(Courtesy of Les Adams) |
Special thanks to Tom Bupp, Tommy Bupp's son, for photos and help in the preparation of this webpage on the Bupp Brothers. |
Tommy and Sonny Bupp were two of the more prolific kid actors of the 1930s (along with Dick Jones, Bobby Nelson and a few others).
Tommy was born Edmond Thomas Bupp, Jr. on February 10, 1924 in Norfolk, Virginia. Sonny was born Moyer MacClaren Bupp on January 10, 1928 in New York. Parents were Edmond Thomas Bupp (1891 - 1959) and Luella Leone O'Beirne (1889 - 1973). The family moved to California in the 1920s, and at the time of the 1930 census, they were renting in Oakland, Calfornia.
Younger brother Sonny worked in major films like CITIZEN KANE and ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES. Sonny, whose family nickname was 'Mac', became an executive with the Ford Motor Company, initially in Detroit, followed by a tour in Australia.
While Sonny was in a few westerns, older brother Tommy did about a dozen, appearing with Dick Foran, Tim McCoy, Reb Russell, more. Tommy's non-westerns include SAN FRANCISCO and IT'S A GIFT, and he also was a member of the Our Gang/Little Rascals. After Hollywood, Tommy had four sons and worked in the wholesale electrical business. Note the pressbook ad on the left with Tommy Bupp's photo below Dick Foran - note also that Bupp is not among the cast list.
There were two Bupp sisters who also worked in films. June (1913 - 1989) did a few movies and her solo western was with Reb Russell in BORDER VENGEANCE (Willis Kent, 1934). In that, she was billed as "June Webster" - not to be confused with actress June Webster who wound up married to Las Vegas gambling entrepreneur Guy McAfee. Sister Ann (1922 - 2005) did a dozen or so uncredited roles in the 1930s, but none were in westerns.
World War II U. S. Navy veteran Tommy Bupp died in Santa Ana, California, on December 24, 1983, at age 59.
U. S. Army veteran Sonny Bupp passed away on November 1, 2007 in Henderson, Nevada, at age 79.
Les Adams' database shows Tommy and Sonny appearing together in the following movies: KID MILLIONS, SAN FRANCISCO, WOMAN WISE, LOVE IS ON THE AIR, SWING YOUR LADY, HUNTED MEN, WHEN TOMORROW COMES, NO PLACE TO GO and QUEEN OF THE MOB. Both also did shorts: Tommy was in the Our Gang HI'-NEIGHBOR (1934), and Sonny did CASH AND CARRY (1937, Three Stooges), MEN IN FRIGHT (1938, Our Gang), OUR GANG FOLLIES OF 1938 (1938, Our Gang), FEATHERED PESTS (1939, Edgar Kennedy) and DAY OF REST (1939, Robert Benchley). There are probably more short appearances by the Bupps.
