 Rin-Tin-Tin Senior |  | Remembering the canine helpers in B westerns, other B grade films, and serials circa 1929 - 1954. What's included or not included on this webpage: |
Rin-Tin-Tin Senior |
 (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey) Above - Rin-Tin-Tin Sr. and Frankie Darro in a chapter 1 lobby card for THE LIGHTNING WARRIOR (Mascot, 1931). This was Rinty Sr.'s last film.  Lee Duncan was the owner and trainer of Rin-Tin-Tin Senior. He served in France during World War I and brought Rinty back to the U. S. after the war.
August 11, 1932 newspaper death announcements for Rin-Tin-Tin Senior and both articles mention that he was interred at owner / trainer Lee Duncan's home. Rinty's remains were later sent to France for interment: Find A Grave confirms that Rin-Tin-Tin Senior (1918 - 1932) was interred in a pet cemetery in / near Paris, France: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/874/rin-tin-tin
 1930 trade publication ad.  1931 trade publication ad. |
Rin-Tin-Tin Junior |
 (From Old Corral collection) Above is a Chapter 12 poster from LAW OF THE WILD (Mascot, 1934) which starred Rex, King of the Wild Horses, Rin-Tin-Tin Jr., Bob Custer, cross-eyed Ben Turpin, and Lucile Browne. And Rex and Rinty Jr. got top billing. Note that Rinty Jr. was much lighter in color than Rinty Sr. Lee Duncan was also the owner and trainer of Junior. Was surprised at the lack of coverage in newspapers and trade publications on Rinty Jr.'s death. In her book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend (Simon & Schuster, 2011), author Susan Orlean reported that Rinty Jr. passed away in December, 1941 from pneumonia. Rinty Jr.'s main employers were:
3 serials and 1 feature for Nat Levine and Mascot Pictures.
 (From Old Corral collection) THE ADVENTURES OF REX AND RINTY (Mascot, 1935) was the next to last serial from Nat Levine and his Mascot serial factory. And Rex and Rinty Jr. got billed ahead of hero Kane Richmond.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Bob Custer and Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. re-united in VENGEANCE OF RANNAH (Reliable, 1936). Above is the pressbook for the film which was based on a story by prolific Northwoods adventure writer James Oliver Curwood. Note the larger lettering for Rinty's name.  (From Old Corral collection) Above from left to right are Rin-Tin-Tin Jr., Victoria Vinton, Bob Custer, John Elliott - and prone on the floor is Wally West - in VENGEANCE OF RANNAH (Reliable, 1936).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from the pressbook for CARYL OF THE MOUNTAINS (Reliable, 1936). On the left are Francis X. Bushman Jr. and Lois Wilde ... and trainer Lee Duncan's Rin-Tin-Tin Jr. on the right. |
Tuffy |
 (From Old Corral collection) Above is a lobby card and crop / enlargement showing Jack Luden and his canine pal Tuffy getting the best of prolific baddie Harry Woods in ROLLING CARAVANS (Columbia, 1938). Tuffy was Australian shepherd / collie mix and worked in all four of Jack Luden's 1938 Columbia oaters. And the talented pooch can also be spotted in a few other films, including Republic's HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS (Republic, 1938) and DAREDEVILS OF THE RED CIRCLE (Republic, 1939) cliffhangers. His trainer and owner was Gerhard B. Orvedahl (1896 - 1954). Tuffy passed away in 1946.  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Tuffy: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0876198/
 (Courtesy of Richard S. Kumler) Left to right are Jack Luden, Tuffy, pretty Eleanor Stewart and Buzz Barton in a still from ROLLING CARAVANS (Columbia, 1938). |
Roy Rogers' Bullet |
 (From Old Corral collection) Above are Roy Rogers, Trigger, and trusty dog Bullet in the title lobby card from the Trucolor GRAND CANYON TRAIL (Republic, 1948). Bullet appeared in eight of Roy's later B westerns but is best remembered from Roy's 1950s television program. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Bullet: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1707775/ |
Flash |
 German shepherd "Flash the Wonder Dog" / "Flash, the Dog Marvel" appeared in both silents and talkies. In the mid 1930s, plans were for Flash to do a series of action shorts for producer William Pizor's Imperial Pictures with William Berke producing and directing - see trade ad below. Only three were filmed and the star was future stuntman Dave Sharpe. Released were DEATH FANGS (Imperial, 1934), CRACK-UP (Imperial, 1934), and WILD WATERS (Imperial, 1935). Flash's finale was CALL THE MESQUITEERS (Republic, 1938), among the best of the Three Mesquiteers series from Republic Pictures. In that, the trio of Bob Livingston, Ray Corrigan, and Max Terhune battle some raw silk thieves ... and there's horses, trucks, trains, motorcycle cops, more. Flash was youngster Sammy McKim's pal, and the above screen capture shows McKim and Flash opening the secret door to the underground hideout of the no-goods. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Flash: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1268263/Getty Images has a WILD WATERS (Imperial, 1935) lobby card with Dave Sharpe and Flash: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/wild-waters-lobbycard-david-sharpe-flash-the-dog-1935-news-photo/1137284752  Above - trade ad from December, 1933 announcing DEATH FANGS (Imperial, 1934), the first of the planned dozen two-reel action shorts starring David Sharpe and 'Flash, the Dog Marvel'. Only three of the twelve were filmed. |
