Westember II: Day 30 - Bill Elliott in The Forty-Niners (1954)

 

     This final installment of Westember II looks at the career of William "Wild Bill" Elliott, focusing on his last western, The Forty-Niners (1954).

     This ended up being even more work during the first series but I learned a lot while making it. There were a lot of stars I didn't have time to cover including: Don "Red" Barry, Tim Holt, Jack Hoxie (and his brother Al), Fred Thomson, Rod Cameron, Harry Carey, Bob Custer, Lash LaRue, and Duncan Renaldo. I also somehow missed talking about any westerns with Al St. John! 

     Thanks for watching everyone, and please consider supporting my work on Patreon.

Westember II: Day 29 - Roy Rogers in Trail of Robin Hood (1950)

 

     This episode looks at Robin Hood from 1950 on of Roy Roger's Trucolor efforts which also features a cadre of other western stars. 

     The next (and final) episode will look explore one of the very last B-westerns ever released, and the career of it's star.

Westember II: Day 28 - William Boyd in False Paradise (1948)

 

     This episode looks at the 1948 film False Paradise, which was the penultimate picture in the Hopalong Cassidy series. 

      Tomorrow's episode will look at one of Roy Roger's Trucolor pictures, which also features a cadre of other western stars.

Westember II: Day 27 - Roy Rogers in My Pal Trigger (1946)

 

     This episode looks at My Pal Trigger, which Roy Roger's himself has cited as a personal favorite!

     Tomorrow we will look at one of the last Hopalong Cassidy movies.

Westember II: Day 26 - Charles Starrett in The Return of the Durango Kid (1945)

 

     Today we look at the career of Charles Starrett, focusing on the 1945 film, The Return of the Durango Kid.

     The next episode will look at one of Roy Roger's best pictures.

Westember II: Day 25 - Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson in Death Valley Rangers (1944) (w/Bob Steele)

 

     This episode looks at one of Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson's last westerns. One of the six Trail Blazers films they starred in together, Death Valley Rangers was the first to feature Bob Steele, making the Trail Blazers into a trio. 

    The next episode will look at the career of Charles "Durango" Starrett.

Westember II: Day 24 - Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter in The Lone Star Trail (1943)

     Today's episode focuses on the career if Johnny Mack Brown, looking at his 1943 film, The Lone Star Trail, which co-starred Tex Ritter. The film also features Jennifer Holt, Jimmy Wakely and Fuzzy Knight. 

     Tomorrow we will take a look at the last hurrah of Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson.

Westember II: Day 23 - Santa Fe Scouts (1943)

 

     This episode looks at the penultimate Three Mesquiteers film Santa Fe Scouts (1943) which features Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, and Jimmie Dodd. 

     Tomorrow's episode will look at the career of a western star who is equally famous as a college football player.

Westember II: Day 22 - Buck Jones and Tim McCoy in Arizona Bound (1941)

     Today we look at Arizona Bound (1941), the first of the eight Rough Riders movies to star Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton. Last year I reviewed Dawn on the Great Divide which was meant to be a continuation of the series after Tim McCoy left, though it wasn't advertised as one.

     Tomorrow we will look at one of the last Three Mesquiteers movies.

Westember II: Day 21 - William Boyd in The Showdown (1940)

     Today's episode goes over another Hopalong Cassidy movie. 

     Tomorrow we will look at one of the last films of Buck Jones (which also features fellow western star Tim McCoy!)

Westember II: Day 20 - Overland Stage Raiders (1938)

 

     Today we look at Overland Stage Raiders, one of the Mesquiteers films to feature John Wayne as Stony Brooke.

     Tomorrow we will return to the Hopalong Cassidy series.

Westember II: Day 19 - Roy Rogers in Under Western Stars (1938)

      In this episode we look at Roy Roger's first starring picture for Republic. 

     Tomorrow we will look at another Three Meqsquiteers installment.

Westember II: Day 18 - Roy Rogers Biography

     In this episode I explore the career of Roy Rogers who is, perhaps, my personal favorite B-western star. Tomorrow we will take an in depth look at his first feature.

Westember II: Day 17 - The Three Mesquiteers (1936)

     In today's episode we look at the very first of Republic's Three Mesquiteers movies.  

     Tomorrow we will take a look at the career of one of the titans of the B-western genre.

