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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, barflys, deputies, wagon drivers, ranch hands, etc. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names.




Bud McClure

Real name:
Ervin Thomas McClure
(His first name was not Erwin)

1883 - 1942

His sound film appearances include at least 130 westerns and 13 serials.


Bud McClure was another of the henchie brigade of the 1930s and appeared in nearly five dozen oaters starring Ken Maynard and Buck Jones in 1929 - 1936. McClure could also handle the reins of a stagecoach and wagon. Most of his movie jobs were unbilled/uncredited.

One of his few roles with more than a word or two of dialog occurs in Tom Tyler's DEADWOOD PASS (Freuler/Monarch, 1933). In the opening minutes, McClure is the stage driver and during a stop, he tells Tyler and pretty heroine Alice Dahl about a mysterious outlaw named "the Hawk".

Suffering from cancer, Bud McClure passed away at his North Hollywood home on November 2, 1942.

  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Bud McClure: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565972/

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), the California Death Index, and the death certificate provide more info on Bud McClure and family.

Note the ErWin vs. ErVin first name confusion. Bud McClure's first name was ERVIN, not Erwin. Appears that he also knew his first name was ERVIN when he signed off on his World War I and World War II draft registrations (links to those documents below). And his funeral notice also has ERVIN as his first name.

  • 1900 census - living in Tuolumne County, California were 49 year old Thomas R. Mc Clure (born Ohio; occupation "Real Estate Agent"), his 42 year old wife Alice M. (born Central America), 17 year old son Erwin [sic] (born California) and 12 year old son David (born California): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9GT-HHF
  • World War I draft registration dated September 12, 1918 in Seattle, Washington - 36 year old Ervin Thomas McClure was born February 21, 1883 and he and wife Grace were living at 2220 Western, Seattle, Washington. His occupation was "Stable Foreman" and the stable was located at 2200 Western, Seattle: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26296-27705-46?cc=1968530
  • 1930 census - renting at 1325 Vine Street, Los Angeles were 44 year old Erwin [sic] T. Mcclure (born California), his 44 year old wife Grace (born Wisconsin), 9 year old son Rex (born California), 4 year old son Charles (born California) and a lodger. Bud's occupation was "Actor-Motion Pictures", and he answered "No" to the are you a veteran question: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCJB-ZQN
  • 1940 census - 57 year old Ervin McClure, 54 year old wife Grace, 19 year old son Rex and 14 year old son Charles were renting at 5218 Riverton Avenue, North Hollywood, California. McClure's occupation was "moving picture cowboy-motion picture studios" and in 1939, he worked 20 weeks and earned $1800.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9H2-WDJ
  • 1942 World War II draft registration for Ervin Thomas McClure. He lists his birth date and location as February 21, 1883 and Hopland, California. He and wife Grace lived at 5218 Riverton Avenue, North Hollywood, California, and his occupation/employment information was "none has cancer": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16505-53798-44?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1V2:1100039110
  • Death certificate - Erwin [sic] Thomas McClure passed away on November 2, 1942 from cancer (2 years duration) at his home at 5218 Riverton Avenue, North Hollywood, California. He was born February 21, 1883 in Ukiah, California; father was Thomas R. McClure; wife was Grace F. McClure; his occupation was "Cowboy Actor, Extra"; was not a military veteran; and burial at Valhalla Cemetery, Burbank, California.
  • California Death Index mirrors the death certificate - Erwin [sic] Thomas McClure was born February 21, 1883 and passed away on November 2, 1942 in the Los Angeles area: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPDS-6N7
  • November 11, 1942 issue of Variety: "Bud McClure, 56, film cowboy, died Nov. 2 at his home in North Hollywood ..."
  • Death / funeral notice on Ervin Thomas 'Bud' McClure in the November 20, 1942 San Fernando Valley Times. And his first name is spelled "Ervin" not Erwin: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86172613/san-fernando-valley-times/

Find A Grave website notes that McClure is interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145632801/erwin-thomas-mcclure



(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 Les Adams)

At the reins is Bud McClure in the Johnny Mack Brown BOSS OF BULLION CITY (Universal, 1940).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above left to right in the front row are Buck Moulton w/ sixgun, Bud McClure next to him w/ sixgun, Carleton Young is in the center wearing coat and pointing, and on the right is Hobart 'Tex' Parker. From Don Barry's TWO GUN SHERIFF (Republic, 1941).





 


1937
Jim Corey

Real name:
Arthur Harrison Corey

1889 - 1950

His sound film appearances include at least 216 westerns and 22 serials.



1932
Jim Corey was born in New York state, and was a frequent henchman and stunt man. His film career began in silents and continued through the late 1940s.

Much of his silent film jobs were shorts and features at Universal starring Art Acord, Jack Perrin, Hoot Gibson, William Desmond, Harry Carey, others. In the 1930s, he shows up in about sixty oaters starring Buck Jones, Ken Maynard, and Tim McCoy.

