 | The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc. |
 (Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)  (Courtesy of Bill Sasser) |  (From Old Corral collection)  (From Old Corral collection) |
| Tall, thin Tom London is one of the most familiar faces to B western fans. He was born Leonard Thomas Clapham in 1888 or 1889 in Louisville, Kentucky to Henry R. Clapham and Mary J. Huesman.
His forty-five year movie and television career began in silent films. When he registered for the World War I draft in June, 1917, he was in Los Angeles, employed by the Universal Film Company ... and deaf in one ear. And he did military service with the 17th California Coast Artillery from September, 1916 to August, 1917, and records indicate he was discharged due to medical issues. Biographies on Tom London mention that his connection with the movie business began with Chicago's Selig Polyscope company. But the young man wasn't doing acting work with Selig. Instead he was a prop man, swept floors, and other assorted chores. Circa 1909, Selig established their Edendale Studio location in Los Angeles. London also journeyed west to Hollywood. His earliest film work appears to be 1916 at Universal. Trade publications reported that Clapham and other players were returning to Universal City after filming wrapped in San Francisco on ONDA OF THE ORIENT (Universal, 1916). And May - June, 1917 trades had coverage of Clapham in a couple of Eileen Sedgwick two-reel westerns, LONE LARRY (Bison/Universal, 1917) and DROPPED FROM THE CLOUDS (Bison/Universal, 1917). In 1920 - 1921, Universal starred Clapham as a Canadian northwest mounted policeman in two-reel adventures advertised as the "Red Rider" series. He also had the lead in a couple features. His co-star was Virginia Faire (Virginia Brown Faire). Checked the UCLA Film and Television Archive and they have no elements from Clapham's starring films. He also wore a northwest mounted police uniform as the male lead in NAN OF THE NORTH (Ben Wilson/Arrow, 1922), a fifteen chapter serial starring Ann Little. That cliffhanger is also lost / missing. After his brief hero period, he became a busy freelancer, picking up large and small acting jobs at Universal, Paramount/Lasky, First National, Pathe, Davis, other companies. His silent credits include westerns and cliffhangers with Richard Dix, Fred Church, Eddie Polo, Hoot Gibson, Leo Maloney, Jack Perrin, Ken Maynard, William Desmond, many others. In 1925, he did a name change to "Tom London" - and the June 13, 1925 Motion Picture World mentioned London in the cast of WINDS OF CHANCE (First National, 1925) which starred Ben Lyon, Victor McLaglen, and Anna Q. Nilson. He easily migrated to talking pictures, and portrayed mostly henchmen or lawmen in scores of B westerns and serials. In non-westerns, he often wore a Police uniform ... or a suit and detective's badge. Tom London is one of the most prolific character/supporting players, and Les Adams has him identified in about 500 talkin' pictures - that number includes at least 52 serials and 320 westerns. Included in that number are about 160 films films for Republic Pictures during 1935 - 1951. Much of London's work at Republic occurred July, 1943 through July, 1947 when he was under term player contracts. Those contracts gave him security and a regular paycheck, but allowed Republic to utilize him in lots of films ... and they did. During that period, he did some sidekick / helper duties with Republic's Sunset Carson. Further down this webpage are stats and graphs showing Tom's year-by-year film quantities as well as whom he worked with ... and the sagebrush heroes whom he didn't work with. He was typical of western and serial performers who migrated to television when the B western and serial faded in the post World War II years. Frequently employed by Gene Autry's Flying A production company, you can spot him in episodes of Gene's television program, as well as THE RANGE RIDER and ANNIE OAKLEY series. He also appeared on the ROY ROGERS show, RIN TIN TIN, KIT CARSON, LONE RANGER, WYATT EARP, BAT MASTERSON, many others. In the 1940s - 1950s, Tom did personal appearances with his own show as well as with Hoot Gibson, Sunset Carson, Monte Hale, others. I have a couple favorite Tom London roles. In Gene Autry's RIDERS IN THE SKY (Columbia, 1949), he's (nice) "old man Roberts" who dies at the end ... and becomes one of the mystic riders on white horses while Gene sings "Ghost Riders In The Sky". Another good one is Jimmy Wakely's BRAND OF FEAR (Monogram, 1949), with Tom as an old lawman with a secret past. Decades earlier, he was an outlaw ... and also the father of schoolmarm Gail Davis (who thinks her father died long ago). In the opening titles and credits, Tom is billed third, behind Wakely and sidekick Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor and ahead of Gail Davis who's fourth billed. From a 1952 newspaper article and interview: "London attributes much of his success in movies to his friend, the late Harry Carey, and J. Warren Corrigan [sic]. 