Buck |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card for THE TRIGGER TRIO (Republic, 1937). Left to right are Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, Buck, and Ralph Byrd. In this Three Mesquiteers adventure, Ralph Byrd subbed for the injured Bob Livingston. Buck was a St. Bernard and worked in 1930s features, B westerns, and the ROBINSON CRUSOE OF CLIPPER ISLAND serial which also featured Rex, King of the Wild Horses. Buck was in Gene Autry's MELODY TRAIL (Republic, 1935). And the pressbook for that Autry film mentions Buck's role as a sled dog in producer Darryl F. Zanuck's CALL OF THE WILD (United Artist, 1935) which starred Clark Gable and Loretta Young. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has two listings for Buck. These should probably be combined into a single listing:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1521097/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1542379/  (Courtesy of Boyd Magers) Above is the title lobby card from Chapter 4 of ROBINSON CRUSOE OF CLIPPER ISLAND (Republic, 1936). |
Ace | |
 (Courtesy of Randy Laing) Above - western movie hero Tom Tyler played the "ghost who walks" in THE PHANTOM (Columbia, 1943) serial. And his canine companion Devil was played by "Ace the Wonder Dog". |  Above on BLIND ALIBI (RKO, 1938) is from a 1938 Hollywood magazine, available at the Internet Archive. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Ace: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1211064/
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Chinook |
 (From Old Corral collection) Above from left to right are Richard Walsh, "Chinook the Wonder Dog", and Kirby Grant in NORTHERN PATROL (Allied Artists, 1953), one of the Mountie adventures that Grant did for Monogram / Allied Artists. Some of us old timers may recall the "Spin and Marty" series on the Mickey Mouse Club television program. Another 15 minute series titled "Corky and White Shadow" ran on the Mickey Mouse Club circa 1956. Stars were Buddy Ebsen, Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie, and Chinook was "White Shadow". There was even a comic book, kid's books, more. YouTube has a six minute clip from the "Corky and White Shadow" series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuAU6BxeL-Q Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Chinook: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1812454/
 (From Old Corral collection) Left to right are Bill Phipps, Chinook, Kirby Grant, and pretty Gloria Talbott in another still from NORTHERN PATROL (Allied Artists, 1953). |
Lightning |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card from the first of the Renfrew 'singing mountie' films, RENFREW OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED (Grand National, 1937). The heroine clutching James Newill's arm is pretty Carol Hughes. Among her many roles was the female lead in Roy Rogers' first starring film, UNDER WESTERN STARS (Republic, 1938) and she was 'Dale Arden' in the third Buster Crabbe/Flash Gordon serial, FLASH GORDON CONQUERS THE UNIVERSE (Universal, 1940). In the canoe are Chief Thunder Cloud (Victor Daniels) ... and "Lightning, the Wonder Dog". This Renfrew adventure appears to be Lightning's last movie. Prior to that, Lightning appeared in several 1930s films including Darryl F. Zanuck's production of WHITE FANG (20th Century Pictures, 1936) and the first in the Perry Mason mystery series, THE CASE OF THE HOWLING DOG (Warners, 1934). Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Lightning: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1360122/ Crop / blowup of Chief Thunder Cloud and Lightning. |
Silver King |
 (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey)  Above are "Silver King", Tim McCoy, and the white horse with the mottled face in McCoy's RUSTY RIDES ALONE (Columbia, 1933).This was McCoy's only film with a canine helper. In RUSTY, Silver King got second billing, ahead of leading ladies Barbara Weeks and Dorothy Burgess. In addition to the McCoy oater, German shepherd "Silver King, the Wonder Dog" replaced "Lightning" in the second James Newill / Renfrew mountie adventure, ON THE GREAT WHITE TRAIL (Grand National, 1938).
