Buck Jones – My Favorite Westerns

Steeds of Renown … Reborn?

Funny how Time slips Away / Elvis Presley

How quickly we forget.

You were a Star once.
A HUGE Star.

World Famous.
Then … incredibly, just a few short years after you hung up your spurs …
Everything disappeared.
You were erased.
By time.

Why?
It’s understandable maybe?
Because most early Western Stars were dead
before most of us were born.
And many of their movies are ‘Lost’.

Even now only a handful of Western Film buffs
try to keep their memories alive.
And the Wonders that they brought back then.

I don’t count myself among those that do that.
They’re several notches above this tenderfoot.
I’m bringing this all up because back in 2014 I had an idea:
I’d post series of images of Western Stars performing
a very popular Publicity shot from the early era of Westerns:
The Cowboy Star rearing up on his Steed.

I called this Steeds of Renown.
I even made some banners.

And a few posts.
Then … I ran into a problem (as I usually do).
My original plan to just post some images got ambushed.
I found that I couldn’t just throw up some pics of these guys
without providing some kind of bio or profile on them.
It didn’t seem right.
Sooo very quickly my little dust devil of an idea turned into a tornado!
On Buck Jones alone I did about 18 posts!

WOW!
Waaaaaay more than anything I had intended.

Eventually the whole thing bogged down and collapsed into a heap of road apples.
And I got distracted by other things.

But now! Since I find myself doing nothing at all …
(I got them old covid blues)
… I’ll try to pick up the trail where I left off.

And who knows? I might even finish this thing.
Some day.
But I doubt it.

Buck Jones / 1938 …

Van Morrison

1938

Buck’s career as a solo headliner was winding down.
But Buck had a lot of real Cowboy in him.
and knew how to Keep his doggies rollin’ …

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography:
Re-Inventing Buck Jones / The 1940’s

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1936

1936 – Buck makes 8 movies …

Ride 'Em Cowboy 1936 — **Ride ‘Em Cowboy 1936**

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1937

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1935

1935 – Buck makes 7 movies …

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1936

Buck busted for Stunt Fraud !

if i didn’t have a dime / gene pitney

Buck Jones busted for Stunt Fraud

Diligent investigative reporting by My Favorite Westerns has uncovered
Stunt Fraud in the 1934 Buck Jones Western Serial ‘Red Rider‘!

Buck Jones Red RIder 2 — **Buck – arrested by MFW Stunt agents**

Close scrutiny of photo images and the Serial clip clearly reveal
that Buck and his heroine riding Silver did not jump the yawning chasm as
they appear to have done in the clip! Zounds!

Look closely and you will see that the dust from Buck’s steed does
not fall into the canyon – but instead alights on some invisible platform!
Indeed! The illusion of Buck jumping a chasm is achieved by
the clever splicing and overlaying of two separate images!
Buck is really merely jumping a ditch only 2 feet deep.

When confronted with the evidence, Jones responded:
“Only an idiot with risk the life of a young lady and his horse
by actually jumping across a chasm.”

Good point Buck.

But it was a nice illusion while it lasted.

Coming up: The Movie Palaces

Buck and the Old Time Serials – Stunt 2

don’t let me down / Dillard & Clark

Buck Jones / ‘Red Rider’ / 1934

Some of that ‘Extreme’ stuff you see these days has been going on
for a long time.

Here’s yet another ‘Cliff Hanger’ stunt (literally) from
Buck Jones ‘Red Rider‘ serial / 1934.
You’ll notice that the Steed – with it’s 2 riders (whoever they were?)
barely make it across the chasm.
One has to wonder what happened when such stunts didn’t come off?

Clip below:

Jump scene occurs at about the 2 minute mark …

Rather amazing.

Next: The Movie Palaces

Buck and the Old Time Serials – in the Era of the Film Palaces

Them Dance Hall Girls / Fraser and Debolt

Buck Jones / ‘Red Rider’ / 1934

During the 30’s, Buck Jones made a few Movie Serials. One such was Red Rider.

