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(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Notice the AND HIS WONDER HORSE TARZAN on this title lobby card from TRAILING TROUBLE (Grand National, 1937).



With his name still a draw at theaters, Maynard was able to extend his starring career in eight more westerns, all of lesser budgets and production quality ... and easily forgotten. Maynard was now 40+ years old and had added several more inches to his waistline.

There were four cheapies released by Grand National in 1937-1938 followed by a quartet of 1939-1940 sagebrush adventures for Colony Pictures. The first two were for producer M. H. Hoffman under the Condor Pictures banner. Hoffman passed away while Ken was under contract, and the remaining half dozen were for the Alexander Brothers (Max and Arthur). Two oaters completed the Grand National commitment and the final four came out under the Alexander brother's Colony Pictures company.

Several years earlier, Hoffman and his Allied Pictures company had churned out a batch of sagebrushers starring Hoot Gibson. Max and Art Alexander's film production companies were named Beacon, Normandy, and finally, Colony Pictures. In the mid 1930s, they had Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as their star in such films as the early Three Mesquiteers' THE LAW OF 45's (Normandy/First Division, 1935). Rex Bell also did a series for the brothers. And in the 1940s, Arthur was in charge of some of the Texas Rangers series at Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC).

There were also some personal problems. Ken and wife Mary Leeper Maynard separated in 1938 and the divorce was finalized in 1939. It was also around this time that the original Tarzan died and the replacement was a white steed named Tarzan II.

After completing these eight, Ken Maynard was off the screen for about three years. But he had some other interests that kept him busy during the second half of the 1930s - he owned his own circus, the Diamond K Wild West Circus and Indian Congress, but that venture was short-lived. He also headlined for the Cole Bros. Circus. He met Bertha Rowland Denham while touring with the Cole Bros. circus and they married in October, 1940. More details on Maynard and his circus days are on the subsequent pages.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Ken Maynard has the drop on Carl Mathews (dark hat), Sherry Tansey (light blue shirt), and kneeling is Dave O'Brien. Lobby card from Maynard's PHANTOM RANCHER (Colony, 1940).



(From Old Corral collection)

It looks like the masked Maynard is atop the new (and white) Tarzan II in this title lobby card from PHANTOM RANCHER (Colony, 1940) which was released in the Spring of 1940.



(From Old Corral collection)

Ol' Charlie King has the drop on Maynard, and by this time, both had added some extra poundage around their waistlines. Dick Dickinson is on the far left and Bob Terry and Reed Howes (mustache) are between Maynard and King. Lobby card from LIGHTNING STRIKES WEST (Colony, 1940).



(From Old Corral collection)

Ken Maynard is pounding away on Charlie King while Fay McKenzie looks on in this lobby card from DEATH RIDES THE RANGE (Colony, 1940). Fay is best remembered for her work with Gene Autry at Republic, where she was the feminine interest in DOWN MEXICO WAY (Republic, 1941), SIERRA SUE (Republic, 1941), HOME IN WYOMIN' (Republic, 1942), HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE (Republic, 1942) and COWBOY SERENADE (Republic, 1942).



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