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



Rube Dalroy
Full name: Harry Dalroy
1878? - 1954
Remembered as:
(Honorary) "Mayor of Gower Gulch"



Above - Rube Dalroy in 1945 doing his normal western film job as a barfly. That's Jack Ingram on the right and the guy in the background is unidentified.


  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Rube Dalroy: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198197/

Rube Dalroy - with his beard and cigar - was the ultimate B western barfly and townsman, and his film career spanned from 1920s silents through the early 1950s. I don't recall him ever having any dialog, and his screen time consisted of a few seconds in a street scene or sitting at a table in a saloon. Les Adams has him in at least 104 westerns and 1 serial.

His World War II draft registration has him born in Wheaton, Cook County, Illinois in 1878.

There are a few newspaper and tradepaper traces of Dalroy prior to Hollywood - during the years 1913 - 1919, he was a clown with the Kit Carson Buffalo Ranch Wild West Show, 101 Ranch Wild West Show, the Ed A. Evans Greater Shows, the C. W. Parker Show, and he even performed with the Ringling Bros. Circus. In the 1920s, he was working the vaudeville circuit.

There's several 1951 - 1952 photos of Dalroy - as the "Mayor of Gower Gulch" - at the Los Angeles Examiner newspaper/USC Archives: https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/CS.aspx?VP3=DamView&VBID=2A3BXZSFXFPSW&SMLS=1&RW=1404&RH=756

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), ProQuest obituaries, California Death Index and the death certificate provide more about Harry 'Rube' Dalroy:

  • 1910 census: living in Mobile, Alabama was 32 year old Rube Dalroy (born Illinois). He's single and a boarder at the home of William and Rosa Davis: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK72-1FB
    Ancestry had the 1910 census takers worksheet: couldn't read the address, but Dalroy's occupation is "Actor - Theatrical".
  • May 23, 1922 Ohio marriage license of Harry Dalroy (occupation: actor) to Myrtle M. Smith. He was born about 1876 in Chicago, and Myrtle was born about 1890 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Harry's parents were John and Martha Webb Dalroy: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18084-141041-77?cc=1614804&wc=M94Q-K1N:n458688343
  • 1930 census: 50 year old Harry Dalroy (single; born Illinois) was one of many "guests" living in a hotel/rental unit in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC88-S39
    Ancestry had the 1930 census takers worksheet (which is torn and missing some pieces): Dalroy reports his occupation as "Actor - Film Studio".
  • 1940 census: 63 year old Harry Delroy (single; born Illinois) was among several "Partners" residing in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CX-WQY
    1940 census takers worksheet: movie cowboys Jack Evans and Rube Dalroy - along with many others who are listed as "Partners" - were renting at 1431 N. Gordon Street, Los Angeles. "Partner" Harry Delroy [sic] (63 years old, single, born Illinois) is Harry 'Rube' Dalroy (1878-1954). His occupation was "Actor - Motion Pictures", and in 1939, he worked 30 weeks and earned $965.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-3449-36?cc=2000219&wc=M9Q8-YV4:n856611876
  • World War II draft registration: 64 year old Harry Dalroy lived at 1706 North Gower Street, Hollywood. He was born July 2, 1878 in Weaton [sic], Cook County, Illinois, and his contact and employer was the Screen Actors Guild and "Twenty Century Fox": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16388-17719-4?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1T9:1732026634
  • May 19, 1950 Indiana marriage license of Ruth Katherine Dalroy (born 1924) to George Anthony Greene. Her father was Harry Dalroy, born Chicago, occupation "entertainer", and lived in California. Her mother's name was Myrtle S. Smith and she was deceased: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXVC-X41
  • Death certificate: Harry Dalroy was about 71 years old, occupation was "Actor - Movie", and was never married. He passed away at 5927 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, on March 8, 1954. Home address was 6139 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles. Birth date, birth location, and his parents were unknown. Addie Germain, listed as friend, was the death certificate informant. There was a coroner's investigation and cause of death was coronary sclerosis. Utter McKinley was the funeral director and burial at Valhalla Cemetery.
  • The California Death Index mirrors the death certificate: Harry Dalroy passed away on March 8, 1954 in the Los Angeles area. His birth date and location were unknown.
  • The Los Angeles Times had a (small) funeral notice in their March 10, 1954 newspaper: "DALROY, Rube (Harry), Mayor of Gower Gulch. Services Friday ..." (which would have been March 12, 1954).
  • Other newspaper reports indicate that "He fell dead of a heart attack on the sidewalk in front of 5927 Sunset Blvd." (and that street address is on his death certificate).

Find A Grave website confirms Rube Dalroy's interment at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81903645



What's this "Mayor of Gower Gulch"?

"Gower Gulch" is an area located and centered at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. This was near the major and minor studios and production companies of the time, including those that did low budget westerns. The surrounding area became known as "Gower Gulch" because it was a hangout for studio cowboys and assorted extras and bit players waiting for a casting call.