Movie Serials first appeared in the 1910’s and were popular the right up into the late 50’s. These were usually about 15 (black and white) Episodes that were less than 10 minutes in length and shown at Saturday Matinees prior to the main attraction. They always had a ‘Cliff Hanger’ ending. – the idea being that you’d have to come back again next week to see what happened to your Hero.! Would Buck, survive the fall off that cliff?

Of course he would, but we wanted to see how?

These old time stunts were amazing. And dangerous. No wires or CGI.

Sploosh !!

Buck Jones Red Rider teaser

This is why stuntman Richard Farnsworth
eventually formed the Stuntman’s Union.

Below: Buck takes the plunge …

Those old time “Movie Palaces” ?

Coming right up …

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 3

Time / Pozo Seco Singers

Dear Western Movie Fans,
I’ve been having a few problems with the blog. The main problem is that I make mistakes. Then I try to correct them – after the post has been posted. This then sends a new post out. Which I don’t wish to do most of the time unless the mistake is a big one. So I don’t know how to edit/correct the posts without that happening. I apologize. If you know the solution to that – which is likely very simple – I’ll be able correct things here without annoying you. Thank you kindly.
-Yours sincerely,
– My Favorite Westerns.

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940
Part 3

Buck continues his notable ride through the early 30’s. We see romance – the ladies becoming prominent
in Buck’s movies and posters. As a kid, I wasn’t interested in that ‘mushy stuff’, but there was still plenty of action to keep me around.

The Fighting Ranger 1933 — **The Fighting Ranger 1934**

buck jones 3 — **Buck Jones and Silver**

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 4

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 2

The Impossible Dream / Jackie Evancho

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940
Part 2

See Buck rearing up 4 times on his wondrous Steed!
Yeee Haww!

Ridin for Justice 1932 — **Ridin’ for Justice 1932**

White Eagle 1932 2 — **White Eagle 1932**

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 3

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 1

Carry Me / The Stampeders

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 1

Buck was hitting his stride in the 1930’s – averaging over 6 movies a year. And if we ever needed Western Heroes, it was during the ‘Dirty Thirties’ the Great Depression.
Buck was there to answer the call.
This manifested in some beautiful poster art.

Shadow Ranch 2 1930 — **Shadow Ranch 1930**

Desert Vengeance 2 1931 — **Desert Vengeance 1931**

buck jones branded 1931 — **Branded 1931**

Border Law buck jones 1930 — **Border Law / 1931**

The Range Feud - Buck Jones 1931 — **The Range Feud – 1931**

I hope you can appreciate what I say about the Art quality
of these posters. Frameable stuff.

Buck’s poster collection from the 30’s is massive !
So I’m going to space them out a bit.
Otherwise I’ll have posts that are extremely long.

Next:

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 2

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1920 to 1930

i won’t back down / cash

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1920 to 1930

Buck was now making 7, 8 or 9 movies a year – production was swift in those days. Buck had achieved Top Bill/Stardom – his name is often larger and posted before the movie title. He was the draw. – but not necessarily as a Western Star. A good portion of the 42 films he is received credits for in the 1920’s were non-Westerns. In a lot of these films, Buck he was Billed as “Charles Jones” – and on at least a couple of occasions as “Charles ‘Buck’ Jones”. I’ve posted a couple of these non-Western here (“Big Dan”/1923) just because the posters are so darn nice.

Big Dan - Buck Jones — **Big Dan (1923)**

The Circus Cowboy - 1924 — **The Circus Cowboy (1924)**

Not revealed as a Western … but I do see a cowboy galloping there … ?

Some nice stuff eh!
Way to go Buck!

