blake. They would make seven films together based on the comic-strip characters. In his second Republic career Rocky Lane would make more than thirty B Western films from 1947 to 1953, mounted on his signature horse Black Jack. These were followed by a series of western films with Lane assuming a different character role in each picture. With the rise of TV, Lane’s popularity translated into guest appearances on TV westerns, including Cheyenne, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Lawman, Bronco, Colt .45, Tales of Wells Fargo and Wagon Train.
Lane had the capacity to rub folks he worked with the wrong way. He was a perfectionist with an ego to match and a penchant for upstaging a scene. He had his defenders too. They point out he could kick back after work and be sociable. He was known to make unannounced voluntarily visits to children’s hospitals. Alan Young, Mr. Ed’s human co-star got along fine with Lane, who helped develop riding skills he lacked in the role. Alan Rocky Lane passed away October 27, 1973 at age 64, suffering from cancer.
Next Week: Lash LaRue
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Paul
Photo-art by Jim Hatzell
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fddlers...
In 1940 Republic cast him Mounty Sergeant David King in the serial King of the Royal Mounted. It became the first in a series of films about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police character. Other titles included The Yukon Patrol and 1942’s King of the Mounties. In 1946 Republic moved Lane into the role of Red Ryder along with Little Beaver co-star Robert Blake. They would make seven films together based on the comic-strip characters. In his second Republic career Rocky Lane would make more than thirty B Western films from 1947 to 1953, mounted on his signature horse Black Jack. These were followed by a series of western films with Lane assuming a different character role in each picture. With the rise of TV, Lane’s popularity translated into guest appearances on TV westerns, including Cheyenne, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Lawman, Bronco, Colt .45, Tales of Wells Fargo and Wagon Train.
Lane had the capacity to rub folks he worked with the wrong way. He was a perfectionist with an ego to match and a penchant for upstaging a scene. He had his defenders too. They point out he could kick back after work and be sociable. He was known to make unannounced voluntarily visits to children’s hospitals. Alan Young, Mr. Ed’s human co-star got along fine with Lane, who helped develop riding skills he lacked in the role. Alan Rocky Lane passed away October 27, 1973 at age 64, suffering from cancer.
Next Week: Lash LaRue
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Ride easy,
Paul
Photo-art by Jim Hatzell
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fddlers...
September 29, 2018
Buck Jones
Born in Vincennes Indiana December 12, 1891, Buck Jones enlisted in the United States Army in 1907 at age sixteen. He was assigned to the 6th Cavalry and served in the Philippines during the Moro Rebellion. He was wounded in combat and honorably discharged in 1909.
Jones found his way to the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma where he worked as a cowboy before moving on to work in a Wild West Show. There he met and fell in love with professional horse woman Dell Osborne. They married during a show performance in 1915. Soon after, with Dell pregnant, Buck decided to give up the traveling show and seek employment in film work.
He broke in as a stuntman and bit player at Universal pictures. More stunt work followed at Canyon Pictures. William Fox, owner of Fox Film hired Buck to back-up Tom Mix. This would lead to his first starring role in 1920. By 1925 Buck, along with Tom Mix and Hoot Gibson was one of the top cowboy actors. The advent to talkies dampened the market for westerns temporarily. Buck signed with Columbia Pictures, then a B feature studio. Buck’s voice worked in talk film. During the thirties he made B Westerns for Columbia and Universal, until singing cowboys became the box office attraction.
Buck made a comeback at Columbia in 1940 with the hit serial White Eagle. He followed this with his final series, The Rough Riders paired with Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton. The series was the brainchild of Scott R. Dunlap, VP Production at Monogram Pictures. The series was produced in 1941 and 1942 until the outbreak of WW II brought the series to an end.
On November 28, 1942, while attending a party at Cocoanut Grove in Boston as guest of honor, Buck Jones suffered burns in a tragic fire. His injuries would prove fatal two days later. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Next Week: Rocky Lane
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Paul
Jones found his way to the 101 Ranch in Oklahoma where he worked as a cowboy before moving on to work in a Wild West Show. There he met and fell in love with professional horse woman Dell Osborne. They married during a show performance in 1915. Soon after, with Dell pregnant, Buck decided to give up the traveling show and seek employment in film work.
He broke in as a stuntman and bit player at Universal pictures. More stunt work followed at Canyon Pictures. William Fox, owner of Fox Film hired Buck to back-up Tom Mix. This would lead to his first starring role in 1920. By 1925 Buck, along with Tom Mix and Hoot Gibson was one of the top cowboy actors. The advent to talkies dampened the market for westerns temporarily. Buck signed with Columbia Pictures, then a B feature studio. Buck’s voice worked in talk film. During the thirties he made B Westerns for Columbia and Universal, until singing cowboys became the box office attraction.
