He’s Charles Starrett and he appeared in 168 films between 1930 and 1952. 135 of those are Westerns made during his 17 years with Columbia Pictures.
If you’re asking: “Who is this guy?” Then you’re home. Or if you have fond memories of the actor — welcome. That’s what this site is about.
If Charley lives in your head inside a thick black-marker circle which you need to refresh daily, then you need to saddle up your ponies and head for the horizon. We’ve seen your kind around here before and we don’t cotton to your actions.
Charles Starrett - One Fan's Journey 
I’m a great admirer of the Durango films and character, but regarding Charles Starrett’s voice, I read somewhere that one of his co-workers (maybe Smiley?) said he was kind of a mush-mouth. Sometimes his slurring of words impaired the heroic image. And indeed, the mush-mouth description seems to fit. Unlike James Cagney, Starrett coudn’t speak rapidly. He had to speak slowly and carefully to be understood. But it suited both Durango and Steve just fine, I think.
Watch ANY of his early films, he’s great with dialogue, he was university educated & trained on the stage.
That is fascinating. Do you know where you read this? I will watch these films now with this in mind!
Regarding Starrett’s enunciation, perhaps the reader was not aware that Starrett was from Masssachusetts and had a definite New England accent which may not register on the ears of someone who is used to a slow Southern drawl. If you listen to him carefully, you might notice that he broadens his “A’s” a bit. The word “car” might sound like “caw.” Here’s something else that is interesting. Many reviewers have concluded the Starrett’s movies were more popular in the South because they had the rural comedy of Burnette and the country western music of the different musical groups. In other words, little boys from the New England or New York states wouldn’t have been caught dead watching a cowboy movie. Guess again. Being a cowboy was the fantasy of little boys coast to coast regardless of whether they were in a big city or small town.
Since 1962 until his passing I was able to write and call Mr. Starrett. He was a great gentleman. I still have all his letters, a script holder he sent me and a couple of shirts he wore he was Steve
________?________. I recall some of our phone conversations and his wife Mary was always very nice to me, they were a great couple. I’m proud he considered me a friend. I have several of his movies, just wish I had a lot more. But all I can find out that a lot of his westerns are “LOST”. If anyone can give me a source to purchase many more of his westerns please do. Thank you cwlack@att.net
His 1st lead was wooing Miriam Hopkins in a unitard & doing feats of strength while tossing off Preston Sturges dialogue, then he wore dinner jacket in George Cukor drawing room comedy. In Green Eyes he plays Jessica Fletcher half century early, mystery writer 1 step ahead of cops (who say they’ve had enough of his comedy & pretty body), @ 1 point he mimics British butler. Starrett didn’t have longest studio contract & global movie series for over a decade by not being able to speak, he was Roger Moore before Roger Moore existed.
Hello all fans. Just checking in here from Temecula. I have not visited this site for a few years, and was surprised to see the link again. I do have some of grandads Columbia Studios memorable things here at the house.
Wow what an exciting career he had.
David Starrett
My mother, brother and I lived in Hyannis on the south shore of Cape Cod. In the summer, our house turned into a guest house. For a few summers in a row in the late 40s and early 50s, Charlie Starrett and his lady friend stayed with us. I was a young teenager at the time and went to Craigville Beach with them. My mother and father were separated, and Charlie took me “under his wing” when he stayed with us, teaching me how to dive off the “big” raft quite far out in the ocean at Craigville Beach. I remember him as a very thoughtful, kindly friend. If I can find them, I have a couple of photos that may be of interest to you.
Yes, we pronounced car as “caw,” or actually closer to “cah,” as many “r”s weren’t pronounced . . . you “pahkt the cah.” I’ve lived in Florida since 1966, and have taught on elementary school and college level for 37 years. I’ve had to change my pronunciation of words to include all “r”s to be understood.
His wife’s name was Mary! I am named after him and he was my Great Uncle!
Yes! Mary! Thanks for the correction. I was between 9 and 13 when they came to stay with us.
