The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc.

(Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) Above - villain and henchman Lee Roberts. (Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) Above is actress, stunt woman, and great rider Evelyn Finley (1916 - 1989). Finley was married to Lee Roberts, and in her later years, she searched but was unable to locate him. Above - Lee Roberts wearing buckskins and a hat full of feathers ... and starring as "Tom Bridger, Army Scout" in BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL (Columbia, 1956), Hollywood's last cliffhanger.

While most western fans consider Wayne Morris' TWO GUNS AND A BADGE (Monogram, 1954) as the last B-western released, BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL, released by Columbia two years later was the last serial for theatrical release. Not only was it the final serial produced, it heralded the end of an era, and was the last opportunity for a western actor named Lee Roberts to seek stardom. It also may have been the reason for his mysterious disappearance some three years later.

Statistically, according to historian Les Adams, it was Columbia's 57th serial and the last of the 231 serials made during the sound period. BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL utilized a good deal of Columbia stock footage, especially from the studio's 1939 OVERLAND WITH KIT CARSON with Bill Elliott and Buck Jones's 1941 serial, WHITE EAGLE. Columbia put Roberts in a costume similar to the two stars in order to utilize the stock action scenes.

Roberts, who had been around since the early forties, had mostly played heavies, portraying characters named "Blackie", "Trigger", or "Lefty". There is not much on his early life, except his real name may have been "Robert Allen", as he is listed in his first possible known film, BLAZING GUNS, a Ken Maynard / Hoot Gibson Monogram Trail Blazers entry released in 1943. He may have changed his name so as not to be confused with other Bob Allens. One could make the case that officially his first appearance as Lee Roberts was that of a pier guard in the Republic serial, THE MASKED MARVEL, starring ace stuntman Tom Steele. Nevertheless, he would continue in uncredited roles until 1946 when he received a billed part in the PRC/Eddie Dean color opus THE WILD WEST, cut and reissued in 1948 in black and white as PRAIRIE OUTLAWS. Roberts would continue to work at PRC for the next two years, appearing in several Lash LaRue films. After that he bounced around from one studio to another, supporting such stars as Johnny Mack Brown, Sunset Carson, Charles Starrett, Gene Autry, and Whip Wilson. He played second-fiddle to Carson in the 1950 Astor film, BATTLING MARSHAL. Roberts became a Monogram "regular" in the early fifties supporting primarily Wilson and Brown. In CANYON AMBUSH (1952), Brown's last starring film, Roberts has a good billing as the local sheriff to whom Brown comes to his aid.

But serials would become Roberts' forte, appearing in numerous cliffhangers during this period. To mention a few would include DESPERADOES OF THE WEST (1950), THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI (1950), KING OF THE CONGO (1952), RIDING WITH BUFFALO BILL (1954), and GUNFIGHTERS OF THE NORTHWEST (1954), the next to the last serial (Jock Mahoney), and of course Roberts' 1956 starring role in BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL.

Unfortunately for Roberts, it did not bode well for future stardom. Columbia had spliced in all the action scenes from its successful 1939 and 1941 serials so Roberts was pretty much relegated to talking scenes. Cost-cutting was critical in those days. Also that year, Roberts appeared in another serial, THE PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS, starring Dennis Moore.

After that, Roberts did uncredited roles in a host of pictures, including such classics as the 1957 James Stewart THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS, and one of the Clanton boys ("Finn") in the Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas epic, GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL. In 1959, he appeared in probably the last film of his screen career, in the sci-fi flick, MISSILE TO THE MOON, starring Richard Travis.

Like most screen actors of the day, when motion picture work was scarce and television was on the rise, Roberts found work in many TV westerns, including THE LONE RANGER, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, several episodes of THE CISCO KID, THE ADVENTURES OF RIN TIN TIN, COWBOY G-MEN, more. He also played a detective in a 1958 PERRY MASON episode.

Pierce Lyden, a popular veteran of countless westerns and serials, said: "I always thought he would get a break and move up. Lee was quiet, steady and a real nice guy. When (Sam) Katzman gave him a chance in the serial (BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL), he looked great and it could have led to something big. It didn't."