Buck Jones Filmography 1920’s

1928 The Big Hop Buck Bronson
1928 The Branded Sombrero Starr Hallett
1927 Blood Will Tell Buck Peters
1927 Black Jack Phil Dolan
1927 Chain Lightning Steve Lannon
1927 Good As Gold Buck Brady
1927 Hills of Peril Laramie (as Charles ‘Buck’ Jones)
1927 Whispering Sage Buck Kildare
1927 The War Horse Buck Thomas
1926 Desert Valley Fitzsmith
1926 30 Below Zero Don Hathaway Jr.
1926 The Flying Horseman Mark Winton
1926 The Gentle Cyclone Absolem Wales
1926 A Man Four-Square Craig Norton
1926 The Fighting Buckaroo Larry Crawford
1926 The Cowboy and the Countess Jerry Whipple
1925 The Desert’s Price Wils McCann
1925 Lazybones Steve Tuttle, aka Lazybones (as Charles ‘Buck’ Jones)
1925 Durand of the Bad Lands Dick Durand
1925 Timber Wolf Bruce Standing
1925 Hearts and Spurs Hal Emory
1925 Gold and the Girl Dan Prentiss
1925 The Trail Rider Tex Hartwell
1925 Dick Turpin Crowd Extra (uncredited)
1925 The Arizona Romeo Tom Long
1924 The Man Who Played Square Matt Black
1924 Winner Take All Perry Blair
1924 The Desert Outlaw Sam Langdon
1924 Against All Odds Chick Newton
1924 Western Luck Larry Campbell (as Charles Jones)
1924 The Circus Cowboy Buck Saxon (as Charles Jones)
1924 The Vagabond Trail Donnegan (as Charles Jones)
1924 Not a Drum Was Heard Jack Mills (as Charles Jones)
1923 Cupid’s Fireman Andy McGee (as Charles Jones)
1923 Big Dan Dan O’Hara
1923 Hell’s Hole Tod Musgrave (as Charles Jones)
1923 Second Hand Love Andy Hanks (as Charles Jones)
1923 Skid-Proof Jack Darwin (as Charles Jones)
1923 The Eleventh Hour Brick McDonald (as Charles Jones)
1923 Snowdrift Carter Brent (as Charles Jones)
1923 The Footlight Ranger Bill Moreland (as Charles Jones)
1922 The Boss of Camp Four Chet Fanning (as Charles Jones)
1922 Bells of San Juan Roderick Norton (as Charles Jones)
1922 The Fast Mail Stanley Carson (as Charles Jones)
1922 West of Chicago Conroy Daly (as Charles Jones)
1922 Trooper O’Neill Trooper O’Neill (as Charles Jones)
1922 Roughshod ‘Steel’ Brannon (as Charles Jones)
1922 Western Speed Red Kane (as Charles Jones)
1922 Pardon My Nerve! Racey Dawson (as Charles Jones)
1921 Riding with Death ‘Dynamite’ Steve Dorsey (as Charles ‘Buck’ Jones)
1921 Bar Nothing Duke Smith
1921 To a Finish Jim Blake
1921 Straight from the Shoulder The Mediator
1921 Get Your Man Jock MacTier
1921 The One-Man Trail Tom Merrill
1921 The Big Punch Buck
1920 Two Moons Bill Blunt
1920 Just Pals Bim
1920 Sunset Sprague Sunset Sprague
1920 Firebrand Trevison Firebrand Trevison
1920 Square Shooter Chick Crandall
1920 The Spirit of Good Minor Role (as Buck Gebhart)
1920 Forbidden Trails Quinton ‘Squint’ Taylor
1920 The Last Straw Tom Beck
1920 The Cyclone Minor Role (as Buck Gebhart)

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1930 to 1940

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 5

A Simple Song of Freedom / Buckwheat 1971

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 5

Despite Jones impressive list of 168 Credits, most of his early work was as a Stuntman/Stunt Rider/Support Actor/Stunt double for Tom Mix, William Farnum, William S. Hart and others. No shame in that, but it did take a while for Buck to achieve Stardom. He paid his dues.

Photos/Pics of Jones are often confused with Photos/Pics of Tom Mix. They could almost have pass as brothers – so Jones probably made a pretty good Double for Mix. Even in photos sometimes the only way to tell them apart is that Tom Mix had a fairly large nose. Yup.

The Golden Age of Western Posters

The 50’s is often referred to the Golden Age of Westerns – as they achieved their height of popularity at that time. But I also I refer to the 20’s, 30’s and 40.s as the Golden Age of Western Posters – with many exceptional pieces of poster art being done during this time/era.

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1910 to 1920

Between 1910 and 1920 Buck is credited with appearances in 27 Movies, Shorts or Documentaries – though some are unconfirmed. Most seem to have had no posters? or they are lost.

