John Wayne

(From Old Corral collection)

THREE TEXAS STEERS (Republic, 1939) was the sixth of Wayne's eight Mesquiteer adventures. And this was Max Terhune's last as a member of the Three Mesquiteers. No question that Wayne is the lead and star - check out the size of the lettering.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from left to right are Max Terhune, John Wayne and Ray 'Crash' Corrigan as Republic's Three Mesquiteers.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

John Wayne has his dukes on William Royle, and in the background, from L-to-R, are John Beach, Earl Askam and Olin Francis. From the Three Mesquiteers adventure, RED RIVER RANGE (Republic, 1938). Earl Askam died of a heart attack while playing a round of golf on April 1, 1940 with Kermit Maynard. His most remembered role was as 'Officer Torch' in the first FLASH GORDON serial.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from L-to-R are Don Barry (behind bars), Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, Raymond Hatton, and Wayne in WYOMING OUTLAW (Republic, 1939).

(From Old Corral collection)

From L-to-R are John Wayne dancing with Adele Pearce (later screen name of Pamela Blake) while baddies Yakima Canutt and Le Roy Mason look on. From WYOMING OUTLAW (Republic, 1939), one of the Three Mesquiteers adventures. Note Canutt's colorful gunbelt.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from left to right are Wayne, Carole Landis, Billy Curtis, stuntman Jimmy Fawcette, Collette Lyons, Ray Corrigan and stuntman Dave Sharpe behind Corrigan in a still from the Three Mesquiteers film THREE TEXAS STEERS (Republic, 1939). Unknown who temporarily resides in the gorilla costume in this still - but it was Corrigan who played the ape role in the film.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - Ray Corrigan and John Wayne compete for Phyllis Isley (Jennifer Jones) in the Three Mesquiteers adventure NEW FRONTIER (Republic, 1939: alternate title of FRONTIER HORIZON). Released in late Summer, 1939, this film was Corrigan's last as a member of the Three Mesquiteers. He would then start up the new Range Busters trio oaters which were released by Monogram. This was also Wayne's finale as a Mesquiteer as well as a B western hero. Early in 1939, STAGECOACH was released.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above and below are sepia duotone lobby cards from the 1953 re-releases of Three Mesquiteers' adventures OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS (Republic, 1938) and NEW FRONTIER (Republic, 1939).

Left to right in the above OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS lobby card are John Wayne, George Plues, George Sherwood and Ray Corrigan.

By that time, John Wayne was a big name in Hollywood, and these lobby cards capitalize on his popularity to (hopefully) entice ticket buyers to attend the showing of these re-releases. During that 1952-53 period, Wayne was on the screen in HONDO, THE QUIET MAN, TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY, BIG JIM MCCLAIN, more.

(From Old Corral collection)