Happy New Year 2021!

As Aventuras de Tom Tyler enters its seventh year of operation from its rather modest start back in January 2015 – and plenty of attention from fans around the globe, some new projects regarding Tom Tyler are planned for 2021 (originally for 2020 before the pandemic took a substantial chunk out of the year). The quarantined time allowed me to give attention to Tom’s lost film search, communicate with his biographer Mike Chapman, as well as his nephew Ray Slepski. I will be forever grateful for the privilege of speaking with Tom’s family and sharing in some fabulous memories of Tom at the height of his career.

For the regular visitors to the website, chances are you’ve already noticed the homepage is updated. I also plan on translating more Spanish film booklets to English like the recent “Red Hot Hoofs” (1926) as time permits.

I do want to thank everyone for their support, including all Tom Tyler fans on social media, regular blog readers and site visitors. Let’s make the year 2021 the best one for Tom Tyler yet!

Cheyenne Harry and Tommy

Tom Tyler was almost always billed as Tom during his 1930’s B-westerns, but one popular recurring character is Tom Wade, officer of the Cattlemen’s Protective Association. Wade would receive his assignments from headquarters before jumping on horseback and with a partner on horseback too, head to the ranch where a cattle rustling complaint was filed. Along with the character of Tom Wade, sometimes he bore the nickname of Cheyenne Tommy, a suitable moniker for one of the top cowboys of the 1930’s B-westerns. Tom Tyler’s Tom Wade/Cheyenne Tommy appeared in “Lost Ranch”, “Brothers of the West”, “Orphan of the Pecos”, “Mystery Range”, “The Feud of the Trail”, and “Cheyenne Rides Again”, all released in 1937. Tom Tyler was not the first western star to be tagged a Cheyenne cowboy, however.

The Moving Picture Weekly,
March 9, 1918

Harry Carey was Cheyenne Harry in 27 silent film westerns from 1916 to 1919 in a total of 27 westerns which remained quite a popular franchise during its four-year period. Some of these silent films were "A Knight of the Range" (1916), "The Ban Man of Cheyenne" (1917), "The Drifter" (1917), and “A Fight for Love” (1919). In fact, the nickname Cheyenne was so popular with Harry Carey’s onscreen cowboy that sometimes he was solely billed as “Cayena” in Spain where many of his silent film westerns were released – Cayena being the Spanish version of Cheyenne.

Nicknames aside, what exactly constituted a Cheyenne cowboy on the silver screen when it came to Tom and Harry? Being fully human, virile, honest, genuine, someone who audiences can relate to, and fully appreciate their onscreen hero. In other words, being the consummate cowboy. Not only did Harry Carey embody all these qualities, but so did Tom Tyler, making him one of the most popular western stars of the 1930’s.

The day Victory Pictures movie studio burned down

Warning: The following article contains a graphic description and photo of a production company fire which involves Tom Tyler, the rest of the cast and film crew for “Mystery Range”, a 1937 Victory Pictures B-western.

Filming B-westerns in the 1930’s may have seemed like a lot of hard work yet fun for Tom Tyler, the final result offering his viewing audience plenty of excitement and thrills. In June of 1937, however, Tom had a very close call with death – along with other members of the cast and film crew – during the making of one film which almost ended his career.

After the troupe returned from filming on location in Chatsworth, California, the final wrap up for “Mystery Range” needed to be done at the production company, Victory Pictures. Tom, his leading lady Jerry Bergh, director Bob Hill, plus twenty-two other actors and film technicians, were trapped inside the production company building when a fire broke out in the property room.  The fire quickly spread throughout the rest of the wood building, located at 9077 Venice Boulevard in Culver City, California. Additionally, the scene dock and generator rooms were also destroyed from the fire, which quickly spread around the perimeter of the building, blocking all exits inside. 

According to The San Francisco Examiner dated June 7, 1937, a “sudden shift of wind” allowed one viable exit for everyone to safely escape. Luckily no one was hurt, and the movie cameras and office equipment rescued from certain loss from the stucco office building – equipment of high value to the film makers and actors, so that their work was saved. Firefighters from Culver City, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica were called to arrive as quickly as possible to put out the massive fire. The firefighters also had to search the burned-out remains for any possible victims but the good news was, there were none. 

The entire film studio sustained damages to the tune of $50,000.00 (the original estimate was $25,000.00) – or $904,125.00 in the year 2020 – close to a million dollar loss. As for Victory Pictures producer Sam Katzman, he could not resume making films due to the loss of his movie studio. All final work on Tom’s successive films made for Victory Pictures in 1937 – “Orphan of the Pecos”, “Brothers of the West”, and “Lost Ranch” – were successfully completed and released in movie houses across the nation.

Victory Pictures studio was located in the old Foy Studios building. Bryan Foy purchased what was the Sunset Studios building in Culver City back in 1931. Famously known as being one of the seven Foy siblings, Bryan was a successful movie producer and director whose career dates back to the silent film era.

At some point between the fire of June 1937 and December of that year, the former Victory Pictures building was in the process of being rebuilt as a dramatic school. Unfortunately, the building was to experience another, and far more devastating fire in January 1938. According to The Los Angeles Times, January 17, 1938, the fire was caused by “spontaneous combustion”. It is probable that 35mm nitrate was stored at Victory Pictures under a circumstance that would in fact cause spontaneous combustion. To make matters worse, power lines fell, altogether, a total of four explosions was heard by everyone in the surrounding area. Unlike the fire that took place in June 1937, no one was in the old building during the second fire, which caused a total of $100,000.00 (in 2020 dollars, $1,846,723.40) in damage. At the present, a Chase Bank is located near where the Victory Pictures production formerly stood. 

Click here to see an image of the June 1937 fire.

Collectibles: Tom Tyler on the Manoli Gold tobacco card

 One of the few tobacco cards bearing an image of Tom Tyler in addition to the Mercedes A. Batschari card is Manoli Gold Filmserie. Also manufactured in Germany, the Manoli Gold card is identical in appearance as the Mercedes one, with Tom standing up against a tall wood fence with a dog at his left, and sepia in color. Curiously enough, this card also bears the same number in the set as the Mercedes one, number 89. What does differ is the size of the card:  2” x 3 1/16” in size, slightly longer than the Mercedes tobacco card. 

The Manoli A.G. tobacco company of Berlin, Germany issued at least five different sets of film star tobacco cards, each set containing 168 cards. Each set of cards were of a slightly different size than the previous. Famous Hollywood and European stars appeared on these collectible movie cards. The year of issue for the set the Tom Tyler card appears in was probably 1930. As with all the Manoli Gold tobacco movie cards, albums were also issued to collectors to place their cards in, each card having its own designated spot.