Since 1962 until his passing I was able to write and call Mr. Starrett. He was a great gentleman. I still have all his letters, a script holder he sent me and a couple of shirts he wore he was Steve
________?________. I recall some of our phone conversations and his wife Mary was always very nice to me, they were a great couple. I’m proud he considered me a friend. I have several of his movies, just wish I had a lot more. But all I can find out that a lot of his westerns are “LOST”. If anyone can give me a source to purchase many more of his westerns please do. Thank you
Actually Charlie Starrett came with his wife. I should have been more specific.
Yes, and his wife’s name was Mary..they had twin boys and Charles Starret was my father’s uncle, so he was my great-uncle and I met him often as he and Mary used to “come on” east as they’d say and visit Athol, where he grew up, and Cape Cod..I always called him Uncle Charlie and have a picture of him in his later years holding my oldest son in his arms. He was a lot of fun to know. I also stayed with him and Mary at their home in Laguna Beach CA..he was many years retired by then and always a gentleman.
So Susan, I can call you cuz. . .
The Durango kid was my grandfather. My dad is Charles (jr)
Woot woot
Hi cuz (Susan!) so funny to find all of this here. I met Charles when he came to visit us in Boston. At 84 he still had the movie star presence – handsome and larger than life..David, looks like we are related as well. Susan’s dad Charlie was one of my dad’s (Peter) 4 other brothers. Sadly, Charlie, my father and the youngest brother, Paul, all passed away in 2015-2016 each 2 months apart. Great legacies of hard work, tenacity and strength!
I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE STARRETT WESTERNS…I DID NOT GROW UP AS A WESTERN FAN…IT’S ONLY IN THE LAST 5 YEARS OR SO THAT I DISCOVERED “THE DURANGO KID” AND MY OTHER FAVORITE BUSTER CRABBE’S BILLY THE KID SERIES WITH AL ST. JOHN…DURANGO KID WAS A SLICKER PRODUCTION…AND IF YOU WATCH CLOSELY YOU WILL SEE MANY FUTURE STARS…THERE’S ONE MOVIE WITH CLAYTON MOORE AS A VILLIAN…JAY SILVERHEELS WHO I BELIEVE IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE CAST BUT PLAYS A CHIEF THIS MOVIE IS VERY SHORTLY BEFORE THE FIRST LONE RANGER MOVIE CAME OUT…LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE MY FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE STARRETT WESTERNS IS THE SHOOT-EM UP FOLLOWED BY COMEDY AND OR MUSICAL NUMBER…THEN ON TO THE FINISH OF THE STORY…..TCM JUST HAD A JULY FRIDAY ALL MONTH SERIES OF COWBOYS AND MUSIC…WHICH OPENED UP SOME MORE STARS IN THAT GENRE TO ME….I ALSO HAVE LIKED THE ABC WESTERNS OF THE 1950’S…CHEYENNE, BRONCO, SUGARFOOT, COLT 45, AND LIKELY MY FAVORITE..LAWMAN….THE WESTERN CHANNEL FROM ENCORE HAS SHOWN SOME OF THESE SHOWS AND MY COLLECTION IS NOW COMPLETE FOR MOST OF THEM….I AM ALWAYS INTERESTED IN NEW COPIES OF STARRETT WESTERNS AND BUSTER CRABBE WESTERNS SO IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS ANYTHING NOT COMMONLY FOUND IN THE MARKET..LET ME KNOW…THANKS AGAIN STEVE….soneil38@yahoo.com
Hi, I met Buster Crabbe when he was touting his book on arthritis. Looked to be in great shape (but smoked). Handsome man.
