 (From Old Corral image collection) PHANTOM OF THE WEST was one of Mascot's early sound serials. It was released in 1930 and was Tom Tyler's first talking film and his first (of seven) cliffhangers.  (From Old Corral image collection) Above, Rex Lease (1901-1966) was most often a bad guy in various bit parts and supporting roles in serials, westerns and mystery films. George W. Merrick tried Lease as the star of the anemic CUSTER'S LAST STAND (Stage & Screen, 1936), 15 chapters, directed by Elmer Clifton. The players in the insets are: bottom left - Dorothy Gulliver (as 'Red Fawn') and Rex Lease, and on the right - Nancy Caswell and William Farnum.  (From Old Corral image collection) Republic Pictures was formed in 1935 with the merger of Monogram, Mascot, Consolidated Film Laboratories, et al, and Mascot's Nat Levine wound up as the producer in charge of Republic's cliffhangers. THE VIGILANTES ARE COMING (1936), 12 chapters, was directed by Mack V. Wright and Ray Taylor. This "Zorro-like" adventure was Bob Livingston's first starring serial, and it was among the first group of cliffhangers that came out under the Republic logo.  (From Old Corral image collection) Above is star John Carroll in one of the cliffhanger endings from ZORRO RIDES AGAIN (1937).  (From Old Corral image collection) The above lobby card contains one of the most published photos on serials and stuntwork. The horse-to-truck transfer was done by stuntman Yakima Canutt. And the answer is NO! --- I didn't fool with the colors of this lobby card at all ... gads, were those trucks really pink? Both of these ZRA lobby cards are from a set from the 1959 re-release of this serial (you might be able to see the date of 59 in the bottom right corner of each). |