Buck made a comeback at Columbia in 1940 with the hit serial White Eagle. He followed this with his final series, The Rough Riders paired with Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton. The series was the brainchild of Scott R. Dunlap, VP Production at Monogram Pictures. The series was produced in 1941 and 1942 until the outbreak of WW II brought the series to an end.
On November 28, 1942, while attending a party at Cocoanut Grove in Boston as guest of honor, Buck Jones suffered burns in a tragic fire. His injuries would prove fatal two days later. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Next Week: Rocky Lane
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Paul
September 22, 2018
Kirby Grant
Most of us know Kirby Grant from his TV role as Sky King. Arizona rancher and aviator, King flew to a rescue or encounter with bad guys assisted by his niece Penny (Gloria Winters) or nephew Clipper (Ron Hagerthy). Two planes filled the role of the Songbird over the course of the series, a ‘Bamboo Bomber’ Cessna T-50 Grant is said to have owned; and later a Cessna 310B on loan from Cessna for promotional consideration. King’s TV Flying Crown Ranch, mirrored Grant’s California ranch home, complete with private air strip.
Kirby Grant got his start acting at RKO Pictures appearing under the stage name Robert Stanton. He soon moved on to Republic Pictures where he took his Kirby Grant handle into supporting roles in the studio’s Three Mesquiteers film series, starring John Wayne. Along the way he sprinkled non-western films into his repertoire. In 1943 he appeared with Johnny Mack Brown in a Monogram film The Stranger from Pecos.
He caught a lead role at Universal in 1944 for what would be the studio’s last western series. Universal released Bad Men of the Border in 1945. Grant goes undercover to break-up a counterfeit ring. Later that year came Code of the Lawless followed by Trail to Vengeance in which Grant avenges his brother’s murder.
Monogram/United Artists lured Grant back to their studio for a series based on a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer assisted by Chinook the Wonder Dog. These films have the feel of inspiration for the later TV series Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. Trail of the Yukon, Call of the Klondike, Yukon Vengeance, Northwest Territory, Northern Patrol, Snow Dog, and Fangs of the Artic put the Mountie and his Dog on the case. Cases ranged from missing persons to lost mines, Indian burial robbery, robbery-robbery and murder.
The Mountie series closed out Grant’s B Western career. They’d made him a star. When TV beckoned with the opportunity to play a fictional version of his own life, the offer was irresistible. He played Sky King for eight seasons to close out his acting career. Grant and his wife moved to Florida where he and co-star Gloria Winters remained active in aviation, frequently appearing at air shows. Kirby Grant died in an automobile accident in 1985.
Next Week: Buck Jones
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Paul
Kirby Grant got his start acting at RKO Pictures appearing under the stage name Robert Stanton. He soon moved on to Republic Pictures where he took his Kirby Grant handle into supporting roles in the studio’s Three Mesquiteers film series, starring John Wayne. Along the way he sprinkled non-western films into his repertoire. In 1943 he appeared with Johnny Mack Brown in a Monogram film The Stranger from Pecos.
He caught a lead role at Universal in 1944 for what would be the studio’s last western series. Universal released Bad Men of the Border in 1945. Grant goes undercover to break-up a counterfeit ring. Later that year came Code of the Lawless followed by Trail to Vengeance in which Grant avenges his brother’s murder.
Monogram/United Artists lured Grant back to their studio for a series based on a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer assisted by Chinook the Wonder Dog. These films have the feel of inspiration for the later TV series Sergeant Preston of the Yukon. Trail of the Yukon, Call of the Klondike, Yukon Vengeance, Northwest Territory, Northern Patrol, Snow Dog, and Fangs of the Artic put the Mountie and his Dog on the case. Cases ranged from missing persons to lost mines, Indian burial robbery, robbery-robbery and murder.
The Mountie series closed out Grant’s B Western career. They’d made him a star. When TV beckoned with the opportunity to play a fictional version of his own life, the offer was irresistible. He played Sky King for eight seasons to close out his acting career. Grant and his wife moved to Florida where he and co-star Gloria Winters remained active in aviation, frequently appearing at air shows. Kirby Grant died in an automobile accident in 1985.
