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Saddle Pals & Sidekicks



(From Old Corral collection)

Duncan Renaldo (1904-1980) (above right) played the Cisco Kid, and Leo Carrillo (1880 or 1881-1961) (above left) was his trail partner Pancho. Renaldo starred as Cisco in several Monogram films (but was replaced by Gilbert Roland). Later, Renaldo reprised the Cisco role in films released via United Artists, and continued the portrayal in the TV series. Renaldo's hoss was named 'Diablo' and Carrillo's palomino was named 'Loco'. Renaldo rode several hosses during his reign as the movie and TV Cisco Kid, including a white during the series at Monogram Pictures.

Carrillo was a prolific performer, appearing in scores of A and B grade films. Before he rode the dusty trails as 'Pancho', Carrillo was at Universal in a batch of oaters and adventure films which teamed him with Dick Foran and Andy Devine. Leo Carrillo passed away from cancer in 1961.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Leo Carrillo: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0140504/

Find A Grave website has a photo of the grave marker for Leo Carrillo at Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5784/leo-carrillo

The Leo Carrillo Ranch is located in Carlsbad, California and is designated as an historic landmark.  Go to: http://www.carrillo-ranch.org



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card THE GIRL FROM SAN LORENZO (UA, 1950), the last of the Duncan Renaldo Cisco Kid films churned out by United Artists. The pretty gal being romanced by Renaldo in the upper right is Jane Adams. The next stop for Renaldo and Leo Carrillo was the Cisco Kid TV series which was produced by Frederick W. Ziv (through his Ziv Television Program subsidiary). The Renaldo and Carrillo TV program ran for 156 episodes, was syndicated, filmed in color, and originally telecast from 1950-1956.






(From Old Corral collection)

Above center is Roscoe Ates (1895-1962), flanked by Eddie Dean on the right and 'Black Jack' O'Shea on the left.  Ates rode the cinema trails as singing cowboy Eddie Dean's stuttering sidekick "Soapy Jones" in a batch of post World War II westerns at PRC (he replaced Emmett Lynn who was Dean's first screen helper).

His early acting career was on the stage. In talking pictures, he often portrayed a bumbling - and stuttering - comic character.

He did service in World War II:
  • June 10, 1942 issue of Variety mentioned Ates' World War II enlistment: "Fort Worth, June 9 (1942) Stuttering comedian Roscoe Ates left Clover club, nite spot here, to accept a captaincy in the Army Intelligence Corps. He's stationed at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas."
  • September 29, 1943 Variety reported that Major Ates was leaving Houston to a new assignment in Atlantic City, New Jersey as Special Service Officer for the Army Air Forces in charge of entertainment.
  • June 21, 1944 Variety noted that Ates had been placed on inactive duty after service in the Army Air Corps since 1942. "Understood he will organize USO Camp Show unit and tour overseas soon. Shortly before going inactive comedian was training bomber pilots in Texas."

Death certificate: 67 year old Roscoe Blevel Ates was born January 20, 1895 in Mississippi. Parents were George B. Ates and Margaret Ellen Thompson. Occupation was "Actor - Free Lance - Various Studios"; he was divorced; and a veteran of World War I and World War II. Ates passed away from lung cancer at West Valley Community Hospital, Encino, California, on March 1, 1962. Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California was the funeral director and crematory.

Find A Grave website has a photo of the grave marker for Ates at Forest Lawn - Glendale, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6675/roscoe-ates

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Roscoe Ates: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040374/


(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above - Shirley Patterson (Shawn Smith) and Roscoe Ates in a scene from the Eddie Dean oater, TUMBLEWEED TRAIL (PRC, 1946).






(From Old Corral collection)

L-to-R are Walter J. 'Wally' Vernon (1904 or 05 - 1970) and Don 'Red' Barry. Vernon and Barry paired up in two different western series - the first was at Republic during the 1940s and the second effort was around 1950 at Lippert Pictures where Barry did GUNFIRE (1950), I SHOT BILLY THE KID (1950), more. Vernon also did sidekick duties for Allan Lane (in Lane's Republic westerns prior to assuming the Red Ryder series from Bill Elliott).

Vernon started his film career in the mid 1930s, and was often seen in 20th Century Fox films (such as CHARLIE CHAN AT TREASURE ISLAND). I always thought Vernon was a good comic and supporting player, but just 'out of type' when playing in westerns due to his fast, 'New Yawkish' accent.

In 1970, Wally Vernon and his wife were out walking and were struck by a hit and run driver. Wally passed away from his injuries.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Wally Vernon: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0894734/

Find A Grave website has a photo of the marker for Vernon at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles. The marker shows a 1904 birth year: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6102697


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