These movie cowboys voted annually for their "Mayor of Gower Gulch", an honorary/unofficial position with few responsibilities (and no authority). These actors tended to socialize at a drinking establishment named Brewer's, and for each drink that was purchased, you also got a vote in their honorary Mayoral election. Brewer's was also the voting location.

In 1941, Gentleman Jack Evans was the (Honorary) Mayor of Gower Gulch ... and he was locked in combat with old-timer Rube Dalroy. The election was scheduled for March 17, 1941 and the results were syndicated in various newspapers. Quotes from one of the articles:

"Evans ... won with 143 votes ... Rube Delroy [sic], another movie cowpoke, got 93." ; "Mayor Evans' domain is Brewer's Cafe, where dozens of cowpokes gather to drink beer while awaiting studio calls."

There's a bit more about Gower Gulch, cowboy extras, and their honorary Mayor at: http://boom-pop.blogspot.com/2011/03/history-and-mythology-of-gower-gulch.html



 


Evans - 1934
 
;
Evans - 1945

Jack Evans
Full name: John Henry Evans
1893 - 1950
Nickname: Gentleman Jack Evans
Recalled as: (Honorary) "Mayor of Gower Gulch"


Jack Evans was a prolific henchman, townsman, barfly, deputy, posse rider, etc. and Les Adams has him identified in at least 276 westerns and 9 serials.

His World War I draft registration has his birth name as John Henry Evans and born March 5, 1893 in Randolph, North Carolina.

His twenty year film career - in mostly uncredited roles - ran from about 1930 until his death from heart problems in 1950.

Les Adams adds: Evans' hair, moustache and (later) beard turned white and he was pretty much of a mainstay barfly at, mostly and primarily, PRC and several Monograms circa the World War II years.

  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jack Evans: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262846/



(Newspaper clipping courtesy of Phil Cohen)
Above - obituary from March 8, 1950.


The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, and the death certificate provide more on Jack Evans:

  • 1910 census: living in Randleman, Randolph County, North Carolina were 46 year old Henery [sic] Evans (born NC), his 37 year old wife Fannie (born NC), three daughters and three sons. All six children were born in North Carolina. The oldest child was 17 year old John Evans. 10 year old daughter Mozelle is listed and she was the informant on Evans' death certificate: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLS8-HFH
  • World War I draft registration from June 5, 1917: John Henry Evans, born March 5, 1893 in Randolp [sic], North Carolina. He's married and a "Cotton Mill Worker" at the Proximity Cotton Mill, Proximity, North Carolina: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25082-51253-86?cc=1968530&wc=M9W1-WWF:1776135844
  • 1930 census: 36 year old widower John H. Evans was one of several boarders residing in a Los Angeles home/rental owned by James A. and Florence Schinisher: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC8D-XKR
    Ancestry has the 1930 census takers worksheet: can't read the street address in Los Angeles, but it appears to be a small hotel/rooming house with about a dozen lodgers. Evans' occupation was "Extra - Pictures".
  • 1940 census: 46 year old widower John H. Evans (born North Carolina) is among several "Partners" residing in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CX-WQT
    1940 census takers worksheet: movie cowboys Jack Evans and Rube Dalroy - along with many others who are listed as "Partners" - are renting at 1431 N. Gordon Street, Los Angeles. Evans reports his occupation as "Actor - Motion Pictures", and in 1939, he worked 30 weeks and earned $947.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-3449-36?cc=2000219&wc=M9Q8-YV4:n856611876
  • Death certificate: 57 year old Jack H. Evans passed away on March 7, 1950 at his home at 5961 Carlton Way, Los Angeles. There was a cornoner's investigation and coronary sclerosis was confirmed as cause of death. His occupation was "Actor - Motion Picture Studio"; he was widowed; not a military veteran; born March 5, 1893 in North Carolina; and his parents were Henry Evans and Frances Cooper (both born North Carolina). Death certificate informant was Mozelle Gillis, Greensboro, North Carolina (Evans' sister). Funeral director was Utter-McKinley and burial at Valhalla.
  • Newspaper obituaries on Evans mention that he passed away at his home on March 7, 1950.
  • The California Death Index mirrors the death certificate: Jack H. Evans, born March 5, 1893 and he passed away in the Los Angeles area on March 7, 1950.

Find A Grave confirms that Jack Evans is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83371249/jack-evans



 



Buck Morgan
Real name: Louis B. Chirco
1907 or 1908 - 1981
Above are face shots of Morgan in 1935 (left) and 1936 (right).


  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Buck Morgan: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604522/

Another henchman doing minor, uncredited roles was Louis B. Chirco who called himself "Buck Morgan", and his movie career ran from about 1930 through 1948. Les Adams has Chirco in at least 61 westerns and 2 serials.

