Bill Cody

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

There's lots of faces in this lobby card from OKLAHOMA JIM (Monogram, 1931). From left to right: Earl Dwire (Sergeant stripes), Franklyn Farnum, Bill Cody, William Desmond, Iron Eyes Cody (white headdress with the orange/red tipped feathers), Chief White Eagle (blue jacket), Andy Shuford, John Elliott (green jacket) and Bill Hazlett/Chief Many Treaties (headdress with feathers marked in blue). Note the "A 'BILL and ANDY' Western" billing.

(From Old Corral image collection)

There's four unidentified players seated and standing on the left. Then there's Bill Cody (red shirt), Earl Dwire (behind Cody), Gilbert Pratt (lawman) and William L. Thorne (seated at table, wearing suit). Lobby card from LAW OF THE NORTH (Monogram, 1932).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Monogram had Cody and Tom Tyler doing westerns for their 1931-1932 release season. They were cut loose after their contracted blocks of eight yarns and were replaced by Bob Steele and Rex Bell for Monogram's 1932-1933 season. Cody's next starring series was a trio of very poor films for Z grade producer Robert J. Horner. Above is a photo of a title lobby card showing Franklyn Farnum and Bill Cody in BORDER GUNS (Robert J. Horner/Aywon, 1934).

(From Old Corral image collection)		(From Old Corral image collection)
Cody rode a nice looking paint named 'Chico' which he used in films as well as his circus performances. As mentioned, Cody's last fling as a western movie hero was in a series for Spectrum in the mid 1930s. Fred Scott, the "Silvery-Voiced Buckaroo", shown above on the right, became Spectrum's resident range rider beginning in 1936. Spectrum did not produce either series, but simply released the films under their logo. Ray Kirkwood's Gemini Productions churned out the Cody series (and Jed Buell and C. C. Burr did the Scott singin' cowboy flicks). Around 1939-1940, Spectrum bit the dust, a victim of financial difficulties.

(From Old Corral image collection)

Cody's range costume in his early films consisted of a very large hat and clothes that seemed to be a baggy and ill-fitting. By the Spectrum series, he had adopted a more streamlined, form-fitting uniform and a smaller hat as shown above in a lobby card for SIX GUN JUSTICE (Spectrum, 1935). Looks like Buck Morgan on the far left; Milburn Morante has an armlock on Cody; and that's Wally Wales/Hal Taliaferro on the far right.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R sitting are Stuart James, Bill Cody, Earle Hodgins and L-to-R standing are Roger Williams and Ace Cain. From THE TEXAS RAMBLER (Spectrum, 1935).

(From Old Corral image collection)

Above, Bill Cody and Gertrude Messinger (sometimes spelled Messenger) look worried as they examine the body of prolific western supporting player Budd Buster in BLAZING JUSTICE (Spectrum, 1936). Gertie's Hollywood career began when she was a youngster, and she co-starred in THE BOY FRIENDS series for producer Hal Roach. Future stuntman Dave Sharpe was also a member of that Roach series, and Gertie was once married to Sharpe.