Les' database has the following film statistics for Sonny and Tommy:
Name | Westerns | Serials | Features | Shorts | Total |
Tommy Bupp | 13 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 59 |
Sonny Bupp | 5 | 0 | 53 | 5 | 63 |
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Tommy and Sonny Bupp:
Tommy Bupp: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0120675/
Sonny Bupp: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0120674/
YouTube has Dick Foran crooning "My Little Buckaroo" to a sleepy Tommy Bupp in a clip from CHEROKEE STRIP (Warners, 1937): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSOnfHWKBjM&list=PLSCqQBL0eRmhNWxeibRYQPlAUQvR2E4zT
The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), and Fold3 Military records (subscription) have information on the Bupps:
Family:
- World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 for Sonny and Tommy's father, 26 year old Edmond Thomas Bupp. He was born October 13, 1891 in Baltimore, Maryland. He, his wife and two children reside in Florence County, South Carolina and his occupation is "Store Manager - S. H. Kreso (?) Co., Florence, South Carolina": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6NY-QXJ
- 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting at 1412 Barrows Road, Oakland, California are 38 year old Edmond T. Bupp (born Maryland; occupation "Superintendant - Department Store"), his 36 wife Luella L. (born Wisconsin), 16 year old daughter June O. (born Virginia), 13 year old son Paul K. (born North Carolina), 8 year old daughter Ann L. (born West Virginia), 6 year old son Edmond (born Virginia), and 1 year old son Moyer M. (born New York): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCXD-K2B
- 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - owning their home at 11753 Hartsook, Los Angeles, California are 48 year old Edmund T. Bupp (born Maryland; occupation "Wholesale - Retail draperies"), his 46 year old wife Luella L. (born Wisconsin), 18 year old daughter Ann L. (born West Virginia), 16 year old son Tommy E. (born Virginia), and 11 year old son Moyer M. (born New York): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9HK-1PW
Sonny / Moyer MacClaren Bupp (1928 - 2007):
- Post World War II draft registration for men reaching their 18th birthday - Fold3 Military records has the January 10, 1946 draft registration for 18 year old Moyer MacClaren Bupp. He was born January 10, 1928 in New York City; lives at 4561 Whaley Street, Long Beach, California with his mother; he's 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 155 pounds; and he's a student at John Dewey school.
- Fold3 Military records had the Army enlistment record for Moyer M. Bupp. He was born in New York in 1928, completed 3 years of high school, was single, and enlisted in the Army on March 21, 1946 in Los Angeles.
- Ancestry had Army Enlistment Records and the Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File - Moyer Bupp was born January 10, 1928. He enlisted in the Army on March 21, 1946 in Los Angeles and was discharged on March 1, 1949.
- Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Moyer Macclaren Bupp - he was born January 10, 1928 and passed away November 1, 2007 in Clark County, Nevada: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGL9-WNR
- Ancestry had the Nevada Death Index - Moyer M. Bupp was born January 10, 1928 in New York and passed away November 1, 2007 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.
- Legacy.com has his obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/moyer-bupp-obituary?pid=142143463
Tommy / Edmond Thomas Bupp, Jr. (1924 - 1983):
- Ancestry had the delayed birth record (not the birth certificate) for Edmond Thomas Bupp, born February 10, 1924 in Norfolk, Virginia.
- Fold3 Military records had various U. S. Navy muster rolls and personnel records with Edmond Thomas Bupp, Jr. He was a crew member on the battleship USS Tennessee (BB-43) in 1942 - 1945. He was promoted on March 1, 1945 from GM2c (Gunner's Mate 2nd Class) to GM1c (Gunner's Mate 1st Class).
- California Death Index for Edmond Thomas Bupp - he was born February 10, 1924 in Virginia, mother's maiden name was Obeirne, and he passed away December 24, 1983 in the Orange County, California area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VG13-SZ6
Jim Tipton's Find A Grave website has interment info on the Bupp brothers:
U. S. Navy veteran Edmond Thomas 'Tommy' Bupp, Jr. (1924 - 1983) is interred at Riverside National Military Cemetery, Riverside, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40522566
U. S. Army veteran Moyer MacClaren 'Sonny' Bupp (1928 - 2007) is interred at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22746258
Moyer MacClaren 'Sonny' Bupp
1928 - 2007 (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Above - William Boyd and youngster Sonny Bupp in a quieter moment during the Hopalong Cassidy adventure, RENEGADE TRAIL (Paramount, 1939). Baddie Roy Barcroft slaps little Sonny around in the opening reel of this film. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is a clipping about Sonny Bupp and his film experience from the pressbook for RENEGADE TRAIL. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above, Sonny and his pooch are in the wagon while Charlotte Wynters has a scattergun on Hoppy in another scene from RENEGADE TRAIL.
Edmond Thomas 'Tommy' Bupp, Jr.
