Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks [Hardcover]

David Rothel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1984 | ISBN-10: 0810817071 | ISBN-13: 978-0810817074 | Edition: First Edition

Features in-depth profiles of such fondly remembered comic character actors as George 'Gabby' Hayes, Smiley Burnette, Andy Devine, Max Terhune, and Fuzzy Knight--39 sidekicks in all. Rothel interviewed Charles 'Durango Kid' Starrett, Buster Crabbe, Gene Autry, Lash La Rue, Roy Rogers, and many other Western stars, sidekicks, and extras. With over 200 photos; filmographies, bibliography, and index.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...Will be a source of nostalgic enjoyment for anyone who grew up during the matinee movie era or who watched B westerns on television. (Booklist )

The best treatment available... (Film Quarterly )

...Exceedingly interesting comments by various coworkers of the sidekicks... (The Big Reel )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 325 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press; First Edition edition (June 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810817071
• ISBN-13: 978-0810817074
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,763,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author David Rothel's lifelong fascination with show business began with frequent visits to the three movie theatres in Elyria, Ohio, where he was intrigued and inspired by what he saw on the silver screen. He has since gone from youthful observer to published authority on various aspects of popular entertainment, all of which is reflected in his twelve books on show business history. Through the years David has been an educator teaching speech, drama, and language arts in both Ohio and Florida. He was director of the federally-funded Sarasota Visual and Performing Arts Center, a magnet school for students interested in the arts. From the 1970s through 2003, David interviewed dozens of show business personalities for his radio program "Nostalgia Newsbreak" in Sarasota, Florida,and for "Guest Star" panels at film festivals where he was the moderator. He has drawn from those interviews/conversations for his latest book, "Opened Time Capsules: My Vintage Conversations with Show Business Personalities." David has been a professional theatre producer/director in Florida for the Players Theatre and from 2004 to 2008 in Georgia for the Black Bear Dinner Theatre. He has produced and directed such shows as "Hello Dolly," "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," "Oliver!," "The Music Man," "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," and in 2007 directed and performed the role of King Arthur in a Black Bear Dinner Theatre production of the musical "Camelot." David's fascination with the western film genre caused him to research and write books on many of the leading stars of those films. He had the opportunity to personally interview Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and other leading and supporting players for his books. David's book on western film locations, "An Ambush of Ghosts: a Personal Guide to Favorite Western Film Locations," was twice featured in Leonard Maltin segments on "Entertainment Tonight." His book "The Singing Cowboys" led to an appearance on NPR's "All Things Considered." The BBC's "Omnibus" television series featured David's book "The Great Show Business Animals" on one of its programs. David Rothel is currently working on a new book which he has entitled "The Case Files of the Oriental Sleuths: Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto, and Mr. Wong."
David and his wife Nancy live in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "where would the hero be without his sidekick ~ David Rothel", October 9, 2005

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks (Paperback)

David Rothel presents "Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks", telling the inside story in depth of some of the men who rode along the heroes of B-Westerns...39 actors who were known as "sidekicks"...chapters that give the sidekicks breath and life as only author David Rothel can deliver through his pen...many of the chapters interview actors, director and other cast members who worked closely with the actors in this wonderful book...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.

Table of Contents (Chapter, Title and Page Numbers)