Being one of the 4 that started the Memphis Western Festivals we had a real good B western stars to attend. One that came in the festival we had in Nadhville, Tn., was Buster Crabbe. He was a very good person to talk to and he gave a lot of credit to his sidekick AL “Fuzzy” St. John. I have a few of Busters westerns & serials. I am a b western film collector, we’ll DVD collector now. Always looking for these westerns on DVD. E mail me at cwlack@att.net
It is amazing how much a lot of these stars smoked but I guess it was just more acceptable ..watching older TV you see so much of it..Lots of shows sponsored by Tobacco…Loved Buster and Al St John…
When I talked to Buster Crabbe he was standing in front of a department store window of the hotel. The best I recall he was not snoking. I am a non smoker so I would have noticed and remembered if he was smoking. Like most of the stars we had in he was a real good guy. We talked about several things mainly the movies.
I to am trying to locate the very rare western titles of Charles Starrett. I have some but want those that are suppose to be lost. I think there are several of his westerns overseas. So anyone that know of a source where these can be purchased contact Wayne…E mail
cwlack@att.net
From what I have read Many of the Durango films were marketed in South America and some of the Lost films might exist there…YouTube is a place to check every so often somebody places a copy but usually ibn Spanish …subtitled or duped…Sadly Columbia didn’t feel it was necessary to preserve the films ….but there is hope someday some will show up from private sources…
Hi,
Do you have the Durango Kid movies “Laramie” and Laramie Mountains’?
Thanks,
Murray.
I have both those movies, plus a few others. I wish I could purchase some of the so called “LOST” titles. Anyone have any or know where to purchase them? In my opinion I believe a lot of his western’s are overseas.
Wayne cwlack@att.net
MURRAY: I DO HAVE THE MOVIES YOU MENTION…LARAMIE AND LARAMIE MOUNTAINS…DROP ME A LINE AT soneil38@yahoo.com…glad to hear of another DURANGO KID FAN…STEVE ONEIL
Hi Stephen,
Sorry to be so long in replying but I now own DVDs of Laramie and Laramie Mountains.
I am indeed a Durango fan and used to see the movies in my home town of Welland, Ontario, Canada.
I have been collecting Durango films for a few years now and seem to be short by 15 movies, all of which sadly appear on your list. A few years ago, I visited the Eddie Brandt movie store in Hollywood (which is really an experience).
Two interesting features:
a) A very well equipped supply of photos of every imaginable movie star and scenes from their movies,
b) Any movie that was ever made is available for rent and some for sale.
c) A proprietress who has an encyclopedic knowledge of old movies. She mentioned that Columbia has not released a number of Durango movies because they could not get the consent of Mary Starrett. I think Mrs. Starrett has passed on now so I don’t know what will happen. Perhaps they’ll show up on the Western Channel or Ted Turner will get them hopefully.
Best wishes,
Murray.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE _MURRAY_ I HAVE READ ABOUT THE EDDIE BRANDT MOVIE STORE SOUNDS JUST LIKE YOU DESCRIBED..I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL REASONS FOR SOME OF THE MISSING DURANGO’S … BUT THE FAMILY CONNECTION TO THE STARRET’S IS A NEW ONE…I DIDN’T THINK THE FAMILY OWNED ANY OF THE RIGHTS…BUT IT’S POSSIBLE…ANOTHER REASON IS THAT THE QUALITY OF THE MOVIES WERE SO LOW THAT THE COPIES REMAINING WERE FROM DISTRIBUTION SOURCES AND WERE SO LOW IN QUALITY EVEN TV WOULDN’T USE THEM…THE WESTERN CHANNEL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE ONES IT SHOWS..COLUMBIA STUDIOS USUALLY HAS GOOD PRINTS AND HAS STARTED SELLING SOME DURANGO’S VIA IT’S COLLECTION SERIES…CHECK OUT “OLDIES.COM” ALSO A SOURCE FOR AN SPANISH VERSION OF “KID FROM AMARILLO” IS ON YOUTUBE..ALONG WITH SOME OTHER FAN CLIPS…I DO UNDERSTAND “DURANGO” HAD/HAS A FOLLOWING IN SOUTH AMERICA..BECAUSE MANY OF THE MOVIES WERE SENT THERE…WITH BRAZIL HAVING A ONE TIME TV SHOW FOR THE MOVIES IN THE 1960’S…THERE ARE LIKELY LOTS OF KNOWN & UNKNOWN REASONS FOR THE ACCESS TO THESE MOVIES BUT I HAVE NOTICED GOOD PRINTS ARE SHOWING UP ON THE MARKET AS MORE PEOPLE SHOW AN INTEREST…SO THERE’S HOPE….THANKS AGAIN MURRAY!!!!
