
![]() (Courtesy of Ken Jones) Above is Chief Thunderbird, (1866-1946), sometimes billed as 'Chick Davis', real name: Richard Davis Thunderbird. Biographical sketches note that he was Cheyenne, attended the Carlisle Indian School, and also worked on the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch show. The Southwest Museum in Los Angeles is the repository of much of the regalia that Chief Thunderbird wore in films, and that material was donated by his wife. His first film credits begin around 1915 in Pearl White serials. Among his roles was that of 'Sitting Bull' in ANNIE OAKLEY (1935). Chief Thunderbird appeared in features such as: FOR THE SERVICE, WHITE EAGLE, NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE, LAUGHING BOY, SILLIE BILLIES, CYCLONE OF THE SADDLE, FIGHTING PIONEERS and SINGING VAGABOND; and serials: BATTLING WITH BUFFALO BILL, HEROES OF THE WEST, THE INDIANS ARE COMING, RUSTLERS OF RED DOG, WHITE EAGLE, WILD WEST DAYS and OVERLAND WITH KIT CARSON. You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral, and then to the California Death Records database. There you will find a record for: Richard Davis Thunderbird, born 8/6/1866 in Montana, Mother's maiden name of Wallo, Father's last name of Bear, and he passed away 4/6/1946.
![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Chief Thunder Cloud, Francis Walker, Edward Keane (cavalry uniform), Jack Ingram, Buck Jones, Beth Marion, and Chief Thunderbird (billed 8th as 'Chief Big Bear') in a scene from FOR THE SERVICE (1936). ![]() (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above are Autry, Frankie Marvin, Alan Sears and Chief Thunderbird in the title lobby card from THE SINGING VAGABOND (Republic, 1936). Autry is on the right wearing buckskins.
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