Raymond Hatton

by Frank M. Roberts

February 2017

Well, here's another silver screen cowboy hero -- admittedly not one of the better known horsemen (old joke: she was just a cowboy's daughter but all the 'horsemen' knew 'er). (Bad joke about a good guy). I'll wager that the name is not familiar.

The subject at hand is Raymond Hatton (who always rode with his 'hat' on.) He was born in one of my home states - Iowa, specifically, good, ole Red Oak. The date was July 7, 1892. By the by - that was his real name.

1892 -- obviously that meant he was the star of silent movies. And, what a way to start becoming a star -just wander about, which he did for awhile. Accidents will happen - he wandered onto a film set, and stayed around for a dozen years and hung and rode around for 73 films, makin' movies from 1938 to 1950.

Hatton was sort-of a Gabby Hayes forerunner, cavorting about as a Roy Rogers sidekick.

His dress code, to say the least, was - er - informal. Uniform of the day - tattered buckskins. We were used to seeing our western heroes on hossback but Hatton rode 'Dinah'. Species? Mule. Now, the 'Ranger' - the Lone One 'trademarked' 'Hi, yo, Silver. Our man, Hatton became sort-of well known hollering, what else? 'Hi Ho, Dinah'.

'Clownin' was eventually given a back seat when our hero became more of a straight man, supporting such folk as Rogers, later becoming one of The Three Mesquiteers in that famed series.

His most remembered roles - for those who might just remember varied little from ones he has been doing. He was in the 'Rough Riders' series with Tim McCoy and Buck Jones and, after the death of Mr. J. he took on Johnny Mack Brown as co-star.

Raymond Hatton died Oct. 21, 1971. So, 'hats off' to Hatton.

A couple of his flicks: He co-starred with Brown in, "Land Of the Outlaws," and "The Law Comes Gunsight." Also with Brown, the rugged looking hero was seen in "Border Bandits." (see Trump).

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I always close up shop with looks at some of the 'background' characters. This time, a look at a 'background-foreground' performer - a character actor who was really a character - Chill Wills. 2 to one you didn't know about that name. Well-ll -- the state of Texas' unofficial ambassador was born in Seagoville on the hottest July 18 ever recorded up to that time in that community. He was obviously, a hot commodity.

His showbiz career began when mom and pop put him in a West, TX. tent show. He became a teen-success, having appeared all over the Lone Star state by the time he was all of 12. The 'kid' hit the west coast in vaudeville, and worked with stock companies across the U. S.

Wills was 'discovered' while doing a singin' engagement at the Trocadero, a Hollywood hot spot. Films include "Boom Town, "Leave Her To Heaven, "See Here, Private Hargrove," "The Yearling," "Tulsa," "Kentucky Rifle," "The Alamo," and, "Giant."