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), ProQuest obituaries, California Death Index, and Social Security Death Index (SSDI) have information on Louis Chirco/Buck Morgan. Pay attention to his purported age, and in particular, the year 1940 when he's 33 years old with a 21 year old daughter:

  • 1920 census: living in St Louis, Missouri were 40 year old Martin Chico (born Italy), his 29 year old wife Susie (born Italy), three daughters and three sons (all born in Missouri). One of the sons is 11 year old Louis Chico: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M889-64T
    Ancestry had the 1920 census takers worksheet: father Martin was a "laborer" and wife Susie was a "seamstress", and the family was renting at 3016 Belt Avenue, St. Louis.
  • 1930 census: residing in the Los Angeles area were 30 year old Buck Chirco (born Missouri), 30 year old wife Agnes (born Missouri), 10 year old daughter Grace (born Missouri), and 8 year old son Don (born Missouri): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XC87-3X7
    Ancestry had the census takers worksheet: Buck lists his occupation as "Delivery Man - Store". And the parents of both Buck and Agnes were born in Italy.
  • Ancestry had the 1934 Los Angeles City Directory and Buck and Agnes were listed:
    Chirco, Buck L (Agnes), lab, 2110 Allessandro
    ("lab" is an abbreviation for laborer.)
  • 1940 census: Living in the Los Angeles area were 33 year old Louis Chirco (born Missouri), his 37 year old wife Agnes (born Missouri), 21 year old daughter Grace (born Missouri), and a lodger: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9ZV-GBB
    1940 census takers worksheet: The Chirco family was renting at 18901 Normandie, Los Angeles. He reports his occupation as "Extra and stunt man - Movie Industry", and in 1939, he worked 20 weeks and earned $900.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-27797-814-70?cc=2000219&wc=M9Q8-1QC:n1699146044
  • The California Death Index has Louis B. Chirco, born June 20, 1908 in Missouri, Mother's maiden name of Vitale, and he passed away on August 27, 1981 in the Los Angeles area. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) has his birth date as June 20, 1907.
  • The Los Angeles Times had a funeral notice in their August 29, 1981 newspaper. Excerpts: "CHIRCO, Louis B., also known as Buck Morgan, stuntman for western movies. Beloved husband of Agnes ... father of Grace ... Interment in Resurrection Cemetery."



Below are photos and lobby cards with Buck Morgan and Jack Evans.


(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Les Adams identified the players in the above lobby card from RAWHIDE ROMANCE (Superior, 1934) - from left to right are Jack Evans, Boris Bullock (AKA William Barrymore), Jay Wilsey (Buffalo Bill Jr.), Ken Broeker and Denver Dixon.


(Image courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Above are a young Jack Evans on the left and Boris Bullock (William Barrymore) in a crop from the Buffalo Bill, Jr. RAWHIDE ROMANCE (Superior, 1934) lobby card shown above.



(Old Corral collection)

Sitting at the saloon table with their beers are Ray Jones (left) and unidentified player (right). In the background left to right are Jack Evans, Benny Corbett and Chester Gan. Crop from a production still from the Reb Russell oater FIGHTING THROUGH (Willis Kent, 1934).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are lawmen Barney Beasley and Bill Cody about to meet up with Bud Pope, Buck Morgan (moustache) and an unidentified baddie in a still from Cody's THE CYCLONE RANGER (Spectrum, 1935).



(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Above from left to right are Roger Williams, Bob Custer and George Morrell in a lobby card from AMBUSH VALLEY (Reliable, 1936). Jack Evans is on the far left in the shadows, and between Williams and Custer are Buck Morgan (in the center with the moustache) and Ed Carey (dark shirt).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from left to right are Joan Barclay (billed as Geraine Greear), Art Felix, Tom Tyler, Buck Morgan, Francis Walker, Jack Evans (moustache), John Elliott, unidentified bearded player, and on the ground is Roger Williams.  From Tyler's RIDIN' ON (Reliable, 1936).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Eddie Phillips, Denver Dixon (aka Victor Adamson), Bob Custer, John Elliott and Jack Evans (on the receiving end of Custer's punch) in Custer's AMBUSH VALLEY (Reliable, 1936).



(Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album")

Above from left to right are Nora Lane, a disguised Tim McCoy, Jack Hendricks, Alden 'Stephen' Chase and Buck Morgan in SIX GUN TRAIL (Victory, 1939).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above are a covey of no-goods from the lost/missing Jack Randall oater RIDERS FROM NOWHERE (Monogram, 1940). Randall, the brother of Three Mesquiteers star Bob Livingston, would do one more western after RIDERS FROM NOWHERE and then his starring series was over. From left to right are: Jack Evans, Jack Hendricks, Archie Ricks, Charlie King, unidentified face, Carl Mathews, Herman Hack and an unidentified henchman.



(Courtesy of Pat LaRosa)

Above from left to right are Al St. John, bartender Cliff Taylor, Lash Larue, Ray Bennett and bearded barfly Jack Evans. That's moustached Lee Morgan leaning on the bar behind Bennett. From Lash's FRONTIER REVENGE (Ron Ormond/Western Adventure, 1948). Cliff Taylor was producer Ron Ormond's father-in-law.



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