On This Day

Hi

On this day 12th April

107 years ago Chief Thundercloud was born. Known as Victor Daniels he appeared in The Searchers.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 13th April

29 years ago the Art Director Frank Hotaling died aged 68 he worked on the Searchers and The Horse Soldiers his final picture.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 14th April (Good Friday)

81 years ago Rod Steiger was born. Among the many fine pictures he starred in was The Longest Day.

93 years ago the actor John Howard was born He featured in two of John Wayne's pictures, the first as Blake Randolph in The Fighting Kentuckian and also in The High and The Mighty

29 years ago the actor Larry Finlay died aged 77, he featured in The Cowboys and the Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

18 years ago the actress Dorothy Ward died aged 76 she was in Words and Music.

3 years ago Adie Mcphail died aged 97. The wife of the comedian Fatty Arbuckle, she appeared in Girls Demand Excitement.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 15th April:_

72 years ago the actor Carl Dane died aged 47 this is what IMDB has to say about him:-

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Birth name
Rasmus Karl Thekelsen Gottlieb

Height
6' 3½" (1.92 m)

Mini biography
Without a doubt he is the saddest case of what can happen to a silent film star who could not make it into sound films. Carl had such a thick accent, that he could not make sound movies. He had pretty much given up on acting, with the exception of a few small parts, one of each was given to him by his pal Buster Keaton. In 1934, he had started taking classes to become a plumber. To support himself, he bought a hot dog cart. It all was too much for him when was selling hot dogs outside the gate at MGM, the same studio where just a few years before he was a star. He came back to his home on Burnside Avenue in the Fairfax district, and sat down on a chair and shot himself in the head.

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66 years ago the actor Robert Walker jnr was born. The son of Robert Walker and Phyllis Isley the soon to become Jennifer Jones, he appeared in The War Wagon.

42 yeras ago the vetwran actor ofover 260 pictures Hal 'Happy' Price died aged 77. He appeared in numerous Republic westerns throughout the 1930's and 40's
including half a dozen with Duke whch included Riders of Destiny, Westward Ho and The New Frontier (in which incidentally Phyllis Isey made her screen debut).

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 16th April

89 years ago William 'Billy' Benedict was born. Skinney in the Bowery Boys he was a telegram boy Without Reservations.

IBDM says of him

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William Benedict was active in the drama department of his Tulsa, Oklahoma, high school, and at the height of the Depression (1934) decided to relocate to California. At first he wanted to be a dancer, but when he discovered that dancers were a dime-a -dozen in Hollywood, he concentrated on acting. He made his film debut in Fox's "$10 Raise" (1935) and went onto the Fox payroll as a "featured player." After leaving Fox, he played some of his larger parts in serials and in the East Side Kids/Bowery Boys features in which he was a regular. During his half-century-plus career, Benedict has had roles in practically every type of movie; there's only one thing that the ex-hoofer might have enjoyed doing in a movie, but never had the chance: "Strange as it seems, I've never once danced in a picture!"

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day April 17th:-

129 years ago the actor Lional Pape was born he appeared in The Long Voyage Home.

36 years ago the actor Milton Kibbee died aged 74. He came into the film industry in 1933 and went on to appear in 364 pictures including among the half dozen or so that he worked with John Wayne The Flying Leathernecks

44 years ago Jack 'Cactus ' Mack died aged 62. Among other pictures he was in Angel and the Badman.
This what IMBD has to say about him:-

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Cactus Mack was a talented musician. He played violin with Ray Whitley's "Six Bar Cowboys" and guitar with Fred Scott's "The Cimarron Cowboys". He later played villain roles in western movies, along with other character parts. As he was about to go on location for The Ugly American (1963), he died of a heart attack.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 18th April

117 years ago the actor Fred Malatesta was born, he appeared in Bardelys the Magnificent.

42 years ago the screenwriter Ben Hect died aged 70 he took over writing the screenplay of Circus World when James Grant was fired, and was also an un-credited contributor on North to Alaska.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 19th April:-

81 years ago Hugh O'Brian was born he appeared in In Harm's Way and also in The Shootist.