Reading silent films: “Red Hot Hoofs” starring Tom Tyler

I am very pleased to say that the translation project of “Red Hot Hoofs” from the Biblioteca Films film booklet “Por la fuerza de los puños” is now completed and available for reading.

I encourage everyone to read the Introduction to my translation and Terms of Use before reading the actual story.

Most importantly, enjoy my translation, hopefully this will be an incentive to rediscover the actual silent film. I am hoping to add more of these film booklet translations as time permits in the near future to Aventuras de Tom Tyler.

Click here to read my translation!

Collectibles: Tom Tyler on the United Postal Card Supply Co. arcade cards

One of the lesser-known arcade card manufacturers was United Postal Card Supply Company (UPCSC). United Postal Card Supply Company was a competitor of the Chicago Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) but managed to differentiate their arcade cards in a few ways. One, while their cards were in monochrome, many of the famous figures who appeared on these cards – from famous western actors like Tom Mix, Fred Thomson, Rex Bell, Ken Maynard, Buzzy Barton to baseball players – were often portrayed as cutouts from their original background, usually a still or movie poster. There are at least two arcade cards Tom Tyler appears on: one is from “The Cowboy Musketeer” (1926), the other one, from “Idaho Red” (1929). Each card measures 3 3/8 x 5 3/8" in size (slightly larger than the ESCO arcade cards), has a seafoam green background, with the darker blue reserved for the card image.

Unfortunately, not much is known about United Postal Card Supply Company nor when it was in operation. The arcade cards this company manufactured remain very rare.

"The Cowboy Musketeer" UPCSC arcade card

Upcoming special project for “Red Hot Hoofs”

 There is a special project in the works for one of Tom Tyler’s lost silent films, “Red Hot Hoofs”, from 1926 and produced by FBO. Those who are familiar with “Rip Roarin' Buckaroo (1936)” will recognize the boxing theme in “Red Hot Hoofs”; a number of movie posters and stills have survived. Some interesting trivia about “Red Hot Hoofs”: real-life champion boxer Al Kaufman appears as Battling Jack Riley, but this silent film also marks Kaufman’s last film ever made. 

The best part about this project – well, that will come when it’s ready, and it will be posted here on the Aventuras de Tom Tyler Blog plus social media pages.

Unique Tom Tyler UID silent film arcade/exhibit card

When I first saw this Tom Tyler silent film arcade/exhibit card manufactured by the Exhibit Supply Company (Chicago, Illinois) online I was not really sure what to make of it. It is a standard size at 3 1/4 x 5 ¼", and the scene seems to be from one of Tom’s later silent films made for FBO, possibly from 1928 or 1929. There is no existing match that I could find anywhere online or elsewhere, telling me this card is rarer than most Tom Tyler arcade/exhibit cards. Take a look below to find out what is so different from standard Tom Tyler posters, film stills, and arcade/exhibit cards often seen on Aventuras de Tom Tyler:

This scene could be from one of the following silent films:

The Avenging Rider (1928)

Tyrant of Red Gulch (1928)

Trail of the Horse Thieves

Gun Law (1929)

Idaho Red (1929)

The Pride of Pawnee (1929)

Have you guessed what is so different in this image? Not only is Tom’s western outfit missing the scarf around his neck – but his shirt is unbuttoned to well below his chest. You’re looking very handsome Tom – and sexy.

Calling the murder witness Brilliant: The Blocked Trail

Brilliant the Horse in "The Blocked Trail" 1943

Rarely does the murder-mystery film from the 1930’s to 1940’s have a domestic animal like a dog or cat sitting idly by when its owner becomes a murder victim. What is even more rare, is when the animal happens to be a horse – a smart, seeing-eye horse, who also happens to be a miniature horse. Described in “The Blocked Trail” (1943) as a three-foot high dwarf Mustang, Brilliant is owned by an elderly man by the last name of Martin (Walter Soderling), who lives on the outskirts of a small western town on a piece of land that has a gold. With the mine in claim and a lawyer by the name of Frank Nolan (Charles Miller) to handle the old man’s property after he dies, Martin is capable of taking care of himself, even when he starts to lose his sight. Living in Martin’s cabin, Brilliant is trained to be his eyes, a product of the Clever Hans Effect (Clever Hans was an Orlove Trotter horse owned and trained by Wilhelm von Osten to do math, tell time, read, and spell during the first decade of the twentieth century). Smarter than the average horse, Brilliant takes the viewer on a thrill-filled western adventure, wondering who committed the murder of an elderly man.

Jimmie Dodd with Tom Tyler

The twilight setting of the Martin’s murder arouses intrigue for the audience. A tall male figure clad in all black, including a wide brimmed hat, springs out of the bushes with a gun in hand, attempts to take Martin by surprise. But Martin is ready to take on the stranger, with his rifle in hand and Brilliant by his side. The two men finally wind up in a brawl, the stranger’s face obscured by the camera at all times. Martin gets plugged by the man attempting to vanquish his life, but with the aid of Brilliant, gets ahold of the murder weapon and drops it into her saddlebag. Managing to evade the clutches of the murderer, Brilliant stays by her master until his last breath, then takes off, in hopes of finding someone who might help her. In luck, she encounters The Three Mesquiteers: Stoney Brooke, Tucson Smith, and Lullaby Joslin (Tom Tyler, Bob Steele, Jimmie Dodd) when her rein is caught on a bush and she is unable to free herself. Lullaby untangles Brilliant’s rein, and of the three friends, she immediately develops an affinity for him. Brilliant licks Stoney’s hand upon meeting him, and the men discuss the finding of the horse who a number of people have been looking for, including Martin’s niece Ann Martin (Helen Deverell), the sole heir to Brilliant and the gold mine. Seemingly delighted to meet new friends, Brilliant’s instinct tells her these are good men who will help her track down her master’s murderer, even when they get framed for the murder themselves due to circumstantial evidence: possession of the murder weapon removed from Brilliant’s saddlebag.

