The Three Mesquiteers Trio Westerns of Republic Pictures

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from GHOST TOWN GOLD (Republic, 1936), the second Mesquiteers adventure and the first with Max Terhune (and his dummy Elmer).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from RANGE DEFENDERS (Republic, 1937).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card from RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (Republic, 1937), the fourth film in the Three Mesquiteers series. In the center, Ray Corrigan is mixing it up with Roger Williams, the main heavy in the film. Max Terhune is on the left and Bob Livingston is shown on the right.

Variant 2 - fourteen films
Bob Livingston (as Stony Brooke) Ray Corrigan (as Tucson Smith) Max Terhune (as Lullaby Joslin)	GHOST TOWN GOLD (1936) ROARIN' LEAD (1936) RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (1937) HIT THE SADDLE (1937) GUNSMOKE RANCH (1937) COME ON, COWBOYS ! (1937) RANGE DEFENDERS (1937) HEART OF THE ROCKIES (1937) WILD HORSE RODEO (1937) THE PURPLE VIGILANTES (1938) CALL THE MESQUITEERS (1938) OUTLAWS OF SONORA (1938) (dual role for Bob Livingston) RIDERS OF THE BLACK HILLS (1938) HEROES OF THE HILLS (1938)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the cover of the pressbook for CALL THE MESQUITEERS.

This run of fourteen films --- fifteen if you count THE TRIGGER TRIO (next page) when Ralph 'Dick Tracy' Byrd subbed for the injured Livingston --- saw the team of Livingston, Corrigan and Terhune establish themselves in their Three Mesquiteers roles.

In all probability, one or more of these trio escapades are among your B-western favorites. The plotlines were varied --- the Mesquiteers were up against Cattlemans Protective Association baddies in ROARIN' LEAD (1936); there were Indian drums and eerie goings-on in RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (1937); the boys assist a traveling circus (with Corrigan donning his ape suit) in COME ON, COWBOYS ! (1937); and there were lots of face masks and capes in THE PURPLE VIGILANTES (1938).

In most of these, Yakima Canutt was doing stuntwork ... and he was often in front of the camera playing a member of the gang or some other bit/supporting role.

Not too many misses among this batch.

Above is a screen capture from RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL (Republic, 1937), the fourth film in the Three Mesquiteers series. The intrepid trio of Bob Livingston, Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, and Max Terhune are with an expedition searching for a missing archaeologist and a lost city. At about 35 minutes into the film, they come across the skull, high atop a mountain overlooking the lost city. And desert winds blowing through the skeletal head cause a strange whistling sound. Superb B western with atmosphere, story, action ... everything.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Corrigan, Terhune and Livingston in GHOST TOWN GOLD (Republic, 1936). The initial "range costumes" on both Corrigan and Livingston would change as the Mesquiteers series matured. Note the tallish Stetson and pattern shirt on Livingston, and the double-action revolver carried by Corrigan (instead of the traditional single-action).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Imagine the real life reaction of our three heroes when they had to do this talent show scene in ROARIN' LEAD (Republic, 1936) with the Meglin Kiddies. Run by former Ziegfeld girl Ethel Meglin, the Meglin Professional Children's School (and several other name variations) catered to young Hollywood hopefuls ... or more probably, to the parents who wanted their children in movies and other entertainment venues. Shirley Temple and Judy Garland were among the attendees at the school.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from L-to-R are Kenneth Harlan, Livingston and Corrigan in this lobby card from GUNSMOKE RANCH (Republic, 1937). Corrigan and Livingston are now wearing the shirts, pants, hats and gunbelts that we generally remember as their costumes.

(From Old Corral collection)

In this lobby card from OUTLAWS OF SONORA (Republic, 1938), Corrigan and Terhune are in the center and the muscular Corrigan is shown on the right. The supporting player with the green pants and vest is Tom London, a veteran of hundreds of western films.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Left to right are lawman Forrest Taylor, Bob Livingston, Ray 'Crash' Corrigan and Max Terhune in a still from HEROES OF THE HILLS (Republic, 1938).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above production still after the brawl at Mike's garage in CALL THE MESQUITEERS (Republic, 1938). From left to right are: Tex Hall, Bob Livingston, Max Terhune, unidentified player, Loren Riebe and Ray Corrigan. And is anybody paying attention to Tex Hall on the left with the six-shooter in his belt?

(From Old Corral collection)

About eleven years after RIDERS OF THE WHISTLING SKULL, screen writer Oliver Drake adapted the plot for the Charlie Chan mystery THE FEATHERED SERPENT (Monogram, 1948). And a graying and moustached Bob Livingston was in that film.

From L-to-R are Keye Luke, Beverly Jons, Nils Asther, Roland Winters (as Charlie Chan), Carol Forman, Bob Livingston and Erville Alderson.

If you're a cliffhanger fan, does the name Carol Forman strike a bell? She portrayed the evil villainess "Sombra" in THE BLACK WIDOW (Republic, 1947) chapterplay.