107 years ago the ac tor George O'Brien was born, at one time one of John Fords best friends he appeared in a number of early Ford pictures including the Iron Horse in which he starred. After a falling out with Ford he didn't work for the director for many years until the late forties when he appeared in Ford's cavalry Triology. (Pictured in the middle between Henry Fonda and John Wayne)

Heres what IMDB has to say about him.

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George was the son of the San Francisco Chief of Police who became a college athlete. He was the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Pacific Fleet during World War I. In the early 20's, George wound up in Hollywood where he worked as a stuntman and part time actor. In 1924, Director John Ford picked virtually unknown George to star in his first picture, 'The Iron Horse'. Over the next two years, he would appear in four more Ford films and would co-star with Janet Gaynor in 'The Blue Eagle (1926)' and 'Sunrise (1927)'. 'Sunrise', a winner of two Academy Awards, was the story of a simple farmer who lets another woman talk him into murdering his wife. George remained popular until sound came along. By that time, his popularity was sliding, but he did make the transition to sound. With his rugged looks and physical size, he was soon a Western Cowboy Star. He was in some of the best stories ever written, 'Riders of the Purple Sage (1931)', and in some of the worst. But he was consistently in the Top Ten money-making Western Stars. He would appear in a few films outside the horse set, such as 'Ever Since Eve (1934)', but roles those would be few. By the end of the 30's, George was still a popular 'B' movie Cowboy Star, but he would not take the parts as seriously as he did a decade before. During World War Two, he hung up his spurs and he re-enlisted in the Navy where he fought in the Pacific and was decorated many times. After the war, when he would not find work in acting, John Ford, his old Director, would give him work with the cavalry in three of his films.

118 years ago Al Ferguson was born he was in a number of John Wayne's pictures including The Three Musketeers, Reap the Wild Wind, Hurricane Express and Born to the West.

26 years ago Charles Seel died aged 82 he was in Donovan's Reef and North to Alaska.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 20th April:-

71 years ago the actor Gary Raymond was born he played Peter in The Greatest Story Ever Told.

103 years ago The actor Dick Wessel was born he played the Mess Sergeant in Flying Leathernecks and was also the Grenade Instructor in Sands of Iwo Jima.
on this day 52 years later he died.

32 years ago the actor Pat Somerset died aged 77 he appeared in a number of films directed by John Ford many of which John Wayne featured in as an extra including Mother Machree, and Men Without Women, he also appeared with Wayne in I Cover the War.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 21st April

24 years ago the actor Joe Sawyer died of liver cancer aged 75 a familiar face in hundreds of pictures playing detectives and various policemen, he was in North to Alaska and How The West Was Won.

33 years ago the producer Merian C Cooper died aged 79. One of John Fords favourite producers he worked in association on a number of Ford pictures. His main claim to fame however was that he woke up one morning having dreamt of an ape that destroyed New York, hey presto King Kong was born.

84 years ago the actor Buddy Pepper was born. his real name was Jack R Starkey and his career covered fifteen screen appearances among which was a small part in Reap The Wild Wind.

86 years ago Christopher Dark was born he featured as a poker player in How The West Was Won.

130 years ago Tex Cooper was born, appearing in hundreds of B westerns in Monogram, Republic and other minor studios he was also in The Fighting Kentuckian.

Regards

Arthur

HI

On this day 22nd April

73 years ago the actor Mark Damon was born he played pvt Harris in The longest Day

100 years ago Eddie Albert was born he also appeared in The Longest Day and worked with John Wayne in McQ.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day April 23rd (St Georges Day)

109 years ago the Austrian actor John Wengraf was born. He played the prosocuting attorney in Wake of the Red Witch.

30 years ago James Flavin died aged 69 he appeared in almost 450 films and TV and include peration Pacific, Trouble Along the Way ad Wings of Eagles. Instantly recognisable this is what IMDB has to say about him:-

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Although he graduated from West Point, James Flavin decided on an acting career instead of the military. After touring with several stock and repertory companies, he arrived in Hollywood and broke into films in the early 1930s. A fast-talking, granite-jawed Irishman, Flavin appeared in hundreds of films during his career and was often cast as a big-city homicide detective, street cop, prison guard or Marine sergeant. One of Flavin's closest friends, oddly enough, was legendary cheapo producer Sam Katzman. Flavin was married for more than 30 years to actress Lucile Browne; he died in 1976, and she died two weeks after he did.

