 (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above from L-to-R are a young Chief Yowlachie, Monte Blue (as RCMP Sgt. Devlin), Tully Marshall (in colorful vest), and on the far right is Bull Montana. Scene from TIGER ROSE (1929). Gerald Montgomery 'Monte' Blue (1887 or 1890 - 1963) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a leading man during the silent era, starring in such films as ORPHANS OF THE STORM. When talkies arrived, he moved into supporting roles, and he also appeared in many 1950s TV programs. On occasion, Monte Blue portrayed Native Americans and a couple examples are shown below.
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Monte Blue, as 'Yellow Weasel', chats with Dick Wessell in the cliffhanger, HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS (Republic, 1938) which starred Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is another photo of Monte Blue, center, from HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS. Resting his chin on Monte's shoulder is Chief John Big Tree. Other players are unidentified.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Monte Blue (as 'Cherokee'), Roy Rogers and Raymond Hatton in a crop from a lobby card from FRONTIER PONY EXPRESS (Republic, 1939). |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R on horseback are Artie Ortego, unidentified player, Bob Kortman and Nick Thompson. Tom Mix and leading lady/heroine Joan Gale are standing. The only Native American appears to be Artie Ortego. Lobby card from THE MIRACLE RIDER (Mascot, 1935), Mix's screen hurrah. |
 (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams standing on the right, and in the window are a half-dozen faces which are shown below. Photo from SINGIN' IN THE CORN (1946), which starred Judy Canova.  Bottom row L-to-R are Frank Lackteen, Frances Rey, and Nick Thompson. The top row L-to-R are Chief Yowlachie, John Doe #5 and John Doe #6. Got an e-mail from researcher Phil Arnold who was in touch with stuntman Jack Lilley. Lilley identified our John Doe #5 as Tom Humphries. John Doe #6 in the top right might be Charles Randolph. |
 (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) |  | Nick Thompson (real name: Nicholas J. Tamborello) (1889 - 1980) did ethnic roles, often portraying a Native American. He was born in Houston, Texas, and his movie career began around 1912 in bit parts for the Thanhouser Company in New Rochelle, New York, and he appeared in silents from Reliance, Pathe, Biograph, Yankee, Kalem, Fox, Universal, World and Erbograph. He did bits and supporting roles into the mid 1950s. The photo left is Thompson as 'Chief White Cloud' in THE RIDIN' RENEGADE (FBO, 1928), a silent oater starring Bob Steele. |
Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for Nick Thompson (real name: Nicholas J. Tamborello) at the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park, Los Angeles: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8778/nick-thompson | ||
 (Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) Craggy faced Robert F. 'Bob' Kortman (1887 - 1967) essayed Indian roles in westerns and chapterplays such as THE MIRACLE RIDER (Mascot, 1935) and THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (Mascot, 1932). In THE MIRACLE RIDER lobby card at the top of this page, Kortman portrays 'Longboat'. Below is close up of Kortman as "Magua", War Chief of the Hurons, in the MOHICANS cliffhanger.   There's a profile of Kortman on the Old Corral. Go back to the Old Corral homepage, and scroll down the left side menu to the Villains & Supporting Players section ... or click HERE and that bio will open in a separate window / tab. |
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 (From Old Corral collection) Above - Ray Corrigan and Julia Thayer / Jean Carmen smile for the camera during the 1937 filming of Republic's THE PAINTED STALLION cliffhanger.  (Courtesy of Bruce Hickey) Ray Corrigan and Julia Thayer / Jean Carmen in a lobby card from THE PAINTED STALLION (Republic, 1937).. There's more on Jean Carmen / Julia Thayer on the Old Corral. Go back to the Old Corral homepage, and scroll down the left side menu to the Leading Ladies section, and go to the page on Jean ... or click HERE and that bio will open in a separate window / tab. |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Kenneth Harlan and Dorothy Gulliver in the early sound oater, UNDER MONTANA SKIES (Tiffany, 1930).  (From Old Corral collection) George W. Merrick and Louis Weiss hired Rex Lease as the star of CUSTER'S LAST STAND (Weiss / Stage & Screen, 1936; 15 chapters). The players in the insets are: bottom left - Dorothy Gulliver as 'Red Fawn' and Rex Lease was 'Kit Cardigan', the chief of scouts for George Armstrong Custer; and on the right are Nancy Caswell and William Farnum. There's more on Dorothy Gulliver on the Old Corral. Go back to the Old Corral homepage, and scroll down the left side menu to the Leading Ladies section, and go to the page on Dorothy Kathleen Gulliver ... or click HERE and her bio will open in a separate window / tab. |
| Frank DeKova (1920 - 1981) essayed many ethnic roles beginning around 1950 ... and he worked a lot on TV shows. He portrayed 'Chief Red Hawk' in THE LONE RANGER (1956) movie which starred Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. He's probably best remembered as 'Chief Wild Eagle' in the F-TROOP TV series which starred Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch. | |  (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) |
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Monte Blue: