fbpx
Wikipedia

Ken Maynard

January 06, 2023

For the cartoonist, see Ken Maynard (cartoonist).

Kenneth Olin Maynard (July 21, 1895 – March 23, 1973)[3] was an American actor and producer. He was mostly active from the 1920s to the 1940s and considered one of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood.

Ken Maynard
Maynard with his horse Tarzan (1936)
Born
Kenneth Olin Maynard

(1895-07-21)July 21, 1895
Vevay, Indiana, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 1973(1973-03-23) (aged 77)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn, Cypress, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active1923–1972
Spouse(s)Mary Leeper Maynard (m. 1926–1939)[1]
Bertha Maynard (m. 1940–1968)[2]
RelativesKermit Maynard (brother)

Maynard was also an occasional screenwriter and director. In 1960, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the film industry.

Biography

Maynard was born in Vevay, Indiana, United States,[3] one of five children, another of whom, his lookalike younger brother, Kermit, would also become an actor;[3] most audience members assumed that Kermit was his brother's identical twin. Ken Maynard began working at carnivals and circuses, where he became an accomplished horseman. As a young man, he performed in rodeos and was a trick rider with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Maynard served in the United States Army during World War I. After the war, Maynard returned to show business as a circus rider with Ringling Brothers. When the circus was playing in Los Angeles, California, actor Buck Jones encouraged Maynard to try working in the movies. Maynard soon had a contract with Fox Studios.[4]

He first appeared in silent motion pictures in 1923 as a stuntman or supporting actor.[3] In 1924, he began working in western features, where his horsemanship and rugged good looks made him a cowboy star. Maynard's silent features showcased his daredevil riding, photographed fairly close so audiences could see that Maynard was doing his own stunts with his white stallion "Tarzan." The action scenes were so spectacular that they were often reused in films of the 1930s, starring either Maynard himself or John Wayne, or Dick Foran. (Wayne, and later Foran, starred in westerns for Warner Bros. and were costumed like Maynard to match the old footage.)

Maynard made a successful transition to talking pictures and became the movies' first singing cowboy in 1929 Talkie Hit from Universal Picture "The Wagon Master" were he sang both The Cowboy's Lament and The Lone Star Trail. He recorded eight songs for Columbia Records "The Cowboy's Lament (Columbia 2310-D 149832 and "The Lone Star Trail" (Columbia 2310=D 149833) became the only issued album. Ken Maynard gifted the eight one sided pressings of his 4/14/1930 recording session with Columbia Records to the John Edwards Memorial Foundation.

 
Maynard and Tarzan in The Fiddlin' Buckaroo, 1933

Maynard's first talkies were made for Universal Pictures. His reckless screen personality spilled over into his private life, with alcoholism and high living resulting in production delays and temper tantrums on the set. This made Maynard a problem employee, and he was released from Universal after one year. Other independent producers took a chance on the hotheaded star—among them Tiffany Productions and Sono Art-World Wide Pictures—before he returned to Universal in 1933. Maynard played several musical instruments, and was featured that year on the violin in The Fiddlin' Buckaroo, and on the banjo in The Trail Drive. Author James Horwitz has recounted the end of Maynard's tenure at Universal: when studio head Carl Laemmle asked Maynard why his latest production was such a very bad picture, the frustrated Maynard retorted, "Mr. Laemmle, I have made you eight very bad pictures," and walked out on Laemmle and Universal.[5]

 
Maynard in In Old Santa Fe (1934)

In 1934, producer Nat Levine hired Ken Maynard for a serial, Mystery Mountain, and planned to make a series of western features with Maynard, beginning with In Old Santa Fe. Maynard's unprofessionalism cost him the job; after In Old Santa Fe Levine replaced Maynard with a singer in his supporting cast, Gene Autry. Maynard kept working in Hollywood, but in smaller productions, until 1940.

He returned to the screen in 1943 for low-budget Monogram Pictures in a new series called "The Trail Blazers." He was teamed with fellow veteran stars Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele, and the trio offered action for the kids and nostalgia for their elders. It was not long before Maynard's raging temperament again cost him the job; he liked Gibson but did not like Steele, and left the series after seven films. One final film, Harmony Trail, was made by independent producer Walt Mattox in 1944; just as one of Maynard's films had introduced cowboy star Gene Autry, this final Maynard film introduced the new singing cowboy Eddie Dean.

Maynard turned his back on the movies and made appearances at state fairs and rodeos. He owned a small circus operation featuring rodeo riders, but eventually lost it to creditors. His substantial wealth had vanished, and he lived a desolate life as an alcoholic in a rundown trailer. During these years, Maynard was supported by an unknown benefactor, long thought to be Gene Autry.[6] More than 25 years after his last starring role, Maynard returned to the screen in two small roles in Bigfoot (1970) and The Marshal of Windy Hollow (filmed in 1972 but never released).

Death

Maynard died of stomach cancer in 1973 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California.[7] He was interred at Forest Lawn Cypress Cemetery, in Cypress, California. Maynard's funeral is described in detail in James Horwitz's book They Went Thataway.[5]

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ken Maynard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Blvd.

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Ken Maynard - Whirlwind Horseman". B-westerns.com. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Ken Maynard". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 264. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  4. ^ Phillips, Robert W. Singing Cowboy Stars. Salt Lake City: Gibbs-Smith, 1994. pp. 14-16
  5. ^ a b Horwitz, James. They Went Thataway (1978). Ballantine Books; . ISBN 0-345-27126-2
  6. ^ Singing In The Saddle, by Ranger Douglas B. Green. ISBN 0-8265-1506-1
  7. ^ "Ken Maynard of Westerns Dies". The New York Times. 25 March 1973. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

External links

  • Ken Maynard at IMDb
  • b-westerns bio
  • Ken Maynard Collection at the Autry National Center
  • Ken Maynard at Find a Grave
  • Ken Maynard at Virtual History

