Fuzzy Q. Jones
Al St. John got his start in silent films in 1912. His uncle Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle recommended the young man to Mack Sennett Studios where he joined his uncle and Buster Keaton in Sennett’s iconic Keystone Cops cast. Part vaudevillian, part slap-stick stunt man, facial expressionist, St. John fit a variety of comedic short roles. The Keystone Cops all but trademarked chaotic slap-stick comedy. He stacked up in the lesser known second tier of silent film stars behind his uncle, Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
Al first got his boots dirty in Western work in a 1928 pair of oaters with Tom Mix. St. John hit his sidekick stride with the advent of talkies. His roles evolved to a crotchety, crusty, unkempt comedic character that collected the moniker Fuzzy Q. Jones along the way. He appeared in a Billy the Kid series opposite one of my favorite B Western stars, Bob Steele. He played Fuzzy in the Lone Rider series and in Billy the Kid/Billy Carson series with Buster Crabbe.
Crabbe and St. John made thirty-six films together, all low budget westerns. When Crabbe left PRC in a contract dispute he was cast as sidekick to a rising young Western star and favorite of many readers of these pages, Lash LaRue.
St. John is credited with creating the character Stony Brooks for the film The Law of .45’s. That character later appeared in the popular The Three Mesquiteers B Western series from Republic Pictures played by another up and comer, young John Wayne. Stony Brooks was my favorite Mesquiteer as a kid and my earliest recollection of John Wayne.
St. John’s last film released in 1952. He remained a popular celebrity, making personal appearances at rodeos and fairs. He died in 1963 of a heart attack while touring with a Wild West show.
Next Week: Tonto
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Ride easy,
Paul
Al first got his boots dirty in Western work in a 1928 pair of oaters with Tom Mix. St. John hit his sidekick stride with the advent of talkies. His roles evolved to a crotchety, crusty, unkempt comedic character that collected the moniker Fuzzy Q. Jones along the way. He appeared in a Billy the Kid series opposite one of my favorite B Western stars, Bob Steele. He played Fuzzy in the Lone Rider series and in Billy the Kid/Billy Carson series with Buster Crabbe.
Crabbe and St. John made thirty-six films together, all low budget westerns. When Crabbe left PRC in a contract dispute he was cast as sidekick to a rising young Western star and favorite of many readers of these pages, Lash LaRue.
St. John is credited with creating the character Stony Brooks for the film The Law of .45’s. That character later appeared in the popular The Three Mesquiteers B Western series from Republic Pictures played by another up and comer, young John Wayne. Stony Brooks was my favorite Mesquiteer as a kid and my earliest recollection of John Wayne.
St. John’s last film released in 1952. He remained a popular celebrity, making personal appearances at rodeos and fairs. He died in 1963 of a heart attack while touring with a Wild West show.
Next Week: Tonto
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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