Empty Holsters (Warner Bros.) (1937)

POUR bt © ae r y Western Hero Must Never Disappoint His Admirers So Dick Foran, Singing Cowboy Of Warner Lot Leads Model Life Not To Disillusion Kids ‘“‘This business of being a western star has done me a lot of good.”’ Dick Foran, the Singing Cowboy, was confessing on the set of ‘‘Empty Holsters’’ at Warner Bros. studio. This is the Western thriller that comes to the ........00...0.0 Theatre ee pS reiataas -c icnesie see wme rs ‘‘T took on more obligations than I realized when I took this job,’?’? Foran was saying. ‘‘ You know, there are kids all over the country who look up to me as their ideal. I’m the Frank Merriwell of the westerns. ‘“At first I didn’t take it seriously. But every time I did something a kid’s ideal wasn’t supposed to do, letters poured in bawling me out. They didn’t really bawl me out — they were more of the ‘Gee, you shouldn’t have done that sort of thing’.’’ Dick smiled sheepishly. ‘‘ Those kids expect me to be strong and clean-minded and honest and a square-shooter and a million things that kids expect in a hero. ‘<Tf the papers ever published a picture of me at a party with a cocktail in my hand, those kids Familiar Trio Dick Foran, Warner Bros. ‘‘ Sing would be disillusioned. I can be nice to girls —but nothing more. That’s why you never see me mar ry the heroine at the end of the picture. Why, I can’t even put my arms around her. The kids wouldn’t like that. ‘There are so many things I ‘ do in my pictures or private ~vg ever leaked out that “seg or horses, or Nttle babies Iai era’ cana _— kids would feel terrible. — ‘J eatch myself thinking ‘Would the kids approve?,’ before doing anything. It’s really made me the clean-minded, square-shooting guy the kids want me to be. And I like it.’’ Since his advent in westerns, Dick Foran has acquired his now famous horse ‘‘Smoky,’’ and from which he is almost never parted when at home. A husky five-year old Palimino, ‘‘Smoky’’ was brought to Hollywood three years ago by his trainer John Goodwin. ‘‘Smoky’’ has become in his short time in Hollywood almost as important a personage as the actors themselves and to the kids in ing Cowboy’’ with his horse and guitar, in ‘‘Empty Holsters’’ at if (Ee Re Pe Theatre. Mat No. 104—10c DICK FORAN MARKSMAN With a tiny vest-pocket revolver, made to his special order, Dick Foran, the Singing Cowboy, shot out 19 candles that decor ated a cake made for—the—birth- of one of the Warner Bros. .3sses in his company one day. This’ was during the making of “Empty Holsters,” which will Opener “Sa ab these Theatre. Dick Foran’s following the horse is now quite important. Patricia Walthall, daughter of the late great Henry (the beloved ‘¢TLittle Colonel’’), is the leading lady in ‘‘ Empty Holsters.’’ Dick lives up to his ‘‘Singing Cowboy ’’ sobriquet by rendering ‘‘Old Corral’’ and ‘‘Gotta Get Back To My Gal.’ Clay Brent (Dick Foran) and Tex Roberts (Glen Strange) are cowboys on the Y-Down Ranch. Clay is in love with Judy Ware (Patricia Walthall) whose father owns the Conejo bank which Ace Cain (Emmet Vogan) wants. To get Clay out of the way, Ace plants two of his henchmen, Cutter Smith and Buck Govern on the stage leaving Conejo. Then he holds up the stage, kills the driver and guard and steals the gold box. The two henchmen tell the sheriff that it was Clay Brent who killed the two men. ? After a trial, in which he is convicted by perjured testimony, Clay is sentenced to five years in prison. After two years, he is released on parole and returns to Conejo, determined to right the wrong that has been done. Clay discovers that Ace Cain has given his father a gold saddle to mend, and in examining the gold, finds that it is composed of the coins stolen from the stage coach. He tears a few pieces from the saddle and rides to the U.S. Marshal’s office in the neighboring town with the evidence. Ace Cain hears of this and orders Cutter to head him off and kill him, but his shot misses. Ace Cain hears of what has happened and outwits Clay by rushing to the sheriff and telling him that Cutter was on his way to the U. S. Marshal with coins he found in Clay’s possession and that Clay headed him off, stole the gold and is himself riding to the U.S. Marshal to frame Cuin. : The sheriff calls the U.S. Marshal and tells him about Clay’s supposed trick . . . and when Clay arrives, he is put in jail. Tex hears of this and rushes to the jail, releases Clay at the point of a gun and they ride back to Conejo to the doctor’s office where Cutter is being treated for his smashed arm. Clay forces a confession out of Cutter, who admits that Ace Cain is guilty of the two killings. In the midst of a terrific battle between Clay and Ace and his gang, the sheriff and his posse arrive in the nick of time and arrest Ace and his gang — clearing the name of Clay and leaving him to ride the range again ...a free man... and also to win Judy. Page Two Debuts Where Father Did Last It’s a curious fact that Patricia Walthall, daughter of the famed Henry B. (“Little Colonel”) Walthall, made her film debut at the same studio where her late father made his last picture . few months ago. The father died after completing “China Clipper” at Warner Bros. The daughter started there in “Empty Holsters,” starring Dick Foran, which comes Theatre next AGE SONGWRITERS DO FORAN TUNES When Warner Bros. decided to make a series of Westerns starring Dick Foran, they needed songwriters to turn out the tunes for “The Singing Cowboy” to sing. They picked Jerome and Scholl. These two gentlemen have turned out some of the best songs of the old west since Billy Hill started the ball rolling with his “Boots and Saddle.” For “Empty Holsters,” the latest Warner Bros. Western, which will open at-the +.3.:.. Theafre MOX bass ete , they’ve writ ten “Old Corral’ and “Gotta Get ° Back To My Gal.” They expect them to be every bit as popular as “Little Buckaroo” which they turned out a few months ago. Jerome and Scholl were “naturals” for the job of western tunesmiths. M. K. Jerome has been interested in the music of the west for many years. In order to acquire material and background, he spent many weeks in a tour of ranches in Texas and New Mexico, listening to cowboys sing in the bunkhouses and out on the range. Jack Scholl knows the language of the west. He used to be a Western star himself and that meant spending days with real, honest-to-goodness cowboys, listening to them talk, hearing all the quaint and unusual expressions they use. You hear many of them on the radio now because Jack Scholl writes the lyrics. Jerome and Scholl are easterners, real “Bronx Cowboys,” but their songs of the west have proved to ring true. “Kmpty Holsters” is starring besides Dick Foran, the daughter of the late Henry B. Walthall. BRIEFS Dick Foran Twelve successful Western movies — as leading man — and nine serious dramatic parts as well—make up the record of this 6-foot, red-head Singing Cowboy in a little more than two years. Born in Flemington, N. J. of wealthy parents, graduated from Princeton, he got into movies accidentally while in Hollywood on a Visit. He was at the time planning a railroad career. Dick’s recent pictures include “Cherokee &trip” and “Blazing Sixes.” Current picture “Empty Holsters,” which opens at the ee a oe Theatre next ee rr) Patricia Walthat] Born to a dramatic career Wag this 19-year-old, 5-feet-5, 119pound lass, Father was the famed Henry B. (“Little Colonel”) Walthall of “Birth Of A Nation” fame. Mother is Mary Charleson of stage and screen. So when signed to contract by Warner Bros. was ready at once for leading role, which she has, with Dick Foran, in “Empty Holsters,” her first movie, which opens ~' thes Ss Theatre ner* Country of origin U.S.A. Copyright 1937 Vitagraph, Inc. A!’ Handling Herds Of uc For Camera No Small Task Directors Work Hard While Dick ForzTo Four Thousand Head In Film Four thousand head of bawling, bellowing used in an elaborate production sequence in tl Warner Bros.’ ‘‘Empty Holsters,’’ the Dick F« melodrama that comes to the ................ Theatre ne The scene involved the herding of the catti were driven across the range, Dick. Foran, head e. leading man of the pi a song to them — ‘Ola. RanchRomance The business of getting the cattle lined up in the camera’s range and keeping them there was no simple task. Fifty expert cowboys were drafted to assist in this difficult job. They were aided by members of the cast who knew a little about the art of herding cattle themselves. Director Breezy Eason and his assistant, Bill Kissel, were in charge of the job. They blew whistles and screamed orders for fully an hour while cowboys manouvered their horses here and there, driving the cattle into line. But the beef ‘‘critters’’ didn’t seem to understand orders very well. Just as they were lined up and the camera was ready to shoot, one would start to wander out of Romance on a ranch as personified by Dick Foran and Patricia Walthall, in Warner Bros.’ blazing westerner, ‘‘Empty Holsters,’’ at TE r re Theatre today. Mat No. 105—10c¢ “SMOKY’S” ODD TASTES “Smoky,” favorite trick horse ridden by Dick Foran, the Western star, in all his pictures, is the only movie equine known to be fond of hot dogs. He eats them out of Dick’s hand. He also likes chocolate bars. He will be seen, with his famous master, in “Empty Holsters,’ which opens NOXt gan CW fies 0 eesee ee eect Theatre. BRONCHO.-BUSTER Glen Strange, cowboy comedian in “Empty Holsters,” now on the screen at the. ........0.cs Theatre, used to break horses for a living in New Mexico. THE line, closely followed by a few others and in very little time, the shot was ruined. Finally, after almost two hours of constant driving, they stayed in formation. Dick Foran sang, the cattle walked on into the camera and the scene was_ photographed. Then nothing else remained to be done but take the same thing again from four different angles. The result was perfect and ‘‘Empty Holsters’’ is pronounced one of the best pictures made by Dick Foran, the ‘‘Singing Cowboy.’’ Veteran Director Makes 410th Film Breezy Eason directed his 410th Western drama when he made “Empty Holsters’’ at Warner Bros. studio. Dick Foran and Patricia Walthall have the leads in the picture coming to the = 5525 2..ca. Theatre ON a eee Foran sings two new songs, “Old Corral,” and “Gotta Get Back To My Gal.” CAST Dick Foran Patricia Walthall Emmett Vogan Anderson Lawler Glen Strange Wilfred Lucas Tom Brower Tex Roberts John Ware Dad Brent Cutter Smith....George Cheeseboro Tom Raines Charles Le Moyne Edmund Cobb PRODUCTION STAFF Photography by Film Editor B. Reeves Eason John T. Neville Ed Earl Repp Ted McCord, A.S.C. Clarence Kolster Ted Smith M. K. Jerome & Jack Scholl OFFICIAL BILLING Warner Bros. presents EMPTY 4OLSTERS AN oy) 41 THALL