Next Week: Buck Jones
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Ride easy,
Paul
September 15, 2018
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson lived a star-crossed life. He grew up around horses. While who knows how many of us threatened to, Hoot ran off and joined the circus at 13. Shortly thereafter he took work as a cowboy and horse wrangler in Wyoming, Colorado and Oklahoma. During those years he developed a passion for rodeo. At twenty he won All-Around Champion Cowboy at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. His record also included a World Championship in roping at the Calgary Stampede.
Hoot parlayed his horsemanship and rodeo prowess into work as a Hollywood stuntman and wrangler. Following service in WWI the popularity for western films exploded. Hoot started in bit parts that introduced him to legendary director John Ford. Ford and Gibson forged a friendship that would springboard Hoot’s screen career into feature films. Gibson’s ‘Aw shucks’, laid-back antihero persona had a unique appeal. His box office popularity equaled that of Tom Mix. In 1919 Hoot began turning out B Western oaters mounted on his palomino Goldie.
Superstardom opened the way to life in the fast lane. Hoot earned top dollar, fourteen thousand a week. He spent it as fast as he earned it, developing expensive passions for fast cars and airplane racing. Four marriages followed, three ending in divorce. In 1930 he lost his contract with Universal. A series of low budget, small studio films followed. His career took a down turn right about the time singing cowboys Gene Autry and Roy Rogers became the rage.
In 1943 Monogram signed Hoot to do a series of B Westerns eventually teamed with Bob Steele. Hoot’s career rebounded, but disastrous financial effects of his lifestyle left their strain. An expensive battle with cancer proved too much to overcome in the later years of his life. He passed away soon after turning seventy. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Induction into the Western Performers Hall of Fame following his death.
Next Week: Kirby Grant
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Paul
Hoot parlayed his horsemanship and rodeo prowess into work as a Hollywood stuntman and wrangler. Following service in WWI the popularity for western films exploded. Hoot started in bit parts that introduced him to legendary director John Ford. Ford and Gibson forged a friendship that would springboard Hoot’s screen career into feature films. Gibson’s ‘Aw shucks’, laid-back antihero persona had a unique appeal. His box office popularity equaled that of Tom Mix. In 1919 Hoot began turning out B Western oaters mounted on his palomino Goldie.
Superstardom opened the way to life in the fast lane. Hoot earned top dollar, fourteen thousand a week. He spent it as fast as he earned it, developing expensive passions for fast cars and airplane racing. Four marriages followed, three ending in divorce. In 1930 he lost his contract with Universal. A series of low budget, small studio films followed. His career took a down turn right about the time singing cowboys Gene Autry and Roy Rogers became the rage.
In 1943 Monogram signed Hoot to do a series of B Westerns eventually teamed with Bob Steele. Hoot’s career rebounded, but disastrous financial effects of his lifestyle left their strain. An expensive battle with cancer proved too much to overcome in the later years of his life. He passed away soon after turning seventy. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Induction into the Western Performers Hall of Fame following his death.
Next Week: Kirby Grant
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Paul
September 8, 2018
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown led his 1925 Alabama Crimson Tide to an NCAA National Championship complete with an upset win over a heavily favored University of Washington team in the Rose Bowl. Offered a Hollywood screen test, he parlayed that into minor roles until 1930 when MGM signed him to play Billy the Kid in a feature film opposite Noah Beery’s Pat Garrett. A western star was born.
In 1935 Brown signed with B Western studio Supreme Pictures to do eight low budget oaters. Soon after merger combined Mascot Pictures, Monogram Pictures and Consolidated Films to form Republic Pictures. In the market for western properties, Republic cut a deal with Supreme and Brown’s film career took off. He never looked back.
His days at Republic were followed by a stint at Universal Studios where he became a top box office B Western cowboy. Four of Brown’s films, Rustlers of Red Dog, Wild West Days, Flaming Frontiers and The Oregon Trail were serialized. Remember those? They had us headed to the theater Saturday morning after Saturday morning, hanging on the edge of our seats to the harrowing ending of each week’s episode. Back the following week to find out how our hero escaped his peril.
He struck it big with Monogram Pictures in 1943 who picked him up to replace Buck Jones following his untimely death. He did some sixty pictures for Monogram over the next ten years. Dell published a Johnny Mack Brown comic book series from 1950 to 1959.
Johnny landed his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He passed away in 1974; but his contributions to western film were again recognized posthumously with the prestigious Golden Boot Award in 2004.
Next Week: Hoot Gibson
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Ride easy,
Paul
In 1935 Brown signed with B Western studio Supreme Pictures to do eight low budget oaters. Soon after merger combined Mascot Pictures, Monogram Pictures and Consolidated Films to form Republic Pictures. In the market for western properties, Republic cut a deal with Supreme and Brown’s film career took off. He never looked back.