 (Pressbook ad courtesy of Les Adams) |
Braveheart |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above are Jack Perrin, "Braveheart", and a very young Dave Sharpe - before his stuntman days at Republic Pictures - in a still from GUN GRIT (Atlantic, 1936), one of the four "Blue Ribbon" westerns from Perrin and William Berke. "Braveheart, the Canine Marvel", was in two of the four Perrins. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Braveheart: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1188746/ |
Kazan |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the pressbook cover for "Kazan the Dog" in JAWS OF JUSTICE (Principal, 1933) which was released in December, 1933. Richard Terry, the hero in this mountie adventure, was really Jack Perrin. Why the 'Richard Terry' alias - perhaps Perrin wanted to hide his association with this clunker. Kazan starred in another for Sol Lesser's Principal company - FEROCIOUS PAL (Principal, 1934). German shepherd Kazan was owned and trained by John 'Jack' King. In the mid 1930s, King made a couple feeble attempts at playing a cowboy hero. And he also shows up in many henchman and background roles in B westerns. There's a lengthy bio on Jack King - and Kazan - in the Old Corral Henchies section. In 1941, Kazan passed away and newspapers carried an AP Syndicated death notice: "HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 4 (1941) - Kazan, German shepherd film star of a half-decade ago, died Sunday (August 3) in the home of his master, actor and stunt man Jack King. Mr. King saw Kazan in a pound ten years ago and paid 85 cents for the pup. As the star of 'Fighting Fury' and other films the dog earned as much as $250 a day."
 Above - playing the hero was Jack King with Kazan and trusty steed Cactus in OUTLAW'S HIGHWAY (Jack D. Trop, 1934). Sherman S. Krellberg acquired HIGHWAY and issued it as FIGHTING FURY (Sherman S. Krellberg / Regal, 1935).  Above - 1936 trade ad for Jack King's proposed 'The Phantom Trio' series with he and "Kazan the Marvel Dog" as the stars. That didn't happen. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Kazan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1548882/ |
Boots |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card for SILVER STALLION (Monogram, 1941). Stars were actor / stuntman Dave Sharpe (billed as David Sharpe), along with Chief 'Tonto' Thunder Cloud, LeRoy Mason, "Thunder the Wonder Horse", and "Captain Boots, Famous Police Dog". The SILVER STALLION pressbook has Herb Rose as Boots' trainer. Other sources mention Bert Rose (or Ross). The heroine pictured in the above lobby card is Janet Waldo (1920 - 2016). She did some movies circa 1940s, but opted to concentrate on a lengthy and prolific radio career - she worked on various Hollywood based broadcast dramas and also had recurring roles on the OZZIE AND HARRIETT SHOW, THE EDDIE BRACKEN SHOW, ONE MAN'S FAMILY, more. Waldo is best remembered as the star of MEET CORLISS ARCHER, and she did that role for about ten years, beginning in 1943. In later years, she did voices of many cartoon characters including the voice of "Judy Jetson" in the long-running THE JETSONS TVer. German shepherd Boots did one other film, the dreadful ADVENTURES OF THE MASKED PHANTOM (Equity, 1939) which starred Dean Spencer using the screen name of Monte 'Alamo' Rawlins.