Corey is relatively easy to spot - he's thin and has a well lined face ... he wore a big, tall, round topped hat ... and he packed his six-shooter on the left side.

Due to injuries, illness or lack of movie work, Corey listed his occupation as "guard work-various places" on his 1942 World War II draft registration.

He passed away at the Los Angeles County General Hospital on March 26, 1950, the day after surgery for an abdominal aneurysm. Corey is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California.

There was confusion with biographical info on our actor/stuntman Jim Corey (including the Internet Movie Database, which has been corrected). The mixup was because of another Jim Corey who is also interred at Valhalla. In November/December, 2010, ye Old Corral webmaster communicated with Jane Ritchey (nee Corey), the grand daughter of James Warren Corey, Sr. That Mr. Corey, Sr. was born in Long Pine, Nebraska in 1883, passed away January 10, 1956 in the Los Angeles area, and is interred at Valhalla Cemetery. Old Corral contributor Lila Ashear was able to locate a January 12, 1956 obituary on 72 year old James W. Corey, Sr. which confirms his interment at Valhalla.


The Family Search website (free), California Death Index, death certificate, and funeral notice provide more on actor Jim Corey:

  • World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 in Los Angeles - 28 year old Arthur Harrison Corey was born March 22, 1889 in Buffalo, New York. He and his wife lived in Los Angeles, and he was an "actor" working for Universal Film Co., Los Angeles. He lists six months of military service in the Navy and a "dishonorable discharge ? years ago": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-81S2-T5T?i=3508&cc=1968530
  • 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - owning their home at 5525 ????, Los Angeles were 41 year old Arthur H. Corey (born New York), his 32 year old wife Sylvia (born Ohio), 10 year old son Clarence H. (born California), 5 year old daughter Jean M. (born California) and 4 year old daughter Alice J. (born California). Corey's occupation was "Actor - Moving Pictures" and he was not a military veteran: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC83-3VT
  • 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 50 year old Jim Corey (born New York), 42 year old wife Sylvia (born Ohio), 20 year old son Clarence (born California), 15 year old daughter Jean M. (born California), 14 year old daughter Alice J. (born California), and a lodger were renting at 11446 Emelita Street in Los Angeles. His occupation was "Actor - Moving Picture studio" and in 1939, he worked 52 weeks and earned $2000.00. Son Clarence H. Corey was also an "Actor - Moving Picture studio", and in 1939, he worked 52 weeks and earned $800.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9HL-2L7
  • 1942 World War II draft registration - he lists his name as "(Jim) Arthur Corey" and home address was 11436 Emelita Street, North Hollywood; birth information was March 22, 1889 and Blackrock, New York; and his occupation was "guard work-various places": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16371-35424-1?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1VN:1060261052
  • Death certificate - 61 year old Arthur H. Corey passed away at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. He had surgery on March 25, 1950 for an abdominal aneurysm and died March 26, 1950 from shock and hermorrhage. An autopsy was performed. Corey was born March 22, 1889 in New York to Nathan Corey and Margaret Ford. Occupation was "Actor-Motion Pictures"; he was divorced; not a military veteran; and home address was 5736 Ethel Avenue, Van Nuys, California. Informant was his son Clarence Corey. Corey was interred at Valhalla Cemetery.
  • California Death Index has a record for Arthur H. Corey, born 3/22/1889 in New York, Mother's maiden name of Ford, and he passed away in the Los Angeles area on 3/26/1950: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPF6-MXN
  • Funeral notice for screen actor Arthur H. Corey in the March 29, 1950 Los Angeles Times: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86172319/the-los-angeles-times/

  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jim Corey: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0179789/

Find A Grave website notes that Corey is interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10061627/jim-corey



(Courtesy of Bruce Hickey)

Left to right are Jim Corey, John Wayne, and Tom Bay doing battle in Wayne's HAUNTED GOLD (Warners, 1932).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above - Cliff 'Tex' Lyons (left) and Jim Corey (right) take a fall in Buck Jones' OUTLAWED GUNS (Universal, 1935).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Jim Corey, hero Dick Foran and Harry Woods in a lobby card from LAND BEYOND THE LAW (Warners, 1937), one of the better entries in the Foran series thanks to the direction of B. Reeves 'Breezy' Eason. The rider on the far right is Henry Otho, one of the henchmen working for Harry Woods.



(From Old Corral collection)

Above - Tom Tyler slugs it out with veteran henchman and stuntman Jim Corey in a still from BROTHERS OF THE WEST (Victory, 1937).



(Courtesy of Bruce Hickey)

L-to-R are Sherry Tansey, Jim Corey, Claire Rochelle, Johnny Mack Brown, Frank LaRue, and Ed Cassidy in a lobby card from BOOTHILL BRIGADE (A. W. Hackel/Republic, 1937).



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