(Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above - Bill Elliott rode the overo paint Dice in the serial THE GREAT ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL HICKOK (Columbia, 1938). 'Dice' was owned and trained by Ralph McCutcheon. The real name of the steed was 'Pair O'Dice' and ridden by John Carroll in the chapterplay ZORRO RIDES AGAIN (Republic, 1937), by Jennifer Jones in DUEL IN THE SUN, by Russell Wade in the independently produced SUNDOWN RIDERS (Film Enterprises, 1948), and the horse even showed up in TARZAN'S DESERT MYSTERY (Sol Lesser/RKO, 1943). Dice also had a large role in the Blondie and Dagwood comedy IT'S A GREAT LIFE (Columbia, 1943), and he does a routine with Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor in COWBOY CANTEEN (Columbia, 1944). Jack Mathis confirms in his book Valley Of The Cliffhangers that McCutcheon's 'Pair O'Dice' was the pinto 'El Rey' in ZORRO RIDES AGAIN.

In Bill Elliott's films at Columbia and first season at Republic, he rode various paint horses named Sonny.  The Sonny variations can be spotted based on their face blaze (or lack of) and the white socks.  Four different Sonnys are shown below (as well as the Sonny owned by Betty Miles). (From Old Corral collection) This is the "original Sonny" with distinctive white markings along the mane and a white spot on the forehead. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Bill Elliott on the left with the "original Sonny", and Tex Ritter with his White Flash on a Dixie Cup Ice Cream premium. On the other side was a bio or info on their latest film. (Courtesy of Boyd Magers) Above - Elliott on the "original Sonny".  Has the white markings along the mane and spot on the forehead.  Check the length of the white stockings on the horse's front legs. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Elliott on the "original Sonny" during his first series at Republic Pictures in 1943 - 1944.  His sidekick was George 'Gabby' Hayes who rode several horses (by the names of Eddie, Calico, and Blossom).  Am unsure which hoss Gabby is riding in the above pic. (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above - Elliott, the "original Sonny", and custom truck during his first season at Republic Pictures.

Above, Elliott on Sonny variation #1 in a screen capture from SON OF DAVY CROCKETT (Columbia, 1941).  Look at the face blaze on this horse and the white markings on the left side. (Courtesy of Boyd Magers) Above, Elliott on Sonny variation #2 in a scene from FRONTIERS OF '49 (Columbia, 1939).  Look at the shorter length of the white stocking on the right foreleg versus the longer white sock on the left front leg.  The white streak on the left front leg continues up toward the mane and saddle horn, and there's a brown area between the white streak and the front of the saddle. (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above, Elliott on Sonny variation #3 during his initial series at Republic Pictures in 1943-1944, and Wild Bill rode this hoss in DEATH VALLEY MANHUNT.  Has a different face blaze and note the length of the stocking on the right foreleg. (Courtesy of Minard Coons) Above from L-to-R are Hoot Gibson on Rusty, Betty Miles atop her steed Sonny and Ken Maynard on Tarzan II in one of the early entries in Monogram's Trail Blazers series (prior to Bob Steele joining the group). The story goes that Betty acquired Sonny from Bill Elliott.  Betty's horse was easy to spot --- had two long white socks on the rightside, two short white socks on the left, and a small white spot on the forehead.  Betty had this horse in the early 1940s, and rode it in Tom Keene's LONE STAR LAW MEN (Monogram, 1941).  However, I've yet to spot Elliott riding this particular Sonny variation. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Betty Miles is riding her horse Sonny in the bottom right corner of this pressbook cover from Tom Keene's LONE STAR LAW MEN (Monogram, 1941). And Tom Keene is landing a right to the jaw of Stanley Price.