(Image courtesy of Jay Wilsey's granddaughter and daughter, Tamera Mankini and Frances Eldene Wolski) | Jay Wilsey / Buffalo Bill, Jr. Filmography Sound films only Special thanks to Les Adams for providing this filmography. Photo on the left is Wilsey in LIGHTNING BILL (Superior, 1934). |
Wilsey Starring Roles - Sound films only 15 westerns and 1 non-western (railroad film) (Titles listed in red are among the lost/missing westerns) | |||||
Release Date |
Title | Producer/Company | Director | Heroine | Wilsey Role |
2/1/30 | Bar L Ranch | F. E. Douglas / Big 4 | Harry S. Webb | Betty Baker | Bob Tyler |
2/1/30 | South of Sonora | Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios | Jacques Jaccard | Betty Joy | Bill Tracy |
5/1/30 | The Cheyenne Kid | Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios | Jacques Jaccard | Joan Jaccard | Buck Allen/The Cheyenne Kid |
1/25/31 | Westward Bound | Webb-Douglas Productions / Syndicate | Harry S. Webb | Allene Ray | Bob Lansing |
2/15/31 | Trails of the Golden West | Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios | Leander De Cordova | Wanda Hawley | Bill |
4/12/31 | The Pueblo Terror | Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios | Alan James | Wanda Hawley | Bill Sommers |
1/1/32 | Riders of Golden Gulch | Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios | Clifford Smith | Mary Dunn | Bill |
2/2/32 | The Texan | William M. Pizor / Principal | Clifford Smith | Lucile Browne | William Lloyd "Bill" Rust |
5/27/32 | Dynamite Denny (non-western) | Ralph M. Like Productions / Mayfair | Frank R. Strayer | Blanche Mehaffey | Dynamite Denny |
5/1/33 | The Fighting Cowboy | California Motion Picture Enterprises / Superior | Victor Adamson | Genee Boutell | Bill Carson |
10/1/33 | Trails of Adventure | Robert J. Horner / American Pictures | Jay Wilsey | Edna Aslin | Bill Merritt |
4/1/33 | The Whirlwind Rider | Robert J. Horner / All Star Western Film Company / American Pictures | Robert J. Horner | Genee Boutell | Bill Reed |
2/1/34 | Lightning Bill | California Motion Picture Enterprises / Superior | Victor Adamson | Alma Rayford | Bill |
3/1/34 | Riding Speed | California Motion Picture Enterprises / Superior | Jay Wilsey | Joile Benet | Bill |
4/1/34 | Rawhide Romance | California Motion Picture Enterprises / Superior | Victor Adamson | Genee Boutell | Buck Cartwright |
6/1/34 | Pals of the Prairie | William M. Pizor / Imperial | Robert Emmett Tansey | Victoria Vinton | Bob Bentley |
(Courtesy of Ed Tabor) | Wilsey directed two of his starring sound films, TRAILS OF ADVENTURE (American, 1933) and RIDING SPEED (Superior, 1934). |
(Courtesy of Richard Harrison) Above is the pressbook cover for the lost/missing TRAILS OF ADVENTURE (Robert J. Horner / American Pictures, 1933). Note the red "A WILLIS KENT PRODUCTION" on the left side of the cover. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Theater ad from the pressbook for TRAILS OF ADVENTURE (Robert J. Horner / American Pictures, 1933). (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above is a lobby card from the lost/missing RIDERS OF GOLDEN GULCH (Robert J. Horner / West Coast Studios, 1932). Below that is a crop showing from left to right, Yakima Canutt, Edmund Cobb, Wilsey and an unidentified player on the ground. |
