Buck Jones

by Frank M. Roberts

February 2016

Here's another entry in our series about the cowboy stars of yesteryear, the crew that kept us kids entranced every Saturday. Today, a look at a ridin' ropin' character named Jones - specifically, Buck Jones. So, you paid less than a buck to see Buck.

He was born in Vincennes, Indiana on Dec. 4, 1889, and he died Nov. 8, 1941. He did not originally have that easy-to-remember moniker. His birth certificate lists him as Charles Frederick Gebhard. He became one of the biggest western stars to emerge in the early 1920s. Fox, his studio, built him up fast as a companion to their number one box office hero - Tom Mix.

A promotion for "The Avenger" shows a serious-looking cowboy with a pencil-thin mustach as 'The Black Shadow' who "plays with mens lives and with women's hearts." Whoa! The woman, with whom his heart played with in this series of flicks was Dorothy Revier.

He was part of a very succesful trio that hit the screens in those days. They were The Rough Riders and, one of their offerings took them "Below the Borders" hopefully with the proper papers to get there. Others joining that gang were Raymond Hatton, a very popular back-up actor and - get this - a horsie named Silver. No, not the Lone Ranger's hi-yo horsie.

Buck's own life is the stuff of excitement. As a young man he ran away from home and joined the service at age 17 - the same age as when yours truly signed up. Jones saw action in Mexico and the Phillipines with the cavalry. I saw action in Nome. Anyway, Buck-aroo was discharged in 1913 and, right away, went to work with a wild west show. In the movies he was often modestly billed as 'The Great Buck Jones' a title that probably had a villain or two shivering.

In "The Throwback" the 'great' star co-starred with Muriel Evans, Eddie Phillips, and Bryant Washburn.

He entered films as a lot of stars of those days did - working as a stuntman. It was his riding skills and athletic build that kept him on top in popularity for 57 films (ketchup?). He was the biggie star during the 1920s for Fox.

He made more than 100 'B' westerns for Fox, Columbia, and Monogram during the next decade and, when sound entered the picture(s) it didn't bother him at all. He had an excellent voice. One of his hits of that long-ago era was called, "Silver Spurs."

For Columbia, a fairly well-heeled studio, Buck made features as well as serials. In 1933, his "Gordon Of Ghost City" is a pleasure to watch. It blends action, romance, and comedy and one critic described his work on screen as 'unequalled'.

Interestingly, Buck even played the villain once. That was for Republic. Possibly, he must have had in mind changing to character roles because his starring career was waning. Well, the fans hated that idea so, once again, he was the hero.

After his days with Columbia were over, he made what some critics call 'the best western serial ever'. That was "Riders Of Death Valley." He was not billed as the main star, but 'twas said that he carried the film where it counts - the box-office.

In 1911 Buck, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton began the Rough Riders series for Monogram. He died in the headline-making nightclub fire at The Coconut Grove."

To put it succinctly - it was one helluva career.

* * * *

Our look at some of the other 'westerners' in this series brings us to a nice, nice guy with whom I spent several hours. At the time, he was the assistant engineer on the "Petticoat Junction" r.r.train. The chief engineer, who we spotlighted elsewhere, was Smiley Burnette. Rounding out the trio at that gathering was a good friend of mine, Frank Rice, who was part of the team of Mustard and Gravy. The gent I am talking about this time was Rufe Davis, a Dinson, Oklahoma native who was born in 1908.

He began his acting career in amateur shows (so did I, and that was as far as I got). He was picked up from those shows by the Dubinsky Brothers Stock Company and, subsequentally, he appeared with the very popular Weaver Brothers & Elviry. He was seen in "The Larry Rich Show," and, "The Radio Rubes" acts, finally getting his own act.

Davis arrived in Hollywood in 1937, eventually appearing in 49 motion pictures. It was in 1963 when he became a part of the "Petticoat Junction" cast.

Among his movie credits - pix with a western touch - were "Mountain Music," and "Ambush," and he also appeared in the western series as one of The Three Mesquiteers. Non cowboy pix included "Cocoanut Grove" (see the Jones story, above), "Big Broadcast Of 1938," "This Way Please" (no, he was not an usher), "Blossoms of Broadway," and "Dr. Rhythm." Incidentally, his "Ambush" co-stars included the estimable Lloyd Nolan and, opera star, Gladys Swarthout.

See ya next time, with more info about the western stars of olde.