1924 - 1983 (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Above - Reb Russell and Tommy Bupp in a scene from an unidentified film. Bupp did three oaters with Reb Russell. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Reb Russell, Tommy Bupp and Lois January in a scene from ARIZONA BAD MAN (Willis Kent, 1935). (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Tommy Bupp, Lois January, Reb Russell, and on horseback is Edmund Cobb. From Reb's ARIZONA BAD MAN (Willis Kent, 1935). (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Above are Tim McCoy and Tommy Bupp in a scene from ROARIN' GUNS (Puritan, 1936). (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Seated from L-to-R are Tommy Bupp, Marjorie Reynolds and Tex Ritter, and in the background are Tex's sidekicks, the moustached Snub Pollard and Horace Murphy. From TEX RIDES WITH THE BOY SCOUTS (Grand National, 1937), and this scene occurs at the finale. (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Above, the sleeping Tommy Bupp with Dick Foran in THE CHEROKEE STRIP (Warners, 1937). In the film, Foran crooned a tune called "My Little Buckaroo" to Bupp, and the song became a hit. (Courtesy of Tom Bupp) Above is the title lobby card from ARIZONA DAYS (GN, 1937), Tex Ritter's third starring oater for Grand National and producer Ed Finney. Pictured in the bottom right are heroine Eleanor Stewart, child star Tommy Bupp and Syd Saylor. |
Tommy and Sonny Bupp Western Film Appearances Westerns only Special thanks to Les Adams for providing these film lists |
Tommy Bupp Western Films Only |
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Date | Title | Company | Star | Director | Bupp Role |
11/29/34 | MAN FROM HELL, THE | Willis Kent | Reb Russell | Lew Collins | Timmy McCarroll |
12/1/34 | RAWHIDE TERROR, THE | Security | Art Mix | Jack Nelson & Bruce Mitchell | Tommy Brent |
2/1/35 | ARIZONA BAD MAN | Willis Kent | Reb Russell | S. Roy Luby | Davey Dunston |
2/1/35 | OUTLAW RULE | Willis Kent | Reb Russell | S. Roy Luby | Timmy Grady |
1/15/36 | CALLING OF DAN MATTHEWS, THE | Columbia | Richard Arlen | Phil Rosen | Young Boy |
1/27/36 | ROARIN' GUNS | Puritan | Tim McCoy | Sam Newfield | Buddy Morgan |
4/9/36 | SUTTER'S GOLD | Universal | Edward Arnold | James Cruze | Young Boy |
12/9/36 | ROARIN' LEAD | Republic | Three Mesquiteers | Mack V. Wright & Sam Newfield | Bobby |
1/30/37 | ARIZONA DAYS | Grand National | Tex Ritter | John English | Billy Workman |
4/3/37 | HITTIN' THE TRAIL | Grand National | Tex Ritter | Robert N. Bradbury | Billy Reed |
5/1/37 | CHEROKEE STRIP | Warners | Dick Foran | Noel Smith | Barty Walton |
10/6/37 | IT HAPPENED IN HOLLYWOOD | Columbia | Richard Dix | Harry Lachman | Young Boy |
1/21/38 | TEX RIDES WITH THE BOY SCOUTS | Grand National | Tex Ritter | Ray Taylor | Buzzy |
Sonny Bupp Western Films Only |
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Date | Title | Company | Star | Director | Bupp Role |
9/17/38 | VALLEY OF THE GIANTS | Warners | Claire Trevor | William Keighley | Young Boy |
7/25/39 | RENEGADE TRAIL | Paramount | William Boyd | Lesley Selander | Joey Joyce |
7/26/41 | BAD MEN OF MISSOURI | Warners | Dennis Morgan | Ray Enright | Grat Dalton (Boy) |
12/15/41 | WEST OF CIMARRON | Republic | Three Mesquiteers | Lester Orlebeck | Young Boy |
1/30/42 | CODE OF THE OUTLAW | Republic | Three Mesquiteers | John English | Young Boy |