Robert Emmett 'Bob' Tansey

Bob and brother John Tansey working together ... circa 1923-1933.

1923 - Robert E. Tansey is directing two-reel shorts for All Nations Features, Inc. - one with World Champion speed skater Bobby McLean titled KING OF THE ICE and another about race horse Man O' War.
November 15, 1924 issue of Universal Weekly: "ROBERT TANSEY, who has just finished directing 'Buffalo Bill, Jr.,' a series of Westerns for Approved Pictures, has been engaged to assist Charles Lamont, who is directing ... Buddy Messinger's latest starring vehicle for Century."
October 27, 1926 Film Daily: "Robert (Bob) Tansey, former Century comedy director, who now is directing his own comedies for the independent market ..."
1928 - Bob Tansey is working with producer Arthur Hammond's Tele-Film Studios.
February 8, 1930 Hollywood Filmograph: "Many independents are preparing to make westerns. The Tansey Brothers have just bought 'Fightin' Mad,' an original screen play with dialogue, by Stephen Hurst. It is a western comedy-drama." ; "Jack Perrin is to play the lead; Edwin August (well known in the old 'Flying A' days) is to play the heavy." (This was ROMANCE OF THE WEST).
April 9, 1930 issue of Variety has Tansey under Arthur Hammond's Tele-Film Studios: "Robert Tansey Prods. producing westerns for states righters. Made one about a month ago, but nothing set for future production."
August 2, 1930 Motion Picture News has a poor review on ROMANCE OF THE WEST which starred Jack Perrin. A few quotes: "Robert and John Tansey directed. And even this double quota of directors contributed but little to pull the production from the depths of mediocrity." ; "sound and photoplay is passable."
November 17, 1931 Film Daily reported that "Robert Tansey of Tansey Productions, Hollywood, yesterday contracted to make eight melodramas for Jack Kopfstein, who will distribute the films nationally."
January 5, 1932 Variety reported the December 26, 1931 incorporation in Sacramento, California of Congress Pictures Corporation, Ltd., to Robert E. Tansey, John Tansey, Robert E. Wharff, Jay Chotiner, and G. Van Wieck.
April 12, 1932 Film Daily: " 'Thirteen Steps,' produced by Congress Pictures with Cornelius Keefe and Barbara Bedford, has been acquired by Imperial Distributing ... it was stated by William Pizor yesterday. Picture will be released May 15 (1932)."
May 24, 1932 Variety reported that Cornelius Keefe, Barbara Bedford, and Franklyn Farnum have filed wage claims amounting to $737 against Robert E. Tansey of Congress Pictures. Amount is balance for working in 'Thirteen Steps,' an indie, made at the Standard Sound studio in January. Trio received $400 cash among them at the time, the rest promised within 60 days.
August 9, 1932 Variety had more on Barbara Bedford and missing wages: "State labor commission is preparing to bring action against Tansey Brothers and Congress Pictures on behalf of Barbara Bedford, who claims $300 in unpaid salary."
June 10, 1933 Motion Picture Herald had a lukewarm review of 'Taming the Jungle' which was produced by Paul D. Wyman and released June 1, 1933 by Invincible. Bob and John Tansey directed, and Bob Tansey was the cameraman. Quotes from the review: "... is little more than a pictorial record of the manner in which wild animals ... are trained for exhibition." ; "... doubtful if the film ... is strong enough to be the feature mainstay ... but it may serve as a special attraction ..."

Bob Tansey doing Mounted Police adventures, Wally Wales shorts, and series westerns with John Wayne, Tim McCoy, Tex Ritter, Jack Randall, Tom Keene, Range Busters, Trail Blazers, Eddie Dean, more.