Once married to actress and stuntwoman Evelyn Finley, who appeared with him in the serial, PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS, Roberts has been described as a "closet" alcoholic. Sometime, probably around 1959, he disappeared and his disappearance has been a mystery ever since. He is believed to have hit "skid row" in Los Angeles, probably in despair over his failed movie career. Finley, who reportedly searched for him for a while, said: "One day he left. We have never heard from him again. He was without a doubt one of the finest, most clean-minded men, a gentleman at all times. I can't put my finger on the reason Lee wasn't successful in motion pictures - unless he just didn't care that much about acting." Miss Finley died in 1989, never knowing what happened to Lee Roberts.

Buck Rainey, in his book Sweethearts of the Sage (McFarland, 1992), notes that Roberts and Finley met while working together on the serial PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS (Columbia, 1956), and their marriage lasted about six years.

What Evelyn failed to disclose was that her hubby was Robert Lee Allen ... and "Lee Roberts" was his screen / stage name. And his Robert Lee Allen birth name is confirmed in their August 30, 1955 marriage license. Was his second marriage and her third. And his parents were also identified in the license: Howard Allen and Bertha Fitzpatrick.

Later findings included his March 10, 1913 Texas birth certificate and World War II draft registration. And in 2022, ordered his California death certificate and found more on him in the newly released 1950 census.

His early film roles were in Monogram's Trail Blazers series. BLAZING GUNS (Monogram, 1943), was released in October, 1943 and he's billed as "Robert Allen". Couple months later, DEATH VALLEY RANGERS (Monogram, 1943) was released and he's credited as "Lee Roberts".

Guessing the name change was due to other Robert Allens / Bob Allens in movies, stage, and music. Appears he took his first and middle names of Robert Lee ... flip-flopped the sequence ... and created himself as "Lee Roberts".

In summary - our movie and TV actor Lee Roberts was born Robert Lee Allen on March 10, 1913 in San Patricio County, Texas to Howard Richardson Allen and Annie Roberta 'Bertha' (nee Fitzpatrick) Allen. His first wife was Esther Burdick and they married in the mid 1930s and had daughters Sarah Ann Allen (born 1936) and Barbara Jean Allen (born 1943). In the 1940 census and World War II draft registration, he was managing a gas station in Los Angeles. And in the 1950 census, he's become an actor. His Hollywood career ran from 1943 - 1961 and amounted to about 150 films and television programs. In addition to wives Esther Burdick and actress Evelyn Finley, he tied the knot in 1976 with Virginia Chalk, and they later divorced. In his later years, he was a real estate agent and resided in Oceanside, San Diego County, California. He passed away from pneumonia on May 18, 1993 at Villa Rancho Bernardo convalescent home and skilled care facility, San Diego, California. Daughter Barbara lived in San Diego and was the informant on his death certificate. Robert Lee Allen is interred at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, San Diego County, California.

He was a memorable villain and supporting player in the post World War II serial and western. He appeared in oaters with Johnny Mack Brown (9 films); Lash LaRue (7); Whip Wilson (7); 'Rocky' Lane (4); Bill Elliott (4); Sunset Carson (3); others. He had a minor role in KING OF THE CARNIVAL (Republic, 1955; 12 chapters), the last serial production from Republic Pictures. And he has the distinction of playing the hero in Hollywood's last cliffhanger, BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL (Columbia, 1956; 15 chapters).

It appears that Lee Roberts' first film was BLAZING GUNS (Monogram, 1943), one of the Trail Blazers series with Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson. And he's billed as "Robert Allen" in the opening titles and credits. In the beginning of the movie, he has a few lines of dialog as "Hodge", the assistant to Lloyd Ingraham who plays the Governor and is waiting for Ken and Hoot to arrive. Screen capture above of Roberts and Ingraham. Then came a name change - in the Trail Blazers DEATH VALLEY RANGERS (Monogram, 1943), he's billed as "Lee Roberts" in the opening titles and credits. He was about thirty years old when he did those westerns. (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Lee Roberts, Black Jack O'Shea and Matty Roubert in a lobby card from Lash LaRue's LAW OF THE LASH (PRC, 1947). This was Lash's first starring role after working in Eddie Dean westerns. O'Shea was the brains heavy in this one. (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above - an older Johnny Mack Brown has the drop on Lee Roberts (center) and Terry Frost (on the right) in TEXAS LAWMEN (Monogram, 1951). (Courtesy of Virginia Herrick & Dick Madigan) L-to-R are Johnny Mack Brown, Virginia Herrick, and Lee Roberts in JMB's MONTANA DESPERADO (Monogram, 1951). (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Lee Roberts, Harry Lauter, Rick Vallin, and Fran Bennett in the mediocre KING OF THE CARNIVAL (Republic, 1955; 12 chapters), a tale about Treasury agents versus a counterfeiting ring that was laundering money through a carny. Harry Lauter was the hero and Lee Roberts had a minor role as a roustabout. CARNIVAL was the last serial produced by Republic Pictures. Above - trade publication promo ad for Lee Roberts starring as "Tom Bridger, Army Scout" in BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL (Columbia, 1956; 15 Chapters). BLAZING was Hollywood's last cliffhanger.       Closeups of Lee Roberts in 1951 westerns and about 38 years old.