20 years ago the director Otto preminger died aged 79. He directed John Wayne in In Harms Way.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 24th April

it amazing that there are still people connected with John Wayne to be found on the lists of IMDB.

107 years ago the actor Charles Sullivan was born. he began inpictures in 1925 andappeared in 415 pictures including A Man Betrayed. Pittsburgh, The Fighting Seabeas and Flame of the Barbary Coast.

128 years ago the actor Fred Burns was born he was in A Lady Takes A Chance.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 25th April

The actor George Sanders committed suicide at the age of 65. The reason he gave was that he was bored.

This is what IMDB has to say

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He was born of English parents in St. Petersburg, Russia. He worked in a Birmingham textile mill, in the tobacco business, and as a writer in advertising. He entered show business in London as a chorus boy, going from there to cabaret, radio and theatrical understudy. His film debut, in 1936, was as Curly Randall in "Find the Lady". His U.S. debut, the same year, with Twentieth Century-Fox, was as Lord Everett Stacy in "Lloyds of London". During the late 30s and early 40s he made a number of movies as Simon Templar, the Saint and as Gay Lawrence the Falcon. He played Nazis (Major Quive-Smith in Lang's "Manhunt"), royalty (Charles II in Preminger's "Forever Amber"), and biblical roles (Saran of Gaza in deMille's "Samson and Delilah"). He won the 1950 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as theatre critic Addison De Witt in Mankiewicz's "All About Eve". In 1957 he hosted a TV series, "The George Sanders Mystery Theatre". He continued to play mostly villains and charming heels until his suicide in 1972.

Hi

On this day 26th April

103 years ago Niven Busch was born an author he wrote the story and screenplay for the 1933 picture College Coach. Althought I haven't seen it I believe John Wayne makes a five second appearace as a football player shaking Dick Powell's hand.

107 years ago Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams was born. e appeared in The Alamo and The Comancheros his final work.
This is what IMDB has to say about him:

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The son of a rancher-turned-politician, Guinn Williams was given the nickname "Big Boy" (and he was, too - 6' 2" of mostly solid muscle from years of working on ranches and playing semi-pro and pro baseball) by Will Rogers, with whom he made one of his first films, in 1919. Although his father wanted him to attend West Point (he had been an officer in the Army during World War I), Williams had always wanted to act and made his way to Hollywood in 1919. His experience as a cowboy and rodeo rider got him work as a stuntman, and he gradually worked his way up to acting. He became friends with Rogers and together they made around 15 films together. Williams starred in his own series of silent westerns and easily made the transition from silents to talkies. Although he also starred in a series of low-budget westerns in the early and mid-1930s, he really came into his own as a supporting player in the late 1930s and early 1940s, especially at Warner Bros., where he made such resoundingly successful westerns as Dodge City (1939) and Santa Fe Trail (1940) with his friends Errol Flynn and Alan Hale. Williams specialized in the somewhat dim and quick-tempered but basically decent sidekick, a role he would play for the next 20 years or so. He also made films other than westerns, and was in, for example, A Star Is Born (1937) and played strongly against type as a vicious, sadistic killer in The Glass Key (1935). In the early 1960s Williams' health began to deteriorate, which was noticeable in his last film, The Comancheros (1961), in which he had a small part and, sadly, did not look well at all. He died of uremic poisoning shortly afterwards.

115 years ago the actor Harry Cording was born he played a gambler in Red River.

116 years ago the Cinematographer Joseph H August was born. A co founder of the Cinematographers Association he was one of the legends of Hollywood in the technical world and filmed They Were Expendable.

14 years ago Alberta Vaughn died aged 87 she was in Randy Rides Alone.

17 years ago Lucille Ball died aged 77 who can forget her two televsions shows with John Wayne.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 27th April

75 years ago the actor Robert Donner was born, he featured as Whitey in Rio Lobo and and a number of John Wayne's later westerns, and in How The West Was Won.

