An ingredient which was prevalent in the B western was the presence of a helper, or several helpers, to the hero.
That person was often a bumbling comic like Smiley Burnette, Fuzzy St. John, Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor, Roscoe Ates, and the whiskered Emmett 'Pappy' Lynn ... or a more serious, gun-totin' assistant like Raymond Hatton, Dennis Moore, Jimmy Ellison and Russell Hayden. Max Terhune enhanced the Three Mesquiteers, Range Busters, and Johnny Mack Brown westerns with his card tricks and escapades with his dummy Elmer. Andy Clyde rode the trail in many of the Hopalong Cassidy and Whip Wilson westerns. There were even some 'singing sidekicks' such as Ray Whitley, Bob Nolan and Johnny Bond. And, of course, there was everyone's favorite, whiskered George Hayes.
Juveniles helpers were also common, and the first that comes to mind is Bobby Blake as Little Beaver in the Red Ryder films.
You'll find expanded coverage on about a half-dozen of the performers listed below. On the others, there's an image or two along with a brief profile/biography. I'll add more information and photos as time permits.
I hope this section on the Old Corral brings back some great silver screen memories.
There are several external websites which include info on actors, actresses and kid stars that appeared in westerns and other films:Linda Kay's website on Frankie Darro: http://hometown.aol.com/darrofan/frankie/index.htm
Great Character Actors: http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/ks_index_gca.html
The Actor's Compendium: http://www.aveleyman.com/Home.htm
Drina Mohacsi's Young Hollywood Hall of Fame: http://www.younghollywoodhof.com/index.html
The Files of Jerry Blake serial website - sidekicks section: http://www.filesofjerryblake.netfirms.com/html/sidekicks.html