January 06, 2023
maynard, cartoonist, cartoonist, kenneth, olin, maynard, july, 1895, march, 1973, american, actor, producer, mostly, active, from, 1920s, 1940s, considered, biggest, western, stars, hollywood, maynard, with, horse, tarzan, 1936, bornkenneth, olin, maynard, 189. For the cartoonist see Ken Maynard cartoonist Kenneth Olin Maynard July 21 1895 March 23 1973 3 was an American actor and producer He was mostly active from the 1920s to the 1940s and considered one of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood Ken MaynardMaynard with his horse Tarzan 1936 BornKenneth Olin Maynard 1895 07 21 July 21 1895Vevay Indiana U S DiedMarch 23 1973 1973 03 23 aged 77 Woodland Hills Los Angeles California U S Resting placeForest Lawn Cypress California U S Occupation s Actor producerYears active1923 1972Spouse s Mary Leeper Maynard m 1926 1939 1 Bertha Maynard m 1940 1968 2 RelativesKermit Maynard brother Maynard was also an occasional screenwriter and director In 1960 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the film industry Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Filmography 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditMaynard was born in Vevay Indiana United States 3 one of five children another of whom his lookalike younger brother Kermit would also become an actor 3 most audience members assumed that Kermit was his brother s identical twin Ken Maynard began working at carnivals and circuses where he became an accomplished horseman As a young man he performed in rodeos and was a trick rider with Buffalo Bill s Wild West Show Maynard served in the United States Army during World War I After the war Maynard returned to show business as a circus rider with Ringling Brothers When the circus was playing in Los Angeles California actor Buck Jones encouraged Maynard to try working in the movies Maynard soon had a contract with Fox Studios 4 He first appeared in silent motion pictures in 1923 as a stuntman or supporting actor 3 In 1924 he began working in western features where his horsemanship and rugged good looks made him a cowboy star Maynard s silent features showcased his daredevil riding photographed fairly close so audiences could see that Maynard was doing his own stunts with his white stallion Tarzan The action scenes were so spectacular that they were often reused in films of the 1930s starring either Maynard himself or John Wayne or Dick Foran Wayne and later Foran starred in westerns for Warner Bros and were costumed like Maynard to match the old footage Maynard made a successful transition to talking pictures and became the movies first singing cowboy in 1929 Talkie Hit from Universal Picture The Wagon Master were he sang both The Cowboy s Lament and The Lone Star Trail He recorded eight songs for Columbia Records The Cowboy s Lament Columbia 2310 D 149832 and The Lone Star Trail Columbia 2310 D 149833 became the only issued album Ken Maynard gifted the eight one sided pressings of his 4 14 1930 recording session with Columbia Records to the John Edwards Memorial Foundation Maynard and Tarzan in The Fiddlin Buckaroo 1933 Maynard s first talkies were made for Universal Pictures His reckless screen personality spilled over into his private life with alcoholism and high living resulting in production delays and temper tantrums on the set This made Maynard a problem employee and he was released from Universal after one year Other independent producers took a chance on the hotheaded star among them Tiffany Productions and Sono Art World Wide Pictures before he returned to Universal in 1933 Maynard played several musical instruments and was featured that year on the violin in The Fiddlin Buckaroo and on the banjo in The Trail Drive Author James Horwitz has recounted the end of Maynard s tenure at Universal when studio head Carl Laemmle asked Maynard why his latest production was such a very bad picture the frustrated Maynard retorted Mr Laemmle I have made you eight very bad pictures and walked out on Laemmle and Universal 5 Maynard in In Old Santa Fe 1934 In 1934 producer Nat Levine hired Ken Maynard for a serial Mystery Mountain and planned to make a series of western features with Maynard beginning with In Old Santa Fe Maynard s unprofessionalism cost him the job after In Old Santa Fe Levine replaced Maynard with a singer in his supporting cast Gene Autry Maynard kept working in Hollywood but in smaller productions until 1940 He returned to the screen in 1943 for low budget Monogram Pictures in a new series called The Trail Blazers He was teamed with fellow veteran stars Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele and the trio offered action for the kids and nostalgia for their elders It was not long before Maynard s raging temperament again cost him the job he liked Gibson but did not like Steele and left the series after seven films One final film Harmony Trail was made by independent producer Walt Mattox in 1944 just as one of Maynard s films had introduced cowboy star Gene Autry this final Maynard film introduced the new singing cowboy Eddie Dean Maynard turned his back on the movies and made appearances at state fairs and rodeos He owned a small circus operation featuring rodeo riders but eventually lost it to creditors His substantial wealth had