Existing Images:

Selfish Yates Hart — **Buck was a “Member of the Posse” (uncredited)**

Riders of the Purple Sage 1918 — **Riders of the Purple Sage (1918) – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)**

Buck later changed his name from Buck Gebhart to Buck Jones.
Due to the First World War, German names were likely not too popular.

Riders of the Purple Sage 1918 2 — **Riders of the Purple Sage (1918) – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)**

Riders of the Purple Sage 1918 3 — **Riders of the Purple Sage Cowboy (1918) – (as Buck Gebhart)**

The Rainbow Trail 1918 — **The Rainbow Trail (1918) – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)**

Pretty skimpy. I couldn’t find many Buck Jones Poster images for this era. There could be plenty around ? but I didn’t locate them. But there’s some great stuff coming up.

Buck Jones Filmography 1900 to 1920

1919 The Feud – Minor Role (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 The Cowboy and the Rajah – (Short)
1919 Cupid’s Roundup (Short) – (unconfirmed)
1919 The Speed Maniac – Minor Role (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 Brother Bill – (Short) as Roy Dexter
1919 Rough-Riding Romance – (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 When Pals Fall Out – (Short) Bill (uncredited)
1919 The Wilderness Trail – Indian (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 Shackles of Fate – (Short)
1919 The Puncher and the Pup – (Short)
1919 The Coming of the Law Henchman – (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 The Uphill Climb (Short) Rockcliffe Stone
1919 Pitfalls of a Big City – Minor Role (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 Vengeance and the Girl – (Short)
1919 Fighting for Gold – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)
1919 The Sheriff’s Son – Cowboy
1919 Hell’s Fury Gordon – (Short) (unconfirmed)
1919 The Two Doyles – (Short) Outlaw Henchman
1919 The Desert Rat – (Short) Standing Bear
1918 The Rainbow Trail – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)
1918 Riders of the Purple Sage – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)
1918 Selfish Yates – Member of the Posse (uncredited)
1918 True Blue – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)
1918 Western Blood – Cowboy (as Buck Gebhart)
1917 A Rough Shod Fighter
1914 The Outlaw Reforms – (Short) Bill (as Charles Gebhart)
1914 Life on the 101 Ranch, Bliss Oklahoma – (Short) Sergeant

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1920 to 1930

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 4

My Heroes have always been Cowboys / Willie Nelson

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 4

Next:
Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 5

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown Part 3

Post # 600 / My Favorite Westerns
Like the old prospector said: “I really never counted on living this long.”

The Last Roundup / Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 3

A movie star for over 20 years – dying early at age 53.
Over 160 movies.

I couldn’t count the number of photos I found of Buck Jones. Must be hundreds. (If I had a nickel for every Buck … ) Too many to post here. They would cover pages. And most of them are excellent. Likewise, though I’m not certain how many – or where you’ll get them – many of his movies are still around. There are also several excellent bios and recollections of his work on Western websites and blogs. Buck is not unknown or forgotten in the Western fan fraternity.

Below:
I was finally able to locate another photo of Buck and Silver Buck rearing.
This time you can see Buck’s face though – but the photo is of poor quality.

BUCK JONES 10

Below are just some of the outstanding Publicity photos of Buck.

BUCK JONES 11

As you can see – excellent Publicity Images.
More to come.

Next:
Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 4

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown Part 2

The Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys / Rex Allen Jr.
from the movie Rustlers’ Rhapsody (1985)

Buck and Silver Buck

I’ve seen Buck Jones‘ beautiful horse alternately identified as Silver or Silver Buck. I believe Silver Buck is his correct name.
Any way you call him – a beautiful mount.

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown
Part 3

Steeds of Renown / Buck Jones Part 1

Buck Jones / Iconic Images / Steeds of Renown
Part 1

“In my pictures we never let up on the action. They’ve got as much movement as the silents. In the last one I rode a horse through a plate-glass window, and that’s the sort of thing pictures need.” – Buck Jones.

(MFW: Haven’t heard how Silver felt about that)

BUCK JONES and SILVER — **Buck and Silver**

An interesting publicity photo – as the first in my series of Iconic Images of Western Stars rearing on their Steeds. Why interesting? Because you can’t see Buck’s face! He might as well be wearing sunglasses and a beard. Makes me wonder why they even released it? But it’s the only photo I could find of Buck rearing up on Silver. If you know of another, please send it over.

