 | 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, barflys, 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 Ed Phillips) |  | Wally West Real name: Theo Arlington Wynn 1902 or 1903 - 1984 Appeared in at least 216 westerns and 20 serials. |
| Wally West was born born October 11, 1903 in Gough, Texas. His Hollywood career began in the 1930s and he worked mostly in B westerns. In those, he drove stagecoaches and wagons and did henchman and lawman roles and other character/bit parts. However, his "claim-to-fame" was doubling heroes such as Tim McCoy, Tex Ritter and Buster Crabbe. In the 1930s - and calling himself 'Tom Wynn' - West had a brief fling at herodom when he starred in Z grade oaters DESERT MESA (Security, 1935) and MORMON CONQUEST (Security, 1939) for Victor Adamson (aka Denver Dixon, aka Art Mix ... but not the George Kesterson version of Art Mix). MORMON CONQUEST is on our lost/missing westerns list. DESERT MESA was among the lost and missing, but was found in late 2017 and made available on DVD. West worked in lots of television including several dozen GUNSMOKEs. And he was a cavalry trooper on many of the BRAVE EAGLE TV episodes (1955-56). That series starred Keith Larsen as Brave Eagle, and was produced by Roy Rogers. He also had roles in a couple dozen ROY ROGERS TV shows. A dependable stunt man, wagon driver, and actor, Wally was a favorite of prolific director Sam Newfield, and employed in about a hundred Newfield films during 1935 - 1947. His film and TV career spanned 40+ years, from about 1932 through the mid 1970s. He passed away on May 16, 1984 in the Los Angeles area and interred at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, Los Angeles County, California. Did not find a death or funeral announcement for him on Newspapers.com. | |  (Courtesy of Larry Imber) Above- Larry Imber with Wally West circa 1983.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) 1935 | |
 Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Wally West: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922385/
The Family Search website (free) and the California Death Index have more information on the very large Wynn Family and actor and stunt man Theo Wynn/Wally West:
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 (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Curley Baldwin, Wally West, Bill Cody, Dick Strong, and Gordon Griffith in a still from Bill Cody's OUTLAWS OF THE RANGE (Spectrum, 1936). This was Cody's last starring role.  (Courtesy of Minard Coons) Bob Livingston (left) and Max Terhune (right) try to impress Wally West, the keeper of the time and official bell-ringer during the prize fight sequence in GHOST TOWN GOLD (Republic, 1936), one of the early Three Mesquiteers' adventures.  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Chick Hannan/Hannon, Hank Worden, Lew Morphy, Bob Baker, Wally West (holding money) and Bob Card in Baker's THE SINGING OUTLAW (Universal, 1938). That's Herman Hack in the back row center with his hand in the air. High in the upper right corner is Art Mix (George Kesterson).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) L-to-R are Bob Steele, Bob Livingston, William Farnum, Budd Buster, Hal Price, and Wally West in a crop from a lobby card from the Three Mesquiteers' GANGS OF SONORA (Republic, 1941). |
 Tex Phelps
Tex Phelps was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He's easy to identify in 1930s westerns as he usually had lots of facial hair and wore a tall hat. He occasionally played a henchman, but most often was relegated to minor roles as a barfly, townsman, miner, cowpoke, posse rider, etc. The death certificate notes that Phelps was a World War II veteran, but that's questionable as he did many uncredited parts in 1942 - 1945 westerns. His last movie appearance was circa 1945.
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 (Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Pointing the way to more nefarious deeds is Yakima Canutt, a fixture in the Lone Star/ Monogram films of John Wayne as both stuntman and supporting player. A crop/blowup of the faces is shown below the lobby card - from left to right are Artie Ortego, Jay Wilsey (Buffalo Bill Jr.), Yakima Canutt, Herman Hack and Tex Phelps. Re-release lobby card from the Wayne 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES (Lone Star/Monogram, 1934).  (From Old Corral collection) In this duotone lobby card from SMOKEY SMITH (Hackel/Supreme, 1935), Bob Steele is on the roof, ready to spring into action, and below is an unbearded George Hayes. In front of Hayes and wearing the flat brimmed hat is Warner Richmond and to the right is Tex Phelps. This oater showed Richmond at his nastiest - to get his hands on a ring, he shoots off the finger of Steele's father (kindly ol' Horace Carpenter). And Richmond also throws lye in George Hayes' face.  (Courtesy of Shirley Jean Rickert) Left to right are Shirley Jean Rickert, John Wayne, Eddie Parker, Allen Pomeroy, and bearded Tex Phelps in 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES (Lone Star/Monogram, 1935).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above - Fuzzy Knight (left) has a banana on Black Jack Ward (right) in THE MAN FROM MONTANA (Universal, 1941), one of the Johnny Mack Brown series. In the left background is the bearded Tex Phelps in one of his many barfly roles. The other two background players are unidentified. |
