![]() (Courtesy of Wes Baker) In this scene from RIDERS OF THE DESERT (Sono Art-World Wide, 1932), Floyd "Silver Tip" Baker has the stage and team runnin' full speed while Bob Steele has the drop on him. Baker was a performer with the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show and the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and his movie work began in the early 1920s. |
At The Reins ... The Drivers
1. the Burns brothers, Jack Kirk, Hank Bell and others handled the reins in regular action. |
![]() (Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) Above - Bud Osborne ![]() (From Old Corral collection) One of Bud Osborne's most requested and remembered movie jobs - driving a stage. |
![]() Bob Burns - mid 1930s | The Burns Brothers - Bob and Fred - were frequent drivers. Both are driving stages in Dick Foran's CALIFORNIA MAIL (Warners, 1936). Fred is handling the reins during a stagecoach race, while Bob is the driver of a stage that gets held up. | ![]() Fred Burns - late 1930s |
![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is Bob Woodward, another member of the stunt brigade. ![]() (Courtesy of Belinda Kirkhuff) Above is Jack Kirk, musician, singer, henchman, lawman ... and one of the familiar players handling the reins of a stage. ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Charles Starrett and Hank Bell. ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) From RAIDERS OF SAN JOAQUIN (Universal, 1943) - an unidentified double for Johnny Mack Brown leaps on to the stage. The driver may be George Plues. Les Adams added an appropriate comment on this shot: "the people doing the rein work had to be good. Check how close to the rock he had to get the team and wagon ... and they weren't walking." ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) At the reins is Bud McClure in the Johnny Mack Brown BOSS OF BULLION CITY (Universal, 1940). ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Post Park (real name: Custer B. Park), Jimmy Wakely and Milburn Morante in RIDIN' DOWN THE TRAIL (Monogram, 1947). The arm-in-a-cast for Park was an excuse for Wakely to handle the reins, but if Jimmy got into trouble, Park was ready to take over. ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Jack Kirk (drivin' the wagon) while Roy Rogers has Yakima Canutt and Pascale Perry under his six-gun in this crop from a lobby card from BAD MAN OF DEADWOOD (Republic, 1941). Among stuntman Yak's many talents was handling the reins of a wagon or stage. ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - George Sowards is handling the reins of the stage in this still from an unidentified early 1950s western. |
Elizabeth Larson's The Concord Coach website has info on the stagecoach:
More on the Abbot-Downing Concord Coach and Concord, New Hampshire: https://theconcordcoach.tripod.com/abbotdowning/ The Wells Fargo website has info on their stagecoaches: https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/corporate/history/#thewellsfargostagecoach The Wells Fargo website has details on the design and construction of the stagecoach, wheels, more: https://stories.wf.com/innovative-vehicle-time/ |