You no doubt noticed that Buck’s horse is called Silver – same name as the Lone Ranger’s famous horse. However, Silver was a fairly common name for white horses before the ‘Ranger showed up.

Buck Jones – A Short Bio

Actor / Producer / Director / Writer

Actor (168 movies) / Producer (23 credits) / Director (3 credits) / Writer (3 credits) / Self (8 credits)

Buck Jones (December 12, 1891 – November 30, 1942)
Birthname: Charles Frederick Gebhart
born on the outskirts of Vincennes, Indiana

From Wikipedia

In 1907, Jones joined the US Army a month after his sixteenth birthday. (His mother had signed a consent form that gave his age as eighteen)
Was Assigned to the Philippines – October, 1907, served in combat and was wounded during the Moro Rebellion. Honorably discharged at Fort McDowell, California.
Had an affection for race cars. Worked extensively as a test driver for the Marmon Motor Car Company.
October 1910, re-enlisted in the US Army. Second honorable discharge from the Army in October 1913.
Began working as a cowboy on the 101 Ranch near Bliss, Oklahoma.
He was hired by Universal Pictures for $5 per day as a bit player and stuntman.
Later worked for Canyon Pictures, then Fox Film Corporation, eventually earning $40 per week as a stuntman. With Fox his salary increased to $150 per week.
Became a backup to Tom Mix. Led to his first starring role, The Last Straw (1920)
By 1925 Jones had more than 160 film credits to his name and joined Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix, and Ken Maynard as the top cowboy actors of the day.
1928 started his own company, independently produced film The Big Hop (a non-Western) which failed.
Then organized a touring Wild West show – also failed due to the faltering economy of late 1929.
Talking pictures replacing silent films – and Westerns briefly fell out of favor.
Signed with then-humble Columbia Pictures for Westerns for $300 a week, a fraction of his top salary in the silent film days.
Re-establishing him as a major movie name. During the 1930s he starred in Western features and serials for Columbia and Universal Pictures.
His star fell again in the late 1930’s when singing cowboys became the rage.
He rejoined Columbia in 1940, starring in the serial White Eagle . The new serial was a hit. Jones was reestablished.
His final series of Western features, co-produced by Jones featured The Rough Riders trio: Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, and Raymond Hatton.
1937, Jones starred in Hoofbeats, a 15-minute radio program.
Tragic Death: Buck Jones was one of the 492 victims of the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston, Massachusetts.

MFW: Buck Jones: An interesting and admirable man. An authentic cowboy who knew how to role with the punches – kept re-inventing himself with each shortfall – until his tragic end.

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1938

Buck Jones Filmography: Re-Inventing Buck Jones / The 1940’s

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1937

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1936

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Buck Jones busted for Stunt Fraud

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https://myfavoritewesterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dillard-clark-dont-let-me-down-1969.mp3 don’t let me down / Dillard & Clark

Buck Jones / ‘Red Rider’ / 1934

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Buck Jones / ‘Red Rider’ / 1934

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 3

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 4

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 2

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 3

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 1

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940 Part 2

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1920 to 1930

Buck Jones Filmography 1920’s

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940

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Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 5

The Golden Age of Western Posters

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1910 to 1920

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Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1920 to 1930

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Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 4

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Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 3

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Buck and Silver Buck

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Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown Part 3

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Buck Jones / Iconic Images / Steeds of Renown Part 1

Buck Jones – A Short Bio

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Buck Jones / Iconic Images / Steeds of Renown Part 2

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Buck Jones Filmography:
Re-Inventing Buck Jones / The 1940’s

don’t let me down / Dillard & Clark

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940
Part 3

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters 1930 to 1940
Part 2

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1920 to 1930

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1930 to 1940

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1910 to 1920

Buck Jones Filmography / Posters
1920 to 1930

Next:
Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 5

Next:
Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown / Part 4

Buck Jones / Steeds of Renown
Part 3

Buck Jones / Iconic Images / Steeds of Renown
Part 1

Buck Jones / Iconic Images / Steeds of Renown
Part 2