I just saw Laramie on the western channel and thought it was great for a few reasons…it was my first Durango Kid western I ever saw–want to see more, but I understand they’re not on TV much–not even in the 50’s to now, I think. But I was surprised to see that almost all of it (outside the stock footage) was shot at Corriganville Ranch, now Corriganville Park where I go hiking twice a week when I can manage it. All the Cavalry Fort stuff was at the Fort Apache set built by John Ford a couple years earlier for the film of the same name. I see Corriganville in a LOT of westerns, but it’s usually sprinkled in with other locations like Iverson ranch or other western towns around Hollywood. This movie seemed to be ALL at Corriganville–outside of the stock footage at the end, that is. The town at Corriganville is long gone, but the concrete foundations are still there–and many of the rock formations and landscapes are still there and are recognizable in this film from 60+ years ago. Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Buster Crabbe, and a bunch of others shots their film there. A great place to hike, too.
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION…I LIVE ON THE EAST COAST AND THINGS YOU DESCRIBE ARE INTERESTING….I HAVE NOTICED WHAT I FEEL WERE THE SAME PLACES WHILE WATCHING DURANGO AND BUSTER CRABBE ETC….THANKS
This is great stuff. Wonderful blog. Now my sun can fully appreciate, ahem, why I named him Steve.
I discovered Charles Starrett in first run — I was eight years old. I was obsessed by the Durango Kid films and knew a man (friend of my father in Greenfield, Mass.) who actually went to school with him. My favorite Starrett quote was in an interview with the Dartmouth alumni magazine. He said he told people he was a retired stockbroker, because no one would believe what he really used to do for a living. The west that wasn’t and all that.
I meant to write “my son,” of course.
My granddaugther has recently moved to Durango Colorado. and I told her that I loved to see the Charles Starett-Durango Kid Movies .I even called her the Durango Kid -when she moved there.
I really would like to find where I could purchase his movies. Can you help? Larry Hattley
Chattanooga, Tn.
Hi Larry,
That’s a super cool nickname you gave your daughter. I recently was driving through Colorado and almost dragged the family a couple hundred miles out of our way just to visit the city which bares the name of my favorite movie cowboy.
I got most of my Durango Kid films on ioffer.com, which is like a form of ebay where you can barter over prices. You can buy individual titles or collections which contain multiple titles.
I hope this helps!
HI LARRY: LOVED YOUR STORY…AS TO THE MOVIES..THERE ARE SEVERAL OUTLETS THAT OFFER DURANGO KID MOVIES…IOFFER & SELL.COM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS “COLUMBIA STUDIO” HAS OFFERED SOME OF THE TITLES THEIR “VAULT COLLECTION SERIES…CHECK OUT A PLACE CALLED “OLDIES.COM” IF YOU WOULD LIKE CONTACT ME VIA soneil38@yahoo.com I CAN OFFER YOU A PACKAGE OF ABOUT “50” DURANGO KID MOVIES FOR ABOUT $25.OO QUALITY IS MOSTLY 8 OUT OF 10 BUT THE MOVIES ARE GREAT … IN ANYCASE LOVED YOUR STORY ….STEVE OONEIL
LARRY HATTLEY
LOVED THE STORY “DURANGO KID” IS REALLY A GREAT “B” WESTERN SERIES…DROP ME A NOTE AT soneil38@yahoo.com i have a number of the movies and also some non durango kid westerns of Charles Starrett which are as good or better than the durango series…best wishes for the holidays …Steve O’NEIL IN SUMTER SC……
Did Charlles Starret come from d retry n ireland
I’ve been a Durango Kid fan since the 1950″s. I forgot about the movies untill i was looking at some old news paper clipping’s that showed what was playing. So i started looking and found some of the Durango kid /Red rider/Gene Autry etc.But the kid movies were my favorite. I have about 30 of them. I’ve played them over and over.It;s about time that i buy some moor.