Along with The Three Mesquiteers, Brilliant is escorted into town by the sheriff (Hal Price) and his men as being as “evidence” but there is the underlying assumption that she may in fact know who murdered her master. Everyone knew about old man Martin and how smart his seeing-eye horse is. The fact that he had a horse who was smart was no secret to anyone in town, not to the murderer himself, who took special precautions at having Brilliant shuffled away from the stable in town where she was placed, right across from the jail. As suspects, The Three Mesquiteers test Brilliant’s smarts from behind bars with simple math problems, even proving to the sheriff that they are innocent, Brilliant’s identifying the three men as not the murderers of her master. True to form, as Lullaby states, “She knows everything” – and if a smart horse could talk, she could accurately describe the events that transpired the night Martin was murdered – from the time the stage driver Freddy (George J Lewis) dropped off a package of books in Braille to Martin, to when Martin took Brilliant out for a walk, when they ran into the mysterious figure who shot the old man. What is notable is Brilliant’s attitude towards the people she knows, her overall response to them, with the exception of one person: the lawyer Nolan, and with good reason.  Nobody else has an inkling as to any personal vested interest Nolan has in Martin’s property, which is solely for the gold mine. Caught up in the mine situation, Freddy and The Three Mesquiteers are freed from certain destruction by Brilliant, who saves the day and brings the murderer to justice.

Definitely one of the more entertaining Three Mesquiteers westerns made by Republic Pictures starring Tom Tyler as Stoney Brooke, Brilliant figures into the film’s title in a subtle manner – the trail to solving the murder mystery is being blocked by the murderer through her removal, who at times escapes the henchmen and keeps making her way back to The Three Mesquiteers, while being pulled in a third direction, that of her new owner, Ann Martin. The film’s subplot revolves around a Native American medicine man, Chief Plenty Harvest and his wife (Earle Hodgins and Ellen Lowe) who try to swindle the Three Mesquiteers every chance he gets. Unusual for its time period, the film theme of animal-as-murder-witness was repeated in movies like “Shadow of the Cat” (1961, UK) which stars Andre Morrell and Barbara Shelley, and more recently, “Turner and Hooch” (1989), starring Tom Hanks. Directed by Elmer Clifton and written by John K. Butler and Jacquin Frank, “The Blocked Trail” also has support from Kermit Maynard, the brother of western star Ken Maynard. As the real hero and star of “The Blocked Trail”, Brilliant may have you looking at your pets and wondering if they could be as smart in witnessing and solving a murder mystery.

Tom Tyler: A conversation piece?

The thought of a Hollywood actor being labeled a “conversation piece” may seem amusing to most people but that is exactly what Clifton Webb, the star of movies like “Laura” (1944) and “Mr. Belvedere Goes to College” (1949) has in fact called Tom Tyler, according to a Hollywood column in The Tampa Tribune (December 11, 1935). This was around the same time when Tom appeared at a party given by Dorothy DiFrasso, the popular Hollywood hostess during the 1930’s, for she was mentioned in the newspaper column at the same time.

Chances are that Webb was probably at the same party that Tom was, admiring the shy handsome B-western star who was the center of attention for some of the actors and actresses in attendance. Enchanted with Tom’s sparkling eyes and dazzling smile, they were struck by Tom’s ability to be congenial yet not an extrovert, especially in a social setting. Being politely brief when engaging with the other Hollywood stars, Tom and his peers discussed their most recent film roles as well as their next roles in the movies. It is unknown if Tom’s weightlifting career was ever the topic of discussion among the A-list stars although it is possible that some actresses took the time to admire his muscular physique, if only to elicit a shy reply from Tom.

Combining the charm factor with his level of attractiveness, there was reason for the most prominent of Hollywood actors and actresses to talk about Tom Tyler, statements made about him to others were always positive and complimentary.

Happy Father’s Day 2020 from Tom Tyler

"The Desert Pirate" 1927

It may sound unusual for Tom Tyler to be considered a father figure, having never had any children of his own in real life, but onscreen, he played the role on more than one occasion with his young co-stars from the silent film era to early talkies.  Whether his co-stars were Frankie Darro, Andy Shuford, Bobby Nelson, or Wesley Giraud, Tom was someone these boys looked up to onscreen, or even admired and respected in real life, as in Frankie Darro’s case. Tom was very good with children in silent films which drew children from all over the United States and the world to the Saturday matinee to enjoy his latest adventure on the silver screen. Even in silent films where there are multiple children – including babies! –  like “Idaho Red” and “The Man from Nevada”, Tom is there, talking to the youngsters, playing with them, protecting them, rescuing them from bandits. In other words, doing all the things a father does with his children. Let’s not forget when Tom delivers a baby in “Clancy of the Mounted” - the baby of his brother’s wife.

"A Rider of the Plains" 1931

In silent films like “The Desert Pirate”, Tom becomes a surrogate father to Frankie Darro, after shooting the boy’s father who is in fact a major criminal. In the movie “A Rider of the Plains” Tom is literally parenting his pal and riding partner Andy Shuford, who has wayward tendencies but with the help of a pastor friend, helps get him on the straight and narrow with a loving but firm hand. Screen portrayals of fatherly figures aside, in real life, Tom was uncle to a number of nephews his siblings had. In “The Tom Tyler Story” by Mike Chapman, there is a photo of Tom holding his sister Katherine’s newborn baby, Raymond, smiling at the tiny guy. After all, little Raymond could have been his own child. Happy Father’s Day to all dads out there.

Calling Agent Tom: Espionage in Tom Tyler’s movies

"The Man from Death Valley" 1931

The average Tom Tyler B-western of the silent film and sound eras may evoke the concept of the vast undiscovered yellow plains and purple mountains beneath the pink and crimson skies, the landscape dotted with cowboys and rustlers. Very rarely a description would include the topic of espionage; surprisingly, espionage as a plot can and does exist in westerns, often in the form of rustler gang infiltration. As exciting as the action can possibly be in a Tom Tyler movie, it seems like espionage is the perfect complement to the fistfight action and suspense so prevalent in these stories.

The book “The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999” by Paul Mavis (McFarland; 2011) lists five movies with the espionage plot; three which star Tom, one which he co-stars, and two which are not included in the Google Books preview. Following are the five entry numbers and film titles:

370. Deadwood Pass (1933). Tom is a government agent who arrives in Deadwood Pass, originally mistaken for The Hawk due to a tattoo of a Hawk on his left arm – the same spot where the real Hawk has the same tattoo. His job is to find a huge cache full of stolen loot from a robbery and bring the robbers to justice.

"When the Law Rides" (1928)

910. The Man from Death Valley (1931). Tom is a Secret Service agent who gets word about a bank heist about to take place and before the robbers can pull it off, Tom decides to rob the bank himself and keep the money in a safe spot. “The Man from Death Valley” remains a lost film.

1185. ?

