Minor B Western Cowboy Stars

2. Rex Bell (1903 – 1962), was Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a B Western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931.

Rex Bell’s starring western count was small --- only 22 westerns released during 1928 - 1936.

“TONTO KID” - “Three saddle aces add up to a full house” pronounced Resolute advertising. Rex Bell (off the screen for two years), Ruth Mix and Buzz Barton all start out on the devious side of the law but wind up on the right to outwit nefarious lawyer Ted Lorch. The first film for the new Resolute company was to be the first of six starrers for Bell/Mix/Barton, only four of which were actually made. Ruth Mix is Tom’s daughter, so Resolute was trading on her name.

Rex Bell in Broadway to Cheyenne - 1932

Rex Bell in The Tonto Kid - 1934

Rex Bell in Diamond Trail - 1933

Rex Bell in Law and Lead - 1936

Rex Bell - West of Nevada - 1936

Rex Bell in Idaho Kid - 1936 [Added]

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3-Bill Cody

3. Bill Cody (1891 – 1948) was a Hollywood B-western actor of the 1920s, 1930s and into the 1940s. Cody, often called "the reel Bill Cody", began his acting career in the early days of film, and just happened to have the same name as "Buffalo" Bill Cody, although being of no relation.

The Vanishing Riders (1935) - Bill Cody and his son masquerade as ghosts (see below) to demoralize a gang of despicable, superstitious rustlers.

6. Dick Foran (1910 - 1979) possessed a fine singing voice. He set out in pursuit of a musical career and wound up in Hollywood working in films such as the Shirley Temple starrer STAND UP AND CHEER (Fox, 1934). In these early roles, he was often billed as "Nick Foran".

Dick Foran inked a contract with Warner Bros., and he would be there for about three years doing bits and supporting roles in various movies such as Bogart's THE PETRIFIED FOREST (Warners, 1936) and THE BLACK LEGION (Warners, 1936). He was also one of the suitors in FOUR DAUGHTERS (Warners, 1938) and the sequels, FOUR WIVES (Warners, 1939) and FOUR MOTHERS (Warners, 1941).

Warners decided to make B westerns, and Foran was selected as their new "singing cowboy".

There were a dozen Foran oaters, six for the 1935-36 season and another half-dozen releases in 1936-37. The first, MOONLIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE (Warners, 1935), arrived in theaters during November, 1935. In CALIFORNIA MAIL (Warners, 1936) and SONG OF THE SADDLE (Warners, 1936), you'll even glimpse Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. And Gordon Elliott, prior to achieving stardom as "Wild Bill" at Columbia, can also be spotted in several. Foran rode a palomino named "Smoke" (Smoky) so that the earlier Maynard stock footage could be utilized again. The series finale was PRAIRIE THUNDER (Warners, 1937), released in September, 1937.

Foran would remain at Warners for another eighteen months or so. The studio gave him an occasional lead such as a RCMP in the Technicolor HEART OF THE NORTH (Warners, 1938). But mostly, his name appeared further down in the cast listing in films such as the Jimmy Cagney WW1 military adventure, THE FIGHTING 69th (Warners, 1940).

Dick Foran in Winners of the West (1940) - a 13 Chapter Universal Movie Serial [go to # 9]

Dick Foran and Buck Jones in Riders of Death Valley (1941) - a 13 Chapter Universal movie serial.

Dick Foran in Private Buckaroo - 1942

Dick Foran in Guns of the Pecos - 1937 [ADDED]

Dick Foran in Blazing Sixes - 1937 [ADDED]

Dick Foran in Moonlight on the Prairie - 1935 [ADDED]

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7-Jack Hoxie

7. Jack Hoxie (1885 - 1965) lived on a ranch in Northern Idaho. This is where Jack became a full-fledged, working cowboy. His main interest, however, was in rodeos and he continued to ride the circuit, winning numerous contests. In 1909 he met Wild West showman/performer Dick Stanley and joined his show.

Universal head Carl Laemmle then became interested in Hoxie, and in 1923, Jack joined the Universal stable of Western stars that included Art Acord, Hoot Gibson, Harry Carey, Pete Morrison, Ted Wells, Fred Humes, Edmund Cobb, and Roy Stewart. His first picture for Universal was DON QUICKSHOT OF THE RIO GRANDE. In short order, Hoxie became second only to Hoot Gibson on the 'Big Universal' lot.

Over the next five years, Jack made thirty-six features for Universal, elevating him to a spot as one of the top ten box-office draws. The Universal pictures were the highlight of Jack's career.

Jack Hoxie in Gold - 1932

Jack Hoxie in Law And Lawless - 1932 [Added]

Jack Hoxie in Trouble Busters -1933 [Added]

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8-Tom Keene

8. Tom Keene (1896 - 1963) wound up on the Broadway stage, and that Cecil B. DeMille saw him and signed him for a role in a Pathe film which he was shooting.

While details of his early life are cloudy, we do know that young George Duryea wound up in Hollywood in the late 1920s in a lead role in DeMille's THE GODLESS GIRL. Over the next couple of years, he appeared in other films at a variety of studios and production units ... but stardom was elusive.