I watched the Durango Kid during my formative years in the 50’s. just loved those double features. I was recently at an Autry music festival at his Museum and one of the singers was playing Smiley Burnettes song “The wind sings a Cowboy Song”. She said it was from a Charles Starrett movie and did anyone know who his alter ego was. I was proud to yell out “the Durango Kid” Thanks for bringing back memories with your blog.
Would like to buy Charles Starrett movie on film, 35mm,16mm or
8mm; also on any video format VHS,DVD or Beta durango285@live.com
Did you know that a guy by the name of Mario DeMarco wrote a book about Charles Starrett. I bought one in 1982,I called him and told him how much enjoyed his book.It’s a 8×10 and has 100 pages a lot of pictures.and it tells about all of the DK movies MR DeMarco was from Boston MA.He told me he had a lot of books that he couldn’t sell.A person could call around the Boston area find someone who’s related they might have all those books stored away someplace.He also wrote some books on Ton Mix Tim McCoy,Buck Jones,Bob Steele,Ken Maynard,Hoot Gibson.He said he was thinking about writing about Bill Elliott.
I was very luck,I got to meet,via phone,Mr.Starret way back in the 60’s.Then met him in person at the Memphis Film Festival.He and his wife,Mary,were very fine people.
Very Cool, Mary!
Met Mr.& Mrs. Starrett back in 1962.They were both very very nice and treated you like a friend and not a fan so much.We all lost 2 wonderful people some years back,but I’ll never forget them.And I
love his movies.Wish I could fing many many more.
Charles and Mary Starrett were good friends of mine.I met them in 1962.They were real nice to me at Christmas and I have some articles he sent me during his acting days.I really miss them.they were greart people.
Wow,
Great blog with lots of content. Charles was my grandfather and we were very close. I mostly know the personal side of Durango kid. I can try to answer some questions if you like.
Thanks,
David
I would like to hear from you or your father as my brother Paul Domi was in the marines with your father
David, I knew Charles & Mary Starrett via of phone call in 1962 and
at the festival in Memphis,Tn.I was crazy about the Durango Kid,and the man that played him was even bigger in real life.He and Mary were very,very nice to me.You were very lucky they were
you grandparents.
The movie “Durango Kid” was released the year I was born, 1940. I’ve been a fan of Charles Starrett as long as I can remember. It’s great to read the comments of old and new fans of Durango. I presently write a newspaper column about movie history called Reel Memories. Your comments will help add flavor to an upcoming column.
I have to admit to liking the Charles Starrett pre Durango Kid westerns. He did about as many of those, as he did Durango movies. 1935-1944. He did close to 20 with the Sons of the Pioneers, long before they backed up Roy Rogers. And I though the production values were better on the pre Durango movies.
Sony’s cable getTV shows many of the Durangos, as it owns the copyrights basis its buy of Columbia as far as I know [unless were bought out by Charles Starrett as Gene Autry and William Boyd had once done]. Also, non-Durangos with Charles also get broadcast. The materials’ quality, though broadcast only in 480p, is excellent as must have transferred from the original 35mm masters. Wonder how Charles liked working for Harry Cohn, regarded as a first class son-of-a-bitch and Hollywood’s most disliked studio mogul. Also, would have liked to have seen Columbia’s The Three Stooges do some walk on’s, but did find a number of Stooge shorts’ cast members appearing in the Starrett westerns, e.g., The infamous Stooges’ Ichabod Slipp character played by Kenneth MacDonald who went on the play the judge in the original Perry Mason TV series.
Thanks for the info….
