Hoot Gibson
Hoot became a popular western star for Universal. Film titles such as Ridin’ Wild (1922), Thrill Chaser (1923), Hit and Run (1924), Hurricane Kid (1925), and Galloping Fury (1927) guaranteed Hoot’s fans five reels of action and fun. Hoot’s easygoing approach gave his films a lighthearted tone. A deft comedian, he featured as much comedy as drama.
As talkies arrived, Hoot continued as a Western star, but with lower budget producers such as M.H. Hoffman Inc. (distributed on a state rights basis by Allied Pictures Corporation) and Walker Futter Productions (Diversion Pictures). In 1935, Hoot co-starred with Harry Carey in Powdersmoke Range, advertised by RKO as the "Barnum and Bailey of Westerns" (whatever that means). The cast list of this "all star" (B western stars) film included Bob Steele, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Tom Tyler, William Farnum, and other Westerners from the silent era. In 1937 at Republic, he made a serial, The Painted Stallion, in support of new cowboy star Ray Corrigan.
An aging Hoot retained his fine horsemanship and comic flair, but fan interest had moved to the new singing cowboys, especially Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Hoot’s Westerns had lost their appeal. In the late thirties, out of movies, Hoot toured with circuses and appeared at rodeos and fairs.
In 1943, after seven years off the screen, Hoot returned in the Trail Blazer series at Monogram Studios. In these Westerns, Marshall Hoot Gibson, initially co-starred with Ken Maynard and later with Bob Steele and Chief Thundercloud, upholds the law and captures outlaws and crooked businessmen threatening the lives and property of innocent citizens. Hoot made eleven Trail Blazer films; the last was Trigger Law (1944). John Ford brought Hoot back for a cameo role in The Horse Soldiers (1959). His last screen appearance was as a sheriff’s deputy in Ocean’s Eleven (1960), another cameo.
Filmography (224 Appearances)
Pride Of The Range
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Ocean's Eleven
The Horse Soldiers
The Marshal's Daughter
I Married Joan
Flight to Nowhere
Trigger Law
The Utah Kid
Marked Trails
Sonora Stagecoach
Outlaw Trail
Arizona Whirlwind
Westward Bound
Death Valley Rangers
Blazing Guns
The Law Rides Again
Wild Horse Stampede
The Painted Stallion
Frontier Justice
Cavalcade of the West
The Last Outlaw
The Riding Avenger
Feud of the West
Lucky Terror
Swifty
Powdersmoke Range
Rainbow's End
Sunset Range
The Fighting Parson
The Dude Bandit
The Cowboy Counsellor
The Boiling Point
A Man's Land
The Spirit of the West
The Local Bad Man
The Gay Buckaroo
The Hard Hombre
Wild Horse
We’re Switching to Hollywood
Clearing the Range
The Concentratin' Kid
Spurs
Trigger Tricks
Roaring Ranch
Trailing Trouble
The Mounted Stranger
Courtin' Wildcats
The Long, Long Trail
Points West
Riding for Fame
The Winged Horseman
The Lariat Kid
Smilin' Guns
Burning the Wind
King of the Rodeo
The Danger Rider
Clearing the Trail
Hollywood or Bust
The Wild West Show
The Flyin' Cowboy
A Trick of Hearts
The Rawhide Kid
Galloping Fury
Painted Ponies
Life in Hollywood No. 3
A Hero on Horseback
The Prairie King
Hey! Hey! Cowboy
The Denver Dude
The Silent Rider
The Buckaroo Kid
The Texas Streak
The Flaming Frontier
The Man in the Saddle
The Phantom Bullet
Chip of the Flying U
Arizona Sweepstakes
The Calgary Stampede
Spook Ranch
Let 'er Buck
The Saddle Hawk
Taming the West
The Hurricane Kid
The Ridin' Kid from Powder River
Hello, 'Frisco
The Sawdust Trail
Hit and Run
Broadway or Bust
40-Horse Hawkins
Ride for Your Life
Hook and Ladder
The Thrill Chaser
The Ramblin' Kid
Blinky
Out of Luck
Shootin' for Love
Double Dealing
Dead Game
Single Handed
The Gentleman from America
Kindled Courage
Ridin' Wild
The Lone Hand
The Galloping Kid
The Loaded Door
Trimmed
Step on It!
The Bear Cat
Headin' West
The Fire Eater
Sure Fire
Red Courage
Action
Beating the Game
The Man Who Woke Up
The Movie Trail
Bandits Beware
The Wild Wild West
Double Crossers
Crossed Clues
Out o' Luck
Who Was the Man?
The Cactus Kid
The Fightin' Fury
Kickaroo
Sweet Revenge
The Driftin' Kid
The Saddle King
The Winning Track
The Trail of the Hound
The Man with a Punch
Fight It Out
The Brand Blotter
The Stranger
Superstition
Tipped Off
The Two-Fisted Lover
Double Danger
Cinders
'in Wrong' Wright
The Shootin' Fool
One Law for All
The Grinning Granger
A Gamblin' Fool
The Big Catch
The Champion Liar
The Smilin' Kid
The Shootin' Kid
The Fightin' Terror
The Broncho Kid
Thieves' Clothes
Masked
Wolf Tracks
The Texas Kid
The Rattler's Hiss
Held Up for the Makin's
Runnin' Straight
Hair Trigger Stuff
The Sheriff's Oath
Roarin' Dan
West Is Best
The Jay Bird
Winning a Home
The Double Hold-Up
The Lone Hand
The Trail of the Holdup Man
The Tell-Tale Wire
The Face in the Watch
The Crow
The Jack of Hearts
The Four-Bit Man
The Fighting Heart
Kingdom Come
Ace High
The Gun Packer
By Indian Post
Gun Law
The Rustlers
His Buddy
The Black Horse Bandit
The Fighting Brothers
Danger, Go Slow
The Midnight Flyer
Play Straight or Fight
The Branded Man
The Woman in the Web
Headin' South
A Marked Man
The Secret Man
Straight Shooting
Cheyenne's Pal
The Soul Herder
The Wrong Man
The Golden Bullet
A 44-Calibre Mystery
The Voice on the Wire
The Hazards of Helen
The Mysterious Cipher
The Capture of Red Stanley
The Wedding Guest
The Governor's Special
The Passing of Hell's Crown
The Night Riders
Stampede in the Night
A Knight of the Range
The Ring of Destiny
Judge Not; or The Woman of Mona Diggings
In Danger's Path
The Pay Train
The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine
The Death Train
The Man from Texas
Buckshot John
The Man from the East
The Telltale Knife
Shotgun Jones
Kid Pink and the Maharajah
In the Secret Service
Cowboy Sports and Pastimes
A Four-Footed Hero
His Only Son
The New Superintendent
The Two Brothers