Hoot Gibson

by Frank M. Roberts

November 2016

Howdy, podner - I'm back again with another look at the cowboy movie stars of yesteryear (i.e. '30s-'50s), the guys that kept us glued to our seats (rather uncomfortable) every Saturday afternoon. Today's subject is my personal favorite and, possibly, one of the least 'cowboyish' heroes.

Yes, I give a hoot for Hoot -- Gibson, that is. He was born Aug. 6 in a town with a good western name -- Tekahamah, Nebraska. Obviously, the 'Hoot' name came later. The birth certificate listed him as Edmund Richard Gibson. That nickname? This is semi-weird. When he was young he loved to hunt - ugh! - owls. See -- owls make a whohoot sound.

When he was but 14 his teen peers were in school readin', writin' and doin' rithmetic. Not our hero. He ran away from home and hearth and joined a circus. (Personal note - one of my friends in my growing up years, Eli Levinson, did the same). Next, the fickle finger of fate stepped in.

He worked on a ranch. A fellow worker was a guy named Tom Mix. (Another personal note. I deejayed in Corpus Christi and, nearby, were some apartments which, if memory serves, were owned by the Mix family). At that time, of course, neither cowboy contemplated film careers.

Anyway, H. G. was a restless rascal - a drifter, who soon developed into a rodeo champion. Next thing you know, he was in the movies but, at that time you wouldn't find his name listed in the credits. He was -- Hoot Gibson -- stuntman. Hit the dirt - BAM - but forget about getting rich. He made $2.50 per pic. His horse was paid the same amount. Did horsie turn it down? Neigh-nay. He galloped straight to the feed store.

However, stardom soon beckoned (here beckon, here beckon) and Hoot's first starring role was in 1921. From that year and, for so many to come, he became one of the most popular western stars. BUT, as happened with many others, the sound era reared its ugly head, threateniing to put an end to a promising career.

Hoot, mon (as they say in Glasgow) he was still working, but his address was Poverty Row. To add to his income he worked with a circus again, touring with them.

Then, a little bit of good fortune. Hoot had a resurgence with the 'Trailblazer' series in the early 1940s. When that was done the Hooters (no, not them) career came to an end. But, he did co-star with Ken Maynard and a couple of other cowboy cats - all in the afterglow of their careers. I think the term is -- down, but not out.

Hoot said this about his early career: "I hired out as an Indian before lunch then turned cowboy in the afternoon, and chased myself for $7.50." BUT - ah-ha! - he eventually got into big bucks country -- up to five figures weekly. At that time only Mix made more money. Our hero squandered on high living and poor investments.

After the last 'Trailblazer' film for Monogram, he chucked showbiz and sold real estate. Really - real estate (as opposed to make believe estate??).

Hoot retired to the motion picture home, where he died, a victim of cancer. The date was Aug. 23, 1962. Some of his films: "Chip Of the Flying U." (In Brooklyn it was advertised as, "Chip Of the Flying Youse.") And, there was "Rainbow's End," "The Calgary Stampede," "Painted Ponies," "Texas Streak." His first feature film was the silent - "Squaw Man," (the wild west story about which bathroom to use).

The cowboy star, a close friend of John Ford, also put in time as a producer and a director. Time at home was spent with Mrs. G, Dorothea Dunstan, and daughter, Lois.

I mentioned that he was my fave cowboy actor. I particularly enjoyed his personality, and his sense of humor. Good, ole Hoot.

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'tis our custom to end these articles with a look at some of the supporting performers who had a lot to do with the success of these 'B' westerns - those who lightened up and, this gentleman was all over the screen - sad-faced, Slim Summerville. (The first name was George). He was earthbound from 1892 to 1946, usually portraying 'hicks'. (I keep mine in a cup).

The thin one was born in Albuquerque, raised in Canada and Oklahoma. Like so many actors in those days, he began his screen life as a Keystone Cop. Work? It was steady-plus. Believe it or not, as Ripley used to say, he appeared, by one count, in 630 pictures - comedies, usually, although he did play it serious in one of the greatest movies, "All Quiet On the Western Front."

He was tall and thin and, it's safe to say, he relied on blank stares and understatement. Slim-man's busiest times were in the 1930s.

Summerville movies included "Tobacco Road," "Jesse James," "The Country Doctor," "Way Down East," "The Farmer Takes A Wife," "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm," and he appeared in several joyous flicks with Zasu Pitts and her sister, "Peach."