March 21, 1934 Hollywood Reporter: "John Preston, New York stage actor, has been signed by Empire Pictures to make a series of twelve Northwest Mounted Police pictures, to be produced and directed by Robert Emmett at the International Studios."
May 15, 1934 Variety: "... Bob Tansey has finished six three-reelers for William Pizor release and starts a mess of northwest mounties shortly."
August 4, 1934 Motion Picture Herald: "Robert Emmet of Empire Pictures has directed the first of the American Rough Rider series for Superior Talking Pictures, Inc. The first, 'Way of the West,' has Wally Wales and William Desmond."
August 18, 1934 Film Daily: "Twelve Northwest Mounted Police stories and 20 westerns are planned for 1934-35 by Empire Pictures, a new independent producing company headed by Robert Tansey with offices and studio space on the site of Charles Ray's old plant." ; "Robert Tansey is director in charge of Empire Pictures production, Al Lane is business executive and David Arlen is story editor. John Preston, new star, heads the cast in the Northwest Mounted Police stories."
September 8, 1934 Hollywood Filmograph: "Forced to leave the International Studio, owing to new management taking the lot over, the Empire Pictures are now located at the Alexander Bros. Studios, 6044 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood. Robert Emmett is due to leave any day for New York to talk matters over with Louis Weiss, who releases all of the Empire Pictures products this year."
October 30, 1934 Variety: Headline: "EMPIRE VS. WEISS, Producing Group Alleges Failure to Finance 3-Reelers" ; "Empire Pictures, through Al Lane and Robert Tansey, is demanding $80,000 damages from Louis Weiss and Superior Talking Pictures in Superior Court suit, claiming the latter breached a product cost and releasing contract for 12 pictures." (Found no follow-up on the lawsuit. But we do know that during this period,Tansey churned out two Northwest Mounted Police yarns with John Preston and a solo oater with Wally Wales.)
July 25, 1935 Motion Picture Daily: "The first picture to be released under the new Republic banner is a western starring John Wayne, 'Westward Ho.'" ; "... was produced by Paul Malvern, directed by R. N. Bradbury with original story, screen play and dialogue by Robert Emmett and Lindsley Parsons."
1936 - Tansey is doing stories and scripts on a couple Tom Tyler westerns for producers Harry Webb and B. B. Ray at Reliable Pictures.
September 24, 1936 Film Daily: "... new stories are in preparation for Edward Finney's next Westerns for Grand National, starring Tex Ritter." ; "... Robert Emmett is preparing an original entitled 'Heading for the Rio Grande.'"
June 26, 1937 Film Daily: "... Jack Randall's next for Monogram will be 'Where the West Begins,' by Robert Emmett ..."
June 30, 1937 Film Daily: "Tom Keene has been signed by Scott R. Dunlap, vice-president in charge of production, to play the starring role in a series of four westerns for Monogram. Keene will begin his initial Monogram production, 'God's Country and the Man,' an original story by Robert Emmett, July 7."
July 21, 1937 Film Daily: " ... 'God's Country and the Man' ... (Tom) Keene's initial western under his contract with Monogram." ; "... original story was written by Robert Emmett."
January 26, 1938 Variety: Robert Emmett is at Monogram doing the script for the Tim McCoy 'West of Rainbow's End' and producing and scripting the Tom Keene 'The Painted Trail".
August 4, 1938 Film Daily: "Monogram ... western starring Jack Randall, cowboy star. Robert Tansey will produce, Wallace Fox will direct from the script by Robert Emmett."
July 15, 1939 Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin: " ... Lindsley Parsons ... to devote his complete attention to the Jack Randall westerns he has been handling since Robert Tansey checked off the lot."
July 19, 1939 Variety: "... Robert Tansey ... signed to director contract by Producers Pictures."
August 7, 1939 Motion Picture Daily carried news of the releases for 1939 - 1940 from Producers Pictures Corp., the forerunner of PRC. Included was a series of Billy the Kid westerns, the first of which was " 'The Man from Oklahoma,' starring George Houston, with Robert Tansey, director." (That George Houston / Billy the Kid series didn't happen. Houston wound up a year or so later doing the Lone Rider series for PRC.)
April 23, 1941 Variety: "Tom Keene returns to Monogram after an absence of three years to star in a new group of westerns, replacing the Tex Ritter series on the 1941-42 program." ; " ... Robert Tansey producing."
May 21, 1941 Variety: "Betty Miles won the cowgirl title at the Saugus Rodeo and galloped into Prescott Pictures as the femme lead opposite Tom Keene in a series of westerns, beginning with 'Wanderers of the West.' "
June 11, 1941 Variety: "Robert Emmett signed to write series of westerns at Monogram."
February 27, 1943 Showmen's Trade Review: "Launching Monogram's third western series, Hoot Gibson and Ken Maynard have been signed as co-stars in a series of six pictures to be produced and directed by Robert Tansey, under the general title of 'The Trail Blazers.' "
June 15, 1943 Film Daily: "Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson will star in a group of eight westerns known as the 'Trail Blazers,' produced by Robert Tansey."
April 5, 1944 Motion Picture Daily: "Monogram has discontinued the Western series of the 'Trail Blazers' after completing five films in the group of eight. The group was made by Prescott Pictures. Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele will be co-starred in three Westerns remaining for Monogram production."
May 25, 1944 Motion Picture Daily: " 'Film Classics' first production venture will be a series of eight Westerns starring Eddie Dean of the Judy Canova radio show, according to Robert Tansey, who will produce. First of the series will be ready for August 1 (1944) release."
May 5, 1945 Motion Picture Herald: "PRC will produce a series of outdoor action pictures in color ... The series will star Eddie Dean, radio singer and screen player." ; "Robert Emmett will act as producer-director."