Known for his sharp, pleasant looks and fitness, he was given the new name of Tom Keene and began appearing in a series of RKO "Poverty Row" Westerns in the early 1930s. Tom's heroes took on different names and appearances -- wearing both black and white western outfits and hats -- and his characters were not two-fisted men by nature. As a result, he remained a second-string, less identifiable Western star for the duration of his career. In addition, Tom purposely returned to the stage and even appeared in lesser roles but better quality films from time to time in order to avoid the typical Western stereotype. Inevitably, however, he would return to the minor studios such as Monogram and Republic Studios in cowboy garb in need of work. When he worked for Republic in the 1940s, he used the name Richard Powers.

Tom Keene in Pardon My Gun - 1930

Tom Keene in Western Mail - 1942

Tom Keene in Zane Grey’s Desert Gold -1936

Tom Keene in Zane Grey’s Drift Fence - 1936

Tom Keen in The Law Commands -1937

Tom Keene in Battle of Greed -1937

Tom Keene in Arizona Roundup -1934 [Added]

Tom Keene in Riding the Sunset Trail - 1941 [Added]

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9-Fred Kohler Jr.

9. Fred Kohler Jr. (1911 - 1993) was the son of famed movie villain Fred Kohler and actress Maxine Marshall. American actor Fred Kohler Jr.'s own film career began in 1930. Big and brawny, the younger Kohler was a natural for outdoor films, westerns in particular. In 1935, producer William Berke starred Kohler in a brace of "B" horse operas, Toll of the Desert and The Pecos Kid. But like his father before him, Fred seemed more at home on the wrong side of the law. He played minor heavies and utility roles at several studios, mainly Paramount and RKO. He frequently showed up in the films of directors Cecil B. DeMille and John Ford; in Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln, he played small-town lout Scrub White, whose murder sets in motion the film's classic courtroom finale. He remained active until 1968, nearly always in westerns.

Fred Kohler Jr. in Pacos Kid - 1936

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.Fred Kohler Jr. in Toll of the Desert - 1935

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10-Rex Lease

10. Rex Lease (1903 -1966) When Rex was in his early thirties he was able to star in about a dozen low-budget B Westerns and western themed serials. By the late 1930s, Lease's starring career was over, and he migrated to supporting roles and bit parts. As time progressed, he added some poundage around his waist and played heavies, sheriffs, etc. His later roles included many of the Abbott & Costello and Ma & Pa Kettle comedies. Rex Lease was one of many who had a fling at B western stardom ... and failed. This could have been because his screen persona was relatively mild ... or because there was a glut of new and old cowboy heroes riding the cinema trails in the 1930s, and they were more dynamic and well known, thereby increasing the probability of film profits. On the upside, Lease was able to move into bit parts and supporting roles, and his Hollywood career, both silents and talkies, lasted about thirty five years. He was often employed by Republic Pictures, mostly in programmer westerns and serials, and his film credits at that studio number about 85 from 1937 - 1953.

Rex Lease in The Silver Trail - 1937

Rex Lease in Wings of Adventure - 1930 [added]

Rex Lease in Cyclone in the Saddle - 1935 [added]

Rex Lease in Custer's Last Stand - 1936 A 15 Chapter Movie Serial [added]

Rex Lease in Rough Riding Ranger - 1935 [added]

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11-Kermit Maynard

15. Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (1899 – 1962) was an American actor who appeared as a sidekick in many memorable westerns such as Dodge City (1939), Santa Fe Trail (1940), and The Comancheros (1961). He was nicknamed "Big Boy" as he was 6' 2" and muscular from years of working on ranches and playing semi-pro and pro baseball.

Throughout the 1930s, Williams acted in several supporting roles, mostly in westerns, sports, or outdoor dramas. Although not the lead actor in any of them, he was always employed, and was successful as a supporting actor. He often played alongside many major B Western stars during that period.

Williams played the lead in only a few movies. This is one of them.

Guinn “Big Boy” Williams in Law of the 45s - 1935

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Big Boy Williams in Cowboy Holiday -1935

Big Boy Williams in Big Boy Rides Again -1935

Big Boy Williams in Danger Trails -1935

Big Boy Williams in Thunder Over Texas - 1934 [Added]

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16 - Jack Perrin

16. Jack Perrin (1896 – 1967) was an American actor specializing in westerns. During the 1920s, Perrin made a name for himself, starring in a number of cliffhanger, melodrama, and serial films.

Perrin found a niche in B-movie westerns of the 1930s. He usually played leads as Jack Perrin, but occasionally adopted the pseudonyms Jack Gable or Richard (Dick) Terry. Perrin was then co-producing low-budget films with Hollywood veteran William Berke, and the pseudonyms may have been intended to mislead exhibitors as to the depth of the Berke-Perrin company's talent pool.

Perrin's last major role was as Davy Crockett in 1937's The Painted Stallion (See Below), for Republic Pictures.

For his contributions as an actor in motion pictures, Jack Perrin was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California.

