Collectibles: Tom Tyler on the R423 movie cards

 When it comes to collecting small movie cards, the ones manufactured by Cloetta (1 1/8” x 2") and De Beukelaer (1 1/16” x 2") can certainly be counted among them. Yet there is one even smaller in size, smaller than one inch, tiny yet highly collectible. Known as the R423 strip cards, these were printed in a series of 13 different cards on a single strip, issued with bubblegum starting in 1950.  Measuring 5/8" x 7/8" in size, baseball players as well as actors were issued in these small accordion strips of collectible paper. For the baseball players, each card was numbered, a total of 120 different cards printed, while the total number for the actors is unknown, but well over 84 for the black and white cards, and over 34 for the color cards. 

The backs of the black and white cards were orange in color and bear a silhouette of a seated man operating a film projector, while the color cards depict the same against a purple background. The color cards ones are of different portraits of the actor compared to the black and white one, as can be seen from the ones with Tom Tyler.

Other actors who appear on the R423 movie cards include: Charles Starrett, Red Skelton, Rita Hayworth, Jane Russell, and Desi Arnaz.

Tom Tyler and Jackie Fields: The weightlifter and the boxer

To the fan of early twentieth-century welterweight boxing, the name Jackie Fields is a familiar one. Holding several titles throughout his career, National Boxing Association (NBA), New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) and The Ring welterweight titles, Jackie joined the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) in 1921 when his family moved from Chicago to the City of Angels when his father fell ill with tuberculosis. With regards to Jackie's professional boxing record, between 1925 and 1933 he had 72 wins and 9 losses out of a total of 86 fights.

At the time the following photo was taken of Jackie with Tom Tyler and published in Exhibitor’s Daily Review, March 29, 1927, Jackie Fields was on a winning streak, having lost one match to Jimmy McLarnin on November 12, 1925, and one match against Johnny Lamar on August 12, 1925 ending in a draw. Jackie had the time to meet with other athletic stars in Hollywood at the time who were also members of the LAAC, such as Tom Tyler. By 1927 Tom already won the 1925, 1926 and 1927 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) of Southern California heavyweight weightlifting championships. It seems natural for two winners in their chosen field of sport to pose for a photo like this one, meeting outside the sports club they were members of to chat together and maybe have a bite to eat.

Exhibitor’s Daily Review, March 29, 1927

Reading silent films: “When the Law Rides” 1928 starring Tom Tyler

In observance of National Silent Movie Day, September 29, 2021, I am very pleased to say that my second translation project of “When the Law Rides” of the Biblioteca Films film booklet “La Ley en la Mano” 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, and hopefully this will be an incentive to rediscover “When the Law Rides”. 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!

Tom Tyler in “Galloping Thru” 1931...in Vietnam!

Being able to peruse the many global newspaper archives for film research can bring any number of surprises. Case in point: Tom Tyler’s early sound film “Galloping Thru” (1931) was exhibited in Vietnam under its French title, “Diligence Infernale”, as seen in a cinema ad in the newspaper Thời sự November 19, 1949. Chances are “Galloping Thru” was relaxing entertainment for the French troops at the time.

Tom Tyler Westerns in India

In the February 1933 issue of Sound and Shadow, there is an advertisement for a newly formed American film import company, Starrex Films. Headquartered in Madras (now called Chennai), India, this film distribution company specialized in American action movies, one of America’s top action stars at the time being Tom Tyler. The first title on Starrex Films list was “Honor of the Mounted” from 1932. 

Sound & Shadow was a monthly trade publication based in India but had offices in Hollywood, London, and Australia.

Upcoming special project for “When the Law Rides”

In our next installment of the lost Tom Tyler silent film reconstruction series, "When the Law Rides" (1928) with Frankie Darro and Jane Reid has been selected. As with "Red Hot Hoofs", the basis for this reconstruction will be the film's derivative published by Biblioteca Films. Existing copies of stills, promotional materials, and movie cards will be included in this project.

Once "When the Law Rides" is translated, it will be posted here on the Aventuras de Tom Tyler Blog plus social media pages.

UID silent film arcade/exhibit card IDENTIFIED!

Originally published on August 25, 2020, one year ago, a blog entry on the following arcade/exhibit card bore no silent film title text at the lower left corner but its appearance suggested it was from one of Tom Tyler's silent films from around 1928. One can only imagine just how exciting it was to watch Tom execute this scene on silent film, slightly out of regular onscreen cowboy costume. Then again Tom would look in perfect shape, for 1928 was the year he won the Amateur Athletic Union heavyweight weightlifting championship.

Many thanks to The Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA) July 8, 1928 for providing the identifying source of this Tom Tyler silent film arcade/exhibit card.

from "When the Law Rides", 1928, FBO Productions