White Hoss #3 - "Silver" (Silver Chief)

Silver (Silver Chief) was from the Hudkins Brothers stables. This horse has a unique marking - a long and jagged mark under the neck which is clearly shown in the image on the left (below the gloved hand). That marking could be an enlarged vein or a scar ... or more probably, a cowlick hair pattern (i.e., a lock or tuft of hair growing in a different direction from the rest of the hair). This horse also has two dots around the right eye ... and those darn dots are what originally threw ye Old Corral webmaster off in identifying this horse. In early film appearances - such as the two Lone Ranger serials - those dots aren't apparent. Perhaps they were covered over or were lighter in color when Silver (Silver Chief) was younger. The other issue is a good probability that Silver (Silver Chief) had a double which was ridden in some/much of the chases, etc. In the photos below - which cover a period from late 1937 through the mid 1940s - you'll see Silver (Silver Chief) with Lee Powell, Bob Livingston, Sunset Carson, Tom Tyler, Charles Starrett and Ray Corrigan. Scuttlebutt is that Silver (Silver Chief) was ridden by Thomas Mitchell in GONE WITH THE WIND (MGM, 1939). Western film fans and Old Corral visitors: if you spot this particular horse while you're watching a video, jot down the film name and who was the rider, and send the Old Corral webmaster an e-mail. There's a profile on former pro boxer Ace Hudkins who settled down and became the owner of one of the main stables that furnished horses, wagons, etc. to Hollywood. Included is mention of Hudkins' Silver as well as the original Trigger that Roy Rogers purchased in the early 1940s. Go to The Movieland Directory website at: https://movieland.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/forgotten-hollywood-ace-hudkinsboxer-stuntman-batman-trigger/

The white horse used by Lee Powell and Bob Livingston in the two Lone Ranger serials was Silver (Silver Chief), and the horse was even credited on the various posters, lobby cards, etc. Released in 1938 Released in 1939 (From Old Corral collection) Above, heroine Lynn Roberts (aka Mary Hart in earlier screen activity in Roy Rogers films, and later as Lynne Roberts) points the way for Victor Daniels (Tonto) and Lee Powell (the Lone Ranger) in Republic Pictures' 1938 serial THE LONE RANGER. Blowup/crop of the horse in the above Lee Powell image with the neck marking highlighted. (From Old Corral collection) Above is Bob Livingston and Silver in THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN (Republic, 1939). Note the breast collar - take a look at the rein, bridle, breast collar and saddle on Sunset Carson's horse below. Blowup/crop of the horse in the Livingston image with the neck marking highlighted. The dots around the horse's right eye are barely noticeable in this image.

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above are Sunset Carson and the horse with dots around its right eye as well as the jagged mark on the neck. This is Silver (Silver Chief). Blowup below which shows the two dots on the right eye and the marking on the neck (this blowup is also shown at the top of this webpage). Pay attention to the rein, bridle, breast collar and saddle ... and then compare to the rein, bridle, breast collar and saddle on Livingston's THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN photo above. (From Old Corral collection) Above, a tender moment between Sunset Carson and pretty Marie Harmon in a lobby card from THE EL PASO KID (Republic, 1946). Sunset originally called his horse Silver, but changed it to Cactus. Above is a blowup of the white horse in the Sunset Carson THE EL PASO KID lobby card shown above. Note the dark spot in front of the right eye. And if you look closely, you might spot the spot on top of the right eye also.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

During his later Republic films as well as his 'Wild West Show' personal appearance days, Sunset Carson identified his hoss as Cactus. Note the mention of "Republic and Astor Pictures" in the above advertisement and flyer which was created years after Sunset's film career had ended. However, the image of Sunset on his trusty steed was a mid 1940s Republic publicity still showing him riding Silver (Silver Chief). Look at the blowup on the left - you can see the dots around the right eye. And check where the right side rein crosses the horses neck - you can see that marking on the neck which looks like a long patch of hair that's sticking out.

(From Old Corral collection) Above is Bob Livingston from his later days at Republic Pictures when he was a member of the Three Mesquiteers and the lead in the "John Paul Revere" series (which he took over from Eddie Dew). In his earlier Three Mesquiteers' appearances, Livingston rode Jack Perrin's horse Starlight.

(From Old Corral collection) Above is a publicity still of Tom Tyler at Republic in the Three Mesquiteers series. Tyler appeared in the final thirteen Three Mesquiteers' adventures which were released during 1941-1943. If you look close, you should see the neck mark as well as the dark spots around the right eye which indicates this horse is Silver/Silver Chief.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons) Charles Starrett's note on the picture above reads: "Of all the 33 white horses I rode here was the best.". If you look closely, you can spot the neck marking directly below the lower case r in the word "Raider". There's a couple good closeups of this horse (with that spot in front of the right eye) in the Starrett/Durango Kid adventure BOTH BARRELS BLAZING (Columbia, 1945) and the Starrett/Russell Hayden RIDERS OF THE NORTHLAND (Columbia, 1942). Note the breast collar - take a look at Ray Corrigan's horse below.

(From Old Corral collection) Above are Range Busters' Ray 'Crash' Corrigan and John 'Dusty' King on the paint horse Lucky/Tex, which was also used by Raymond Hatton, Jimmy Wakely, others. Corrigan is riding Silver/Silver Chief. Note the markings around the horse's right eye as well as the chest marking. Note the breast collar - take a look at Charles Starrett's horse above.