Lee Roberts was ROBERT LEE ALLEN (1913 - 1993). Discovery of his real identity occurred with the 1955 marriage license of he and western movie actress Evelyn Finley and I've highlighted their marriage license below with a ✱.

Later findings were other marriage records, family trees on Family Search and Ancestry.com, and his death certificate. In 2022, the 1950 census was released and he's an actor, and he and first wife Esther had two daughters, Sarah Ann Allen (born 1936) and Barbara Jean Allen (born 1943).

In the info below, there are common threads which link people, dates, and events:

There's his March 10, 1913 birth date; mother's name was Roberta / Bertha; and her maiden name was Fitzpatrick. I've highlighted those in this color.

His first wife was Esther Ethelyn Burdick, and they had two daughters, Sarah and Barbara. Have highlighted those names in this color.

Here's Lee Roberts / Robert Lee Allen:

• Texas birth certificate for Robert Lee Allen, born March 10, 1913 in Taft, San Patricio County, Texas. Parents were Howard Richardson Allen (occupation "Bookeeper") and Annie Roberta Fitzpatrick, and the family lived in Gregory, San Patricio County, Texas. A check on Google Maps indicates that Taft and Gregory, Texas are about 8 miles apart: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL7Z-49J
• 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - 30 year old H. R. Allen (born Alabama; occupation "Manager - Garage"), his 28 year old wife Bertha F. (born Alabama), 6 year old son Robert Lee (born Texas), 2 year old son Howard R. Jr. (born Texas) and newborn son Holbombe [sic] (born Texas) owned their home at 426 East Johnston Avenue, Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCSC-1WD
• 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - 41 year old Howard R. Allen (born Alabama; occupation "Salesman - Real Estate"), his 39 year old wife Bertha F. (born Alabama), 17 year old son Robert (born Texas) and 12 year old son Howard (born Texas) owned their home at 8360 West Fourth Street, Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCV3-CZR
• "Licenses to Wed" column in the April 16 and April 22, 1935 Ventura County Star and Ventura Daily Post newspaper had the following notice: "Robert Lee Allen, 22, and Esther Ethelyn Burdick, 20, Los Angeles." (see 1930 census below for future wife Esther and the Burdick family).
  1930 census for his first wife - Esther E. Burdick (born Illinois) was the 14 year old daughter of Mary L. and Paul H. Burdick and they lived in Los Angeles: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCV5-DJJ
• California Birth Index for Sarah Anne Allen. She was born January 17, 1936 in Los Angeles, California, and her mother's maiden name was Burdick: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG75-RF5
• 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 18619 Strathern Street, Los Angeles, California were 27 year old Robert L. Allen (born Texas; occupation "Station Manager - Oil Company"), his 25 year old wife Esther E. (born Illinois), and 4 year old daughter Sarah A. (born California). In 1939, he worked 52 weeks and earned $1780.00: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9HV-RQW
• 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet for his mother and brother - 53 year old Bertha Allen (born Alabama; widow) and 22 year old son Howard R. (born Texas; occupation "Attendant - Gasoline Filling Station") were renting in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CP-F42
• Ancestry.com had the World War II draft registration dated October 16, 1940 for Robert Lee Allen. He was born March 10, 1913 in Gregory, Texas. Home address was 3123 Ivy Street, Los Angeles; employer was "Union Oil Company"; his contact was father-in-law Paul Howard Burdick; and he's 5 feet, 9 1/2 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds.
• California Birth Index for Barbara Jean Allen - she was born June 28, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, and mother's maiden name was Burdick: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V279-TXQ
