Chuck Baldra and Jack Jones

Jack Jones was born on March 5, 1906 in Bingham Canyon (City), Utah, and passed away on May 26, 1995 in Glendora, California.

He was a member of various singing groups, including the Arizona Wranglers and Range Riders, and also played henchmen and did stunt/doubling work in late 1920s silents and early 1930s talkies. His movie career ended when he suffered a severe leg injury while driving a wagon at a fast clip in the John Wayne THE DAWN RIDER (Lone Star/Monogram, 1935). The seat collapsed and Jones was tossed off the wagon and his leg was run over by a wheel.

He changed professions after the accident, and worked for the Thomas Sign Company in Los Angeles doing poster work and silk screen printing. During World War II, he worked for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft.

Appears that Jones also did some hero duty in an early sound western or two for Roundup Pictures around 1929, and the leading lady was Karla Cowan. The film titles may have been SADDLE AND SPURS and/or CODE OF THE PLAINS. A 35mm film clip from one of those films is shown below. Les Adams has Jones identified in a several dozen westerns and counting ... and there are a lot more since Jones did stunting and doubling.

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jack Jones: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428280

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), and the California Death Index have more on Jack Jones and family:

August, 1940 affidavit and birth certificate for Ferris John Jones, born March 5, 1906 in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah to Ferris Evan Jones and Alice Baker: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL37-1Q75
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL37-2G3J
1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - 27 year old Ferris E. Jones (born Utah; occupation "Engineer - Railroad"), his 25 year old wife Alice (born Utah), 4 year old son Ferris J. (born Utah) and 2 year old son Joseph L. (born Utah) are living in Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5XZ-JKL
1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - 35 year old Ferris E. Jones (born Utah; occupation "Engineer - Locomotive"), his 31 year old wife Maude E. (born Idaho), 13 year old son Ferris J. (born Utah) and 11 year old son La Vell J. (born Utah) are living in Ophir, Tooele County, Utah: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8PK-VRM
1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - 24 year old Ferris J. Jones (born Utah) and Raymond Allen, have occupations of "Guide - Livery Stable", and are lodgers residing in the home of Chester F. Wyvele in San Gorgonio Pass, Riverside County, California. Chester F. Wyvele is the "Manager - Livery Stable". Jones answered "No" to the are you a veteran question: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCDB-6WH
February 18, 1931 marriage license of 24 year old Ferris John Jones (born Utah) to 22 year old Katharine Anne Kittle (born Norway) in Los Angeles:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-29944-2536-90?cc=1804002
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-29944-2328-96?cc=1804002
1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 4717 St. Elmo, Los Angeles are 34 year old Faris [sic] J. Jones (born Utah), his 32 year old wife Katharine (born Norway), and 7 year old son Jack L. Jones (born California). Father Jack's occupation is "Process Printer - Commercial Advertising": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CR-HSH
World War II draft registration - 34 year old Ferris John Jones was born March 5, 1906 in Bingham City, Utah. He and wife Katharine live at 1923 Wedgewood, Temple City, California. He works for Vultee Aircraft Corp., Los Angeles. He's 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds, and has scars on left lower leg: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGFS-PXKG
California Death Index - Ferris John Jones was born March 5, 1906 in Utah, Mother's maiden name of Baker, and he passed away on May 26, 1995 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG53-X4M

Find A Grave website confirms that Ferris John Jones and wife Katharine are interred at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135533452/ferris-john-jones

Chuck Baldra was born in Albany, Oregon in 1899. He was a member of various singing groups, including the Arizona Wranglers and Range Riders. He also did henchmen roles and often portrayed one of the cowhands sittin' around a campfire and doing tunes. Baldra was killed in 1949 when his car collided with a passenger train.

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Chuck Baldra: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049816

(Courtesy of Jack Jones)
Baldra gave the above photo to Jack Jones
and the salutation reads "To a real Pal, From Chuck".

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, newspapers, and the death certificate provide more on Chuck Baldra. Note the confusion with his birth location - Baldra was born in Albany, Oregon, but his death certificate has New York. And New York was carried over to the California Death Index. There was probably a bit of confusion and ALBANY, Oregon somehow became ALBANY, New York.

