Range Busters
Encyclopedia
The Range Busters were a film series
of 25 Western
s of the adventures of a trio of cowboys, many filmed at the Corriganville Movie Ranch
, produced by George W. Weeks and distributed by Monogram Pictures
.
The Three Mesquiteers
series. When he and ventriloquist Max Terhune
who had made 21 films in the series both had disputes over money with Republic, Corrigan went to producer George W. Weeks with the idea of a similar series that would be distributed by Monogram Pictures
and filmed at the Movie ranch
with Western
sets owned by Corrigan, the Corriganville Movie Ranch
in the Simi Hills
of the Simi Valley
. Corrigan said in an interview that he received 50% of the profits of the series.
For a third member ot the trio (or third and a half if you include Terhune's dummy Elmer) Monogram chose singing cowboy
John "Dusty" King who had the lead in Monogram's The Gentleman from Arizona.
The first film in the series in 1940 was appropriately titled The Range Busters. Monogram also had another "Trigger Trio" series of "the Rough Riders" which ended in 1942 after Buck Jones
's death and Colonel Tim McCoy
returning to active service.
Though the characters were the same, the series inexplicably changed time periods, going to contemporary times for 1942's Texas to Bataan
, Cowboy Commandos and Black Market Rustlers (both 1943) then reverting to the Wild West days for the others in the series.
Corrigan left the series temporarily over money disputes and was replaced by ace stuntman David Sharpe beginning with Texas to Bataan. In Haunted Ranch
(1943) Sharpe enlists in the US Army to fight in the Spanish American War. In real life both Sharpe and King joined the US Army Air Forces. Corrigan returned to replace Sharpe with Deputy Rex Lease
taking Sharpe's place half way though the film. Dennis 'Denny' Moore
replaced Lease in the last four films of the series that ended in 1943's Bullets and Saddles. An experienced Western star, Moore was unfit for military service due to the injuries he received in an airplane crash.
After the last Range Buster film, 1943's Bullets and Saddles, Corrigan mostly played in films wearing his gorilla suit
in such films as Nabonga
and gave his full attention to Corriganville. When Corrigan opened Corriganville
for the general public, he hired Terhune to entertain.
Film series
A film series is a collection of related films in succession. Their relationship is not fixed, but generally share a common diegetic world. Sometimes the work is conceived as a multiple-film work, for example the Three Colours series, but in most cases the success of the original film inspires...
of 25 Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
s of the adventures of a trio of cowboys, many filmed at the Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction...
, produced by George W. Weeks and distributed by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
.
Production
Ray "Crash" Corrigan had previously made 24 films in Republic PicturesRepublic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
The Three Mesquiteers
The Three Mesquiteers
The Three Mesquiteers is the umbrella title for a series of 51 western B-movies released between 1936 and 1943, including 8 films starring John Wayne...
series. When he and ventriloquist Max Terhune
Max Terhune
Max Terhune , was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956....
who had made 21 films in the series both had disputes over money with Republic, Corrigan went to producer George W. Weeks with the idea of a similar series that would be distributed by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
and filmed at the Movie ranch
Movie ranch
A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated to being used as a site for the creation and production of motion pictures, and television productions...
with Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
sets owned by Corrigan, the Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction...
in the Simi Hills
Simi Hills
The Simi Hills are a low rocky mountain range of the Transverse Ranges, located in eastern Ventura County and western Los Angeles County, of southern California, United States.-Geography:...
of the Simi Valley
Simi Valley
Simi Valley is a synclinal valley in Southern California in the United States. It is an enclosed or hidden valley surrounded by mountains and hills. It is connected to the San Fernando Valley to the east by the Santa Susana Pass & 118 freeway, and in the west the narrows of the Arroyo Simi and 118...
. Corrigan said in an interview that he received 50% of the profits of the series.
For a third member ot the trio (or third and a half if you include Terhune's dummy Elmer) Monogram chose singing cowboy
Singing cowboy
A singing cowboy was a subtype of the archetypal cowboy hero of early Western films, popularized by many of the B-movies of the 1930s and 1940s...
John "Dusty" King who had the lead in Monogram's The Gentleman from Arizona.
The first film in the series in 1940 was appropriately titled The Range Busters. Monogram also had another "Trigger Trio" series of "the Rough Riders" which ended in 1942 after Buck Jones
Buck Jones
Buck Jones was an American motion picture star of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, best known for his work starring in many popular western movies...
's death and Colonel Tim McCoy
Tim McCoy
Col. Tim McCoy was an American actor, military officer, and expert on American Indian life and customs.-Early years:...
returning to active service.
Though the characters were the same, the series inexplicably changed time periods, going to contemporary times for 1942's Texas to Bataan
Texas to Bataan
Texas to Bataan is a 1942 American film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey featuring the Range Busters.The film is also known as The Long, Long Trail in the United Kingdom.- Plot summary :...
, Cowboy Commandos and Black Market Rustlers (both 1943) then reverting to the Wild West days for the others in the series.
Corrigan left the series temporarily over money disputes and was replaced by ace stuntman David Sharpe beginning with Texas to Bataan. In Haunted Ranch
Haunted Ranch
- Cast :*John "Dusty" King as "Dusty" King*Dave Sharpe as Davy Sharpe*Max Terhune as "Alibi" Terhune*Elmer as Elmer - Alibi's Dummy*Julie Duncan as Helen Weston*Glenn Strange as Rance Austin*Charles King as Henchman Chuck*Bud Osborne as Henchman Ed...
(1943) Sharpe enlists in the US Army to fight in the Spanish American War. In real life both Sharpe and King joined the US Army Air Forces. Corrigan returned to replace Sharpe with Deputy Rex Lease
Rex Lease
Rex Lloyd Lease was an American actor. He appeared in over 300 films, mainly in westerns. Lease was accused in 1930 by Vivian Duncan of the Duncan Sisters for assault...
taking Sharpe's place half way though the film. Dennis 'Denny' Moore
Dennis Moore (actor)
Dennis Moore was an actor who specialized in western films and film serials....
replaced Lease in the last four films of the series that ended in 1943's Bullets and Saddles. An experienced Western star, Moore was unfit for military service due to the injuries he received in an airplane crash.
After the last Range Buster film, 1943's Bullets and Saddles, Corrigan mostly played in films wearing his gorilla suit
Gorilla suit
Gorilla suits or ape suits are full-bodied costumes resembling gorillas or other large primates.Gorilla suits have been used both to represent real gorillas in film and on stage, and also as a source of humour...
in such films as Nabonga
Nabonga
Nabonga is a PRC film made in 1943 starring Buster Crabbe and in her debut, Julie London. It was retitled Jungle Woman in the British Empire.- Plot :...
and gave his full attention to Corriganville. When Corrigan opened Corriganville
Corriganville Movie Ranch
Corriganville Movie Ranch was a working film studio and movie ranch for outdoor location shooting, as well as a Western-themed tourist attraction...
for the general public, he hired Terhune to entertain.