• 1950 census summary and census takers worksheet - living in Los Angeles, California were 37 year old Robert L. Allen (born Texas; occupation "Actor - Motion Picture Studio"), his 35 year old wife Esther B. (born Illinois; occupation "Stock Room - Aircraft Engine Factory"), 14 year old daughter Sally A. [sic] (born California), and 6 year old daughter Barbara J. (born California): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XLR-2X9T
• September 4, 1954 marriage license of his 18 year old daughter Sarah Ann Allen and 19 year old Nathan Albert McIntyre in Van Nuys, California. Her parents were Robert Lee Allen (born Texas) and Esther Burdick (born Illinois). Her signature on the license is "Sarah Ann Allen".: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K86X-7LM
• ✱ August 30, 1955 marriage license of 42 year old Robert Lee Allen (born Texas about 1913) and 39 year old Evelyn Ruth Finley George in Santa Barbara, California. Was his second marriage and her third. Her maiden name was Evelyn Ruth Finley and parents were Fitzhugh C. Finley and Amelia Osburn. His parents were Howard Allen (born Georgia) and Bertha Fitzpatrick (born Alabama): https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8X3-1LS
• Jack Tillmany had a copy of the 1960 Academy Players Directory. He's listed as "Lee J. Roberts" and there are two photos and he was represented by the Jerry Rosen Agency.
• California Marriage Index of his 29 year old daughter Barbara J. Allen and 32 year old Pierre N. Guertin on November 22, 1972 in Los Angeles. (Barbara Guertin was the informant on Allen's death certificate below.): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V62D-9JY
• Nevada Marriage Index for Virginia C. Woodall and Robert Lee Allen. They married August 11, 1976 in Carson City, Nevada. (Virginia Chalk divorced William M. Woodall in 1968.): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV8N-MP7
• Death certificate: 80 year old Robert Lee Allen passed away from pneumonia on May 18, 1993 at Villa Rancho Bernardo convalescent home and skilled care facility, San Diego, California. He had been a patient there since April 24, 1993. He was born March 10, 1913 in Texas to Howard R. Allen and Roberta A. Fitzpatrick. Home address was 4249 Spoonbill Way, Oceanside, San Diego County, California. Was divorced and occupation was "Real Estate Agent for Chandler and Associates". Death certificate informant was daughter Barbara Guertin, San Diego, California. Cremation and interment at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, San Diego County, California.
• California Death Index for Robert Lee Allen, born March 10, 1913 in Texas, mother's maiden name of Fitzpatrick, and he passed away May 18, 1993 in the San Diego, California area: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPZY-CST
• Social Security Death Index (SSDI) has an incorrect death date - Robert L. Allen was born March 10, 1913 and passed away on May 17, 1993 in Oceanside, San Diego County, California. Death date should be May 18, 1993: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMMZ-PYW
• Did not find a death notice or funeral notice on Robert Lee Allen at newspapers.com or the Newspaper Archive. And nothing on his passing at the Variety archives (but that was no surprise as he had been gone from Hollywood for 30+ years).
  Contacted Eternal Hills Memorial Park and they responded: "We don't have any further information in the file pertaining to Mr. Allen as there was no obituary nor services held for Mr. Allen. His cremated remains are interred within our Memorial Park in our Memory Garden section."
• Find A Grave confirms that Robert L. Allen (1913 - 1993) was interred at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, San Diego County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104324231/robert-l-allen

Wives Esther Burdick, Evelyn Finley, and Virginia Chalk:

