 | Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang (or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse or cow herders) who had minimal or no dialog. They are generally not listed in the film credits. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names. |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Carol Henry (1918-1987), Johnny Mack Brown and House Peters, Jr. in a scene from GUNNING FOR JUSTICE (Monogram, 1948). Henry was a later member of the B western henchie and stuntman brigade, and his film credits begin around 1944. Dale Crawford and Jim Sorensen provided some additional details on Carol D. Henry: he was born in Oklahoma on 7/14/1918 and died of heart problems in his North Hollywood home on 9/17/1987. His father and mother were Noah Henry and Evla Howard Henry, respectively. Henry is interred at the Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. |
 (Courtesy of Dale Crawford & Jim Sorensen) |  | Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California, Lot 1, Section 4070, Block D. |
 'Cactus Mack' Real name: Taylor Curtis McPeters or Curtis Taylor McPeters appeared in at least 136 westerns and 11 serials | |  (From Old Corral image collection) |
| 'Cactus Mack' (1899-1962) hailed from Weed, New Mexico (along with his cousin, Glenn Strange). In the late twenties, Strange and McPeters joined a group of singing cowboys and the group ultimately became known as the 'Arizona Wranglers'. He (along with musical cohorts Strange, Jack Kirk, Chuck Baldra and others) became regulars in low budget oaters, primarily doing background music and portraying "cowboys sittin' around the campfire singin' and strummin' and yodelin'". He also did various bits and minor supporting roles in westerns and serials. You'll find some further info on Cactus Mack, albeit brief, in the Old Corral section on the singers and singin' groups. He was also a cousin to western movie hero Rex Allen. He did some early TV work and is in a couple of the CISCO KID and GUNSMOKE episodes as late as 1961. His real name, depending on the source, is either Thomas McPheeters or Taylor Curtis McPeters, and my guess is that the second name is correct. The California Death Records database has a Taylor C. McPeters, born 8/8/99 in New Mexico and passing on 4/17/62. There's a genealogy site for the McPeters family, and there's mention of: CURTIS TAYLOR MCPETERS, b. August 08, 1899, Coke Co., Texas; d. April 1962, California, and him being the son of Leona Byrd and John McPeters. (Notice the reversal of Cactus Mack's first and middle name on the genealogy website.) Go to: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~byrd/Leona.html McPeters was a member of various singing groups used in the ol' B western ... including the Arizona Wranglers, Range Riders, more. Click HERE and a separate window will open with an Old Corral webpage showing various groups that included Cactus Mack. |
 (From Old Corral image collection) Above are heroine Fay McKenzie (white blouse & green scarf), Edith Fellows (blue blouse), Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette. The tall galoot in the back row center is 'Cactus Mack' and a youthful singer/songwriter Johnny Bond is on the far right. Lobby card from HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE (Republic, 1942) which is among the last batch that Gene did at Republic prior to entering World War II service. |
 (From Old Corral image collection) | | Artie Ortego (sometimes: Art Ardigan, Artie Ortega) appeared in at least 179 westerns and 12 serials Left is Artie Ortego (1890-1960) in a crop from a lobby card from 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES starring John Wayne. You can see the full lobby card by clicking HERE. Ortego is Native American and has more coverage in the "Indians" section on the Old Corral. |
