The Range Busters

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Max 'Alibi' Terhune and his pal Elmer versus cardsharp Tris Coffin in the Range Busters adventure WEST OF PINTO BASIN (Monogram, 1940). In this, Alibi loses the Busters horses in a poker game and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan wins them back by busting up Tris Coffin's card game trickery.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above is the cover of the pressbook for TRAIL OF THE SILVER SPUR (Monogram, 1941) which featured I. Stanford Jolley as the "Jingler". But the completed film had a title change to THE TRAIL OF THE SILVER SPURS.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above - John King versus the moustached Carl Mathews in a lobby card from TONTO BASIN OUTLAWS (Monogram, 1941).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from left to right are Max Terhune, John Elliott, John King, Sheila Darcy and Ray Corrigan in a scene from TUMBLEDOWN RANCH IN ARIZONA (Monogram, 1941). Darcy (1914 - 2004) was "Volita" the female lead in the serial ZORRO'S FIGHTING LEGION (Republic, 1939) and she portrayed the "Dragon Lady" in the TERRY AND THE PIRATES (Columbia, 1940) cliffhanger. She married movie actor Preston Foster in 1946 and they were together until his death in 1970.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above - a lobby card from TUMBLEDOWN RANCH IN ARIZONA (Monogram, 1941) showing John Elliott, John King, Sheila Darcy and Ray Corrigan. Appears that King isn't happy with Corrigan's interest in Sheila.

Here's a mystery for you - there's a bunch of these (above and below) type lobby cards in circulation. But there is no Monogram brand name or logo. They have a common layout showing Corrigan and his twin six-shooters on the left side, and the only variation is the colors that are used (black plus a couple other colors). An approximate 6 1/2 inch x 8 1/2 inch scene still is glued on the card stock. Les Adams recalled that a company in Oklahoma circa 1935-1942 made up their own posters and cards and rented/leased them to theatres cheaper than the exhibitors could get them from National Screen Service or the company exchanges.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above - Ray Corrigan and Luana Walters in a lobby card from Range Busters number 5, THE KID'S LAST RIDE (Monogram, 1941).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from left to right are John King, Gwen Gaze, Ray Corrigan, and Rudy Sooter on guitar in Range Busters number 11, UNDERGROUND RUSTLERS (Monogram, 1941).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from left to right are Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, Weldon Heyburn, Carl Mathews, Max 'Alibi' Terhune, Frank Ellis and John 'Dusty' King in a scene from the Range Busters adventure ROCK RIVER RENEGADES (Monogram, 1942).

(From Old Corral collection)

In the above title lobby card from ARIZONA STAGECOACH (Monogram, 1942), John King has his arm around pretty Nell O'Day. To western fans, Nell is best remembered for the batch of 1940 - 1942 Universal oaters she made with Johnny Mack Brown. In the lower left are Corrigan, and Terhune has his hands on Steve Clark.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

From left to right are Max Terhune, Ray Corrigan, Nell O'Day and John King from ARIZONA STAGECOACH (Monogram, 1942). Terhune's alter ego Elmer is relaxing in the chair.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

From left to right are Max Terhune, Nell O'Day, Riley Hill (billed as Roy Harris), Ray Corrigan and John King in another scene from ARIZONA STAGECOACH (Monogram, 1942).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

In the above scene from BOOT HILL BANDITS (Monogram, 1942), Ray Corrigan battles "the Maverick", the scar faced brute portrayed by big Glenn Strange.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - John King is pummeling prolific baddie John Merton in Range Busters adventure number 14, BOOT HILL BANDITS (Monogram, 1942).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - Ray Corrigan tries to teach the milk drenched Frank Ellis how to drink the white liquid in an amusing bit from one of the weakest of the Range Busters, TEXAS TROUBLE SHOOTERS (Monogram, 1942).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

From left to right are Kermit Maynard, Ted Mapes and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan in a scene from the Range Busters adventure #15, TEXAS TROUBLE SHOOTERS (Monogram, 1942). Mapes (1901-1984) was among the top stuntmen - he doubled/stunted for Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett) in the cliffhanger, HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS (Republic, 1938). And while most folks remember Jock Mahoney as the stuntman/double for Charles Starrett at Columbia, Ted Mapes had that job prior to Mahoney. Mapes was also the frequent double for Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart.