The 1940s were Al's busiest B western years. At Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), he was the helper to Bob Steele (Billy the Kid), George Houston (Lone Rider), Bob Livingston (Lone Rider), Buster Crabbe (Billy the Kid/Billy Carson), and Lash LaRue.

In 1941 - 1943, Al was extra busy, playing 'Fuzzy' in both the Lone Rider and Crabbe adventures. Wonder if the kids seeing these in the theaters were confused - i.e., "Who's Fuzzy working for this week?"

He wasn't tied exclusively to PRC and in 1940 - 1942, Al picked up paychecks in six Don 'Red' Barry starrers at Republic Pictures. However, he didn't play 'Fuzzy' in those. But Al did perform his bicycle ridin' routine in Barry's JESSE JAMES JR. (aka SUNDOWN FURY) (Republic, 1942).

His comedy bits and hijinks were plentiful and following are a few examples:

• Fuzzy tries to thread a needle in the George Houston LONE RIDER IN CHEYENNE (PRC, 1942).
• In the Bob Livingston / Lone Rider WOLVES OF THE RANGE (PRC, 1943), ol' Fuzz matches wits with mystic / fortune teller 'Pasha the Swami' played by Slim Whitaker.
• Al does his old silent film and vaudeville bicycle riding routine in Crabbe's THE DRIFTER (PRC, 1944) and PRAIRIE RUSTLERS (PRC, 1945).
• In Crabbe's WILD HORSE PHANTOM (PRC, 1944), Al is attacked by a large bat (the same flying bat prop used several years earlier in the Bela Lugosi starrer THE DEVIL BAT (PRC, 1940)).
• Fuzzy has some acrobatic dance moves in DEVIL RIDERS (PRC, 1943).
• In GANGSTER'S DEN (PRC, 1945), Fuzzy is a saloon owner and there's lots of chaos with Emmett Lynn as a cook and Charlie King as a drunk.
• PRAIRIE BADMEN (PRC, 1946) is chock full of Fuzzy antics. In the first reel, he's wearing an Indian war bonnet and peddling medicine show elixir. Later, he tries to get a nap, but loses a battle with a hammock. In the closing battle with Charlie King, Kermit Maynard and John Cason, Fuzz knocks out Kermit with a rock from the cabin fireplace. After the threesome are captured, St. John swings his arm (rock included) in a circle over his head ... and clobbers Crabbe who falls flat on the floor. A few minutes later, there's a lapse when Fuzzy calls his screen partner 'Bus' (short for Buster) instead of 'Billy'.
• There's an "ouch moment" at the tail end of STAGECOACH OUTLAWS (PRC, 1945). Crabbe is carrying St. John and Fuzzy's head meets a door jam and you can hear him moan. No time or money for retakes at PRC.

My favorite is HIS BROTHER'S GHOST (PRC, 1945) and is probably the best of Crabbe and Fuzzy's PRCs. In that, St. John has a dual role as brothers. Andy Jones is killed by the no-goods, and Fuzzy does a ghostly impersonation of his brother to scare and snare gang members Karl Hackett, Charlie King, Archie Hall, and other familiar B western faces.

In the updated version of the late Don Miller's book Hollywood Corral (by Packy Smith and Ed Hulse; Riverwood Press, 1993), there's a chapter on the costs and financing of the B-western - "The Bottom Line: Low Finance in the Reel West" was authored by Karl Thiede and he mentions a Buster Crabbe/Sam Newfield PRC western on page 417:

"... PRC's PRAIRIE RUSTLERS (1945) was budgeted at $22,500 and was shot in six days for $23,304.12. Star Buster Crabbe was paid $3,000; sidekick Fuzzy St. John got $1,000. Producer Sigmund Neufeld received $1,200; his brother, Sam Newfield, directed the film for $1,250. Scripter Fred Myton got $1,000 for his original screenplay."

(That $23,304.12 also includes the salary figures for heroine Evelyn Finley; more than a dozen character / bit players including Karl Hackett, I. Stanford Jolley, Bud Osborne and Kermit Maynard; cameraman Jack Greenhalgh; music director Lee Zahler; various production crew members; et al.)

