Bob Steele

by Frank M. Roberts

February 2016

Hello, again, enthusiasts of the cowboy stars of several decades ago and, this go-'round a look at the original 'man of steel' - Bob Steele so, let's steel a look at this fairly well remembered western hero.

He had a rather 'fawncy' real name - Robert North Bradbury Jr. Well - excuuse me. He was born in 1907 in Pendleton, Oregon - passed away in 1988.

Career-wise, he was another actor who had an 'in' in the in-dustry. His dad, Bradbury Sr., was a director and, 'tis said the 'jr' was a natural for films so, he began his acting career with his brother in a series of short films for dear, ole dad. The 'corny' but appropriate title was, "The Adventures Of Bill and Bob." The latter stayed with acting, 't'other became -- a doctor, yet.

Saturday matinee fans, many of them, called Bob the best 'rider-actor-fighter' and to top it off, he was known as the fastest draw in westerns.

Mr. S was a big man on the screen but, in real life, he was, let's politely say, 'short in stature' It was his athletic ability that made him stand tall among the best, one of the reasons for a career that lasted 60 years - big years for the small cowboy.

(One of his movies was about the "Navajo Kid" - I kid you not).

He was probably a good guy but, had his 'bad' moments on the screen. He portrayed two of the most villainous characters ever put on film in two 'biggie' movies - "Of Mice and Men," and "The Big Sleep." However, and, be that as it may, he's remembered by fans for his westerns, often using the handle - "Battling Bob."

He was a 'battler' on screen, and off. He spent a few years in the ring as a professional fighter and, in the movies, he staged some of the most exciting fight scenes ever filmed.

In the early 1930s he moved from lot to lot - that's a lot of lots - to stay busy. In '32 and '33 he did 'B' films for good, ole Monogram. The next year, '34, that is - he was signed for a bundle - of films, if not money. He made 32 movies released by Republic and, it was on the strength of having him under contract, that enabled - get this - for that studio to obtain the services of one, Mr. Autry. The studio began promoting Gene in '37 and '38. Our man, Steele was number eight in the polls.

During that time, one of his movies was "Pinto Canyon" which co-starred Louise Stanley, Kenneth Duncan, and Ted Adams, all of whom are quite forgotten these days.

This, perhaps, is sort-of unusual when you're talking about 'B' westerns: Steele developed into one of the best lovers in those movies. Also, during that time, he made a short series for Bob Webb - that was in '39 and, for PRC, the company for which my poppa worked, he played Billy the Kid. That was in '41. One of those offerings took him to the Lone Star State - "Billy the Kid in Texas."

One of his films during that period was "Ambush Trail," which featured Syd Saylor, a not too unfamiliar character actor in those days.

Next, Steele made 16 of those popular "Three Mesquiteers" for Republic and, he was in another group, the Trailblazer Series for Monogram. It was at Republic that he was busy-busy-busy working all over, even playing Sunset Carson's 'Younger' brother in "Rio Grande Raiders." That was in 1946.

He finished his series work at PRC, making six films in '45 and '46. After all of that, he took on a lot of 'character' roles, staying quite busy the rest of his life and - remember this? - on television he was a central character in that great series, "F-Troop."

* * * *

And, as I like to do in this series - a look at some of the performers in what I call 'supporting-supporting' roles. Right now, a look at Russell Hicks, whose career took him on stage, in the movies, and on teevee.

He was born in Baltimore (the city of my family's origination). He graduated from a Maryland prep school then, of all things, he entered the world of business. Later, in spite of his parents' objections, he entered the world of motion pictures and, what a beginning. He had bit parts in two of D. W. Griffith's most famous movies - "Birth Of A Nation" and "Intolerance."

Hicks was one of Hollywood's busiest character actors. His western pix included "Overland Telegraph," "The Maverick," and "Seventh Cavalry."