Bob Steele
Bob Steele was born into show business as Robert Bradbury. His parents were vaudeville performers. While his parents toured, young Bob and his twin brother were raised on a ranch by his grandmother until the family settled in Hollywood. His father worked in film as a supporting actor and later as a director. Bob followed his father into the business.
His career got going in earnest in 1927 when FBO, later RKO Pictures signed him to do a western series, handing him his new handle, Bob Steele. For the next two decades Steele did B westerns for a veritable Who’s Who in the film making industry. Notables included Monogram and Republic. Monogram paired him with a crusty sidekick, played by George Hayes. Hayes would go on to play Windy to William Boyd’s Hoppalong Cassidy and Gabby to John Wayne and Roy Rogers. At Republic Steele starred in several of their popular Three Mesquiteers series. We loved those films featuring Bob Steele’s Tucson Smith.
Bob made it big at the box office in the thirties. He signed to do a series of films as Billy the Kid for PRC. About the time the series finished filming, Bob got the Three Mesquiteers call from Republic. Bob took the call. PRC cleverly released the Billy the Kid series in parallel to Republic’s releases. As a result Bob Steele dominated the western screen for the duration of both series. Along the way, Bob became one of the first oater riders to raise his voice in song.
In the forties and fifties, Bob’s career turned to supporting roles in feature films and television appearances. Bob appeared in John Wayne features Rio Bravo and Rio Lobo. TV appearances included episodes on Colt .45, Sugarfoot, Maverick, The Rebel, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Death Valley Days and Disney’s Texas John Slaughter. Bob made his final mark in TV with the character role of Trooper Duffy on the 1960’s series F Troop.
Bob Steele passed away in 1988 suffering complications of emphysema.
Next Week: John Wayne
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Ride easy,
Paul
His career got going in earnest in 1927 when FBO, later RKO Pictures signed him to do a western series, handing him his new handle, Bob Steele. For the next two decades Steele did B westerns for a veritable Who’s Who in the film making industry. Notables included Monogram and Republic. Monogram paired him with a crusty sidekick, played by George Hayes. Hayes would go on to play Windy to William Boyd’s Hoppalong Cassidy and Gabby to John Wayne and Roy Rogers. At Republic Steele starred in several of their popular Three Mesquiteers series. We loved those films featuring Bob Steele’s Tucson Smith.
Bob made it big at the box office in the thirties. He signed to do a series of films as Billy the Kid for PRC. About the time the series finished filming, Bob got the Three Mesquiteers call from Republic. Bob took the call. PRC cleverly released the Billy the Kid series in parallel to Republic’s releases. As a result Bob Steele dominated the western screen for the duration of both series. Along the way, Bob became one of the first oater riders to raise his voice in song.
In the forties and fifties, Bob’s career turned to supporting roles in feature films and television appearances. Bob appeared in John Wayne features Rio Bravo and Rio Lobo. TV appearances included episodes on Colt .45, Sugarfoot, Maverick, The Rebel, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Death Valley Days and Disney’s Texas John Slaughter. Bob made his final mark in TV with the character role of Trooper Duffy on the 1960’s series F Troop.
Bob Steele passed away in 1988 suffering complications of emphysema.
Next Week: John Wayne
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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