Lone Star Productions (Monogram)

There are 2 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 8,055 times. The latest Post () was by ethanedwards.

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!



  • Introduction
    During the years 1933-1935
    Duke was to join Poverty Studio, Monogram Pictures
    to star in 16 western Lone Star Productions,
    produced by independent producer Paul Malvern


    Paul Malvern



    Producer Paul Malvern,
    a former child acrobat with The Ringling Bros. Circus,
    worked as a movie stuntman during the silent and early talkie eras.


    While working at low-budget specialist Monogram Pictures,
    Malvern took over the responsibility of producing films
    under his newly created
    "Lone Star Productions" logo.


    For further information,
    please see:-
    Paul Malvern


    He produced many westerns from 1933-35
    and worked very closely with John Wayne on his early films.


    Paul Malvern was a hugely successful producer,
    and if not for producers such as he, we would not have
    the John Wayne as we know


    In the early days produced 24 movies starring Duke
    including the 16 Lone Star Productions


    Riders Of Destiny (1933) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Sagebrush Trail (1933) (Armand Schaefer)
    West of the Divide (1933) (Robert North Bradbury)
    The Lucky Texan (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Blue Steel (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    The Man From Utah (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Randy Rides Alone (1934) (Harry Fraser)
    The Star Packer (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    The Trail Beyond (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    'Neath Arizona Skies (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    The Lawless Frontier (1934) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Texas Terror (1935) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Rainbow Valley (1935) (Robert North Bradbury)
    The Desert Trail (1935) (Colin Lewis)
    The Dawn Rider (1935) (Robert North Bradbury)
    Paradise Canyon (1935) (Carl Pierson)


    (For individual movie profiles and reviews
    please click on the above links)


    Robert North Bradbury


    Robert North Bradbury and his son Bob Steele

    Most of the Lone Star Movies
    were directed by Robert North Bradbury,
    with the others directed by Armand Schaefer, Harry Fraser,
    Colin Lewis and Carl Pierson


    The backbone of the studio in those early days
    was a father-and-son combination:
    writer/director Robert N. Bradbury and
    cowboy actor Bob Steele (born Robert A. Bradbury)
    were on its roster.



    Bradbury wrote almost all, and directed many, of the early
    Monogram and Lone Star westerns.
    While budgets and production values were lean,
    Monogram offered a balanced program,
    including action melodramas, classics and mysteries.


    When Duke was in Glendale and USC,
    his best friend was Bob Bradbury,
    later re-named as Bob Steele, who became a Western star.
    Bob Steele was the son of Robert North Bradbury


    Duke's career had faltered at both Columbia
    and Warner Brothers so when Robert North Bradbury came
    calling for a lead, for his forthcoming Lone Star westerns,
    Duke fitted the bill.


    For further information,
    please see:-
    Robert North Bradbury


    Monogram



    In 1935 Johnston and Carr were wooed by
    Herbert Yates of Consolidated Film Industries;
    Yates planned to merge Monogram with several other
    smaller independent companies to form Republic Pictures.


    However, after a short time in this new venture,
    Johnston and Carr discovered
    that they couldn't get along with Yates, and they left.
    Carr moved to Universal Pictures,
    while Johnston reactivated Monogram in 1937.


    For further information,please see:
    Monogram



    Cast
    Duke was accompanied
    by many regulars in the series of movies,
    including Yakima Canutt, George 'Gabby' Hayes
    Earl Dwire, Lafe McKee


    Filming Locations
    The movies were filmed mostly in California
    in popular locations such as
    Alabama Hiils, Lone Pine, Kernville and
    various movie ranches
    please click on to each individual movie for further information



    Legacy
    The Lone Star westerns, were Duke's first success.
    That is why many Duke fans, myself included, consider
    Robert North Bradbury to be as big an influence on Duke's career
    as Ford and Hathaway.


    Without Paul Malvern and Robert North Bradbury,
    Duke would have been lost forever,
    John Ford had dropped him,
    and Henry Hathaway, would never have known of him!!


    After what was considered a reasonable series
    and a great base for Duke to better his acting skills and delivery
    His next move wasn't so good, a series that deflated his career once again
    John Wayne & the Universal Series


    For continuity, all discussion

    please post here:-
    John Wayne & The Lone Star Productions

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 28 times, last by ethanedwards ().