Bud Osborne

(Courtesy of Bart Romans)

Above is an exhibitor/vending card showing a very young (and thin) Bud Osborne, circa 1920s. The Ex. Sup. Co., U.S.A. marking stands for the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago, a firm which manufactured vending machine novelties from about 1901 to the mid-1960s. It went out of business around 1979.

Bud Osborne was in Hollywood doing bits and supporting roles beginning around 1912. He spent some of his earlier years working on the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Show and with the Buffalo Bill Wild West show.

Because of his rough/tough looking appearance and unique voice, Osborne was generally a member of the posse, or a member of the gang, or second-in-command to the brains heavy. And he did so in hundreds of films from the 1910s through the 1950s at Universal, Columbia, Republic, Monogram, PRC, and most of the Poverty Row independent production outfits.

In silents, Osborne appeared in westerns starring the likes of Leo Maloney, Hoot Gibson, Jack Perrin, Buffalo Bill Jr. and many others.

One of Bud Osborne's greatest skills was the ability to drive a stagecoach, and you'll often see him handling the reins of a four or six-horse team.

In early 1950s TV, he can be spotted in episodes of ANNIE OAKLEY, WILD BILL HICKOK, RIN TIN TIN and other shows.

When he was given credit on the screen or ad/art work, Osborne's last name was often misspelled - Bud Osborne vs. Bud Osbourne. (There were several others who had the same problem including George Chesebro, Cheseboro, etc., Chief Thunder Cloud, Thunder-Cloud, Thundercloud, and Edmond vs. Edmund vs. Edwin Cobb.)

Les Adams has Osborne identified in about 475 sound era films, and that includes 407 westerns and 38 chapterplays. Among these films are about 65 appearances in Republic oaters and serials during the period 1936 - 1952. Add in a hundred or more silent film appearances and Osborne is in competition with Tom London for the crown of "person with the most movie appearances in Hollywood history".

You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral, and do a search on the California Death Records database and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), and you should find records for Osborne. The California Death Records shows: Lennie B. Osborne, born 7/20/1884 in Oklahoma, and he passed away on 2/2/1964. However, other sources (see link below) indicate his birth year as 1881 and birthplace as Knox, Texas.

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Bud Osborne: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0651627/

The Circus Historical Society website has a lengthy writeup on the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Show from a 1969 article in their Bandwagon magazine. Bud Osborne (as well as Bill Pickett) is mentioned as one of the "cowboys" working for the 101 in year 1911: http://www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/bw-1969Jan.htm

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips)
		In the center of the above cast and crew still are Harry Carey and Olive Golden, who would become Mrs. Carey around 1920. The looped rope around the group confirms this as LOVE'S LARIAT (Bluebird/Universal, 1916) which was produced by Carey and directed by George Marshall. The back side of the photo identifies the picture as Harry Carey and his western company. Crop/blowup on the left of a very young Bud Osborne. On Horseback from L-to-R are: 1 - William 'Bill' Gillis, 2 - Pedro Leon (Leone?), 3 - unknown, 4 - Tom Grimes, 5 - unknown, 6 - unknown, 7 - unknown, 8 - unknown, 9 - Pedro Clemento (Mexican rodeo star) Standing from L-to-R are: 1 - Al Christie, 2 - unknown, 3 - Lynn Reynolds, 4 - Harry Carey, 5 - Olive Fuller Golden (Carey), 6 - George Marshall, 7 - unknown, 8 - Neal Hart, 9 - Joe Rickson Seated/kneeling in front row from L-to-R are: 1 - Bud Osborne (with rope), 2 - unknown Al Christie and Lynn Reynolds were Universal production folks. George Marshall spent about 60 years doing films in Hollywood, and one of his A grade westerns was the Jimmy Stewart version of DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (Universal, 1939).

(From Old Corral image collection)

From left to right are a very grey Bud Osborne, Tommy Farrell and Clayton Moore in the serial, SON OF GERONIMO (Columbia, 1952).

Depending on which birth year is used, Osborne was about 70 years old when he appeared in this cliffhanger.

(Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)

(From Old Corral image collection)

One of Bud Osborne's most requested and remembered movie jobs --- driving a stage.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Max Terhune, Bud Osborne, unidentified player, Art Dillard and Ray Corrigan in the Three Mesquiteers' RIDERS OF THE BLACK HILLS (Republic, 1938).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Bob Steele, Ted Adams and Bud Osborne in Steele's last for Metropolitan and Harry S. Webb, WILD HORSE VALLEY (Metropolitan, 1940).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Bud Osborne, Kermit Maynard, Charlie King and Lynton Brent. Scene is from Range Busters episode #18, THE TRAIL RIDERS (Monogram, 1942).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from left to right are Range Buster Dennis Moore being cornered by Bud Osborne and George Chesebro in COWBOY COMMANDOS (Monogram, 1943).