'They broke me into films', London smiled." (should be J. Warren Kerrigan). In other interviews, He was thankful to Gene Autry for good roles in many films and TV shows ... and Tom was proud of his RIDERS IN THE SKY performance. He was married three times. His first was to silent screen actress Edith Stayart / Edythe Stayart in the 1920s. In 1934, he tied the knot with a Frances McClellan in Los Angeles, but they were divorced at the time of the 1940 census. Tom married Louvie Munal of Memphis, Tennessee on July 5, 1952 in Del Rio, Texas. No children from these marriages. Respected by his peers, he was known as "Ol' Tom", and personal interests were golf and dancing. There's a link further down this webpage to a 1955 article and interview with "The Sheriff of the Silver Screen" which highlights his love of golf. Mentions that his best round was a 68 at the San Fernando Country Club. His last movie and television appearances were in the early 1960s. Tom London passed away on December 5, 1963 at his North Hollywood home which he shared with his sister, Anita Pearcy. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. December 11, 1963 Variety had a death announcement:
"Tom London (real name Leonard Clapham), 81, pioneer film actor who began his screen career in 'The Great Train Robbery,' died in Hollywood Dec. 5. After appearing in the celluloid classic he went on to play sheriff roles in a multitude of motion pix and tv films. In silents, London was seen in such features as 'King of Kings' and 'Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.' Among his later credits are 'Hell Divers.' Sister survives." And Yes! Tom London / Leonard Clapham is a Guinness World Record Holder - from The Guinness Book of Movie Facts and Feats by Patrick Robertson (Guinness Publishing Ltd., 1993):
"The performer who played in the most movies made for general release was Tom London (1883 - 1963), who was born in Louisville, Ky., and made the first of his over 2000 appearances on screen in The Great Train Robbery (US 03)." |
 Tom London biography from the 1930 Motion Picture News Bluebook which is available at the Internet Archive. His film career began around 1917 ... and no mention of THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (Edison, 1903). At the time, his wife was actress Edythe Stayart. And according to the 1910 census, Tom did work for a railroad. And he's become about five years younger - note the 1893 birth year.  (Courtesy of Minard Coons) Above are Tom London and pretty Republic Pictures heroine Peggy Stewart. People who knew London mentioned that he was a good person, great actor, well dressed ... and an avid golfer.  (Courtesy of Donn and Nancy Moyer) Tom London at his home at Christmas ... and lots of Christmas cards in the background. |
Movie stats for Leonard Clapham / Tom London. Tom London was a very busy guy in westerns, serials, shorts, and other films, and his Hollywood career spanned about 45 years. His TV roles are NOT included in this chart. I've used the RELEASE dates (not filming dates) from the Internet Movie Database so the results may be a little skewed.Total film count in the chart below = 607 Total film count in the chart = 607. He was under term player contracts at Republic Pictures from July, 1943 through July, 1947, and I've highlighted those years in RED. His busiest years were 1930 - 1947 and amounted to about 448 films and those years are highlighted in BLUE. |
16 |
15 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
10 |
16 |
20 |
20 |
27 |
27 |
33 |
20 |
23 |
27 |
| 1915- 1919 |
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 |
| 24 |
34 |
28 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
25 |
24 |
17 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
| 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958- 1962 |
|
With whom did he work:
25 westerns and serials with Bill Elliott at Columbia and Republic. He didn't do films with some heroes:
He had no films with Rex Allen, Eddie Dean, Reb Russell, Fred Scott, and Whip Wilson. |
Leonard Clapham in silents ... and some hero roles. |
 (Courtesy of Sam Lawson) Leonard Clapham circa 1919 at Universal. Salutation reads: "My sincere good wishes to you, Paul, from your friend Leonard Clapham 1920"
 Jack Perrin was the hero in the serial, THE LION MAN (Universal, 1919) and Leonard Clapham had a featured role. Face shot of Clapham is a match to the above full size photo of him. Ad from Motion Picture News available at the Internet Archive.