Ancestry had a digital birth record (not the birth certificate) for: Charles Maurice Baldra, born August 18, 1899 in Albany, Oregon to Thomas E. Baldra and Ollie Debord.
1900 census summary and census takers worksheet - 30 year old Thomas E. Baldra (born Oregon; occupation "Harness maker"), his 36 year old wife Ollie M. (born Oregon), 8 year old son Hugh H. (born Oregon) and 1 year old son Charles M. (born Oregon) reside in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Son Charles was born August, 1899 and is 9/12 years of age (meaning 9 months old): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSDL-RYP
1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - 40 year old Thomas E. Baldra (born Oregon; occupation "Harness maker"), his 45 year old wife Olla [sic] (born Oregon), 17 year old son Hugh H. (born Oregon) and 10 year old son Charles M. (born Oregon) reside in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLB3-F3R
1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - 30 year old Chas Baldra (born Oregon) is renting at 5956 Hollywood Boulevard and occupation is "Actor - Screen". His partner is 36 year old Julian Lamoth [sic] (born Louisiana) and his occupation is "Author - Screen". There are many people living at 5956 Hollywood Blvd. - appears to be a rooming house or hotel: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJB-R3Z
1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 40 year old Charles Baldra (born Oregon) and 37 year old wife Marian (born Illinois) own their home at 13638 Gain Street in the Los Angeles area. He completed 2 years of high school, occupation is "Actor - Motion Picture Studio", and in 1939, he worked 40 weeks and earned $2290.00, Also living there is 67 year James W. Byrd (born Missouri; listed as "Hired hand"): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9HV-MJ6
World War II draft registration - 42 year old Charles M. Baldra was born August 18, 1899 in Albany, Oregon. He and wife Marion live at 13638 Gain Street, Pacoima, California. Employer is "Gene Autry" and "Central Casting Corp". He's 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF4-7G4F
Death certificate: Charles M. Baldra was born August 18, 1899 and they've incorrectly identified New York as his birth location. He was married; occupation was "Actor - Republic Studios"; he was a World War I veteran; parents were Thomas Baldra and Ollie DoBord [sic]. On May 14, 1949, he was involved in a "collision of auto and train". He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and skull fracture and was D.O.A. at the Van Nuys Receiving Hospital. An autopsy was done. He and wife Marion A. Baldra lived at 9747 Arleta Street, Los Angeles, and she was the death certificate informant. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery.
California Death Index mirrors the death certificate (including that incorrect birth place of New York) - Charles M. Baldra was born May 14, 1899 in New York, Mother's maiden name of Debord, and he passed away on May 14, 1949 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG5P-V4T
The May 16, 1949 issue of the Van Nuys (California) News had an article about Baldra's death. Excerpts: "Charles Maurice Baldra, 50 year old ... musician, was killed instantly early Saturday morning when he drove his car into the path of an eastbound Southern Pacific passenger train ..."
Headstone application for military veteran - wife Marion requested a bronze marker at Oakwood Cemetery for husband Charles M. Baldra. He was a private in a Medical / Ambulance company, enlisted November 20, 1917, and was discharged on December 9, 1918: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-B2S5

Find A Grave website has a picture of the grave marker for Charles M. Baldra who is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92276206/chuck-baldra
The marker shows Baldra as a World War I vet and was a Private in an 8th Division Ambulance Company:
PVT 32 AMB CO 8 DIV WORLD WAR I

(Courtesy of Jack Jones)

Above from L-to-R are Chuck Baldra, Jack Jones, Reb Russell is in the middle, then Jack Kirk, and on the far right is Yakima Canutt. Scene from Reb's FIGHTING THROUGH (Willis, Kent, 1934).

(Courtesy of Jack Jones)

From L-to-R are Jack Jones, Jack's wife Katharine 'Kitty' Jones, Dick Botiller, John McGuire and Chuck Baldra in a staged publicity still from a Reb Russell oater, possibly OUTLAW RULE (Willis Kent, 1935). Kitty wasn't the heroine - she subbed for the leading lady who couldn't make the photo shoot. (If this still is related to OUTLAW RULE, the leading lady would be Betty Mack.)

(Courtesy of Jack Jones)

Above - Ken Maynard with his fiddle. And in the background from left to right are Johnny Luther (Arkansas Johnny Luther), Chuck Baldra, Al Haskell (accordian) and Jack Jones with the banjo and wearing his butterfly boots. Publicity still from Maynard's HONOR OF THE RANGE (Universal, 1934).

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips)

From left to right are Charlie/Charley Sargent, Jack Kirk, John Wayne, Cactus Mack McPeters, Chuck Baldra and Glenn Strange in a scene from Wayne's WESTWARD HO (Republic, 1935). On the far right is the non-singing Tex Palmer. In the film's opening titles, Glenn Strange is credited and "the Singing Riders" is listed under Strange's name. These "guys in black shirts" did double duty as singers as well as members of the "Singing Riders" who rode white horses and assisted Wayne. Below are crops/blowups showing the faces in more detail.

Below: Charlie/Charley Sargent, Jack Kirk, John Wayne, Cactus Mack McPeters.

Above: Chuck Baldra, Glenn Strange, and the non-singing Tex Palmer.

You'll find more about Jack Jones, Chuck Baldra, the Arizona Wranglers and the Range Riders in the Singers-Musicians-Groups section on the Old Corral. And there's a page on Jack Jones' stuntwork in The Stuntmen and Women section.

(Courtesy of Jack Jones) Above is a 35mm film clip with Jack Jones on the left. Les Adams was able to identify the other player as Bob Card. On horseback, it looks like Jack Kirk on the left and perhaps Art Felix (face partially hidden) on the right.
(Courtesy of Jack Jones) Above are Jack Jones and wife Katharine (nickname of Kitty) in a 1985 photo. Above - Jack Jones, aka "The Pocatello Kid", when he sang with the Range Riders western musical group circa 1933.		(Courtesy of Jack Jones) Above is an early 1930s photo of Jack Jones wearin' his 'butterfly boots'. Son Jack recalled that when he was a kid, his dad let him "clomp" around the house in those boots.