His days at Republic were followed by a stint at Universal Studios where he became a top box office B Western cowboy. Four of Brown’s films, Rustlers of Red Dog, Wild West Days, Flaming Frontiers and The Oregon Trail were serialized. Remember those? They had us headed to the theater Saturday morning after Saturday morning, hanging on the edge of our seats to the harrowing ending of each week’s episode. Back the following week to find out how our hero escaped his peril.
He struck it big with Monogram Pictures in 1943 who picked him up to replace Buck Jones following his untimely death. He did some sixty pictures for Monogram over the next ten years. Dell published a Johnny Mack Brown comic book series from 1950 to 1959.
Johnny landed his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He passed away in 1974; but his contributions to western film were again recognized posthumously with the prestigious Golden Boot Award in 2004.
Next Week: Hoot Gibson
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Ride easy,
Paul
September 1, 2018
Rex Allen
Rex Allen’s film character fit the classic cowboy hero of the day. From the good guy white hat to his handsome good looks and lovable horse Koko, Allen fit the part. Over the course of his movies he was accompanied by stellar comedic sidekicks, Buddy Ebsen in the beginning and Slim Pickens in the end. Rex Allen’s B Western films achieved top-ten box office success, something uncharacteristic of the B Western genre. Rex Allen’s film character also found its way into a comic book series.
Like singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Allen made the leap to TV as the B Western genre faded. Rex was cast as a frontier doctor on a short lived series. Allen got his start in radio, appearing on the National Barn Dance program, airing on WLS in Chicago. In addition to singing Rex wrote many of the songs he performed, including those featured in his films. His musical talents led to recording contracts with Mercury Records and later with the Decca label.
Rex Allen parlayed his vocal talents into an accomplished body of work as a narrator for the likes of Walt Disney Pictures, Hanna-Barbera animation and spokesman roles for Purina Dog Chow and Ford Trucks.
Allen’s star appears on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1983 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum where he also became the first recipient of the prestigious Golden Boot Award. A native of Wilcox Arizona, ‘The Arizona Cowboy’ is memorialized at the Rex Allen Museum in Wilcox complete with a bronze statue forever linking him to his home town. Koko is buried at the statue.
Next Week: Johnny Mack Brown
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Paul
Like singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Allen made the leap to TV as the B Western genre faded. Rex was cast as a frontier doctor on a short lived series. Allen got his start in radio, appearing on the National Barn Dance program, airing on WLS in Chicago. In addition to singing Rex wrote many of the songs he performed, including those featured in his films. His musical talents led to recording contracts with Mercury Records and later with the Decca label.
Rex Allen parlayed his vocal talents into an accomplished body of work as a narrator for the likes of Walt Disney Pictures, Hanna-Barbera animation and spokesman roles for Purina Dog Chow and Ford Trucks.
Allen’s star appears on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1983 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum where he also became the first recipient of the prestigious Golden Boot Award. A native of Wilcox Arizona, ‘The Arizona Cowboy’ is memorialized at the Rex Allen Museum in Wilcox complete with a bronze statue forever linking him to his home town. Koko is buried at the statue.
Next Week: Johnny Mack Brown
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Ride easy,
Paul
August 25, 2018
B Westerns
How many of us fell in love with the west over those low budget, black and white oaters? The good guys wore white hats while the bad guys wore black. The heroes all had fancy gun rigs and retro-shirts before they were retro. They rode beautiful horses on tack tricked out for a parade. Those horses often had co-star star power. The bad guys rode nondescript brown horses that came off muddy in the medium. And speaking of horses, they all ran fast, as in too many frames per second fast. That may have had something to do with the fact these old classics ran fifty to seventy minutes, short by comparison to marquis studio releases.
We got to know the stars. Names like Rex Allen, Johnny Mack Brown, Buster Crabbe, Hoot Gibson, Buck Jones, Rocky Lane and my personal favorite Bob Steele. A favorite of readers on these pages, Lash LaRue is numbered among them. B Westerns gave starts to a few actors who went on to make big names for themselves. Robert Mitchum got his start in B features. One of my ‘B’ favorites, Three Mesquiteer Stony Brooks, launched a star we came to call The Duke. None other than John Wayne. Let’s remember them with this post series.
The list of B Western stars is longer than my memory. Many of these films were made in the 30’s and 40’s, which probably accounts for the reason they were so cheap those long ago Saturday mornings. I’ll cull the list to capture those I remember. In profiling the stars, we’ll likely recall some of their films. It’ll be fun to see if any of the titles ring a memory bell.