Acknowledgments - 7
A Few Words Before Saddling Up - 9
Chapter 1 - Out Where a friend Is a Friend: The Sidekick Superstars - 11
Smiley Burnette - 13
George "Gabby" Hayes - 49
Al "Fuzzy" St. John - 71
Chapter 2 - Old Faithfuls: Other Saddle Pals of the Celluloid Range - 89
"Arkansas" Slim Andrews - 96
Roscoe "Soapy" Ates - 101
Pat Buttram - 107
Andy "California" Clyde - 117
Andy "Jingles" Devine - 129
Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards - 141
Raymond Hatton - 147
Fuzzy Knight - 159
Emmett Lynn - 175
Richard "Chito" Martin - 185
Dub "Cannonball" Taylor - 195
Max "Lullaby" Terhune - 205
Lee "Lasses" White - 215
Chapter 3 - I'm Just a Cowpoke Pokin' Along: Roundin' Up the Strays - 225
Pat Brady - 227
Cisco's Sidekicks
a) Leo Carrillo - 233
b) Chris-pin Martin - 236
c) Martin Garralaga - 237
d) Frank Yaconelli - 237
Rufe Davis - 241
Jimmie Dodd - 245
Buddy Ebsen - 247
Sterling Holloway -251
Paul Hurst - 255
Gordon Jones - 259
Pinky Lee - 263
Tom London - 267
Frank Mitchell - 271
Horace Murphy and Snub Pollard - 275
Slim Pickens - 281
Syd Saylor - 285
Wally Vernon - 289
Eddy Waller - 293
Guy Wilkerson - 299
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams - 303
Chill Wills - 309
Britt Wood - 315
Bibliography - 317
Name Index - 320
About the Author - 325

We all know every sidekick was a scene stealer, you could just sit back and watch all the fun unfold in each scene...remember the likes of Pat Brady, Smiley Burnette, Andy Clyde, Leo Carrillo, Andy Devine, Gabby Hayes, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight, Al Fuzzy St. John and Dub Taylor were all personal favorites of mine growing up with "Saturday Morning Matinee", or running to the local theater when they'd showed three films on the weekend nights (all B-Westerns)...many sidekicks took a back seat to the hero, but there were times when the comic relief made the difference for a bad film and you left the "flick" feeling good...where we'd be without them.

My favorite side-kick of all time was George "Gabby" Hayes from the early days of John Wayne, Bill Boyd (Hoppy), Roy Rogers, Wild Bill Elliott (Red Ryder) and Randolph Scott films...Mr. "Gabby" Hayes could do no wrong in my eyes. He and I even agreed on not liking girls, he would call them "purr-snickergardy" women...and I totally agreed with him at the tender age of nine years old. Gabby could not only make me laugh, but also make me cry...his code of fair play was his bond, and he was always there when the hero needed a helping..."you're durn tootin'"...he always gave us the impression that he was having the time of his life.

Hats off to our friends at Empire Publishing as Mr. David Rothel puts down on paper without a doubt the best book commemorating the actors and their rare talent that helped make the B-Western great...Rothel shares many facts inclusive within their own individual sections in the book...things have only now come to light as Rothel answers many questions about the B-Western era...If you're into the memories of the B-Western, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for...and saddle pals, it was well worth the wait...another winner from David Rothel (one of my favorite authors) and Empire Publishing...gotta love it!

Total Page: 328 ~ Empire Publishing 0-944019-35-8 ~ (6/15/2001)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks, July 26, 2007

By 

Mr. Cobb "baseball legend" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks (Paperback)

This book was everything that I hoped it would be. All the old great sidekicks were included. It was like stepping back into my childhood and spending time with old friends.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for western fans, April 17, 2010

By 

Dr. James Gardner (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks (Paperback)

Ever wonder what happened to Smiley Burnett or Gabby Hayes? How about Pat Buttram or Fuzzy Knight? Do the names Dub Taylor, Ray Hatton, and Sterling Holloway ring a bell? Do you wonder what Slim Pickins was doing before he rode the A bomb in "Dr Strangelove"? Or who was Roy Rogers favorite sidekick? If any of this rings a bell, then you'll love the book "Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks" by David Rothel.

Rothel gives us multiple looks at 40 of the biggest sidekicks in film (and TV) history. He gives us quotes from the people who worked with them, their friends, and relatives. As well, he provides hundreds of photos from their film and personal lives, and in some cases, recent photos taken with the author at various Western conferences.

The book is not only a biography of the sidekicks, but includes lots of material about the stars themselves. He talks about Dale Evans and Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, John Wayne, Bob Steele, Jock Mahoney, Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Boyd, Bill Elliott, Tex Ritter, Randolph Scott, etc.

Film fans, especially fans of the western, will find this book essential.