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
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
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
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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