Back to prior page            Go to next page


Notice the billing on the PRC lobby cards.  In the earlier PRC films, they show 'Billy the Kid', and in the later 'Billy Carson' ones, Crabbe is billed as 'King of the Wild West'. As to the specific quantities, Crabbe did 13 as 'Billy the Kid' and 23 as 'Billy Carson'.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above are Buster and Kathleen Burke in a lobby card from the pressbook for NEVADA (Paramount, 1935). This was Crabbe's first starring western. His first starring roles occurred in 1933 in a couple of jungle epics, KING OF THE JUNGLE feature for Paramount and the TARZAN THE FEARLESS serial for producer Sol Lesser.



(Courtesy of Boyd Magers)

Above from left to right are Syd Saylor (as Buster's sidekick 'Weary'), Crabbe and lawman Lew Kelly in a re-release lobby card from FORLORN RIVER (Paramount, 1937).



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from left to right are Crabbe, Al St. John, youngster Joel Newfield, Dave O'Brien and Choti Sherwood in a scene from BILLY THE KID WANTED (PRC, 1941). In the Buster Crabbe's weblinks section on an earlier page, there's a link to an article by Wheeler Winston Dixon on the life and career of director Sam Newfield. Dixon confirms that young Joel Newfield was Sam's son and that he later became a graphic artist for the Los Angeles Times newspaper. Joel worked in three Crabbe PRCs: BILLY THE KID WANTED (PRC, 1941), BILLY THE KID'S SMOKING GUNS (PRC, 1942) and THE CONTENDER (PRC, 1944). And what ever happened to leading lady Choti Sherwood - seems this was her only film appearance.



(From Old Corral image collection)

Above from L-to-R are John Merton, Dave 'Tex' O'Brien, Crabbe (seated), Lynton Brent and Curley Dresden in a lobby card from SHERIFF OF SAGE VALLEY (1942). Crabbe had a dual role as both Billy the Kid and Kansas Ed Bonney. Buster is wearing the suit, and 'the other Crabbe' is facing him on the far left. Dave O'Brien was the star of the CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT serial, was a member of PRC's Texas Rangers trio series westerns, was at MGM for the Pete Smith comedy shorts, and wound up as a writer on the Red Skelton TV show.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from SHERIFF OF SAGE VALLEY (PRC, 1942) and centered is star Buster Crabbe on his palomino Falcon. Sidekicks Dave 'Tex' O'Brien is on the left and Al St. John is on the right.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from THE RENEGADE (PRC, 1943) and shows Crabbe on the right sneaking up on Jimmy Aubrey (blue shirt) and screen veteran Jack Montgomery.



(From Old Corral image collection)

Above - Crabbe has the drop on the masked Maxine Leslie, the leader of the outlaw band, in this lobby card from FUGITIVE OF THE PLAINS (PRC, 1943).



(From Old Corral image collection)

Above from left to right are Jack Ingram, George Chesebro (on floor), Kermit Maynard (tied with rope) and an unidentified player (on the floor) being cornered by Crabbe in another lobby card from FUGITIVE OF THE PLAINS (PRC, 1943).



Back to prior page            Go to next page