1321. Samson and Delilah (1949). Based on the Biblical story, the Philistine Delilah (Hedy Lamarr) has been referred to as one of the first female spies. Spurned by the apple of her eye Samson (Victor Mature), she makes the rash decision to cut his long hair which is the symbol of his power – and later the course of Hebrew history forever. Tom has a minor role in the film as a gristmill captain.

1667. ?

1700. When the Law Rides (1928). Tom is a federal agent, a crime fighter in the form of Captain Marvel minus the red and gold superhero costume. Tom’s character is even compared to Zorro by Mavis, possibly for the stunt where Tom swings from a rope tied to the balcony of a hotel and mounting his horse from the rear. “When the Law Rides” is a lost silent film from FBO.

"Deadwood Pass" 1933

In addition to the above named titles, “Trigger Tom” (1935), “Terror of the Plains” (1934), and “West of Cheyenne” (1931) also carry this espionage subplot: Tom Tyler is in a position where he must infiltrate a gang in order to trap the rustlers and bring someone to justice.

Note: If anyone out there has a copy of this book “The Espionage Filmography: United States Releases, 1898 through 1999” or the following entries numbered 1185 and 1667 please contact me so that I can include them in this article. Credit will be given to the contributor. Thank you!

Repackaging Tom Tyler: “Brothers of the West” as “Cowboy Musketeer”

"Brothers of the West" repackaged on 16mm film

It was the following Ebay auction which caught my eye that made me think about how westerns of the 1930’s were repackaged as 16mm or 8mm/Super 8mm for home viewing: “Brothers of the West” (1937). In this case, “Brothers of the West” received the title of “Cowboy Musketeer” for the 16mm print, possibly a paean to Tom Tyler’s silent film made for FBO in 1925.

Outside of the 1925 silent film “Cowboy Musketeer” made by FBO Productions, Tom Tyler’s name has also been attached to a movie of the same name back in the early 1980’s television schedule listings.  “Cowboy Musketeer” is often accompanied by a “no date” in parentheses, along with the name Tom Keene, who was also a western star of the 1930’s:

From The Orlando Sentinel, FL, March 9, 1983

The SAT cable channel abbreviation stands for Satellite Program, with this time showing being at 6:30 AM on a Wednesday, March 9, 1983. While it cannot be determined what this movie actually was – whether it was “Brothers of the West” purchased by Satellite Program or another Tom Tyler western, the nickname “Cowboy Musketeer” seems well suited to Tom as it connotes a heroic figure, someone who seems to arrive out of nowhere to aid someone in dire need. With that, it is not wrong to consider Tom Tyler to be the “Cowboy Musketeer” of FBO.

A still of Tom in the original "The Cowboy Musketeer" 1925

Riding the Rails: “Hollywood’s First Australian” a look at early Hollywood director J. P. McGowan

“Hollywood’s First Australian: The Adventurous Life of J. P. McGowan, The Movie Pioneer They Called ‘The Railroad Man’”. By John J. McGowan. Display Vision Productions, Norwood, South Australia. Reprint: 2016. 220 pages. 

Aged 32. From Motion Picture Story
Magazine, February 1912

The early years of Hollywood had its share of noteworthy directors memorable in American popular culture: Charlie Chaplin, Ernst Lubitsch, D. W. Griffith, and Cecil B. DeMille. But one name all too often overlooked in this esteemed group is John Paterson “J. P.” McGowan, who was not only a silent film director and actor but also an innovator in the use of a motion picture camera for high-level action-adventure silent films. Written by John J. McGowan (not a known relation to J. P., or Jack as he was often called on the set), “Hollywood’s First Australian: The Adventurous Life of J. P. McGowan, The Movie Pioneer They Called ‘The Railroad Man’” documents the life and career of a Hollywood director who became famous through plenty of sweat and blood – sometimes more of the latter, due to injuries experienced by cast members performing stunts on the set. Like Jack’s life and career, the book is written like an adventure, gripping for the reader, the creation of much research conducted both in Australia where he was born, as well as Hollywood, primarily at Margaret Herrick Library in Beverly Hills, and Hollywood Museum Collection. John J. McGowan also shares rare photos of Jack and his family from The Gilmour Collection, begun by his mother Marion and younger sister Dorothy. While Jack became an American citizen shortly after coming to the United States in 1904 to re-enact a performance of the Boer War at the St. Louis World Fair, he never turned his back on his Australian roots; if anything, he strongly drew upon these roots to establish himself as one of early Hollywood’s directors. Likewise, Jack’s experience as a horseman came from his being a dispatch rider for Montmorency's Scouts during the Boer War in South Africa. Saving many rare documents and photos about his career, Jack sent these home to his family in Australia for safe keeping.

John J. McGowan traces Jack McGowan’s early life back to Terowie, South Australia, a town with a population of 5,000 when the railway was built in 1880. This is most certainly a significant year for Jack, being born on February 24 that year to Thomas Kennedy McGowan and Marion Paterson McGowan, who immigrated to Australia from Plymouth, England only two years earlier. It was the exposure to the railway Jack’s father worked on, and later Jack himself, which led him to gain enough experience to create exciting action-adventure silent films with the rail as the focus of the plot. These films expanded Hollywood’s offerings to the viewing public in addition to the many romance stories and comedies that frequently played across the country. Westerns with stars like William S. Hart  provided some degree of action, but nothing could compare to the fast-moving trains and daring stunts performed by Jack and his wife Helen Holmes in “The Hazards of Helen”, a film series (versus a film serial, which relies upon a set of chapters each ending with a cliffhanger) which lasted for 119 episodes, each 12-minute single reel story complete unto itself but utilizing the same set of characters. Some of the other stuntmen in “The Hazards of Helen” episodes include the future western star Leo D. Maloney, and comic Harold Lloyd. It is worth noting that Jack McGowan’s use of trains and stunts predates that of Buster Keaton in “One Week” (1920), “The General” (1926) and “Speak Easily” (1932). Buster performed dangerous stunts on a train in the style of Jack McGowan in “The General”, which may as well be a paean to McGowan’s innovative use of trains, stunt work, and the movie camera.

From The Moving Picture World, September 15, 1917

Jack McGowan’s film career began in 1909 with Kalem Company in New York City, where he first got his feet wet acting in one-reel films like “The Lad from Old Ireland” (1910) and “Far from Erin’s Isle”(1911). Sidney Olcott directed the bulk of these films, but it was not long before Jack started directing himself in 1911, his debut being “A Prisoner of Mexico”.  Kalem soon became known for shooting on location in countries like Ireland, and more exotic places like Bethlehem, Egypt and Jerusalem, as it did for “From the Manger to the Cross”, a life of Jesus, in 1912. Jack McGowan portrayed the apostle Andrew; a publicity sheet was distributed to cinemas with his likeness on it, set in what appears to be a genuine Biblical era. It was Jack’s rugged good looks, combined with his physical size (over 6 feet tall), muscular build, dark hair and large, dark brown eyes that made him perfect for silent film and the strenuous demands of the rail films he made.

