(Courtesy of Patrick Curtis)

George Montgomery Birth name: George Montgomery Letz 1916 - 2000

George Montgomery, the youngest of 15 children, was born on August 27, 1916, and spent his formative years on a Montana homestead south of the Canadian border, not far from the areas where Charles Russell painted so vividly. During Montgomery's first year at the University of Montana, he left his architecture studies and moved to Hollywood. He became a film idol to millions, during the motion Picture industry's "golden years", following in the footsteps of actor and fellow Montanan, Gary Cooper. In addition to a demanding acting career, George found the time and energy to design and build a number of exceptional homes; craft fine furniture, create bronze sculpture and collect Western American artwork.

George's film career spanned almost six decades. He starred in 87 films and numerous television shows, including the lead role as 'Matt Rockford' in the CIMARRON CITY TV series, which ran on NBC in 1958.

His earliest film work --- as George Letz --- occurred in the mid to late 1930s at Republic Pictures where he did bit parts and supporting roles in about thirty films, most of which were B westerns and serials.  During this period, his most remembered role was as 'Jim Clark', one of the five Rangers in the 1938 cliffhanger, THE LONE RANGER.  It was in late 1939, around the time that he exited Republic and signed with 20th Century Fox, that George Letz became George Montgomery.

(From Old Corral collection) Above are the 5 Texas Rangers, one of whom would turn out to be the masked rider of the plains, in THE LONE RANGER (Republic, 1938) serial.  From L-to-R are Lee Powell, George Letz (Montgomery), Wally Wales (Hal Taliaferro), Lane Chandler and Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett). (From Old Corral collection) Above is a re-release lobby card from Gene Autry's GOLD MINE IN THE SKY (Republic, 1938). From left to right are Smiley Burnette, Autry, a young George Montgomery (peering over Champion's saddle), partial face may be Frankie Marvin, unidentified player with his back to the camera (may be Craig Reynolds). The moustached guy on the right is John Beach. An on the far right is a partial face of Art Dillard. Crop/blowup below showing Montgomery (left) and Beach (right).

While under contract to 20th Century Fox, he starred in two remakes of Zane Grey Westerns, LAST OF THE DUANES (1941) and RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE (1941). Soon he was starring in major productions with some of the most important figures in Hollywood: ORCHESTRA WIVES with Glenn Miller; TEN GENTLEMEN FROM WEST POINT with Maureen O'Hara; CHINA GIRL with Gene Tierney; ROXIE HART with Ginger Rogers; CONEY ISLAND with Betty Grable; and many others.

(From Old Corral collection)

From left to right are Mary Beth Hughes, Montgomery, Fuzzy Knight and Alan Mowbray in THE COWBOY AND THE BLONDE (20th Century Fox, 1941).

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Montgomery, Kane Richmond and Mary Howard in a crop from a lobby card from RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE (20th Century Fox, 1941).

In 1943, Montgomery's career was put on hold, when he joined the Army Air Corps. That same year, he married singer/actress, Dinah Shore.  George and Dinah were married for nearly twenty years, and they had a daughter and son, Melissa and John.

Upon his return from World War II duty, he appeared in several more films for 20th Century Fox. He then became one of Hollywood's first and most successful free lance actors, gravitating toward Westerns and action/adventure productions. He was soon established as one of the industry's top Western Stars and box office draws.

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above, the buckskinned Montgomery with Brenda Marshall in THE IROQUOIS TRAIL (UA, 1950).

His hobbies of architecture and designing and crafting furniture for Hollywood friends soon expanded. He established a cabinet shop and worked with as many as 20 carpenters and cabinetmakers for nearly 40 years. At the same time he continued to direct and star in at least six films a year.

A true Renaissance man and art collector for many years, influenced by the great work of Charles Russell and the sculpture of fellow Montanan, Bob Scriver, George began creating sculpture himself. A self-taught artist, he has made bronze sculpture of fellow actors Randolph Scott, Clint Eastwood and Ronald Reagan. In 1976, he completed a bronze of John Wayne for an ABC TV Wayne tribute. It was followed by other trophies: the Ralph Morgan Award for the Screen Actors Guild, Fairplex's Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap Award, and the Hollywood Westerners Hall of Fame, Ronald Reagan Award. This last award was recently presented by George to the Queen of the West, Dale Evans Rogers, who's first film role was with George in ORCHESTRA WIVES.

He recently completed heroic sized bronze statues of two of Palm Springs' favorite people, Charlie Farrell and Dinah Shore. Farrell's tennis playing likeness greets visitors who arrive at Palm Springs Airport. Dinah's is prominently displayed at Mission Hills Country Club, home of the world famous Nabisco-Dinah Shore Golf Tournament.

George passed away from a heart attack at his Rancho Mirage, California home on December 12, 2000.

(Courtesy of Patrick Curtis)

George with daughter Melissa and son John.

George (what a great smile) with Ann Lindberg, his companion and love for the past twenty years.

(Courtesy of Patrick Curtis)

(Courtesy of Patrick Curtis)

George sandwiched between two old pals, Patrick Curtis on the left and John Bianchi (of Bianchi Gun Leather fame) on the right.

The Motion Picture Herald and Boxoffice polls were conducted from about the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s.  With a few exceptions, the annual results would list the 'Top Ten' (or 'Top Five') cowboy film stars.  In most cases, the winners were what you would expect --- Autry, Rogers, Holt, Starrett, Hoppy, etc.  George Montgomery was ranked during the end of the B western era in the Boxoffice poll.

George Montgomery Filmography Westerns and Serials only Special thanks to Les Adams for providing this filmography

(Courtesy of Vern Knuckles, Dale Crawford & Jim Sorensen)

Thanks to Jim Sorensen, Dale Crawford and Vern Knuckles for the photo of the tribute marker for George Montgomery at the Palm Springs Mortuary and Mausoleum, Cathedral City, California.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on George Montgomery: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0599787/

Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for Montgomery at the Highland Cemetery, Great Falls, Montana: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6261001/george-montgomery

The Montana Standard newspaper website notes that Montgomery's ashes were interred in the family plot at Highland Cemetery, Great Falls, Montana. And the bronze statue overlooking his grave site was created by Montgomery: https://mtstandard.com/news/state-and-regional/montgomerys-ashes-to-be-buried-in-montana/article_292ef667-8db5-5914-9d27-84c2267e00ba.html

Boyd Magers' Western Clippings website has a section on the westerns of George Montgomery: http://www.westernclippings.com/westernsof/georgemontgomery_westernsof.shtml

You may want to visit the Golden Boot award page on the Old Corral. George Montgomery received his Gold Boot award at the 1986 ceremonies.

Brian's Drive-In Theater site has a George Montgomery section: http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/georgemontgomery.html

Montgomery was a Corporal in the Air Force during World War II: https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=121513

Montgomery has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: https://walkoffame.com/george-montgomery/

The New York Times newspaper website has an obituary on Montgomery: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/15/arts/george-montgomery-dashing-cowboy-is-dead-at-84.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm