 | Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang, or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse riders, or cow herders. They had minimal or no dialog, not much screen time, and were generally not listed in the film credits. Some would show up as a face in the crowd, portraying townspeople, barflies, deputies, wagon drivers, ranch hands, etc. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names. |
 (Courtesy of Les Adams) In the above still and crop/blowups, Ken Maynard is prone among an entire regiment of henchies in THE FIDDLIN' BUCKAROO (Universal, 1933). From L-to-R are Slim Whitaker, Bud McClure, Frank Ellis (face in shadows), Roy Bucko (with Maynard's pearl handled six-shooter in his belt), Hank Bell (with Maynard's other pearl handled six-shooter in his belt), Jack Kirk (face in shadows), Jack King (tall hat), Fred Kohler, partial face of unidentified guy, and Buck Bucko.  (Courtesy of Dorothy Hack) Above from left to right are Archie Ricks, Herman Hack, Kit Guard and Bob Steele in a scene from Steele's KID COURAGEOUS (A. W. Hackel/Supreme, 1934).  (Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Above from L-to-R are Roy Bucko, Al Bridge, Marion Weldon, Art Mix (George Kesterson) and Blackie Whiteford in a scene from DODGE CITY TRAIL (Columbia, 1936), which starred Charles Starrett.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) From L-to-R are Tex Palmer, Oscar Gahan, Merrill McCormick, Charlie King and Denver Dixon in a scene from the Jack Randall DANGER VALLEY (Monogram, 1937). |
| The antagonists in the ol' B western generally consisted of:
Definition of henchman, "henchie":
In other words, these are NOT the western and serial performers that we immediately recognize like Roy Barcroft or Harry Woods or Lafe McKee or Tom London or George Chesebro or Charlie King. The Barcrofts, McKees, Chesebros, Kings and many others wound up with meatier roles, often had dialog, and in many cases, their names appeared in the opening or closing credits. Those folks are profiled in The "Villains & Character players" section on the Old Corral.
What's his name ??? |
| Below are thumbnail images of SOME of the players who did henchman duties as well as portraying barflies, townsmen, posse riders, cowherders, lynchers, etc. Many of them also did some stuntwork and doubling. In the right side menu, you'll find profiles on those faces ... and lots more performers. |
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 James/Jim Mason  Floyd 'Silver Tip' Baker  Tom/Tommy Bay  Francis/Frank Walker  John Beach  Jack Montgomery  Roy Bucko  Ralph 'Buck' Bucko  Kit Guard  Carl 'Kansas' Moehring  George Plues  Joe Garcio / Joe Garcia  Sherry Tansey / James Sheridan  Wes Warner  Charles B. Murphy  Pascale Perry  Jack Jones  Harry Tenbrook  Cliff Parkinson  Barney Beasley  Rube Dalroy  Jess Cavin  Artie Ortego/Ortega  Bud McClure |
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 Allen Greer  Chick Hannan/Hannon  Tex 'Squint' Palmer  Fox O'Callahan  Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward  Dick Botiller  Earl Askam  Post Park  Bud Pope  Bob McElroy  Blackie Whiteford  Joe De La Cruz  'Curley' Dresden  'Cactus Mack' Mc Peters  Monte/Monty Montague  Barney Furey  Herman Nowlin/Nolan  Chuck Baldra  Tommy Coats  Archie Ricks  George Sowards  Merrill McCormick  Bob Card  Oscar Gahan |
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 Carl Sepulveda  Tom Smith  Frank McCarroll  Jack King  Augie Gomez  Herman Hack  Olin Francis  Jack Tornek  Matty Roubert  Chuck Morrison  Bill Nestell  Al Taylor  Art Felix  'Vinegar Roan' / Harris L. Whittenberg  Jack Evans  Lew Morphy  Bob Reeves  Dick Dickinson  Jim Corey  Wally West  Bill Patton  Jack Kenney/Kenny  Ray Jones  Art Dillard  Steve Clemente/Clemento |
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The Henchies and background performers (in alphabetical order by last name). Click below: Earl Askam Floyd 'Silver Tip' Baker Curly / Curley Baldwin Chuck Baldra Tom/Tommy Bay John Beach Barney Beasley Dick Botiller Roy Brent Ralph 'Buck' Bucko Roy Bucko 'Ace' Cain Bob Card Jess Cavin Steve Clemento / Clemente Tommy Coats Jim Corey Victor Cox Rube Dalroy Joe De La Cruz Dick Dickinson Bert / Burt Dillard Charles 'Art' Dillard Curley Dresden Jack Evans Art Felix Olin Francis Barney Furey Oscar Gahan Joe Garcio / Joe Garcia Allen Greer Augie Gomez Kit Guard Herman Hack Eddie Hall Chick Hannan / Hannon George 'Arizona Slim' Hazel Jack Hendricks Carol Henry Jack Jones Ray Jones Jack Kenny / Kenney (Two of them) Jack King (and his dog Kazan) Fred MacKaye James/Jim Mason Frank McCarroll Bud McClure Merrill McCormick Bob McElroy 'Cactus Mack' McPeters Carl 'Kansas' Moehring Monte / Monty Montague Jack Montgomery Buck Morgan Lew Morphy Chuck Morrison Charles B. Murphy Bill Nestell Herman Nowlin / Nolan Artie Ortego / Ortega Fox O'Callahan Tex 'Squint' Palmer Post Park Tex Parker Cliff Parkinson Bill Patton Pascale Perry Tex Phelps Bennie Pitti We thought this was Bennie Pitti George Plues Bud Pope Bob Reeves Archie Ricks Matty Roubert Carl Sepulveda George Sowards Len / Lem Sowards Tom Smith Sherry Tansey / James Sheridan Al Taylor Harry Tenbrook Tex Terry Jack Tornek Francis / Frank Walker Robert Walker Jerome 'Black Jack' Ward Wes Warner John 'Blackie' Whiteford 'Vinegar Roan' / Harris L. Whittenberg Wally West Lou Yaconelli / Earl Douglas (in the bio on Frank Yaconelli) |
Some other websites to visit:
Some of these players worked in the Three Stooges shorts at Columbia Pictures: http://www.threestooges.net/cast | ||||||