vanished and he lived a desolate life as an alcoholic in a rundown trailer During these years Maynard was supported by an unknown benefactor long thought to be Gene Autry 6 More than 25 years after his last starring role Maynard returned to the screen in two small roles in Bigfoot 1970 and The Marshal of Windy Hollow filmed in 1972 but never released Death EditMaynard died of stomach cancer in 1973 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills California 7 He was interred at Forest Lawn Cypress Cemetery in Cypress California Maynard s funeral is described in detail in James Horwitz s book They Went Thataway 5 For his contribution to the motion picture industry Ken Maynard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Blvd Filmography EditBrass Commandments 1923 uncredited The Man Who Won 1923 as Conroy The Gunfighter 1923 uncredited Cameo Kirby 1923 uncredited Janice Meredith 1924 as Paul Revere 50 000 Reward 1924 as Tex Sherwood The Demon Rider 1925 as Billy Dennis North Star 1925 as Noel Blake Fighting Courage 1925 as Richard Kingsley Haunted Range 1926 as Terry Bladwin The Grey Vulture 1926 as Bart Miller Sir Arthur Senor Daredevil 1926 as Don Luis O Flaherty The Unknown Cavalier 1926 as Tom Drury The Overland Stage 1927 as Jack Jessop Somewhere in Sonora 1927 as Bob Bishop The Land Beyond the Law 1927 as Jerry Steele The Devil s Saddle 1927 as Harry Morrel The Red Raiders 1927 as Lt John Scott Gun Gospel 1927 as Granger Hume The Wagon Show 1928 as Bob Mason The Canyon of Adventure 1928 as Steven Bancroft The Upland Rider 1928 as Dan Dailey The Code of the Scarlet 1928 as Bruce Kenton The Glorious Trail 1928 as Pat O Leary The Phantom City 1928 as Tim Kelly Cheyenne 1929 as Cal Roberts The Lawless Legion 1929 as Cal Stanley The Royal Rider 1929 as Dick Scott The California Mail 1929 as Bob Scott The Wagon Master 1929 as The Rambler Senor Americano 1929 as Lieutenant Michael Banning Parade of the West 1930 as Bud Rand Lucky Larkin 1930 as Lucky Larkin The Fighting Legion 1930 as Dave Hayes Mountain Justice 1930 as Ken McTavish Song of the Caballero 1930 as Juan posing as El Lobo Sons of the Saddle 1930 as Jim Brandon Fighting Thru or California in 1878 1930 as Dan Barton Two Gun Man 1931 as Blackie Weld Alias the Bad Man 1931 as Ranger Ken Neville Arizona Terror 1931 as The Arizonian Range Law 1931 as Hap Conners Branded Men 1931 as Rod Whitaker The Pocatello Kid 1931 as Sheriff Jim Bledsoe The Sunset Trail 1932 as Jim Brandon Texas Gun Fighter 1932 as Bill Dame Come On Tarzan 1932 as Ken Benson Hell Fire Austin 1932 as Ken Hell Fire Austin Whistlin Dan 1932 as Whistlin Dan Savage Dynamite Ranch 1932 as Blaze Howell False Faces 1932 as Himself in Nightclub uncredited Between Fighting Men 1932 as Ken Tombstone Canyon 1932 as Ken Drum Taps 1933 as Ken Cartwright Phantom Thunderbolt 1933 as Thunderbolt Kid The Lone Avenger 1933 as Cal Weston King of the Arena 1933 as Captain Ken Keaton The Fiddlin Buckaroo 1933 as Fiddlin The Trail Drive 1933 as Ken Benton Strawberry Roan 1933 as Ken Masters Fargo Express 1933 as Ken Benton Gun Justice 1933 as Ken Lance Wheels of Destiny 1934 as Ken Manning Honor of the Range 1934 as Sheriff Ken Bellany Smoking Guns 1934 as Ken Masters In Old Santa Fe 1934 as Ken aka Kentucky Mystery Mountain 1934 Serial as Ken Williams Western Frontier 1935 as Ken Masters Heir to Trouble 1935 as Ken Armstrong Western Courage 1935 as Ken Baxter Lawless Riders 1935 as Ken Manley Heroes of the Range 1936 as Ken Smith Avenging Waters 1936 as Ken Morley The Cattle Thief 1936 as Ken The Fugitive Sheriff 1936 as Ken Marshall Boots of Destiny 1937 as Ken Crawford Trailin Trouble 1937 as John Friendly Fields Blackie Burke Whirlwind Horseman 1938 as Ken Morton Six Shootin Sheriff 1938 as Jim Trigger Morton Flaming Lead 1939 as Ken Clark Death Rides the Range 1939 as Ken Baxter Phantom Rancher 1940 as Ken Mitchell Lightning Strikes West 1940 as Lightning Ken Morgan Wild Horse Stampede 1943 as U S Marshal Ken Maynard The Law Rides Again 1943 as U S Marshal Ken Maynard Blazing Guns 1943 as Marshal Ken Maynard Death Valley Rangers 1943 as Ken Maynard Westward Bound 1944 as Ken Maynard Arizona Whirlwind 1944 as Ken Maynard Harmony Trail 1944 as Ken Maynard Bigfoot 1970 as Mr Bennett The Marshal of Windy Hollow 1972 as Texas Ranger final film role References Edit Ken Maynard Whirlwind Horseman B westerns com Retrieved 8 August 2021 Ken Maynard Los Angeles Times Retrieved 8 August 2021 a b c d Colin Larkin ed 1993 The Guinness Who s Who of Country Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 264 ISBN 0 85112 726 6 Phillips Robert W Singing Cowboy Stars Salt Lake City Gibbs Smith 1994 pp 14 16 a b Horwitz James They Went Thataway 1978 Ballantine Books ISBN 0 345 27126 2 Singing In The Saddle by Ranger Douglas B Green ISBN 0 8265 1506 1 Ken Maynard of Westerns Dies The New York Times 25 March 1973 Retrieved 8 August 2021 External links EditKen Maynard at IMDb b westerns bio Ken Maynard Collection at the Autry National Center Ken Maynard at Find a Grave The Colt Revolver in the American West Ken Maynard s Single Action Army Pair Ken Maynard at Virtual History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken Maynard amp oldid 1131030411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.