Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang (or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse or cow herders) who had minimal or no dialog.  They are generally not listed in the film credits.  We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names.

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Above from L-to-R are Roy Bucko, Al Bridge, Marion Weldon, Art Mix (George Kesterson) and Blackie Whiteford in a scene from DODGE CITY TRAIL (Columbia, 1936), which starred Charles Starrett. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Tex Palmer, Oscar Gahan, Merrill McCormick, Charlie King and Denver Dixon in a scene from the Tex Ritter WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM (Monogram, 1938) . (Courtesy of Dorothy Hack) Above from left to right are Archie Ricks, Herman Hack, Kit Guard and Bob Steele in a scene from Steele's KID COURAGEOUS (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1934).

The antagonists in the ol' B western generally consisted of:

• the "brains" heavy - the boss of the gang who oftentimes wears a suit, and pretends to be an upright, lawful member of the community
• the "action" heavy - the assistant or second-in-command to the brains heavy who usually wore workmanlike duds, beat up and killed a lot of people, and often had more brawn than brains
• a group of henchmen ... and this section on the Old Corral is dedicated to the performers who were relegated to "henchie" roles.  (And sometimes these folks would do law abiding roles, appearing as a ranch hand or a member of a posse, etc.)

Definition of henchman, "henchie":

• the 3rd-4th-5th member of the gang ... definitely well down in the "pecking order"
• generally not credited
• may or may not have a screen name ... depends on the "pecking order"
• rarely has any dialog ... except perhaps a grunt or two ... or a "yeah boss!" in response to "Let's go men!"
• often whiskered or with a moustache ... clothes are well worn ... often wears a sweat-stained hat

In other words, these are NOT the western and serial performers that we immediately recognize like Roy Barcroft, or Harry Woods, or Lafe McKee, or George Chesebro, or Charlie King.  The Barcrofts, McKees, Chesebros, Kings and many others wound up with meatier roles, often had dialog, and in many cases, their names appeared in the opening or closing credits.  Those folks are profiled in The "Villains & Supporting Players" section on the Old Corral.

The "Henchies" is dedicated to the performers whom we've seen a hundred times but mentally think What's his name ???

Below - photos of SOME of the B-western henchmen. There's lots more performers in the menu on the right.				The Henchies - Click Below:
Jack Kenney/Kenny Herman Hack Jim Corey 'Curley' Dresden Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward Al Taylor Ray Jones Roy Bucko Ralph 'Buck' Bucko		Art Dillard Kit Guard Dick Botiller Tex 'Squint' Palmer Oscar Gahan Bud McClure Archie Ricks Chick Hannan/Hannon		Charles 'Art' Dillard  Bert/Burt Dillard  Tex Phelps  Wally West  Buck Morgan  Jack Evans  Merrill McCormick  Frank McCarroll  Ray Jones  Al Taylor  Jack Montgomery Jack Kenney Lew Morphy Herman Hack Kit Guard Jack Hendricks Dick Dickinson Tex Terry Floyd 'Silver Tip' Baker Cliff Parkinson Carol Henry Jim Corey Archie Twitchell Tex 'Squint' Palmer Curley Dresden 'Ace' Cain Eddie Hall Roy Brent George 'Arizona Slim' Hazel Barney Beasley Carl Sepulveda Francis Walker Herman Nolan Pascale Perry Carl 'Kansas' Moehring Olin Francis Earl Askam John Beach Dick Botiller Jack Jones Tommy Coats Chuck Baldra Tom Smith Chick Hannan Archie Ricks Bud McClure Roy Bucko Ralph 'Buck' Bucko Oscar Gahan John 'Blackie' Whiteford Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward Robert Walker Curtis 'Cactus Mack' McPeters Artie Ortego