Bob Tansey - the end of the trail.

September 4, 1946 Variety: Jerry Thomas takes over the producer chores on the Eddie Dean series of westerns at PRC, recently relinquished by Robert Tansey.
September 7, 1946 Showmen's Trade Review: "Robert Tansey, producer-director of the Eddie Dean films, won his release from his PRC contract, after winding up the latest picture starring the singing cowboy, 'Stars Over Texas.' "
September 16, 1946 Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin: " 'Stars over Texas', one of the Eddie Dean specials ... is now in production on the lot. Robert Tansey, serving as producer-director on the film, will make this his last for PRC. He is leaving the company immediately upon completion of the film and will form his own company to work exclusively in Cinecolor specials."
February 1, 1947 Showmen's Trade Review: "Astor ... contracted with Walt Mattox of Western Attractions, to release his recently completed western feature, tentatively titled 'Harmony Trail' with Eddie Dean ... Ken Maynard ..." ; "The picture was directed by Robert Emmett."
April 23, 1947 Motion Picture Daily: "Robert Emmett has been signed by Paramount producers William Pine and William Thomas to direct 'Shaggy,' the pair's next color picture."
December 8, 1947 Variety: "Bob Tansey left for India to film jungle scenes for 'Man-Eaters of Kumaon,' which Monty Shaff and Frank Rosenberg will produce for Universal-International release."
June 17, 1948 Film Daily: "Robert Emmett Tansey, who was slated to direct the first two 'Cisco Kid' productions for Philip N. Krasne, has stepped out and Wallace Fox has taken over."
May 22, 1950 Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin had several poor reviews:
THE FIGHTING STALLION (1950) which Tansey helmed for Jack Schwarz's production company for Eagle-Lion. Review excerpts: "... this low-budget western which was whipped together for the less-discriminating tastes of the hoss opera audience. It is another 'wild horse' picture minus any production trimmings such as names or color." ; "... hokie dialogue and awkward performances. Forrest Taylor is about the only member of the cast to appear at ease ..." ; "Tansey had relied mainly upon scenes of horses fighting ... to pad out the action."
FORBIDDEN JUNGLE (1950) was another Tansey directing job for produceer Jack Schwarz and Eagle-Lion. Review excerpts: "This patchwork of second-hand jungle absurdity apparently was designed exclusively for an audience of subnormal children. No one else could be expected to sit through such nonsence without squirming."
June 26, 1950 Broadcasting magazine noted that "Franklin Television Productions ... currently producing ... western films for TV. John Jay Franklin is producer and Robert Tansey, director."