Happy New Year 2024!

How time has flown since 2015 when Aventuras de Tom Tyler actively became involved in the search for Tom’s lost silent films and lost Monogram Pictures films. While 2023 has not seen any rediscovered lost films, progress has been made with the original website, and blog, as well as social media accounts with Twitter and Facebook. One thing which needs to be mentioned about 2024 is this: all of Tom Tyler’s silent films from 1928 enter public domain. Of the six silent films Tom made in 1928, the good news is, three of them plus a fragment have survived:

Phantom of the Range (1928)
The Texas Tornado (1928)
Terror Mountain (1928)
The Avenging Rider (1928) (fragment)

A note on “The Texas Tornado”: a complete version is stored at BFI.

If any readers of this blog own a complete print of “The Avenging Rider” or any other lost silent films/Monogram Pictures Tom Tyler has appeared in, please contact Aventuras de Tom Tyler – we would love to speak with you! The time has come for these silent films to be restored.

Collectibles: Tom Tyler and Cuentos Cinematograficos film booklets

The Cowboy Cop

One of the more elusive Tom Tyler Spanish film booklet collectibles are those published under the youth-targeted audience Cuentos Cinematograficos title, under the Biblioteca Films brand based in Barcelona, Spain. There are a total of four known booklets, three of them based on Tom’s silent films made for FBO, with the fourth being an interesting work of fiction, most likely as a marketing tactic to the public as a way of encouraging silent film patrons to view the latest cinematic exhibition.

At one point, a number of these silent film booklets were compiled and bound into a book, as with the one titled Cuentos del Cine. Interestingly enough, not all of the film books are under the Cuentos Cinematograficos title: some of the bound booklets were published under Biblioteca Infantil Cinematografica. Measuring 4 ¾” x 6 ¾” in size, the book has a brown fabric cover with Cuentos del Cine on the binding. Covers from the individual film booklets are left intact. Each cover for Cuentos Cinematograficos bears an illustration from a silent film scene in the colors red, brown, gray, black and white, with a mast across the top of each cover containing an illustration of Tom and his young pal Frankie Darro, with the words Tom Tyler, Chispita (a reference to Frankie), Vivales (a reference to Franki’s pet dog Napoleon). The three Tom Tyler silent films which appear under Cuentos Cinematograficos are: “La Fortuna del Bandido/The Masquerade Bandit”, “El Cowboy Policia/The Cowboy Cop”, and “Valor Salvaje/Cyclone of the Range”. It is worth noting that “El Cowboy Policia” was the first publication for Cuentos Cinematograficos, suggesting that Tom Tyler’s popularity would help get the new brand off the ground.

The Masquerade Bandit

Individually sold during their circulation time, these film booklets are derivatives from silent films starring the famous French actor Georges Biscot, Tom Mix, Tom Tyler, Jackie Coogan, Rin Tin Tin, Billy Sullivan, and many others. Like other issues of Cuentos Cinematograficos, instead of film stills being reproduced in the film booklets, sketches of the stills are used to illustrate the story.

Cyclone of the Range

A special edition booklet, “Una Aventura de Tom Tyler” is included, which appears to be a work of fiction, which of course includes Tom’s pal Frankie Darro from his silent film days. Unlike the regular covers designed for Cuentos Cinematograficos, this one shows a full-length shot of Tom Tyler on the cover, with some decoration in the publication name and story title. The singular noteworthy full-page sketch which is added to the story depicts Tom seated and being tied up by a group of men wearing white sheets over their heads with two holes cut out for the eyes, ghost-style. Such a story must have been an exciting treat for young fans of Tom Tyler, and like so many other ultra-rare Tom Tyler silent film collectibles, are sought after by serious collectors.

Upcoming special project for “The Cherokee Kid”

Coming up in 2024, our fourth installment of the lost Tom Tyler silent film reconstruction series, "The Cherokee Kid" (1927) with Sharon Lynn has been selected. As usual, 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 "The Cherokee Kid" is translated, it will be posted here on the Aventuras de Tom Tyler Blog plus social media pages.

Tom Tyler “Fast Bullets” (1936) to be released on Blu-ray!

I am very happy to announce that Tom Tyler’s starring western “Fast Bullets” from 1936 is finally being released on Blu-ray! This will be available from The Serial Squadron and can be ordered here at the price of only $6.99. This action-packed western also casts Rex Lease, Margaret Nearing, Al Bridge, George Chesebro, and Charles Whitaker. Filmed at the Walker Ranch in Santa Clarita, California, the film’s landscape evokes the Old West as it is meant to be remembered.

It is worth noting that this is the first of Tom’s B-westerns to see a Blu-ray release so hopefully this will set a precedent to have the rest of his B-westerns on Blu-ray, whether it be The Serial Squadron or another distributor. Many many thanks to Eric Stedman for his continuously dedicated and hard work not only on this film restoration but also for the many film serials he has worked on and made available to the public over the years.

Further updates can be found here as well as Mr. Stedman’s Facebook group The Serial Squadron.

“Jungle Mystery” petition is officially closed

Many thanks to everyone who signed the following petition:

Petition to Universal Pictures to release “Jungle Mystery” on DVD

This petition is now officially closed as of November 7, 2023. However, I would like to mention there is the possibility the former Holy Grail of Lost Serials will be released on DVD in the future, most likely by VCI Entertainment.

