- Ralph Byrd, The Trigger Trio, 1937. In William Colt MacDonald’s pulps, the leader of The Three Mesquiteers was Tuscon (Ray “Crash” Corrigan). In the movies, the more dashing Stony Brooke took over – well, he was Livingston, Republic Pictures’ second Lone Ranger! He was suddenly dropped from this one, and replaced by Dick Tracy, himself! Bob was rapidly brought back for the next one, Wild Horse Rodeo, 1930, which also included a kid name Dick Wesson – aka Roy Roger, biggest Republic cowboy of ’em all in a matter of years. “Corrigan wanted to be a Western star,” revealed Bob. “I didn’t care.” Talking of stars, in their the fifth serial, Hit The Saddle, 1937, they were rivals for a young beauty played by Rita Cansino… aka Rita Hayworth.
- John Wayne, Pals of the Saddle, 1938-1939. Republic decided it was time to groom Livingston for A-films. Wayne was the new Stony for eight Mesquiteers. Imagine having to return for the final four, after having made… Stagecoach! Duke’s final serial was his second gig to be called New Frontier and he was not pleased with Republic sending the Mesquits out after he’d finally made good under John Ford’s tutelage. The fans preferred Livingston as Stony and Wayne as… Wayne. Bowing to fan-mail pressure, the studio brought Bob back… having failed to made him an A star!
- Tom Tyler, Outlaws of Cherokee Trail, 1941. This time Bob went for good – and Stony Brooke became the actor and Olympic weightlifter known as “the strongest man in America”… for the final 13 of the 51 Three Mesquiteers films. Tyler next became the first Captain Marvel and The Phantom… Looking for “Freudian complexity in these films is bullshit,” declared Bob. “It was good guys versus bad guys. Simplicity is fine. The studio put out a good product until they lost interest.” Most of these B-cowhands used to say they were (like jockeys) merely “scufflin’ for groceries.”
Birth year: 1904Death year: 1988Other name: Casting Calls: 3