Above is Albert Victor Adamson (1890-1972), acting under the name Denver Dixon, in a bit role in a 1942 Range Busters oater at Monogram. Adamson was AKA Denver Dixon, Al Mix and Art Mix (but not to be confused with the 'other' Art Mix whose real name was George Kesterson). Adamson produced various ultra low budget silent and sound western shorts and features starring himself as well as Buffalo Bill, Jr., Wally Wales, Buddy Roosevelt, Wally West, and Art Mix/George Kesterson. His production companies had various names including California Motion Picture Enterprises and Security Pictures. Adamson/Dixon was also a prolific bit player in scores of westerns. There's a section on the Old Corral devoted to Adamson/Dixon and his films. |
Wilsey Support Roles, Bit Parts, Doubling and Stuntwork - Sound Films This is a work in progress. | ||||
Release Date |
Title | Star | Company | Wilsey Role |
4/12/30 | Beyond the Rio Grande | Jack Perrin | Big 4 | Bill |
8/2/30 | Way Out West | William Haines | M-G-M | Hank |
10/1/30 | Beyond the Law | Robert Frazer | Raytone | Henchman |
11/27/30 | The Utah Kid | Rex Lease | Tiffany | Deputy |
11/3/32 | Hidden Gold | Tom Mix | Universal | Cowhand |
2/2/33 | Terror Trail | Tom Mix | Universal | Prisoner |
4/30/33 | The Thrill Hunter | Buck Jones | Columbia | Pilot |
5/5/33 | Deadwood Pass | Tom Tyler | Freuler | Deputy |
5/26/33 | Rusty Rides Alone | Tim McCoy | Columbia | Luke Quillan |
6/17/33 | Strange People | John Darrow | Chesterfield | Guest |
2/19/34 | Wheels of Destiny | Ken Maynard | Universal | Bill |
3/1/34 | Adventures of Texas Jack | Wally Wales | Security | Bill |
11/22/34 | The Lawless Frontier | John Wayne | Lone Star | Henchman |
12/28/34 | Neath the Arizona Skies | John Wayne | Lone Star | Jim Moore |
2/1/35 | Texas Terror | John Wayne | Lone Star | Blackie Martin |
3/1/35 | Five Bad Men | Noah Beery, Jr. | Sunset | One of the Bad Men |
3/15/35 | Rainbow Valley | John Wayne | Lone Star | Butch Galt |
4/12/35 | Princess O'Hara | Chester Morris | Universal | Mounted Policeman |
5/18/35 | The Miracle Rider (Serial) | Tom Mix | Mascot | Daniel Boone-Chapter 1 Prologue |
6/29/35 | The Phantom Empire (Serial) | Gene Autry | Mascot | Muranian Soldier |
7/1/35 | The Roaring West (Serial) | Buck Jones | Universal | Ranch Hand Slim |
9/27/35 | Powdersmoke Range | Harry Carey | RKO | Henchman |
11/26/35 | The Firetrap | Norman Foster | Empire | Bit |
3/28/36 | Heroes of the Range | Ken Maynard | Columbia | Deputy |
5/8/36 | Avenging Waters | Ken Maynard | Columbia | Cowhand |
7/6/36 | The Phantom Rider (Serial) | Buck Jones | Universal | Deputy Tom |
1/10/37 | Ranger Courage | Bob Allen | Columbia | Ranger Caps |
5/11/37 | Law of the Ranger | Bob Allen | Columbia | Ranger Lt. Wells |
7/1/37 | Wild West Days (Serial) | Johnny Mack Brown | Universal | Settler |
7/2/37 | Forlorn River | Buster Crabbe | Paramount | Cowhand |
8/8/37 | The Rangers Step In | Bob Allen | Columbia | Ranger Captain Thomas |
3/13/39 | Rough Riders Roundup | Roy Rogers | Republic | Barfly |
5/4/39 | Blue Montana Skies | Gene Autry | Republic | A Mountie |
2/14/40 | Pioneers of the Frontier | Bill Elliott | Columbia | Henchman Durango |
1/10/41 | Lone Rider Rides On | George Houston | PRC | Henchman |
2/28/41 | Lone Rider Crosses the Rio | George Houston | PRC | Henchman Bart |
5/16/41 | Lone Rider in Ghost Town | George Houston | PRC | Henchman |
3/12/42 | Lawless Plainsmen | Charles Starrett | Columbia | Henchman Slim |
11/19/43 | The Dancing Masters | Laurel and Hardy | 20th Century Fox | Stage Driver |
1952 | Big Jim McLain | John Wayne | Warners | Mr. Whalen or Mr. Weyland (Labor Relations Counselor) |
Footnote: some bios/filmographies note that Wilsey had a role in Bob Allen's RECKLESS RANGER (Columbia, 1937), but that information is incorrect. |