(From Old Corral collection)

Fuzzy tightens up the last knot on the well-tied Buster Crabbe In THE DRIFTER (PRC, 1944). This is another of "hero plays dual role" oaters, with Crabbe in his normal job as 'Billy Carson' as well as playing a baddie. Naturally, poor ol' Fuzzy gets confused and tries to restrain the evil 'Drifter' from mixing it up with his pal Billy ... but the 'Drifter' convinces Fuzz that he's really Billy Carson ... got the plot?

"Fuzzy" with Bob Steele (6 films) and Buster Crabbe (36 films) in PRC's 1940 - 1946 Billy the Kid / Billy Carson series.

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card to BILLY THE KID'S FIGHTING PALS (PRC, 1941). In the inset at the bottom left, you can spot Fuzzy St. John, Curley Dresden (hands in the air), Sherry Tansey and Wally West (behind Steele), and moustached Carleton Young on the right with the six-shooter. When Steele left for Republic Pictures and the Three Mesquiteers' series, PRC hired Buster Crabbe as their new 'Billy the Kid'. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Jack Hendricks (AKA Ray Henderson), Carleton Young, Louise Currie, Kenne Duncan, Bob Steele, John Merton, Hal Price, Reed Howes and Al 'Fuzzy' St. John in a scene from BILLY THE KID OUTLAWED (PRC, 1940). Crops/blowups below provide a better view of the faces. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card from SHERIFF OF SAGE VALLEY (PRC, 1942) and centered is star Buster Crabbe on his palomino Falcon. Crabbe's saddle pals are Dave O'Brien (billed as Tex O'Brien) on the left and Al 'Fuzzy' St. John on the right. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Fuzzy St. John, I. Stanford Jolley, and stage driver Frank Ellis in a lobby card from BLAZING FRONTIER (PRC, 1943). Ol' Fuzz rode this horse during his Lone Rider and Crabbe films at PRC. (Image courtesy of Carol Murray and her "Jack Hendricks Photo Album") Jack Hendricks has 'Fuzzy' on his back while Kermit Maynard is restrained by Buster Crabbe (who is doing a bad Mexican bandit impersonation) in FRONTIER OUTLAWS (PRC, 1944). This film is chock full of boo boos and production sloppiness and is among the worst of Buster and Fuzzy's PRCs. (From Old Corral collection) Standing from left to right in this still from FRONTIER OUTLAWS (PRC, 1944) are Kansas Moehring, Tex Cooper and Buster Crabbe. Sitting from left to right are Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, Marin Sais, and Frances Gladwin. Gladwin was the heroine in four of Buster's PRC oaters. Marin Sais (1890 - 1971) began her film career in silents. She was married to Jack Hoxie but they divorced in 1925 after about five years of marriage. (From Old Corral collection) Above from left to right are Jack Hendricks (AKA Ray Henderson), Buster Crabbe, Frank Ellis, Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, Ray Jones and Lorraine Miller in BORDER BADMEN (PRC, 1945). Check out Al's pants with the patches and holes. Note that Lorraine Miller is a tad taller than Al.

"Fuzzy" with George Houston (11 films) and Bob Livingston (6 films) in PRC's 1941 - 1943 Lone Rider adventures.

(From Old Corral collection) L-to-R are Hal Price, Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, Frank Hagney and George Houston (as Tom Cameron, the 'Lone Rider') in a lobby card from THE LONE RIDER FIGHTS BACK (PRC, 1941). (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Al 'Fuzzy' St. John, George Houston (atop trusty steed "Lightning)" and Dennis Moore. Crop from a lobby card from THE LONE RIDER IN CHEYENNE (PRC, 1942). Houston rode a paint horse in earlier films. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is the title lobby card to WOLVES OF THE RANGE (PRC, 1943). Centered is Bob Livingston. On the left is I. Stanford Jolley and on the right is Jack Ingram. Note the B&W inset in the lower left - that's Charles 'Slim' Whitaker (as 'Pasha the Swami') doing a bit with Al 'Fuzzy' St. John.