Al 'Fuzzy' St. John

by Frank M. Roberts

January 2016

Ole Fuzz is one of the most famous cowboy movie sidekicks. And, what a character this character was. In 1937, he worked with a long forgotten western star - Fred Scott. And, that's where Fuzzy became 'Fuzzy'. It was a case of expediency. The scriptwriter had a character ridin' 'round with Mr. Scott - a character called Fuzzy. Already written into the script was a Fuzzy Night so, Al made it Fuzzy Q. Jones.

His real name was Al St.John (honest) and, he was born in the high falutin' city of Santa Ana, CA. The birthday was Sept. 10, 1893. He died Jan. 21, 1963. In between, he was one busy, in demand, fuzz.

Like so many in moviedom, he had a head start. His uncle was one of the famous comics of the silent screen era - Fatty Arbuckle. (They should have starred together - Fatty and Fuzzy). The heavy set one began his screen career as one of Mack Sennett's original Keystone Cops, and ended it with a well-known scandal. In 1927 nephew Fuzzy had his own series of two-reelers for Paramount.

He began his western career as a member of the Hopalong Cassidy crew and, he wasn't particularly funny. He was usually a bad guy. He had an exciting death scene in "Bar 20 Rides Again." Soon, he developed the Fuzzy character.

Oh, yeah, he was a sidekick - he was the busiest. He worked with more western stars than any other sidekick. A few: Hopalong Cassidy, Randolph Scott, Bob Livingston, Bob Steele, Buster Crabbe, Lash LaRue, and Tom Mix. (When I lived in Corpus Christi I resided in an apartment owned by the Mix family). And, at one time he made three series simultaneously.

When the Buster Crabbe series ended in 1946, Fuzzy started a series with a young man dressed all in black (no, not Johnny Cash). LaRue carried a whip and, this became the partnership remembered by most fans.

When Lash quit 'lashing, the famed sidekick hit the road, travelling extensively across the South, working with carnival shows. He died between shows in Valdosta, GA. during a 1963 tour. I remember his 'bashful - what's goin' on here look.

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George Cleveland was all over the place in movies and on teevee. As far as the public is concerned he was best known as 'Gramps', a gentle good-hearted character in the Lassie shows.

He was born in Nova Scotia and, his caree covered 58 years of stage, vaudeville, movies, radio and television. He went to Hollywood to appear in the movie, "Mystery Liner," with Noah Berry Sr. Altogether, he appeared in more than 150 pictures. Westerns included "Albuquerque," "Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap," "Carson City," and Cripple Creek."

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Here's another one for you. Andy Clyde was born in Blairgowrie, Scotland, yet. He wisely emigrated to the United States and, beginning in 1929 appeared in many feature films. He was seldom, if ever, cast as a Scot (unlike Randolph). Hoot mon - he played in a slew of westerns including - here he is again - the Hopalong Cassidy series. Some of his westerns were "Annie Oakley," "Abilene Trail," "Arizona Territory," and "Road To Denver." I remember him as constantly in need of a shave, and a wide-eyed 'what's goin' on here' expression. He was born in 1892, died in 1967.

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Not as well known was usually clean-shaven, Edmund Cobb, who was born in 1892. I guess you can call this a headstart: He was the grandson of Kansas Senator, Edmund G. Ross, later serving as Governor of the Territory of New Mexico.

Cobb was born in Albuquerque and had some early stock and vaudeville experience. He made his first movie waaay back in 1910 or 1911. He had the distinction of having played a bit part in the first serial ever made and, many years later he appeared in the first sound serial ever made. A man of cinematic history.

He played in many serials over the years, and made more than 100 two-reel westerns for Universal. The clean-shaven actor appeared in, among others, "Gun Law Justice," with Jimmy Wakely.