Jack Perrin in Loser's End -1934

Jack Perrin in Gun Grit -1935

Jack Perrin in Hair-Trigger Casey -1935

The Painted Stallion - Movie Serial [co-starring Jack Perrin]

Jack Perrin in North of Arizona - 1935 [Added]

Jack Perrin in The Cactus Kid -1935 [Added]

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17 - Wally Wales

17 - Wally Wales (1895 - 1980) Because of his horsemanship ability became a cowboy star of lower echelon films during the silent era. He appeared in over 220 films between 1921 and 1964. From 1921 through 1928 he appeared in twenty-two silent films, starring in many (mainly Westerns) under the name Wally Wales, and in 1929 made the successful transition to sound. Subsequently his star faded and he began appearing in much smaller roles, usually as Hal Taliaferro.

Wales/Taliaferro in one of his most remembered roles - as a member of the five Texas Rangers in THE LONE RANGER (Republic, 1938) movie serial. He portrayed Bob Stuart, the second Ranger to be killed off as the cliffhanger progresses.

Most fans and critics feel that Wales/Taliaferro was among the finest of the supporting players in the western and serial genres. He did all kinds of roles - buddy to the hero, henchman, lawman, villain assistant, etc.

Wally Wales in Way of the West -1934

The Lone Ranger Serial - 1938 (Wally Wales as Bob Stuart 2nd Lone Ranger Killed)

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18 - Smith Ballew - Singing Cowboy

18. Smith Ballew (1902 – 1984) was an actor, sophisticated singer, orchestra leader, and finally, a Western singing star. He began his singing career on the radio, and in the 1930s became one of the earliest of the singing cowboys on the movie screen. He did a series of musical Westerns for Paramount Pictures and one for 20th Century Fox, continuing in supporting roles until the 1950s.

Prior to his singing cowboy career, starting in the late 1920s, he became one of the most recognizable vocalists on hundreds of dance band and jazz records. He organized his own short-lived band in 1931.

Between 1929 and 1935, he made scores of phonograph records which were issued under his own name. Few of these popular records gave any indication of his future Cowboy style

Smith Ballew in Roll Along, Cowboy - 1937

Smith Ballew in Rawhide -1938: with Lou Gehrig (of the NY Yankees)

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19. Art Mix

19. Art Mix (1896 - 1972) was actor George Kesterson who changed his name to Art Mix, a name that Kesterson used for the rest of his career in making westerns. Art was known for his very tall White hat. He most often played the "good guy". He is not to be confused with Tom Mix.

Art Mix in The Rawhide Terror - 1934

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20. Lane Chandler

20. Lane Chandler (1899 – 1972) He starred in a few low-budget westerns in the 1930s, but was more often cast as the leading man's partner, or saddle pal, or a sheriff or army officer. With the advent of television Chandler began making appearance on numerous series, often making appearances in TV Westerns.

Lane Chandler in Lawless Valley -1932 [Added]

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21. Dennis Moore

Buddy Roosevelt (1898 — 1973) was an American film and television actor and stunt performer from Hollywood's early silent film years through the 1950s. He was an athlete and a cowboy in his youth. He started performing as a stuntman in 1916, his first work being on the film Hell's Hinges. He continued working as a stuntman as well as an actor throughout his long Hollywood career. He would star in thirty-seven films from 1924 to 1929, most of which were western films. He made a successful transition to "talking films", mainly because of his abilities as a stuntman.

Roosevelt earned what could have been the biggest break of his career. Cast as the Cisco Kid in the all-talking IN OLD ARIZONA (1929), Buddy had to withdraw at the last moment due to a broken leg. Warner Baxter replaced him and won an Academy Award.

Stuntman producer Paul Malvern, meanwhile, was interested in hiring Roosevelt for a new series of sound westerns, but Mrs. Roosevelt reportedly ruined what could have saved a decidedly rocky career by demanding too much money. John Wayne was cast instead and the rest, as they say, is history.

Buddy Roosevelt in Range Riders (1934) [Added]

Buddy Roosevelt in Boss Cowboy (1934) [added]

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24. Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd

Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd (1910 - 1977) was an major Radio singer and Western actor, known for six minor Western movies in the 1940’s. Do not confuse him with Bill “Hopalong Cassidy” Boyd or Bill “Stage” Boyd.

In 1932, he formed the pioneering western swing band "The Cowboy Ramblers”. The Cowboys Ramblers made more than 225 recordings between 1934-1951. The band had their own popular radio show, "The Bill Boyd Ranch House." They made their recording debut for Bluebird Records on August 7, 1934. In 1935, the Cowboy Ramblers had a huge hit with their recording of "Under the Double Eagle" which later became a western swing standard and remained in print for twenty five years. Other classics of the 1930s include "I've Got Those Oklahoma Blues", "Fan It", "Wah Hoo", "Beaumont Rag" and "New Steel Guitar Rag". The Cowboy Ramblers became major stars on radio and were offered work in Hollywood films and Boyd eventually appeared in Western films during the 1940s. One of his other hits was "If You'll Come Back", No. 4 in 1941. After the outbreak of World War II, Boyd joined "The Western Minute Men" promoting the sale of war bonds. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd in Prairie Pals – 1942 [Added]

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