Tom Tyler: An omega male playing alpha males

Being in Hollywood surrounded by lead men actors who are primarily alpha males, one has to wonder how Tom Tyler managed to “land it” as a lead man himself, even if it was in only B-westerns. This role extended from his silent film days well into his early talkies, with the movies he made for Reliable, Victory, and Trem Carr. Tom was basically very shy in real life, a trait well noticed among his family, friends and peers, and eventually his co-stars, directors and producers. Perhaps being an actor helped him come out of his shell, although for a brief period as it was, being in front of a camera, something he clearly had no trouble doing. Tom was hardly camera shy, having posed in front of the moving camera, and of course the regular Kodak camera, with his brief stints as a model for weightlifting equipment, always wearing a big smile.

It seemed only natural for Tom Tyler to portray heroes onscreen, and it was not just because of his looks and physique but also for his mannerisms, his natural protectiveness of women, and children, protecting the weak and injured, while conveying a certain degree of tenderness in his relationships with them. For example, in the silent film “The Texas Tornado” we see Tom breaking down the front door of the Briscoe ranch, knocking out Latimer and his crooks who want to steal the ranch property for its oil once the lease expired that same day. In this role, Tom also displays a hint of his natural shyness as well, not immediately disclosing his real name to the Briscoe family (he is in fact their uncle, who paid for the property) yet treats them as someone in need, and he consents to aiding them, which also means getting the renewable lease to the bank on time before it closes. Frankie Darro is of course in awe of Tom, idolizes him (as he did in real life) and stays by his side throughout most of the film to catch the bad guys who are causing his family so much trouble. It could be that the “big boy” in Tom stops at no lengths to protect the ones he loves, indeed, who are his family members, which he finally discloses to them. Here is Tom as an alpha male at his finest, a role he seems totally at home at, and one that would remain continuous throughout his early career in talkies.

Likewise in real life, Tom was a star athlete but again he was no jock (a jock is a sign of an alpha male) and as a Hollywood star, polite, but shy – emphasis on the shy part – but not a womanizer despite his above-average good looks and perfect physique. Those who met him and worked with him knew him as a real gentleman, someone who was worth spending time with, admiring, or just being in his presence. After all, Tom Tyler was worth it.