A poster for "Stormy Seas" 1923

Nicknamed “Let’s Go McGowan” for his penchant for yelling “Let’s Go!” to cast and crew in making a film, Jack’s love of making exciting action-adventure films was infectious, and to say he and his crew had fun doing what they did is an understatement. It was not just Jack’s work ethic but his sense of daring, his approach to performing some incredibly dangerous stunts which on more than one occasion ended up with an extensive hospital stay. Combine the hard work and adventurous element, Jack was like a modern teenage boy looking for fun and having it. He owned two different production companies, Signal Films, then later, J. P. McGowan productions, creating an output that remains unrivaled during the 1910’s and 1920’s. In 1913, Jack directed 31 films; in 1925, 36 films; and in 1929, 22 films. One of the reasons Jack was still making silent films as late as 1930 for his own production company was cost. While sound film, or “talkies”, was possible then due to technology, it was also expensive, not something a small production company could afford for every movie, especially with an average of 20 plus movies being made per year. Jack often acted in the films he directed during the late 1920’s, and by the time silent film was being phased out and sound films were being made, he lost his Australian accent. His voice proved to be perfect for sound films, a mellifluous baritone reaching villainous depths which suited many of the roles he played.

From Motion Picture News, March 3, 1917

What is striking, perhaps not so surprisingly, about “Hollywood’s First Australian”  is why Jack McGowan is considered to be one of the most important men from Holllywood’s earliest days. In this manner, he can be compared to Ernie Kovacs and his use of the television camera during the late 1940’s to 1950’s, exploiting its use to maximum capability, while Jack McGowan used every trick he knew in the implementation of a motion picture camera onto moving trains, cars,  and motorcycles. In other words, if an object moved and entered within range of the camera lenses, it was considered to be usable, offering substance to the completed film.  John J McGowan also takes note of Jack’s use of a camera mounted at the front of the car (nowadays the hood) to film the inside of the car through the windshield plus the rear window – a method still used today by motion picture directors.

Jack McGowan’s most meaningful contribution to Hollywood after his many years of filming was as Executive Secretary for the Screen Directors Guild (now known as Directors Guild of America), which began in 1936. When the Motion Picture Producers Association (now known as Motion Picture Association of America) was formed in 1922, the organization’s intent was to prevent the existence of unions among actors and film writers but eventually failed. With this new union for movie directors coming into play, the MPPA wasted no time in trying to vanquish the guild. Jack’s people skills came strongly into play once again, fighting for the creative rights and salaries of directors who on more than one occasion had to butt heads with the studio owners. John J McGowan stresses that while Jack certainly kept company with the best of the A-list directors like John Ford and D. W. Griffith which helped keep him in the business until at least 1939, Jack never joined that esteemed list, although not doing so certainly did not diminish his contributions to Hollywood in any way.

"Stormy Seas" 1923

Originally titled “J. P. McGowan: Biography of a Hollywood Pioneer” (McFarland and Company, 2005), the main reason for this reprint is The Gilmour Collection, as mentioned by John J McGowan in the Preface to the Second Edition. The Gilmour Collection is presented into several small chapters documenting the different periods of Jack’s life. John J. also includes an extensive filmography which spans 77 pages, starting with Jack’s film career in New York back in 1909 and ending in 1939. The filmography contains notes regarding unconfirmed film appearances like John Ford’s “Stagecoach” (1930) as well as some but not all extant film prints and commercial availability. Nevertheless, the filmography is worth glancing through, just to get a grasp of Jack McGowan’s energetic level of film making. Sadly, much of his earliest work is lost, particularly many of the episodes of “The Hazards of Helen”.

                                                                   ~

Tom Tyler first worked with Jack McGowan in 1929, soon after Tom’s contract with FBO expired that year. It is possible this was not the first time Tom became familiar with the name J. P. McGowan, as Jack directed a number of movies for Robertson-Cole Productions, the distributor for FBO’s films. Even though Tom and Jack were different in personality, they both came from working class backgrounds and loved their work. Tom Tyler’s introvert was a perfect complement to Jack’s extrovert, people-person personality. In a way Tom’s work ethic helped fuel Jack’s new production company under his own name, affording him the ability to crank out just as many movies in 1929 as he did back during the 1910’s.

J. P. McGowan in "Deadwood Pass", 1933

“The Man from Nevada” was the first of eight silent films Tom starred in for Jack McGowan, released in August 29, followed by “Law of the Plains”, “The Phantom Rider”, “The Lone Horseman”, “Pioneers of the West” and “’Neath Western Skies”. In 1930, “Canyon of Missing Men” and “Call of the Desert” were the last two silent films Tom made for J. P. McGowan productions, but this was hardly the last time the two men would work with each other.  With Jack now directing for the recently-formed Monogram Pictures, he got the chance to work with Tom again, this time in “The Man from New Mexico” (1931). Jack then directed Tom for three Monarch Productions westerns: “When a Man Rides Alone” (1932), “Deadwood Pass” (1933), and “War of the Range” (1933). Unlike his own productions where Jack often appeared in the movie, he only had one role than can best be described as a cameo role in “Deadwood Pass” where he plays a character called “The Chief” - a nickname sometimes attributed to the director of a movie. As “The Chief” though, Jack gets shot by one of the henchmen in the gang Tom infiltrated. The last time Tom Tyler and J. P. McGowan worked together in major roles would be “Fighting Hero” (1934), a western which pays tribute to Tom Tyler’s silent film years – and also pays tribute to Jack McGowan’s late silent film years as playing the villain Morales. Sadly, J. P. McGowan died two years before Tom Tyler did at the age of 72 on March 26, 1952, from heart failure.


To purchase a copy of “Hollywood’s First Australian”, click here.