The list won’t include some prominent names we did last year in our Cowboy Heroes series. That list included Tom, Roy, Gene, Hoppy, The Masked Man, Cisco and a few others. They all made the ‘A’ B Western list that transported them to feature films and TV. This time we’ll keep it ‘B’ all the way. So grab a box of popcorn or your favorite nickel candy bar. These days you probably pick-up that candy bar with a tweezers. Wash it all down with a Green River or Orange aide from the fountain. As the lights go down, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Next Week: Rex Allen
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Ride easy,
Paul
We got to know the stars. Names like Rex Allen, Johnny Mack Brown, Buster Crabbe, Hoot Gibson, Buck Jones, Rocky Lane and my personal favorite Bob Steele. A favorite of readers on these pages, Lash LaRue is numbered among them. B Westerns gave starts to a few actors who went on to make big names for themselves. Robert Mitchum got his start in B features. One of my ‘B’ favorites, Three Mesquiteer Stony Brooks, launched a star we came to call The Duke. None other than John Wayne. Let’s remember them with this post series.
The list of B Western stars is longer than my memory. Many of these films were made in the 30’s and 40’s, which probably accounts for the reason they were so cheap those long ago Saturday mornings. I’ll cull the list to capture those I remember. In profiling the stars, we’ll likely recall some of their films. It’ll be fun to see if any of the titles ring a memory bell.
The list won’t include some prominent names we did last year in our Cowboy Heroes series. That list included Tom, Roy, Gene, Hoppy, The Masked Man, Cisco and a few others. They all made the ‘A’ B Western list that transported them to feature films and TV. This time we’ll keep it ‘B’ all the way. So grab a box of popcorn or your favorite nickel candy bar. These days you probably pick-up that candy bar with a tweezers. Wash it all down with a Green River or Orange aide from the fountain. As the lights go down, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Next Week: Rex Allen
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Ride easy,
Paul
August 18, 2018
Medicine Cabinent Legacy
At the dawn of the twentieth century progressive reformers pressed the federal government into regulating matters of public health and safety. Powerful political forces united with the American Medical Association, scientific community and investigative journalists (remember those?). Fraudulent claims were exposed. ‘Secret’ formulas were analyzed and publicized. Patent Medicine attracted its fiercest opposition from the temperance movement owing to the systemic use and abuse of alcohol.
The battle joined around the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act. The legislative battle was hard fought. Patent medicine was big business by the turn of the century with sales valued at $80 million. The industry would not go quietly, though the act eventually passed. Interestingly it did not prohibit the use of alcohol or narcotics in patent medicines; but rather required labeling the products with their ingredients, thereby exposing health risks and the actual sources of claimed relief. Patent medicine gradually fell into disfavor with an informed public who could still read- at least those who hadn’t been blinded by their meds.
While the wild-west days of the patent medicine show would come to an end, some of the products with genuine therapeutic value survived. Check you medicine cabinet. Chances are you’ll find some of these familiar names.
Anacin, Bayer Asprin, Geritol, Bromo-Seltzer, Doan’s Pills, Fletcher’s Castoria, Dr. Carter’s Little Liver Pills. They’re all survivors of the patent medicine legacy handed down to us today; because they delivered as promised. We managed to make good choices even before we had the Food & Drug Administration to protect us from ourselves. Imagine that.
Next Week: ‘B’ Westerns
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Paul
The battle joined around the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act. The legislative battle was hard fought. Patent medicine was big business by the turn of the century with sales valued at $80 million. The industry would not go quietly, though the act eventually passed. Interestingly it did not prohibit the use of alcohol or narcotics in patent medicines; but rather required labeling the products with their ingredients, thereby exposing health risks and the actual sources of claimed relief. Patent medicine gradually fell into disfavor with an informed public who could still read- at least those who hadn’t been blinded by their meds.
While the wild-west days of the patent medicine show would come to an end, some of the products with genuine therapeutic value survived. Check you medicine cabinet. Chances are you’ll find some of these familiar names.
Anacin, Bayer Asprin, Geritol, Bromo-Seltzer, Doan’s Pills, Fletcher’s Castoria, Dr. Carter’s Little Liver Pills. They’re all survivors of the patent medicine legacy handed down to us today; because they delivered as promised. We managed to make good choices even before we had the Food & Drug Administration to protect us from ourselves. Imagine that.
Next Week: ‘B’ Westerns
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Ride easy,
Paul