Westember II: Day 16 - The Three Mesquiteers

 

     Today's episode is an overview of Republic's Three Mesquiteers series. I've reviewed quite a few of these films on my blog over the past few months including Ghost-Town Gold, New Frontier, Cowboy's From Texas, and Shadows on the Sage.

      Tomorrow we will look at the first film in this series.

Westember II: Day 15 - Gene Autry in Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935)

     Today's episode explores the career of Gene Autry, focusing on his first starring feature, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, which kicked off the singing cowboy craze.

     Tomorrow's episode will explore another trend in the B-western: the trio of heroes.

Westember II: Day 14 - William Boyd in Hop-a-Long Cassidy (1935)

     Today's episode takes a look at the first picture in the Hopalong Cassidy series. Earlier in the year I wrote reviews of some of the later installments. (The Eagle's Brood, Bar 20 Rides Again, and Law of the Pampas). 

     Tomorrow we will look at Gene Autry and the singing cowboy craze.

Westember II: Day 13 - William Boyd Biography

     

     Today's episode is about the career of William Boyd, focusing on his time as Hopalong Cassidy. Tomorrow we will look at the film which introduced Boyd as the character.

Westember II: Day 12 - Ken Maynard in The Strawberry Roan (1932)

 

     Today I look at one of Ken Maynard's most beloved movies from his second series for Universal. 

     Tomorrow we will look at the career of an actor whose entrance into the genre would change the course of his career, and his life...

Westember II: Day 11 - Buck Jones in The Thrill Hunter (1933)

 

     On today's episode of Westember we take a look at one of Buck Jones best movies for Columbia. I reviewed an earlier film from this series back in April.

     Tomorrow we will switch gears and look at one of the movies Ken Maynard made during his second stint at Universal (incidentally, just before being replaced by Jones).

Westember II: Day 10 - Tom Mix in My Pal the King (1932)

 

     In today's installment of Westmeber II we look at My Pal the King, one of the nine pictures Tom Mix made in this, his last series of westerns. 

     Tomorrow we will look at one of Buck Jones early sound pictures.

Westember II: Day 9 - George O'Brien and the Arrival of Sound

Today I have two videos for your viewing pleasure!

      The first is a short digression on the development of talking pictures and the rise of the studio system in Hollywood.

     The second covers the career of George O'Brien focusing on one of his early talking westerns for Fox. 

Westember II: Day 8 - Ken Maynard in The Red Raiders (1927)

 

     Today's film is maybe the best of Ken Maynard's career, and the only one to survive from his acclaimed series for First National Pictures. 

     Tomorrow we will leave the silent era behind and look at the sound films of George O'Brien.

Westember II: Day 7 - Ken Maynard Biography

Today I go over the life and career of Ken Maynard (and his horse). Tomorrow we will look at one of the actor's best films.

Westember II: Day 6 - Buck Jones in Desert Valley (1926)

     In today's video I review one of Buck Jone's early films for The Fox Film Corporation. A few years ago I reviewed another early silent film with Buck, the John Ford directed Just Pals (1920). 

      Tomorrow we will look at the career of Ken Maynard, the last great western star to emerge in the silent era.

Westember II: Day 5 - Buck Jones Biography

 

In today's installment I explore the career of Buck Jones, from his early days at Fox to his tragic death in 1942. Tomorrow we will look at one of his early silent pictures.

Westember II: Day 4 - Hoot Gibson in The Calgary Stampede (1925)

     In today's episode I look at the career of Hoot Gibson, highlighting The Calgary Stampede, his 1925 film for Universal.

     Tomorrow we will look at the life (and death) of another western film star. 

Westember II: Day 3 - Tom Mix in Sky High (1922)

 

     In the third episode of Westember II I take review Sky High, a film Tom Mix did in his early days at Fox. 

     Tomorrow we will look at the work of a different western star.

Westember II: Day 2 - Tom Mix in The Law and the Outlaw (1913)

     In the second episode of Westember II I take a look at one of Tom Mix's early pictures for the Selig Polyscope Company. 

     Tomorrow, we'll take a look at one of the actor's best movies during his stay at Fox.

Westember II: Day 1 - Tom Mix Biography

 

Today we look at the life (and legend) of Tom Mix, the greatest Cowboy of them all!

Tomorrow we will look at one of Tom's early movies. Stay Tuned!