Western Film Series of the Sound Era

From High Noon to Unforgiven, the ''A'' Western represents the pinnacle of Western filmmaking. More intellectual, ambitious, and time-consuming than the readily produced ''B'' or serial Westerns, these films rely on hundreds of talented artists. This comprehensive reference work provides biographies and Western filmographies for nearly 1,000 men and women who have contributed to at least three ''A'' Westerns. These contributors are arranged by their role in film production. Cinematographers, composers, actors, actresses, and directors receive complete biographical treatment; writers whose work was used in at least two Westerns are also featured. An appendix lists well-known actors who have appeared in either one or two ''A'' Westerns, as specified. Western Films Series of the Sound Era......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Billy Carson......Page 10 Billy the Kid......Page 28 Cheyenne Harry......Page 41 The Cisco Kid......Page 50 Dr. Monroe......Page 71 The Durango Kid......Page 75 Frontier Marshals......Page 120 Hopalong Cassidy......Page 125 The Irish Cowboys......Page 182 John Paul Revere......Page 187 Lightning Bill Carson......Page 190 The Lone Ranger......Page 197 The Lone Rider......Page 215 Nevada Jack McKenzie......Page 226 The Range Busters......Page 239 Ranger Bob Allen......Page 261 Red Ryder......Page 266 Renfrew of the Royal Mounted......Page 291 The Rough Riders......Page 297 Rough Ridin' Kids......Page 307 Royal Canadian Mounted Police......Page 310 The Singing Cowgirl......Page 327 The Texas Rangers......Page 329 The Three Mesquiteers......Page 347 The Trail Blazers......Page 391 Wild Bill Elliott......Page 398 Wild Bill Hickok......Page 406 Wild Bill Saunders......Page 419 Winnetou......Page 422 Zorro......Page 436 Bibliography......Page 464 Index......Page 466

The western genre touched on ideals of honor, conquest, and freedom of spirit, and its stories packed cinemas of the early sound era. This volume covers 30 western film series produced from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s. Included are such long-running series as Hopalong Cassidy, The Durango Kid and The Three Mesquiteers as well as those that had moderate or brief runs like The Singing Cowgirl and The Texas Rangers. Major genre stars like John Wayne, Ken Maynard, Tim McCoy, Buck Jones and Johnny Mack Brown headlined the popular Saturday matinee fare. The book contains a plot synopsis and analysis of each series' place in cinema history, many photographs and illustrations and a detailed filmography.

The western genre touched on ideals of honor, conquest, and freedom of spirit, and its stories packed cinemas of the early sound era. This volume covers 30 western film series produced from the mid 1930s to the early 1950s. Included are such long-running series as Hopalong Cassidy, The Durango Kid and The Three Mesquiteers as well as those that had moderate or brief runs like The Singing Cowgirl and The Texas Rangers. Major genre stars like John Wayne, Ken Maynard, Tim McCoy, Buck Jones and Johnny Mack Brown headlined the popular Saturday matinee fare. The book contains a plot synopsis and analysis of each series'place in cinema history, many photographs and illustrations and a detailed filmography. "This volume covers 30 western film series produced from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s. Included are such long-running series as Hopalong Cassidy, The Durango Kid and The Three Mesquiteers as well as those that had moderate or brief runs. The book contains a plot synopsis and an analysis of each series' place in cinema history"--Provided by publisher.