Betty Grable with Tom Tyler – and remakes of “Galloping Thru”

The name Betty Grable hardly needs any introduction to those familiar with Hollywood’s Golden Age. While her popularity was at its height during the 1940’s and 1950’s, prior to those two decades her film appearances were confined to B-movies. One of these low-budget movies Betty was originally slated to appear in was “Galloping Thru” – with Tom Tyler as her leading man, as stated by the author Michael R. Pitts in his book "Astor Pictures: A Filmography and History of the Reissue King, 1933-1965”. On the surface this does not sound so far-fetched; Tom himself was the first choice to play the lead role in F. W. Murnau’s 1931 epic film “Tabu: A Story of the South Seas”.  That never happened, and as fate would have it, Betty Grable would never have the chance to play opposite Tom although her looks, charm and personality were certainly a match for his. There was a reason Betty was called “The Pin-Up Girl” in the 1940’s, that familiar pose of her showing off her legs, wearing a swimsuit that became a ubiquitous image during World War 2. Matched with a weightlifting champion by the name of Tom Tyler, such a pairing might have opened the door to more movies for both stars, possibly even A-list movies, at least sooner for Betty.

After Betty died in 1973 at the age of 56, a number of movie contracts both signed and unsigned survived and were eventually put up for auction. One of the unsigned contracts was for Trem Carr Pictures, which produced the Tom Tyler Monogram movies of the early 1930’s. One of these movies was “Galloping Thru”, but the contract stipulated that she was to use her first stage name of Francis Dean. Betty Grable never signed the contract, perhaps in the hope her next role might be in an A-list movie. That however did not happen until 1940 when she replaced actress Alice Faye in “Down Argentine Way”, finally establishing herself as an A-list actress with Twentieth Century Fox studio, becoming their biggest – and highest paid – star by 1947. While Betty Grable did not have the opportunity to play opposite Tom Tyler, Betty Mack did. The second Betty worked with Tom before, playing his leading lady in “God’s Country and the Man”, “Partners of the Trail”, and “The Man from Death Valley”, all released in 1931. Astor Pictures re-released "Galloping Thru" in 1939, eight years after its initial release by Monogram Pictures.

~

Movie remakes in Hollywood is hardly a new trend; the practice dates back to silent film years. Tom Tyler’s earliest movie remake of the sound era is “Terror of the Plains” (1934) – remade from “West of Cheyenne” (1931), his first feature-length sound movie. The second remake was “Coyote Trails” (1935), from “Ridin’ Thru” (1934), minus the element of the dude ranch in the plot. The Monogram movie “Galloping Thru” has its share of remakes too, but has a double lineage, depending upon the plot elements being counted, as well as the documenting sources. The history of remakes of “Galloping Thru” as listed here come from the book "Becoming John Wayne: The Early Westerns of a Screen Icon, 1930-1939” By Larry Powell, Jonathan H. Amsbary, and from IMDB. The John Wayne book has “Galloping Thru” being remade three times; IMDB, two times. What makes the two lineages really interesting is this: there are a total of five different writers involved with these remakes, creating minor variations in the story without disturbing the main story elements which qualify as a remake.

“Becoming John Wayne” remake lineage of “Galloping Thru”:

Galloping Thru 1931:
Director: Lloyd Nosler
Writers: Wellyn Totman (screenplay and story)
Stars: Tom Tyler

The Dawn Rider 1935:
Writer: Lloyd Nosler
Stars: John Wayne

Western Trails 1938:
Writers: Norton S. Parker and George Waggner
Stars: Bob Baker

Dawn Rider 2012:
Writer: Joseph Nasser
Stars: Christian Slater
…………………………………………………………………….

IMDB remake lineage of “Galloping Thru”:

A Son of the Plains 1931:
Writer: Robert N Bradbury
Stars: Bob Custer

Galloping Thru 1931:
Director: Lloyd Nosler
Writers: Wellyn Totman (screenplay and story)
Stars: Tom Tyler

Blue Steel 1934:
Writer: Robert N Bradbury
Stars: John Wayne

Note how IMDB places “Galloping Thru” second in the history of its remakes – after “A Son of the Plains”, written by Robert N. Bradbury. Bradbury also directed “A Son of the Plains”, “Blue Steel”, and “The Dawn Rider”. Lloyd Nosler, who directed “Galloping Thru”, also wrote the story for “The Dawn Rider”. It sounds like both Nosler and Bradbury had a hand in establishing a solid enough basic western plot that would be repeated up to the present day. It is gratifying to see a Tom Tyler B-film leading a series of remakes like this, even if the behind-the-scenes names are responsible for the “heavy lifting”. "Galloping Thru" remains a lost film.

Tom Tyler and His Pals: The Sound Era

Tom with Andy Shuford in "A Rider of the Plains"

By the early 1930’s when Tom Tyler transitioned to making sound movies, the “Tom and His Pals” marketing motto since his silent film years underwent a transition, too. For one thing, Tom’s riding partner was an adult male, sometimes in the form of Ben Corbett, Billy Franey or even George “Gabby” Hayes. One western even had an African-American as Tom’s pal – Fred “Snowflake” Toones, in “Single Handed Saunders” (1932), a rarity in itself. There remained a few exceptions to this, primarily in an attempt to recapture the magic of Tom and his pals previously seen in the silent films made for FBO. To that end, two movies produced by Trem Carr introduced a young pal to Tom’s character: “A Rider of the Plains” (1931) and “Two Fisted Justice” (1931). In 1933, Monarch Productions followed suit with “War of the Range”. Each one of these movies had a different child actor in the role of Tom’s pal, and one unique feature of these boys is, unlike Frankie Darro, these kids all had blonde hair. Following is a brief profile of the three child actors who played Tom Tyler’s pal for an hour’s length of action and adventure.

Andy Shuford

Born as William Andrew Shuford on December 16, 1919 in Helena, Arkansas, Andy was best known for his roles in “Law of the North” (1932) and “A Rider of the Plains” (1931). Andy’s first film appearance was in a Little Rascals short, “Ten Years Old” in 1927. Prior to working with Tom Tyler, he was an established child star in his own right, appearing in “The Big Trail” (1930) and “The Great Meadow” (1931). Andy played Tom’s partner Silent Sandy in “A Rider of the Plains” (1931) – so named due to his tendency to talk too much when he was not supposed to. Consequently, his mouth tended to get him into trouble. Tom remained firm with him at all times in bringing him up, for he plays a parental role to Sandy in this movie and is not just a “big pal” to the boy. Andy’s last movie appearance was in “The Mayor of Hell” (1933), which starred James Cagney. When he joined the United States Army Air Corps during World War 2, Andy left his film career behind, becoming a highly decorated pilot and achieving the rank of colonel. Andy Shuford died on May 19, 1995 at the age of 77 in Monteagle, Tennessee.

