Above, Hayes is probably best remembered as the sidekick to Roy Rogers, and they appeared together in 41 films - their first was SOUTHWARD HO (Republic, 1939) and last pairing was in HELDORADO (Republic, 1946).

Above, the members of the original "Hoppy team" - from L-to-R are Jimmy Ellison, George Hayes and William Boyd. (Courtesy of Bill McCann) Above, Gabby comic #1

(Courtesy of Les Adams) Above, George Hayes and William Boyd (as Hopalong Cassidy) in a crop from a lobby card from BAR 20 JUSTICE (1938).

In 1939, Hayes switched to Republic Pictures and his first sidekick role with Roy Rogers was in SOUTHWARD HO (Republic, 1939).  He did 41 films with Roy Rogers, but these were separated into two bunches - in between, Hayes was the saddle pal to Wild Bill Elliott in his 1943-1944 series of eight, as well as the first two Red Ryder oaters (which also starred Elliott).  During his Republic days, Hayes generally had a screen name of 'Gabby Whittaker'.  His last film with Roy was HELDORADO (Republic, 1946).

In the 1950s, Gabby had his own NBC TV program, appropriately titled THE GABBY HAYES SHOW, in which he'd introduce/moderate old B westerns that were cut down to about a half-hour length.  Gabby's show was nominated for an Emmy award in 1952, but the winner was the BEANY AND CECIL show.  Circa 1954, Gabby also did a stint as the host of THE HOWDY DOODY TV show (when Buffalo Bob Smith was recuperating from a heart attack).  Hayes even had his own comic book series. Also in the 1950s, he had a "Summer camp" ranch for the kids in New York state (brochures and photos of the ranch are at Jerry Waite's Gabby Hayes website - link at the bottom of this page).

Gabby had some great sayings that always gave me a chuckle - there was "yer durn tootin'", "durn persnickety female", "young whipper snapper" and "Yessiree Bob".

Les Adams has Hayes identified in about 190 sound era films, and that total includes 146 westerns and a couple of serials. Can't recall Hayes doing serials? He had bits as a a dirigible passenger and a doctor in THE LOST JUNGLE (Mascot, 1934) as well as a meaty role in THE LOST CITY (1935). His work at Republic Pictures, which amounted to 68 films, occurred during the period from 1935-1947 - and as mentioned above, most of these were doing sidekick duty to Roy Rogers and Wild Bill Elliott.

Gabby also did some radio work, including several years on post World War II episodes of THE ROY ROGERS SHOW which ran over the Mutual Broadcasting Network. Additionally, the Andrews Sisters' EIGHT-TO-THE-BAR RANCH was broadcast from 1944-1946 on ABC, and the premise of the show had Patty, Maxene and LaVerne running a fictional dude ranch. Gabby was a regular guest.

Though he most often portrayed a cranky and crotchety oldtimer on film, in real life Hayes was the exact opposite - serious, well read, well dressed.  He was also well liked by all that knew him and worked with him ... and to this day, he remains as one of the most recognized and remembered players of the B western. At the 2006 Golden Boot Awards ceremony, there was a special tribute to George 'Gabby' Hayes. Pretty good legacy.

You may want to visit the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral, and then check the California Death Records database. There you will find a record for: George F. Hayes, born 5/7/1885, Mother's maiden name of Morrison, and he passed away on 2/9/1969. There is a corresponding record in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

Hayes was an important asset to the western film and to ticket sales.  The Motion Picture Herald and Boxoffice polls were conducted from about the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s.  With a few exceptions, the annual results would list the 'Top Ten' (or 'Top Five') cowboy film stars.  In most cases, the winners were what you would expect - Autry, Rogers, Holt, Starrett, Hoppy, etc. Hayes and Smiley Burnette were the two sidekicks that consistently placed in these polls, though Hayes' rankings was generally a bit higher than Smiley. However, Burnette was ranked in one or both polls for more years (Smiley was ranked for fourteen consecutive years from 1939-1952).

Above, from L-to-R are Ken Maynard, 'Tarzan" and Hayes in IN OLD SANTA FE (Mascot, 1934).  Hayes played Ken's sidekick 'Cactus', and loses Tarzan in a fixed hoss race. Above, from L-to-R are Lucile Browne, William Farnum, Bob Steele, Archie Ricks, James Flavin, and George Hayes in THE BRAND OF HATE (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1934). On the roof, Bob Steele is ready to spring into action, and below is an unbearded George Hayes. In front of Hayes wearing the flat brimmed hat is Warner Richmond.  On the right is Tex Phelps. Duotone lobby card from SMOKEY SMITH (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1935). This oater showed Richmond at his nastiest - to get his hands on a ring, he shoots off the finger of Steele's father (kindly ol' Horace Carpenter). And Richmond also throws lye in George Hayes' face. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above, Buck Jones on Silver chats with Hayes, and in the right background is Frank LaRue.  From THE THROWBACK (Universal, 1935). Leading lady Anne Jeffreys with Wild Bill Elliott and George 'Gabby' Hayes during Elliott's initial film series at Republic Pictures, circa 1943-44. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above, Elliott on Sonny during his first series at Republic Pictures in 1943-1944, and his sidekick was Gabby 'Gabby' Hayes.  Hayes also worked with Elliott in the first couple of Red Ryder films, and then returned as the helper to Roy Rogers. Above, Hayes with Wild Bill Elliott in BORDERTOWN GUN FIGHTERS (Republic, 1943).

Want more info on Hayes' movie roles with Roy Rogers.  Click HERE for the filmography on Roy which notes the films in which Hayes appeared - look in the column marked 'Sidekick'. And click HERE for the filmography on Wild Bill Elliott and HERE for the Hopalong Cassidy filmography where you can also check the Sidekick column.

Film critic Leonard Maltin has an article on Gabby Hayes: http://www.leonardmaltin.com/03-12-03/Gabby.htm

The Town of Willing, New York website has a photo gallery. And it has some great shots of Hayes, including an 1890 school photo: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/allegany/TownVillageReservation/TownWilling/TownWilling%20Photo%20Gallery/WillingPhotoGallery.htm

During 1999, the American Film Institute (AFI) conducted a poll to determine the '100 Greatest American Screen Legends'.  Not many of our cowboy heroes and heroines made the final cut, but you can see the list of the names in the poll ... such as Gene Autry, William Boyd, Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes.  Go to: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/6696/99afi100.htm

Jim Tipton's Find-A-Grave website has a picture of the grave marker for Hayes and his wife Olive E. Ireland at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills:
Gabby: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=462&pt=Gabby%20Hayes
Olive: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22093&pt=Dorothy%20Earle

Jerry Waite's Gabby Hayes website includes images of the covers and backs of many of Gabby's Fawcett and Charlton comic books ... and a bunch of Gabby sound bytes.  Jerry also has an image of the Hayes obituary, brochures and photo of the Gabby Hayes Ranch which was a Summer camp type operation in the 1950s for the kids, and info on Gabby's 1950s TV show on NBC and ABC: http://www.gabbyhayes.org

 Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Gabby Hayes: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0371025/.