Whip Wilson
1911 - 1964Whip Wilson (born Roland Charles Meyers June 16, 1911, Granite City, Illinois – October 22, 1964, Los Angeles, California) was an American cowboy film star of the late 1940s and into the 1950s, known for his roles in B-westerns.
His first film was alongside Monogram's singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely in the 1948 film Silver Trails, to give him experience in front of the camera. The next year Wilson starred in his own series films, the first being Crashin Thru, followed by Haunted Trails, Range Land and Riders of the Dusk. He first was given a horse named "Silver Bullet", later shortened to "Bullet", then changed to "Rocket" due to Roy Rogers having a dog in his films named "Bullet."
Wilson may have come along too late to establish himself as a major star; studios were already phasing out low-budget westerns. Veteran comedian Andy Clyde was a valuable asset as co-star, but the series got little attention. After 12 films, Clyde left the cast, replaced by Fuzzy Knight and later by Jim Bannon. In 1950 Wilson starred in Gunslingers, Arizona Territory, Cherokee Uprising, Fence Riders, and Outlaws of Texas. In 1951 his character continued in Lawless Cowboys, Stage to Blue River, Canyon Raiders, and Abilene Trail.
There was nothing novel or original about Wilson to distinguish himself from other cowboy stars. The name of his horse, the bullwhip gimmick, and the false past created by the producers were all derivative. Wilson's career never really took off, and by 1952 his Hollywood career was all but over, with him starring in Night Raiders, with his last film being that same year, titled Wyoming Roundup.
Nevada Badmen
Lewis D. Collins
Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight
The "badmen" of the title in this average western from Monogram are Waller, a greedy express agent and Banker Jensen, who conspire to separate Bob Bannon from the gold found on his property. Bob's brother Jim and his two pals Whip Wilson and Texas arrive too late to save Bob from the bad guys. Hoping to flush out the killer, Whip arranges to auction off the property.
Nevada Badmen
Cherokee Uprising
Lewis D. Collins
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
The title insurrection in this low-budget Whip Wilson Western consists mainly of Iron Eyes Cody, who is conspiring to raid the wagon trains with crooked sheriff Marshall Reed and nefarious Indian agent Forrest Taylor.
Cherokee Uprising
Outlaws of Texas
Thomas Carr
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
Monogram's Outlaws of Texas is surprisingly bereft of the action highlights one might expect from star Whip Wilson. This time, the Whip and his saddle pal Andy Clyde play heroes Tom and Hungry who work undercover to break up a gang of bank robbers.
Outlaws of Texas
Stagecoach Driver
Lewis D. Collins
Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight
Jim Bannon and his partner own a stagecoach line. With the coming of the telegraph and the end of the Pony Express, two men plot to take over and get the new mail contract. When Jim's partner is murdered and Jim's name is written in the sand beside the body, Jim is arrested. At his trial Whip brings surprising evidence that clears Jim and the two plotters are soon arrested.
Stagecoach Driver
Shadows of the West
Ray Taylor
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
U.S. Marshal Whip Wilson (Whip Wilson) decides to take a vacation and visit his old friend Winks Grayson (Andy Clyde), the ex-sheriff. Upon his arrival Whip learns of Winks' suspicions regarding newly-elected Sheriff Tanner (William Ruhl as William H. Ruhl), and the story of a frame-up of Paul Davis (Ted Adams) and his son Bud (Riley Hill), now being released from prison. Following a holdup and a killing, a band of outlaws hide at the Davis ranch, implicating them again. Paul is hot and Bud goes to jail. Whip and Winks work to clear Bud and expose the real leader of the outlaw gang.
Shadows of the West
Lawless Cowboys
Lewis D. Collins
Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight
Monogram's Whip Wilson western series was in its final year of existence when Lawless Cowboys hit the screen. Set in the contemporary West, the film casts Wilson as a Texas Ranger on the trail of a crooked gambling ring.
Lawless Cowboys
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Thomas Carr
Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight
Taggart and his men are breaking wanted outlaws out of jail and then killing them for the reward money. Marshal's Whip, Jim, and Texas have a plan to trap the gang. Whip poses as a wanted outlaw while Jim joins Taggart's gang and helps break him out. But there is trouble when gang member Mike, wanting a bigger cut, double-crosses everyone.
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Abilene Trail
Lewis D. Collins
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
Whip Wilson rides again in the Monogram western Abilene Trail. Wilson and his grizzled sidekick Andy Clyde are accused of horse stealing, a hangin' offense around these here parts. Eluding the authorities, the boys take jobs at a ranch where the real crook is hiding out.
Abilene Trail
Gunslingers
Wallace Fox
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
Wilson and his saddle pal Andy Clyde come to the rescue of a group of ranchers who are being victimized by villain Ace Larabee (Douglas Kennedy). Ace has inside information that the railroad is coming through the territory, and he intends to grab up all the land and sell it to the train execs for a tidy profit.
Gunslingers
Arizona Territory
Wallace Fox
Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde
Prospector Jeff Malloy rescues Doris Devlin, owner of a trading post, from an ambush planned by her uncle, Kilburn, who is trying to scare her out of the territory so that he can continue his counterfeiting operations.
Arizona Territory