I have about 25 or so of the Durango Kid movies there is a guy, Jim Spotts rare serials PO box 477 Route 422 East Penn Run PA 15765. He sells all kinds of old movies including the Durango Kids.
It is great to see Charles Starrett fans write in. To me, he was the best B western star ever. We all have our favorites, but he was a great star, and a fine man.
He was my favorite to and he always had pretty good music like Smiley, Bob Wills, Pee Wee King Merle Travis. good western swing. Even today when I watch his movies they are just as good now as they where back then.
It is so great to see the many replies about my favorite western star of all time,Charles Starrett. I would certainly like to see a TV channel that would begin showing his movies. Keep writing fans.
Encore’s Western Channel runs an ocassional Durango Kid Movie
My wife and I went over to her sister’s too meet her friend. She said don’t go over there and start talking about the Durango Kid.i said I wouldn’t so We went over and they just came in from the garage sells. he bought a grinder he said he had been looking for.he was like a kid with new toy, I ask him what kind it was he said it’s made by Starrett tool co.I said ,,do you know who owns that co. he said no.Well by this time my wife was giving me that look. So I had to tell him the storey about the D K movies he was about my age.he said he used to see him at the movies. We spent most of the afternoon talking about, you guessed it the Durango Kid
My brother Paul Domi was in the marine corp with his son and my brother went to his home. He was absolutely thrilled
That was my Uncle David. He was in the Marines during the Korea war. Uncle lives in Glendale, Ca Same home since the early 60’s. He he would like to contact him, I can help.
Not only was Charles Starrett my hero in reel life, but when I met him many years ago he became my hero in real life. He was one of the nicest men I had ever met, and Mary was also very nice to me. I met both at a film festival in Memphis, Tennessee. Imy big wish now is to find more of the movies he made. Maybe one day Columbia/Sony will release more. He made over 150 westerns for Columbia. He and his wife were good people.
My biggest wish is that Columbia/Sony would release more of Charles Starrett westerns. Right now getTV, a channel owned by Sony & oddly enough the rights to Starrett westerns. So come on somebody wake up and release more of his westerns soon.
Who is Susan? My favorite western star was Charles Starrett. We talked to each other via phone in 1962 until he passed away. Then I finally got to meet him in Memphis, Tenn. at one of the festivals. His wife Mary was very nice also. She came with Mr. Starrett. He sent me his script holder along with many photos and letters which I still have. Thought I’d send you this quick comment.
Charles Starrett was my hero on the reel screen and off screen he was a fine man. Having helped out with the Memphis Western Film Festival I never heard a bad word spoken about Mr. Starrett. I say Mr. Starrett because I respected the man on and off screen. We had many phone conversations, many letters back and forth etc….He sent me a leather script holder that he carried on the sets while making his westerns, plus I have 2 shirts he wore as “STEVE” when he wasn’t D.K. I am very proud to say he was a dear friend and it’s my pleasure to say that’s how he regarded me. His wife, Mary, also treated me great. I sincerely mean it when I say I miss them very much.
My name is Wayne Lackey having known Charles Starrett I am also a big fan of his on the western screen. I have collected 8mm, 16mm, VHS, DVD movies of Charles Starrett westerns. As you read this if you, or know of some one, that has Charles Starrett westerns that I don’t have please notify me. Give me the title/s you have that you would part with also if on film or video and condition. cwlack@att.net
I am a BIG FAN OF CHARLES STARRETT and I have several Charles Starrett movies. What titles are you looking for. For some reason Columbia now Sony will not release his westerns. No one can honestly answer the question why don’t they? The people in charge probably think it would be able to sale his movies, which I strongly disagree. Need help wit other fans to write Columbia Pictures and Sony. Let’s all write, I sure have. Also contact get TV which is a network that Sony owns, and Sony bought out Columbia some time ago. Write all three places.
In my last comment I stated I think Columbia/Sony would be able to sale Starrett and by mistake I strongly disagree….I meant to say I THINK THE CHARLES STARRETT WESTERNS would sale. I sincerely hope they release the real early ones, the Medio 3 titles, and the latter Durango Kid titles that haven’t been released before. But the big shots that control Starrett westerns will never hear the pleas of Starrett fans.
From what I understand Columbia May not even have the Masters of Durango which is why they haven’t released them in any quantity….There were two released but none since then..only via collectors or Youtube can you find others…One source I understand is South America where Durango was popular in Theaters & Television….Of they would likely be dubbed in Spanish ..there are a couple like this on youtube…the other thing I read was that the South American Films were run hundreds of times and the quality suffered….It is sad there is not an Official Set of Durango in HD but We can hope something might show up….
Like I have said Columbia/Sony could care less about what we want. As I have heard there are many caves in California and studios have put prints in those. And yes I have heard about him being popular over seas. A lot of his films have got to be somewhere but where? And where are the so called caves that films were stored in? Does anyone know anybody that has been to one of the caves, if some one reads this comment and you know for certain you have seen these caves and/if you have actually seen one???????????
Amazon have 10 film Durango Kid collection at a very reasonable price There are no new titles but probably are better quality than the usual copies. Maybe worthwhile .
Yes the titles are better quality on the Mill Creek release plus the price is very reasonable. I just came up with 8 Campaign press books all starring Charles Starrett. Plan on releasing them very soon. Anyone interested in a set please let me know. Again when I met Mr. Starrett it was a very big high part of my life.
Keep us informed!
have you had any success in this venture? i would be interested. hbrolly@yahoo.co.uk
Yes I got the Recent release 10 Durango kid Movies …Very Good Quality Excellent Choice if you want good copies …Nothing New but a good selection of Durango Films ….
It is now owned by the Japanese. It is due to Columbia Pictures became Sony Pictures.
I enjoyed ALL his movies, when I was lucky enough to meet him, he was hero on and off the screen. I Have some of his movies but I wish I had them all.
A lot of his western are in the LOST section. Maybe one day soon they will pop up, let’s hope so
He was my great, great uncle!! Crazy to see the legacy that he has left behind! I’m digging very hard to find info about him to add to my family tree, as his brother was my great grandfather.
I have a photo of The Durango Kid listed now on ebay. He has his gun drawn, protecting a young boy of 12-13. It hung on the wall of a spare bedroom in my grandparents house for 40 years. When my uncle died in 2000 I was given the photo. I cannot identify the
young boy. The photo may or may not be from a movie or a publicity photo. Any help identifying the boy would be appreciated.
I should have included my email address; hmvaught@cox.net.
Are you still selling the photograph?
Like many, I had the opportunity to watch many of the Durango Kid movies in the theatre as a young kid. Charles Starrett’s character was always in my top five film cowboys and so I was thrilled when I had to opportunity to meet him at a Memphis Western Film Festival. When I went to work in the film industry, my wife, mother-in-law (Penny Edwards) and I often met him and his wife Mary, for breakfast at one of the local Hollywood inns. Always a gentleman and incredibly nice, he never once disappointed me. The person you saw on the screen was the same offscreen. So few are.
I don’t believe I have ever read anything Negative about Charles Starrett and interaction with his Fans…He left Us a Fabulous set of Movies to enjoy…Wish all his Westerns were available..Some have just disappeared….A few years ago there was hope that some of his movies would be recovered via South American Distribution which occurred with a lot of his films..They were hopeful that some prints would be still around ..but I have not heard or read anymore about them…
Sadly, Hollywood was and continues to be careless with its prints. Aside from Disney, many of the production companies lose interest in a film after its run. We’re all familiar with the lost films from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. But, many are unaware of how many films from the 50s until now, have been lost to time. Most of those “newly discovered” films came from collectors who became stalwarts of the “new” film festivals of the 70s on. My friend Wayne Lackey, comes to mind along with Packy Smith, Earl Blair, Roy Bonario, and others (Smith & Blair are deceased) who maintained copies as studios were losing them. For that, they were often vilified but without them, we would not have such intense continued interest in things we love.