Bobby Nelson

Robert John Nelson was born on January 17, 1922 in Sana Monica, California. Acting came naturally to Bobby, the son of a silent film star and director, Jack Nelson. Bobby’s first film role came in 1926 at the age of four in the silent film “Beyond the Rockies”. His onscreen personality and charm soon led to further roles in movies, such as “Tarzan the Mighty” (1928), “Oliver Twist” (1933), and the Gene Autry film serial, “The Phantom Empire” (1935). As Danny in “Two Fisted Justice”, nine-year-old Bobby played an orphan who lost his guardians to an Indian attack, taken in by Kentucky Carson (Tom Tyler). Witnessing a murder, Danny risks losing his beloved dog Sagebrush. Very reminiscent of the silent films Tom Tyler made with Frankie Darro, who was sometimes characterized as being an orphan, Bobby’s performance was worthy of a juvenile Oscar, had the award existed in 1931 (it was introduced in 1934). But this was not Bobby’s only appearance with Tom Tyler; he also had a role as Ezra Podge in Chapter 4 of “Battling with Buffalo Bill”, also released in 1931. Bobby’s last film role was in “The Boothill Brigade” (1937), and five years later in 1942, joined the Army during World War 2. His military career lasted four years before he was discharged in 1946. As an adult, he was a public accountant. Sadly, Bobby died at the young age of 52 on December 5, 1974 in Los Angeles.

Wesley Giraud

Wesley Giraud was Tom’s last young pal Jimmy Carlysle, appearing in “War of the Range” (1933). Sporting blond hair and freckles, Wesley was born on July 1, 1918 in New York City. His first film appearance was in “One Man Law” (1932) starring Buck Jones. He also appeared in movies like “No Greater Glory” (1934) which also starred Frankie Darro, “The Plainsman” (1936), and “Boys Town” (1938). As Jimmy Carlysle, the younger brother of Grace Carlysle (Caryl Lincoln), Wesley was a natural as Tom’s young pal: the type of boy who loved the outdoors with his rugged personality, faithful pal to the very end, when Tom helps the boy on the mend after he is shot. The last movie Wesley made was “Gallant Sons” (1940). After his film career, Wesley worked in the furniture business, then as a mailman. In 1971, Wesley survived a stroke, rehabilitating while watching movies he appeared in on television. He died at the age of 74 on May 5, 1993 in San Diego, California.


Honorary mention: the adorable moppet named Bill in “Single Handed Saunders” who brings his broken wagon to Tom the Blacksmith to fix. Bill appears to have either light brown or possibly red hair. Unfortunately this young actor’s name is not credited nor mentioned anywhere on IMDB or elsewhere. If anyone knows his name, please send it to me so I can add it. Thank you!

April 21, 2020 - We have a name for this little boy! Noel Newhard, age 3 in the screencap below. His father Guy Newhard was a film actor and camera man who had a minor role as a cowboy in "Single Handed Saunders". Many thanks to JimmieFan at Nitrateville for helping to identify this young man! Read more about Noel and his father in the article given to me by JimmieFan here.

"Powdersmoke Range" from Movie Action Magazine digitized

As with "The Last Outlaw", "Powdersmoke Range" (1935) has not been officially released on DVD, although it has been shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). In addition to Tom Tyler, this RKO western also stars Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Bob Steele, Boots Mallory, Ray Mayer, Sam Hardy, and many other big-name western stars from that era. The story runs thirteen pages and is from Movie Action Magazine, November, 1935. To read this 9.56 MB digitized scan, click here.

“The Last Outlaw” from Boy’s Cinema digitized

Not yet officially released on DVD to my knowledge, “The Last Outlaw” (1936) is now available for viewing – as a digitized film booklet format, scanned from the December 19, 1926 issue of Boy’s Cinema, the popular British publication.  This RKO “urban-western” also stars Harry Carey, Hoot Gibson, Henry B. Walthall, and Margaret Callahan. The story runs thirteen pages, one column long. To read this 12.3 MB digitized scan, click here.

The Sonora Kid: The British Connection

In the realm of silent film westerns with unusual story elements, “The Sonora Kid” (1927) stands out due to its integration of some distinct British elements in the plot. Tom Tyler is a cowboy who obtains work through a ranch owner by the name of Arthur Butterworth. At first glance, the name comes across as being very British – and it is. The surname Butterworth is descended from the former township of the same name in what is now called Milnrow in Greater Manchester, England. Arthur, of course, refers to King Arthur, the famous British leader who protected his land and peoples against the invading Saxons during the late 5th and early 6th centuries. There is also one other story element at present in “The Sonora Kid”: Sir Francis Drake.

British sea captain and explorer Sir Francis Drake first set foot on the west coast of America back in 1579 when his ship Golden Hind plus crew landed at what is now called Point Reyes. In true pirate fashion, Drake managed to vanquish the existing Spanish towns along the west coast near the Pacific before docking his ship after circumnavigating from England. By claiming the region of present-day California for England, Drake made it possible for his country to establish English charters from America’s  Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast. Once Drake secured the region for England, he named it Nova Albion, or New Albion. While he did not establish a residing colony, Drake and his crew sailed back to England in 1580.

Today, there is a prominent bay named after Drake, located 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. A quadricentennial plaque at Drake’s Bay documents the arrival of Drake and his ship on land considered new to British exploration. Once Drake made his initial landing at Point Reyes, he did not make any effort to plant a British colony there. After only staying there for a year and sailing for home to England, the American territory along the Pacific coast that Drake claimed for England eventually expanded his country’s fur trade commerce up to the northwest region of the United States.

Considering “The Sonora Kid” was filmed in California – and that Sonora is about 182 miles east of Drake’s Bay – it may be easy to conclude how an imaginative script came to be. Written by J. G. Hawks and Percy Heath and adapted from the story "The Knight of the Range" by William Wallace Cook, this silent film stars Tom Tyler, Peggy Montgomery, Billie Bennett, Mark Hamilton, Jack Richardson, Ethan Laidlaw, Bruce Gordon, Barney Furey, and Victor Allen. Tom’s character has the last name of MacReady, a typical Scottish/Irish surname which is altogether fitting for Tom Tyler, for it means “trained; expert” – in his case, an expert horseman. Swinging back to King Arthur, Tom dons a suit of armor and engages in a jousting match with a wealthy man from San Francisco, Bruce Gordon. Two men wearing suits of armor on horseback jousting was pretty much a first for a silent film B-western. As the knight in shining armor, Tom not only wins the jousting match but also the hand of Peggy Montgomery, who was to be married to Gordon. Tom is thankful to Peggy for many things in addition to her giving him a copy of “King Arthur” to read when he was not working. With the newly hitched couple making their home on a ranch not too far from where Sir Francis Drake landed, the memory of Merry Old England is not far away.

