 Bobby Nelson (1923-1993) starred in the Pioneer Kid silent series in the late 1920s. When talkies arrived, Nelson did westerns with Hoot Gibson, Ken Maynard, Tom Tyler, Buffalo Bill, Jr. (Jay Wilsey) and Rex Lease. His last film appearances were in the Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Steele westerns for producer A. W. Hackel circa 1936-1937. Nelson then seemed to disappear from the Hollywood scene. Les Adams has Nelson identified in 31 sound era films, and that includes 19 westerns and 5 serials. Dale Crawford and Jim Sorensen were able to locate a death certificate and other info on him: Robert John Nelson, born July 21, 1923 in Santa Monica, California, and passed away on August 5, 1993 from gastric carcinoma; employment listed as self-employed Public Accountant for 43 years; World War II service from 1943-45; and burial at Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, California (Lawn J, Lot 477, Space E). You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral and check the California Death Records database and Social Security Death Index (SSDI). You will find records on Robert John Nelson. Bobby's father was writer/director/actor Jack T. Nelson (1882-1948). The senior Nelson began acting in the 1910s, and most of his directing work occurred in the 1920s - for example, he helmed Bob Custer silent oaters for producer Jesse J. Goldburg and FBO as well as co-directing (with Ray Taylor) a couple of Frank Merrill jungle serials, PERILS OF THE JUNGLE (Weiss Brothers/Artclass, 1927) and TARZAN THE MIGHTY (Universal, 1928). Both of those cliffhangers included young Bobby in the cast. When talkies arrived, Jack Nelson directed a few ultra low budget westerns including THE BORDER MENACE (Aywon, 1934) with Bill Cody and THE RAWHIDE TERROR (Security, 1934), a disjointed cheapy produced by Art Mix/Denver Dixon/Albert Victor Adamson. Jack Nelson also co-wrote the screenplay for the Richard Talmedge chapterplay PIRATE TREASURE (Universal, 1934).
Jim Tipton's Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for Bobby Nelson at Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, California: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10026509 |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card from THE COWBOY AND THE BANDIT (Superior, 1935). Bobby Nelson is shown on the left with the chaps. Star Rex Lease (green shirt) is all tied up and on horseback. And the gal is Blanche Mehaffey, being billed here as 'Janet Morgan'.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Black Jack Ward, unidentified player, Blackie Whiteford and Bobby Nelson in THE GHOST RIDER (Argosy/Superior, 1935) which starred Rex Lease.  Above, a young and slim Johnny Mack Brown pays attention to veteran supporting player Steve Clark, who is making a point with his finger. Between Brown and Clark is Bobby Nelson. And over JMB's right shoulder is veteran Horace Murphy. Scene from BOOTHILL BRIGADE (A. W. Hackel/Republic, 1937). |
 Above is Robert B. 'Buzzy' 'Buzz' Henry (1931-1971). Buzzy Henry was a toddler when he started his Hollywood screen career --- was 3+ years old when he did the Ken Maynard WESTERN FRONTIER (Columbia, 1935). Around 9-10 years of age, he starred in a couple of forgetable films in the early 1940s for independent producer Arthur Ziehm, BUZZY RIDES THE RANGE (1940) and BUZZY AND THE PHANTOM PINTO (1941). As a teen, he appeared in westerns with Roy Rogers, Lash LaRue, Eddie Dean and others. He became a stuntman and second unit director in his adult years and worked on A grade features such as THE WILD BUNCH (1969) and THE COWBOYS (1972). He was killed in a car/motorcyle crash in 1971, apparently while drag racing. You may want to check the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral, and then visit the California Death Records database and Social Security Death Index (SSDI). You will find records for: Robert B. Henry, born 9/4/1931 in Colorado, and he passed away on 9/30/1971.
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) |
 Above, from L-to-R are Dick Jones, Kermit Maynard and pretty Beth Marion (who was mysteriously billed as "Betty Lloyd") in WILD HORSE ROUND-UP (Ambassador-Conn, 1936), one of Kerm's starring films. Texas born in 1926 or 27, Jones did lots of 'kid roles' in a variety of A and B grade films beginning around 1934, and he was generally billed as 'Dickie Jones'. He also performed on radio and for a year or so during WW2, was the voice of Henry Aldrich on the ALDRICH FAMILY program. He also did the voice of Walt Disney's Pinocchio. As a young adult, he helped Gene Autry in several of Gene's post-WW2 westerns which were released by Columbia Pictures. And when television arrived, Jones was the star of BUFFALO BILL JR. and the helper to Jock Mahoney in THE RANGE RIDER, both of which showcased his stunt/athletic talents and riding abilities.
J. David Goldin's RadioGoldIndex website has nine radio programs listed for Dickie Jones and that includes several 1944-45 episodes of the ALDRICH FAMILY as well as the 1939 LUX RADIO THEATER version of Pinnochio with Jones in the lead role: http://radiogoldindex.com/cgi-local/p3.cgi?ArtistName=Jones,+Dickie&ArtistNumber=08285
 (Courtesy of Duane Fulk) Above, Duane Fulk with guest star Dick Jones at the 2001 Hoppy Festival in Cambridge, Ohio.
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Muriel Evans, Dickie Jones and Buck Jones on Silver in SMOKE TREE RANGE (1937). |
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Bobby Nelson and his writer/director father Jack T. Nelson: