![]() | Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang, or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse riders, or cow herders. They had minimal or no dialog, not much screen time, and were generally not listed in the film credits. Some would show up as a face in the crowd, portraying townspeople, barflies, deputies, wagon drivers, ranch hands, etc. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names. |
![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) In the above still and crop/blowups, Ken Maynard is prone among an entire regiment of henchies in THE FIDDLIN' BUCKAROO (Universal, 1933). From L-to-R are Slim Whitaker, Bud McClure, Frank Ellis (face in shadows), Roy Bucko (with Maynard's pearl handled six-shooter in his belt), Hank Bell (with Maynard's other pearl handled six-shooter in his belt), Jack Kirk (face in shadows), Jack King (tall hat), Fred Kohler, partial face of unidentified guy, and Buck Bucko. ![]() (Courtesy of Dorothy Hack) Above from left to right are Archie Ricks, Herman Hack, Kit Guard and Bob Steele in a scene from Steele's KID COURAGEOUS (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1934). ![]() (Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Above from L-to-R are Roy Bucko, Al Bridge, Marion Weldon, Art Mix (George Kesterson) and Blackie Whiteford in a scene from DODGE CITY TRAIL (Columbia, 1936), which starred Charles Starrett. ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) From L-to-R are Tex Palmer, Oscar Gahan, Merrill McCormick, Charlie King and Denver Dixon in a scene from the Jack Randall DANGER VALLEY (Monogram, 1937). |
The antagonists in the ol' B western generally consisted of:
Definition of henchman, "henchie":
In other words, these are NOT the western and serial performers that we immediately recognize like Roy Barcroft or Harry Woods or Lafe McKee or Tom London or George Chesebro or Charlie King. The Barcrofts, McKees, Chesebros, Kings and many others wound up with meatier roles, often had dialog, and in many cases, their names appeared in the opening or closing credits. Those folks are profiled in The "Villains & Supporting Players" section on the Old Corral. The "Henchies" is dedicated to the performers whom we've seen a hundred times but mentally think What's his name ??? |
Below are thumbnail images of SOME of the players who did henchman duties as well as portraying barflies, townsmen, posse riders, cowherders, lynchers, etc. Many of them also did some stuntwork and doubling. In the right side menu, you'll find profiles on those faces ... and lots more performers. |
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![]() James/Jim Mason ![]() Floyd 'Silver Tip' Baker ![]() Tom/Tommy Bay ![]() Francis/Frank Walker ![]() John Beach ![]() Jack Montgomery ![]() Roy Bucko ![]() Ralph 'Buck' Bucko ![]() Kit Guard ![]() Carl 'Kansas' Moehring ![]() George Plues ![]() Joe Garcio / Joe Garcia ![]() Sherry Tansey / James Sheridan ![]() Wes Warner ![]() Charles B. Murphy ![]() Pascale Perry ![]() Jack Jones ![]() Harry Tenbrook ![]() Cliff Parkinson ![]() Barney Beasley ![]() Rube Dalroy ![]() Jess Cavin ![]() Artie Ortego/Ortega ![]() Bud McClure |
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![]() Allen Greer ![]() Chick Hannan/Hannon ![]() Tex 'Squint' Palmer ![]() Fox O'Callahan ![]() Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward ![]() Dick Botiller ![]() Earl Askam ![]() Post Park ![]() Bud Pope ![]() Bob McElroy ![]() Blackie Whiteford ![]() Joe De La Cruz ![]() 'Curley' Dresden ![]() 'Cactus Mack' Mc Peters ![]() Monte/Monty Montague ![]() Barney Furey ![]() Herman Nowlin/Nolan ![]() Chuck Baldra ![]() Tommy Coats ![]() Archie Ricks ![]() George Sowards ![]() Merrill McCormick ![]() Bob Card ![]() Oscar Gahan |
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![]() Carl Sepulveda ![]() Tom Smith ![]() Frank McCarroll ![]() Jack King ![]() Augie Gomez ![]() Herman Hack ![]() Olin Francis ![]() Jack Tornek ![]() Matty Roubert ![]() Chuck Morrison ![]() Bill Nestell ![]() Al Taylor ![]() Art Felix ![]() 'Vinegar Roan' / Harris L. Whittenberg ![]() Jack Evans ![]() Lew Morphy ![]() Bob Reeves ![]() Dick Dickinson ![]() Jim Corey ![]() Wally West ![]() Bill Patton ![]() Jack Kenney/Kenny ![]() Ray Jones ![]() Art Dillard ![]() Steve Clemente/Clemento |
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The Henchies and background performers (in alphabetical order by last name). Click below: Earl Askam Floyd 'Silver Tip' Baker Curly / Curley Baldwin Chuck Baldra Tom/Tommy Bay John Beach Barney Beasley Dick Botiller Roy Brent Ralph 'Buck' Bucko Roy Bucko 'Ace' Cain Bob Card Jess Cavin Steve Clemento / Clemente Tommy Coats Jim Corey Victor Cox Rube Dalroy Joe De La Cruz Dick Dickinson Bert / Burt Dillard Charles 'Art' Dillard Curley Dresden Jack Evans Art Felix Olin Francis Barney Furey Oscar Gahan Joe Garcio / Joe Garcia Allen Greer Augie Gomez Kit Guard Herman Hack Eddie Hall Chick Hannan / Hannon George 'Arizona Slim' Hazel Jack Hendricks Carol Henry Jack Jones Ray Jones Jack Kenny / Kenney (Two of them) Jack King (and his dog Kazan) Fred MacKaye James/Jim Mason ![]() Frank McCarroll Bud McClure Merrill McCormick Bob McElroy 'Cactus Mack' McPeters Carl 'Kansas' Moehring Monte / Monty Montague Jack Montgomery Buck Morgan Lew Morphy Chuck Morrison Charles B. Murphy Bill Nestell Herman Nowlin / Nolan Artie Ortego / Ortega Fox O'Callahan Tex 'Squint' Palmer Post Park Tex Parker Cliff Parkinson Bill Patton Pascale Perry Tex Phelps Bennie Pitti We thought this was Bennie Pitti George Plues Bud Pope Bob Reeves Archie Ricks Matty Roubert Carl Sepulveda ![]() George Sowards Len / Lem Sowards Tom Smith Sherry Tansey / James Sheridan Al Taylor Harry Tenbrook Tex Terry Jack Tornek Francis / Frank Walker Robert Walker Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward Wes Warner John 'Blackie' Whiteford 'Vinegar Roan' / Harris L. Whittenberg Wally West Lou Yaconelli / Earl Douglas (in the bio on Frank Yaconelli) |
Some of these players worked in the Three Stooges shorts at Columbia Pictures: http://www.threestooges.net/cast |