Collectibles: Tom Tyler on the A. Batschari Mercedes tobacco cards

Tobacco/cigarette cards bearing images of movie stars are popular among collectors of film memorabilia. Much smaller than the arcade/exhibit cards, tobacco cards were primarily manufactured in Europe. More than a few sets were made in England by cigarette companies like Gallaher and Player, while other tobacco card sets were manufactured in countries like Germany. The origins of a tobacco card with a design on one side dates back to 1875 when a small piece of cardboard was placed behind cigarettes in individually sold packs of cigarettes. The cardboard provided support for the paper package containing the cigarettes. Tobacco companies decided to place a design of some kind on these cards: cars, flowers, buildings, engineering feats – and movie stars.

While Tom Tyler did not appear on any of the English manufactured tobacco cards, he did appear on one card in the German A. Batschari Cigarettenfabrik card set. Made in Baden-Baden, Germany, A. Batschari was founded by August Batscharis in 1834 and manufactured both cigars and cigarettes. In the 1920’s, the company was purchased by the Reemtsma Group. The Mercedes brand of cigarette was produced under the new corporation, yet retained the A. Batschari name on its products. The other brand name, Jazmati, was also used in the making of cigarette cards, and used the same photos and card numbers for both sets, each set containing a total of 168 cards.

The Mercedes tobacco card with Tom on it bears the number 89 and measures 2 1/16” x 3” in size. The photo is sepia in color, and manufactured in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. On the front of the card is a full length portrait of Tom Tyler standing by a wood cabin, with Napoleon the dog (Frankie Darro’s pet in the silent films) sitting at his left. This image has also been seen on a Ross Verlag postcard, and not coincidentally, the photo rights on the cigarette card are also printed Ross Verlag in the lower left corner on the front. Other stars in this set include Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Al Jolson, John Barrymore, and Rudolph Valentino.

On Location: The Walker Cabin in “Call of the Desert”

After Tom Tyler wrapped up his final silent film for FBO in 1929, he sought work with another studio, J. P.  McGowan Productions. Luckily for Tom, he signed a new contract for eight silent films to be distributed by Syndicate Pictures. The filming location for these eight silent films was at Santa Clarita, California. One of the most notable buildings in Santa Clarita that appears in these silent films is the Walker Cabin. Located on the Walker Ranch in Placerita Canyon, the cabin became a popular filming location for many western films from 1930 to the 1940’s.

Tom Tyler and Bobby Dunn standing in front of the Walker Cabin

In the 1930 silent film “Call of the Desert”, the Walker Cabin is where Tom is carried by Hardrock (Bobby Dunn) and Nate (Cliff Lyons) into Jean Walker's (Sheila Le Gay) ranch home where she lives with her uncle Tod (Bud Osborne), to nurse him back to health. Not coincidentally, the character names who reside at the Walker Ranch bear the Walker name, to give the story a feel of authenticity. With the spacious living room and set of books on the large square table, the bedroom where Tom quietly recovers from being struck ill while out on the desert trying to make his way to the spot in Placerita Canyon where his father left the gold claim for his son, the Walker Cabin is a vision of comfort and friendliness, the way a ranch home would be to a needy stranger, Rex Carson (Tom Tyler). The town center which has its gold claim recorder and other local offices, along with a horse rental business, is comprised of other cabins on the Walker Ranch.

The Walker Ranch was established by Frank Evans Walker, who was the region’s first homesteader. He built the family cabin in 1909 so that it could be surrounded by the oak trees, near a seasonal stream lined with idyllic willow and sycamore trees. It was not long before their ranch grew to include more cabins, primarily to house local gold panners. It should be mentioned that it was at this location where the first gold in California was discovered. This camp included picnic tables, stoves, barbecues, and full housekeeping amenities for those who decided to stay for extended periods, searching for gold. Sadly, the first Walker cabin burned down in 1918, but Frank built a new one which became the filming location for “Call of the Desert” and “Canyon of Missing Men”.  Upon taking into consideration the westerns made during Hollywood’s early years, Frank Walker rented out his ranch to filmmakers, which brought in income to help feed his family of twelve children and keep the mining camp in operation until the 1950’s. Many a famous western actor set foot upon the Walker Ranch for filming: William S. Hart, who was also a neighbor of Frank Walker; Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, John Wayne, Bob Steele, and many others. The earliest silent film shot at Walker Ranch was in 1928 – meaning that Tom Tyler was among the first silent film actors to set foot on the famous property. In 1950, Placerita Canyon State Park was established, its ownership being under Los Angeles County.

While the multiple cabins on the Walker Ranch no longer exist, the good news is, the existing Walker Cabin has been restored so that visitors to the park might see what it looked like during Hollywood’s western silent film days.

Aventuras de Tom Tyler newsletter on hiatus

The Aventuras de Tom Tyler newsletter is on hiatus for a few months due to time constraints (as well as a few non-Tom Tyler projects I am involved in that are priority). In the meantime, this blog will be updated a few times a month as usual, and for your viewing pleasure:

Need help in identifying a Tom Tyler movie with a French title - Identified!

Updated note (January 26, 2020): It appears the newspaper Republican and Herald (Pottsville, PA, January 25, 1930) mislabeled a still similar to the one below as being from "The Phantom Rider".  Fellow forum member Vince at forum.westernmovies.fr sent me several scans from a film booklet, Les Films du Far-West which contains the still identical to the one below. The title on this is "Le Vol du Diamant", which leads me to believe "'Neath Western Skies" had two different translations in French - the other one being "Le Lion du Ranch". Literally, "Le Vol du Diamant" means "The Flight of the Diamond", and diamond drills are the central part of the plot in "'Neath Western Skies". Many thanks to Vince for this information!
                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in November 26, 2017 I did a blog article on French titles of Tom's movies. However one of the translations turned out to be inaccurate. The cinema listing for “Le lion du ranch" appeared in the newspaper L'Echo d'Alger, January 20, 1932:

After some initial inquiry at forum.westernmovies.fr, it was originally concluded by me it was probably “West of Cheyenne” (1931). However, that is not the case. Another member at the above named French forum shared a still of “Le lion du ranch" which was published in the book  “Le Western ou le Cinéma Américain par Excellence” by J L Rieupeyrout and A. Bazin, 1953. Please take a look at the still below and see if you can recognize which Tom Tyler movie this is from. The date of the movie is most likely 1931, which means it is one of Tom's lost talkies. Please email your reply to aventurasdetomtyler_@_triggertom.com (remove the underscores). Many thanks to Vince at  forum.westernmovies.fr for sharing this image!