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Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang, or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse riders, or cow herders. They had minimal or no dialog, not much screen time, and were generally not listed in the film credits. Some would show up as a face in the crowd, portraying townspeople, barflies, deputies, wagon drivers, ranch hands, etc. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names.



(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")
Jack Hendricks

Full name:
John Talley Hendricks

May have also used the name:
Ray Henderson

1903 - 1990

Several years ago, Carol Murray acquired a personal photo album belonging to Jack Hendricks. Thanks to Carol for sharing those images with us.


Talk about a western supporting/bit player with a confusing trail. Is he "Jack Hendricks" or "Ray Henderson" or whom?

There's no question that the subject of this profile is Jack Hendricks. He worked in about 200 movies beginning around 1931 and most of his film work was unbilled/uncredited - i.e., he was a henchman, posse member, townsman, deputy, saloon patron, etc. Once in a while, he did get some additional screen time. For example, at about the 53 minute mark in the Bob Allen LAW OF THE RANGER (Columbia, 1937), Hendricks shows off some trick roping skills. There is also some indication that Hendricks did doubling/stunting - more on doubling/stunting on the next webpage.

Among the pile of stills that ye Old Corral webmaster received from Carol Murray are several that are autographed: Buster Crabbe, Al St. John and burly baddie Dick Alexander autographed their photos to Jack. But Tex Ritter included a salutation to Jack Hendricks. The probability is good that the Buster, Fuzzy and Tex photos were given to Hendricks circa mid 1940s when all were laboring at Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC).

Among the images were a few personal photos, most of which are included on these webpages. The 60+ production stills show Hendricks with McCoy, Crabbe, Autry, Tyler, Gibson, Steele, Custer, Wakely, Bob Allen, Range Busters, Kermit Maynard, George Houston, and the Texas Rangers. I've selected about fifteen of those images which cover Hendricks in film roles during the period from 1931 - 1945.

Also in the collection was the newspaper blurb on the right which notes that Hendricks hails from Pickens County, South Carolina. On the back of this clipping, there are a few words and phrases: there is mention of "Pickensville" and the name "Hugh Hamilton" with a telephone number of "859-9363" (and he appears to be some kind of real estate agent and/or property broker). On the back of another article (not included), there's a partial ad for a business in Liberty, South Carolina.

Rick Albright checked the census information and military records. No luck in the 1930 Census but he got a match in the Army enlistment records:

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946:
Name: John T Hendricks
Birth Year: 1903
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: South Carolina
State of Residence: California
County or City: Los Angeles
Enlistment Date: 25 Aug 1942
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Los Angeles
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: Grammar school
Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses
Marital Status: Married
Height: 69
Weight: 171

Assuming he was born in South Carolina and died in California, the California Death Index has one possible match: John T. Hendricks, born 6/9/1903 in South Carolina, Mother's maiden name of Aiken, and he passed away on 5/29/1990 in the Los Angeles area. There also was a match in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI): John T. Hendricks, born 9 June 1903, died 29 May 1990 at age 86, and his last address was zip 91352 (Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California). Both records match the World War II Army enlistment record above.

Lila Ashear did some sleuthing and was able to locate interment information:

HENDRICKS, JOHN T
CPL US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 06/09/1903
DATE OF DEATH: 05/29/1990
BURIED AT: SECTION 28 SITE 1341
RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY, 22495 VAN BUREN BOULEVARD RIVERSIDE, CA 92518

Hendricks' December 24, 1936 application for a Social Security number lists the following: his full name was John Talley Hendricks; born June 9, 1903 in Pickens, South Carolina; home address was 5518 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California; his business is "various motion picture studios"; father's name of William Earl Hendricks; mother's maiden name of Minerva Aikens. He signed the application "Jack Hendricks".

Family Search (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), and Find A Grave websites have information on Hendricks:

  • 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in Pickens, Pickens County, South Carolina were 48 year old William E. Hendricks (born South Carolina; occupation "Farmer"), his 39 year old wife Alice (born South Carolina), 15 year old son J. Talley Hendricks (born South Carolina), and two stepsons and one stepdaughter: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M68W-4QH
  • 1940 census: 36 year old John Tally [sic] Hendricks was single, born in South Carolina, and was a lodger residing in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CD-GR8
    1940 census takers worksheet: Hendricks is one of many lodgers living at 5518 Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles, and he reports that he lived in the Los Angeles area in 1935. He was single, occupation was "Actor - Movie Studio", and in 1939, he worked 15 weeks and earned $1282.00. Another B-western performer was also a lodger residing at this location - prolific heavy Jack Ingram: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-2780-40?cc=2000219&wc=M9Q8-YJ4:n7370162
  • Ancestry.com had his World War II draft registration dated February 14, 1942 - 38 year old John Talley Hendricks was born June 9, 1903 in Pickens, South Carolina. He lived at 1830 North Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles; employer and occupation was "Screen Actor's Guild", Los Angeles; Hendricks was 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighed 178 pounds.
  • World War II Army Enlistment record for John T. Hendricks. He was born in South Carolina in 1903; was married; civilian occupation of "Actors and actresses". He enlisted August 25, 1942 in Los Angeles: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMN4-935
  • Social Security Death Index (SSDI) and California Death Index - John T. Hendricks was born June 9, 1903 in South Carolina, mother's maiden name of Aiken, and he passed away May 29, 1990 in the Los Angeles, California area:
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JG7M-J31
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP9Z-VYT
  • Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for John T. Hendricks (1903 - 1990) who is interred at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California. His marker reads "Corporal, U. S. Army, World War II". Riverside is a cemetery dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3817295/john-t-hendricks

What about Jack Hendricks and the "Ray Henderson" name? Lots of folks have been involved in reviewing this piece on Hendricks, and there's no rock solid answers to the "Ray Henderson" name puzzle/question. Several recalled that "Ray Henderson" was on some cast listings and/or Call Bureau cast sheets for one or more films in the late 1930s. Or, that moniker could be an error that has been carried forward through the years.

 Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jack Hendricks, AKA Ray Henderson. Note the enlistment date above of 25 August 1942. That seems to explain why his 1943 film appearances are minimal. Go to: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1222933/


(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")



(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

The above blurb is from an unidentified newspaper. Based on the mentions of his 1927 start and 39-year career, this article and photo is probably circa 1966. On the back of this clipping, there are a few words and phrases: there is mention of "Pickensville" and the name "Hugh Hamilton" with a telephone number of "859-9363" (and he appears to be some kind of real estate agent and/or property broker). On the back of another article (not included), there's a partial ad for a business in Liberty, South Carolina.



Above - one of the few credited roles for Hendricks. From the Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. adventure, CARYL OF THE MOUNTAINS (Reliable, 1936). Note the spelling error on Earl Dwire's last name.




(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

Above - 1946 Casting Directory listing.




Above are crops/blowups from various stills. Hendricks has curly/wavy hair, a cleft in his longish, protruding chin, a mole/bump on his left cheek, three moles/bumps on his right cheek, and what appears to be a scar on his upper right lip.




(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

With an unidentified woman. That's Corporal stripes on his sleeve and this photo is probably circa 1943.


(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

In a military uniform. That looks like a U. S. Army Air Corps patch on his left sleeve. These photos are probably circa 1943.


(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

Above - three later color photos.




(Images courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

Among the stills were four small photos which were probably B&W but have faded to a sepia color. Above is a collage of those four images. Note the ornate (and expensive) boots and gunbelt. You can see cellophane tape along the edges on several of these photos (which I wouldn't attempt to remove).




(Images courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")



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