 Above ad from Moving Picture Weekly for Clapham and Virginia Faire (Virginia Brown Faire) in their "Red Rider" series of two-reelers:
 Virginia Faire (Virginia Brown Faire), Leonard Clapham, and William Buckley starred in UNDER NORTHERN LIGHTS (Universal, 1920). This was feature length, not a two-reeler. Photo from Motion Picture News available at the Internet Archive. |
Tom London did hundreds of B westerns, generally portraying a henchman or lawman. |
 (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Buddy Roosevelt (with moustache), Benny Corbett, Tom London (on horseback), Jay Wilsey (Buffalo Bill Jr.) and Bob Roper in WESTWARD BOUND (Webb-Douglas Prod/Syndicate, 1931). Buffalo Bill Jr. was the star of this early sound film which was directed by Harry S. Webb, the later owner (with B. B. Ray) of Reliable Pictures.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Frank Hall Crane, Louise Gabo, a smiling Jack Perrin (billed as "Jack Gable"), Tom Tyler, Roberta Gale, George Chesebro and Tom London in Tyler's MYSTERY RANCH (Reliable, 1934).  (Courtesy of Dorothy Hack) L-to-R are Stanley Blystone, Tom London, Herman Hack, old codger Jack Duffy and Gaylord (Steve) Pendleton in a scene from TRAIL'S END (Beaumont, 1935), which starred Conway Tearle.  (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Joe De La Cruz, Jayne Regan, Jack Perrin, Slim Whitaker and Tom London in a lobby card from CACTUS KID (Reliable, 1935).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Harry Carey versus Tom London in a lobby card from THE LAST OF THE CLINTONS (Ajax, 1935).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Jack Perrin, Tom London, Roger Williams and Oscar Gahan in a lobby card from WILDCAT SAUNDERS (Atlantic, 1936).  (Courtesy of Minard Coons) L-to-R are Tom London, Max Terhune, John Wayne, and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan in SANTA FE STAMPEDE (Republic, 1938), one of the Three Mesquiteers series. Dress for success! Note that Tom is wearing that same shirt, vest, and gunbelt in the photo below from GHOST VALLEY RAIDERS (Republic, 1940).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Tommy Coats, Bob Clark, Tom London, Herman Willingham, Herman Nowlin/Nolan, and Clyde Kinney in GHOST VALLEY RAIDERS (Republic, 1940), which starred Don Barry.  (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are are Tom London, Frank LaRue and Tex Ritter in a lobby card from ROLL, WAGONS, ROLL (Monogram, 1940).  (From Old Corral collection) Above is an interesting lobby card from RIDING THE SUNSET TRAIL (Monogram, 1941), and from L-to-R are: Betty Miles, Tom Keene, Kenne Duncan, Sherry Tansey (James Sheridan Tansey), Earl Douglas, and Tom London. Earl Douglas' real name was Lou Yaconelli and he was the brother of western movie sidekick Frank Yaconelli. If you look close, you might make out the moustached Arkansas Slim Andrews to the right of Keene's face. Can you spot the error in this lobby card - look at all the gunbelts and the holsters as they are on the left side. Apparently, the photo used in preparation of this card was reversed.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Tom London, 'Arkansas Slim' Andrews, and Sugar Dawn in the Tom Keene oater DYNAMITE CANYON (Monogram, 1941).  (Courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album") Lawmen Jack Hendricks (on the left) and Tom London (right) have the drop on Ray 'Crash' Corrigan in a scene from Range Busters #8, FUGITIVE VALLEY (Monogram, 1941).  (Courtesy of Minard Coons) L-to-R are are Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, Edward Peil and Tom London in a scene from the Range Busters' FUGITIVE VALLEY (Monogram, 1941). London played the marshal and Peil was the jailer.  (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Robert 'Bobby' Blake as Little Beaver, Roy Barcroft, Jack Kirk, Tom London and Bill Elliott in a lobby card from CHEYENNE WILDCAT (Republic, 1944), one of the Red Ryder adventures. London wasn't a henchman or lawman in this - he plays a crooked bank employee in cahoots with Roy Barcroft.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Herman Hack, Henry Wills, Cliff Parkinson and Tom London in THE SAN ANTONIO KID (Republic, 1944), one of the Red Ryder series starring Bill Elliott.  (From Old Corral collection) Above is Tom London - without his false teeth - as the sidekick to Republic's Sunset Carson in the mid 1940s.  (From Old Corral collection) Above is a lobby card from DAYS OF BUFFALO BILL (Republic, 1946) with Tom London (sans teeth) as Sunset Carson's sidekick 'Banty McCabe'. On the floor is Rex Lease, one-time cowboy hero and frequent bit player/supporting actor.  (Courtesy of Ted Osborn) Above is the gang facing Sunset Carson in a lobby card from ALIAS BILLY THE KID (Republic, 1946). Left to right are Tom London, Peggy Stewart, Russ Whiteman, and bearded Tex Terry.  (From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Tom London, Allan Lane with Peggy Stewart in his arms, whiskered Emmett Lynn, Pierce Lyden, and in front is Bobby Blake as Little Beaver. Lobby card from RUSTLERS OF DEVIL'S CANYON (Republic, 1947), one of the Red Ryder adventures. |
On the trail of Leonard Clapham / Tom London |
 Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Tom London: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163417/
Daniel Neyer's "The Files of Jerry Blake" serial website has a webpage on Tom London and his many cliffhanger roles: https://filesofjerryblake.com/serial-character-actors-2/tom-london/ ThreeStooges.net website has Tom in two 1934 shorts with the zany trio: https://www.threestooges.net/cast/actor/1387 Article and interview with Tom London in the July 20, 1952 Kingsport, Tennessee Times-News - includes a photo of Tom and his third wife, Mrs. Louvie Munal of Memphis, Tennessee. They tied the knot on July 5, 1952 in Del Rio, Texas: https://www.newspapers.com/article/36082199/ April 13, 1955 Los Angeles Mirror has a article and photo highlighting Tom London's love of golf ... and he had appeared in 1704 films. Headline reads: "73-Year-Old Movie 'Sheriff' Shoots His Age on Links": https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-mirror-73-year-old-western-m/130734859/ In the 1940s - 1950s, Tom did some personal appearances - examples:
1948 in Amarillo, Texas and the article headline reads: "Veteran of 1600 Movies Appears at Leon Theater": https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-amarillo-globe-times-1948-personal-a/131133977/ The official Gene Autry Channel on YouTube has the GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY song and movie finale with Tom London as "old man Roberts": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRV6JszMXoo Cast and crew photos of Leonard Clapham and others from the lost / missing serial NAN OF THE NORTH (Ben Wilson/Arrow, 1922; 15 chapters). Filmed at Yellowstone, the leading lady was Ann Little. Also in the cast was Edythe Stayart / Edith Stayart, Tom's first wife:
https://www.alamy.com/edith-stayart-ann-little-and-leonard-clapham-later-tom-london-on-set-location-candid-during-filming-in-yellowstone-national-park-of-the-lost-15-chapter-silent-serial-nan-of-the-north-1922-director-duke-worne-writer-karl-r-coolidge-arrow-film-corporation-image499961731.html
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A SON OF THE NORTH (Universal, 1920)
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