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Robert Donner was born in New York City and grew up in New Jersey, Michigan and Texas. Robert joined the Navy after he graduated from high school and served almost 4 years. After he left the Navy he stayed on the West Coast and worked as a shipping clerk, salesman, bartender, , commercial artist, gardener, and insurance investigator. Robert attended San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge), at nights taking courses in Art History, Psychology and speech. During this time, Robert Donner lived in Studio City and became friends with actor Clint Eastwood who lived in his apartment building. Clint urged Robert to study drama, telling him he was humorous and had a good face. When Robert is not acting he is active in athletics, and is known as one of Hollywood's most enthusiastic golfers. He was a member of the former "Hollywood Hackers" and currently carries a seven handicap and is the leader of a group of entertainment industry professionals known as Don Porter's Thursday Golf Group as well as joining others at many of the Celebrity Golf Tournaments who raise money for various charities around the world. Robert has also played in many tennis tournaments and is frequently called upon during "Celebrity Nights" in which he performs stand-up comedy and promises not to sing. His reputation in this area has also lead him to become known as on of Hollywood's "in demand" Corporate Speakers.

117 years ago the actor Blackie Whitford was born he was in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (his last film) and The Fighting Kentuckian.

and:-

On the same day the comedian George K Arthur was born He was in Bardelys the Magnificent.

131 years ago the British actor lumsden Hare was born. Apart from appearing in Salute he was also brought in as HJohn Wayne's voice coach in The Big Trail, it was a failure and thankfully Duke was left to develop his own style.

36 years ago The Irish actor Arthur Shelds was born, the brother od Barry Fitzgerald he followed him to Hollywod and appeared in The Quiet Man and They Wore A Yellow Ribbon. Perhaps William met him on the set of the latter film.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 28th April

62 years ago in London the actor and stuntman Neil Summers was born. In numerous pictures with John Wayne and a generous man, Have a nice one Neil.

Quote

Has one of the largest collections of Western Movie memorabilia in the world.
Several pieces of his western collection are on display at the Gene Autry museum. Along with his collection of memorabilia, Neil has also written several books "Candid Cowboys" Candid Cowboys - vol 2" "Unsung Heroes" and "TV Western Round Up" about the westerns and the stars and stuntmen who made them.

83 years ago Adele Mara was born already covered in Pals of the Saddle she featured in Sands of Iwo Jima, Flame of the Barbary Coast Wake of the Red Witch among others.

117 years ago the actor Bryant Washburn was born he had an un-credited role in John ford's Stagecoach.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 29th April

109 years ago the actor Charles Seel was born. He played Grand Uncle Sedley Atterbury in Donovan's Reef.

70 years ago the actor Lane Smith was born he was in Rooster Cogburn.

15 years ago Ken Curtis (2nd in from the left Front row) died aged 74 various article have been written about Ken some good some not so good, I suppose you pays your money and you takes your choice but as a singer and a jobbing supporting actor I quite liked him.

14 years ago Mae Clarke died aged 81 Verna Bales in Flying Tigers she was also the model for Loreli Lee the Marilyn Monroe role in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and had a grapefruit pushed in her face by James Cagney in Public Enemy.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 30th April

107 years ago the Swedish artist Olaf Wieghorst was born. Beside doing the sets for El Dorado he also appeared as the blacksmith and he also featured in McLintock.

81 years ago the singer Johnny horton was born. He song North to Alaska.

43 years ago the actor Bryant Washburn died he made his screen debut in 1911 and appeared in 314 pictures including Stagecoach.

32 years ago the actress Agnes Morehead died aged 74. Endora in the comedy series Bewitched she also played John Wayne's mother in The Conqueror.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day 1st May

118 years ago the actor Eddie Borden was born he played a poker player in A Lady Takes A Chance.

103 years ago the actor Ralph Bushman was born he appeared in Brown of Harvard and The Three Musketeers.

72 years ago the Australian actor John Mellion was born. Best known for the role of Crocodille Dundee's partner he was also in The Longest Day.

35 years ago the acteress Glenda Farrell died aged 66 from lung cancer. She played a passenger in Central Airport.