The Three Mesquiteers Trio Westerns of Republic Pictures

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from GHOST TOWN GOLD (Republic, 1936), the second Mesquiteers adventure and the first with Max Terhune (and his dummy Elmer).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from RANGE DEFENDERS (Republic, 1937).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (Republic, 1937), the fourth film in the Three Mesquiteers series. In the center, Ray Corrigan is mixing it up with Roger Williams, the main heavy in the film. Max Terhune is on the left and Bob Livingston is shown on the right.

Variant 2 - fourteen films
Bob Livingston (as Stony Brooke) Ray Corrigan (as Tucson Smith) Max Terhune (as Lullaby Joslin)	GHOST TOWN GOLD (1936) ROARIN' LEAD (1936) RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (1937) HIT THE SADDLE (1937) GUNSMOKE RANCH (1937) COME ON, COWBOYS ! (1937) RANGE DEFENDERS (1937) HEART OF THE ROCKIES (1937) WILD HORSE RODEO (1937) THE PURPLE VIGILANTES (1938) CALL THE MESQUITEERS (1938) OUTLAWS OF SONORA (1938) RIDERS OF THE BLACK HILLS (1938) HEROES OF THE HILLS (1938)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the cover of the pressbook for CALL THE MESQUITEERS.

This run of fourteen films --- fifteen if you count THE TRIGGER TRIO (next page) when Ralph 'Dick Tracy' Byrd subbed for the injured Livingston --- saw the team of Livingston, Corrigan and Terhune establish themselves in their Three Mesquiteers roles. In all probability, one or more of these trio escapades are among your B-western favorites. The plotlines were varied --- the Mesquiteers were up against Cattlemans Protective Association baddies in ROARIN' LEAD (1936); there were Indian drums and eerie goings-on in RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (1937); the boys assist a traveling circus (with Corrigan donning his ape suit) in COME ON, COWBOYS ! (1937); and there were lots of face masks and capes in THE PURPLE VIGILANTES (1938). In most of these, Yakima Canutt was doing stuntwork ... and he was often in front of the camera playing a member of the gang or some other bit/supporting role. Not too many misses among this batch.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Corrigan, Terhune and Livingston in GHOST TOWN GOLD. The initial "range costumes" on both Corrigan and Livingston would change as the Mesquiteers series matured. Note the tallish Stetson and pattern shirt on Livingston, and the double-action revolver carried by Corrigan (instead of the traditional single-action).

(From Old Corral image collection)

Above, from L-to-R are Kenneth Harlan, Livingston and Corrigan in this lobby card from GUNSMOKE RANCH (1937). Corrigan and Livingston are now wearing the shirts, pants, hats and gunbelts that we generally remember as their costumes.

(From Old Corral image collection)

Above, Corrigan and Terhune are in the center of this lobby card, and the muscular Corrigan is shown on the right. The supporting player with the green pants and vest is Tom London, a veteran of hundreds of western films.