So, how do you find out if “Jungle Mystery” is released on DVD?

You can check out the official VCI Entertainment site where brand-new releases are mentioned. Also check out any notifications on the Aventuras de Tom Tyler website , Facebook page, Twitter page , or right on this blog for a notification.

In the meantime, all Tom Tyler and serial fans, sit tight, and if you want to see any movie posters, stills, or other information on "Jungle Mystery", click on this link to the Aventuras de Tom Tyler site's film page and enjoy!

British titles of Tom Tyler films

"The Avenging Rider" 1928. From Perthshire Advertiser,
December 11, 1929

It seems logical that the vast majority of films made in Hollywood during the silent film period would be released under their original titles in other English-speaking nations like the United Kingdom. Curiously enough, not all of Tom Tyler’s silent films had a uniquely British title change, but it seems at least half did, at least compared to the handful of 1930’s westerns and two from the 1940’s which he made. In at least two cases, Tom’s silent films were released under two different titles in England, “Wild to Go” (1926) and “The Cowboy Cop” (1926). For those unfamiliar with the plot or synopsis of many of Tom’s silent films or have not read the ones written by me on the Aventuras de Tom Tyler website, some British silent film titles may seem outright baffling. For example: “The Mystery Bracelet” from 1925 – which is the most important object in “The Cowboy Musketeer”, released the same year. The plot involves an heirloom bracelet containing a map bearing the location of a gold mine on the property worn by actress Frances Dare which soon becomes the target of the ranch’s foreman, Tom London. A second example with more detail is the blog article “Lost in translation: How ‘Tyrant of Red Gulch’ became ‘The Sorcerer’ across the pond”  With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive for the titles below.

Let's Go Gallagher (1925) - Odds on Gallagher

The Cowboy Musketeer (1925) - The Mystery Bracelet

"The Cowboy Musketeer" (1925). From West Middlesex Gazette, March 26, 1927

The Arizona Streak (1926) – The Fatal Card

Wild to Go (1926) - A Gamble in Hearts, also released as The Pals Again

The Masquerade Bandit (1926) - The Tables Turned 

The Cowboy Cop (1926) - Broke to the Wide, also released as The Money Grabbers

Tom and His Pals (1926) – Movie Struck

Lightning Lariats (1927) – A Throne for a Saddle

The Cherokee Kid (1927) – The Stranger

Terror Mountain (1928) - Tom's Vacation 

The Avenging Rider (1928) - Partners

Tyrant of Red Gulch (1928) – The Sorcerer

Trail of the Horse Thieves (1928) - Double Lives

Gun Law (1929) – A Swift Lover

A Rider of the Plains (1931) - The Greater Love 

Single Handed Saunders (1932) - Wyoming

Honor of the Mounted (1932) - Beyond the Border

Trigger Tom (1935) – Dangerous Mission

Fast Bullets (1936) – Law and Order

Ridin’ On (1936) – Unseen Enemy

Cherokee Strip (1940) – Fighting Marshal

Sing Me a Song of Texas (1945) – Fortune Hunter 

"Wild to Go" (1926). From The Bioscope, November 18, 1926

Filming “San Antonio”: Hopefully Tom Tyler got the afternoon off

Sometimes the most interesting production notes of a particular movie can be found within the marketing tool known as the pressbook. In the case of the 1945 Warner Brothers western “San Antonio” starring Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith, there is one such article regarding the filming of the scene where Tom Tyler gets shot by Flynn. Tom of course had the opportunity to execute his famous long, drawn out walk before finally collapsing onto the wooden platform surrounding the building across the street. In this western, Tom has a supporting role as Lafe McWilliams, a henchman for cattle rustler Paul Kelly who is hot on the trail of cattleman Flynn, who is attempting to lay low until he can locate Stuart and turn him in to the authorities.

On the second page of the pressbook the article titled “Special Effects Department Busy on ‘San Antonio’ Set”, detailed information is given to the rip roaring shoot out scene between Tyler and Flynn, which originates as an exchange between the two men in the dance hall. According to the article, director David Butler, who, like Tom, had a career dating back to the silent film era, the scene was lined up by Butler, and with the aid of the special effects man Fred Ponedel, set off the powder and smoke, which produced the resulting effects when Flynn shoots a blank at Tom.

Ever eager and ready to learn every aspect of what his role requires, Tom stood by and observed everything. What is interesting about the entire scene is that the set was built to resemble the 1870 to 1880 years of San Antonio. When the set was built, it was done from photographs supplied by San Antonio Mayor Maury Maverick. Once completed, the set occupied an entire sound stage. 

Finally ready to complete his last scene of filming in “San Antonio” which took place in the morning, Tom remarked to present crew members that hopefully the scene would be done filming by lunchtime so he could have the afternoon off. Knowing just how efficiently Tom Tyler could execute a scene according to direction, chances are he took the hit from Flynn before dying off according to the script so that he could enjoy his afternoon off from work. 

Yes, that is the director of "San Antonio" with Tom Tyler on an ESCO arcade card from 1929!