The dynamic duo running little Reliable Pictures were Bernard B. Ray and Harry Webb (remember Webb from Tom's earlier Syndicate days?). Reliable had Jack Perrin in his last starring hurrahs in features as well as the Bud 'n' Ben shorts with Benny Corbett.
They hired Tom in 1934 for a cinema tour encompassing two plus years and eighteen films, all of the oater variety. Most of these were budgeted around $8000 and were clearly aimed at the bottom half of double bills at second and third rate movie houses. As expected, the batch must be considered as no more than average with a few showing some good signs.
![]() (Courtesy of the Robert Webb Family) |
![]() Might be difficult to read, but the sign in the above photo proudly proclaims: Reliable Pictures Featuring Tom Tyler Jack Perrin Richard Talmadge
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![]() (Courtesy of the Robert Webb Family) |
Franklyn Farnum and Wally Wales (before he became Hal Taliaferro) added their talents to SILVER BULLET (1935); William Desmond joined BORN TO BATTLE (1935); Wales came back to SILENT VALLEY (1935) as well as TRIGGER TOM (1935), which also had a brief role for Al St. John in his pre-Fuzzy days; Rex Lease, another near star who wound up playing supporting roles for decades, showed up in FAST BULLETS (1936); and SANTA FE BOUND (1936), Tom's last bit of mediocrity for Webb and Ray is worthwhile since the femme fatale is pretty Jeanne Martel, a gal who would become Mrs. Tyler ... for a brief time.
![]() In TERROR OF THE PLAINS (Reliable, 1934), Tom has his right arm around Charles "Slim" Whitaker and his left arm is restraining William Gould. Les Adams was able to identify several of the other players: Herman Hack is on the left with arms raised; Silver Tip Baker has the handlebar moustache; Robert Walker (as the sheriff) is the on the horse in far right background; in the right foreground, Frank Rice has a hold on an unidentified player. |