 (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above still from the anemic ADVENTURES OF THE MASKED PHANTOM (Equity, 1939). L-to-R are Sonny Lamont, Dot Karroll, Monte 'Alamo' Rawlins, Matty Kemp, heroine Betty Burgess, and on the far right pickin' the guitar is Larry Mason (Art Davis). Front and center is "Boots, the Wonder Dog". Crop / enlargement below of Boots.  |
Captain / Wolfang |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is a pressbook cover for COURAGE OF THE NORTH. Note the mention of ONE OF THE and the large number 6 in the background ... meaning there were six 'Northwest Action Thriller' mountie films planned for John Preston. His helpers were "Dynamite, the Wonder Horse" and "Captain, King of Dogs". The half dozen didn't happen. John Preston starred in two, COURAGE OF THE NORTH (Empire/Stage & Screen, 1934) and TIMBER TERRORS (Empire/Stage & Screen, 1935). Then the 'Morton of the Mounted' name was dropped and Kane Richmond took over the lead in a solo shot, THE SILENT CODE (International/Stage & Screen, 1935). In the Richmond film, "Captain, King of Dogs" was gone and replaced by "Wolfang, King of Dogs" ... am guessing that Captain and Wolfang were the same German shepherd.  (From Old Corral collection) Above is John Preston, with "Dynamite, the Wonder Horse" and "Captain, King of Dogs", during Preston's two starring films as Morton of the Mounted. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on:Captain: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1522968/ Wolfang: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1910875/  (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey) Above is the title lobby card for THE SILENT CODE (International/Stage & Screen, 1935). In the upper left are mountie Kane Richmond and Blanche Mehaffey. Lower left has Richmond battlin' Pat Harmon. And in the lower right, Richmond is struggling with Carl Mathews. And large and center is German shepherd Wolfang. |
Lobo |
 (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey) Producer Sherman S. Krellberg's low rent Regal Pictures churned out about a dozen films in the mid to late 1930s. The only western was THUNDERBOLT (Regal, 1935), a movie that I've never seen. The story has Kane Richmond, Bobby Nelson, and "Lobo the Marvel Dog" battlin' Barney Furey and Frank Hagney. Above are Bobby Nelson and Lobo in the title card from THUNDERBOLT. German shepherd Lobo appeared in one other film, GUARD THAT GIRL (Columbia, 1935), a non-western with Robert Allen and Florence Rice. Bobby Nelson (1922 - 1974) appeared in over fifty films during the 1920s - 1930s, and his father was silent and sound actor/writer/director Jack Nelson. Robert J. Nelson enlisted in the Army for World War II service and did not return to the movie business after his discharge. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Lobo: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1522967/ (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey) Best buddies - Bobby Nelson and Lobo. |
Muro / King | |
 | Rex Lease's THE LONE TRAIL (Webb-Douglas Prod, 1932) is among the lost/missing films. Some believe it is a condensation/feature version of the ten chapter serial, THE SIGN OF THE WOLF (Metropolitan, 1931). Both were co-directed by Harry S. Webb and Forrest Sheldon. And the leading lady in both was Virginia Brown Faire. While the cast of LONE and SIGN have similarities, youngster Billy O'Brien wasn't in the cliffhanger. And THE LONE TRAIL plot description and negative review in Film Daily doesn't match the storyline of THE SIGN OF THE WOLF, nor does it have Joe Bonomo in the cast. Regardless of the questions on those two titles, it appears that the German shepherd in both films was "Muro / King", and the dog worked in a few silents and early talkies circa 1929 - 1932.  Screen capture from THE SIGN OF THE WOLF (Metropolitan, 1931). Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Muro: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1259026/ |
 (Pressbook ad courtesy of Les Adams) Pressbook ad for the ten chapter serial THE SIGN OF THE WOLF (Metropolitan, 1931). | |
Tarzan |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Rex Lease and "Tarzan the Police Dog" are ready to spring into action in a still from INSIDE INFORMATION. No B westerns or serials for Tarzan. He shows up in three crime / police dramas in the mid 1930s: INSIDE INFORMATION (Bert Sternbach/Stage & Screen, 1934) with Rex Lease. MILLION DOLLAR HAUL (Bert Sternbach/Stage & Screen, 1935) starred Reed Howes. CAPTURED IN CHINATOWN (Bert Sternbach/Stage & Screen, 1935) with Charles Delaney. Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Tarzan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1267186/ (Courtesy of Les Adams) It was Rex Lease, Marion Shilling, and Tarzan, the Police Dog vs. Philo McCullough and Charlie King in the "Melodramatic Thriller" INSIDE INFORMATION (Bert Sternbach/Stage & Screen, 1934). |