• Family trees at Ancestry.com and Family Search mention four marriages for Robert L. Allen:
  1. married Esther Burdick circa 1935 and had daughters Sarah Ann Allen (born 1936) and Barbara Jean Allen (born 1943). And they were together in the 1950 census.
  2. married actress Evelyn Ruth Finley on August 30, 1955 in Santa Barbara, California.
  3. married Myrtle Lucille Douglas Upchurch on July 5, 1966 in Texas. This marriage attribution appears to be incorrect - she was married to a Robert Lee Allen but he died February 14, 1990 in Dallas, Texas. And family trees on Ancestry.com have a photo of him and he's NOT our guy.
  4. married Virginia Chalk (1917 - 2011) on August 11, 1976 in Carson City, Nevada.
• Unsure when he and Esther Burdick divorced. But she re-married - California Marriage Index for 53 year old Esther Burdick and 53 year old William S. Born on December 20, 1968 in Los Angeles, California: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6DM-7PL
• Find A grave has a photo of the marker for William S. Born and wife Esther B. (1915 - 1995) who are interred together at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/389015/esther-b-born
• Death notice for 93 year old Virginia Chalk Woodall Allen at the Provo, Utah Daily Herald newspaper website. She passed away February 13, 2011 in Orem, Utah: https://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/2011/feb/20/virginia-chalk-woodall-allen/
• Find A Grave reports that Virginia Chalk Allen is interred at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Utah: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186180212/virginia-chalk-allen
• Death / funeral notice for Evelyn Ruth Finley from the May 23, 1989 Santa Clarita, California Signal newspaper. Survivors were daughter Barbara Wiener and son William George: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59886087/the-signal/
• Find A Grave reports that Evelyn Finley was cremated: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6700057/evelyn-finley

His parents, Howard Richardson Allen and Roberta Allen:

• California Death Index for his father, Howard Richardson Allen. He was born February 10, 1888 in Alabama and passed away April 27, 1957 in Orange County, California: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGTV-VYF
• California Death Index for his mother, Roberta A. Allen. She was born December 21, 1886 in Alabama, and passed away October 15, 1970 in Los Angeles, California: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHC-GCY
• October 16, 1970 Los Angeles Times had a funeral notice for his mother, Roberta. She was the mother of Robert Lee Allen and Howard R. Allen. Her son Howard is listed in the 1920, 1930, and 1940 census records above: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114438325/funeral-notice-for-roberta-fitzpatrick/

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Lee Roberts: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731340/

Lee Roberts worked in fourteen Sam Katzman features and serials released in 1949 - 1956 ... and most were cliffhangers: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?roles=nm0731340,nm0441947

And he appeared in about a dozen westerns in 1943 - 1949 that were directed and/or produced by Robert Emmett 'Bob' Tansey, and most were at Monogram and PRC: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?roles=nm0849806,nm0731340

Daniel Neyer's "The Files of Jerry Blake" website has a review of Lee Roberts and his starring role in BLAZING THE OVERLAND TRAIL (Columbia, 1956): https://filesofjerryblake.com/2015/03/18/blazing-the-overland-trail/

• April 26, 1989 Los Angeles Times newspaper has a death notice for Robert (Bob) Allen, vocalist with the Hal Kemp orchestra and other big bands. He passed away from cancer on April 24, 1989 at his home in Stockton, California. Survived by wife Margaret and three sons. And he had "retired from music but was successful in woodworking.": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109518535/the-los-angeles-times/
• Ancestry.com had his World War II draft registration dated October 16, 1940 - 27 year old Robert Allen Rebhun was born June 17, 1913 in Ohio; contact was mother Anna Cardelia Rebhun, Cincinnnati, Ohio; and his employer was "Hal Kemp Orchestra, New York City".
• Bio and photo of big band vocalist Bob Allen. He was born in 1913, passed away on April 24, 1989, and in the woodworking business in later years: https://bandchirps.com/artist/bob-allen/
• The Internet Archive has a 1943 issue of Radio Mirror magazine with a photo of vocalist and band leader Bob Allen with son Robert and their dog Skippy: https://archive.org/details/radiomirror00mac/page/n397/mode/1up?view=theater&q=%22bob+junior%22
• California Death Index and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) have records for Robert R. Allen, born June 17, 1913 in Ohio, mother's maiden name of Simpkinson, and he passed away on April 24, 1989 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California:
  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBP8-JMR
  https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP6J-4XZ
• Ancestry.com had the Social Security Applications and Claims Index - includes the several variations of his name over the years:
     December, 1936: Name listed as ROBERT ALLEN REBHUN
     June, 1941: Name listed as ROBERT REBHUN ALLEN
     May, 1989: Name listed as ROBERT R ALLEN
• Find A Grave notes that Robert Allen 'Bob Allen' Rebhun was cremated. He was born June 17, 1913 in Ohio and passed away on April 24, 1989 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California. His wife Margaret was born 1917 in Indianapolis, Indiana and passed away June 10, 2004 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245095785/robert-allen-rebhun