![]() ![]() But in the first year or so following Republic's formation, they had to buy the Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Steele products from producer A. They developed several of their own series such as the Three Mesquiteers and the Gene Autry singing westerns. Republic also did some cowboy hero shuffling during the second half of the 1930s. After Ken Maynard exited Columbia in the mid 1930s, the studio tried several range riders (Jack Luden and Bob Allen) before finding "that peaceable man", 'Wild Bill' Elliott. Charles Starrett joined in 1935, and was doing good stuff for the studio, though it would be several years before he would become the Durango Kid. Quality returned when Johnny Mack Brown arrived.Ĭolumbia was also trying to find the right western combination. They had tried Bob Baker, but that effort was not a success. Their B western product had suffered after Buck Jones departed. and he could even deliver lines fairly well.įrom 1936-1940, Crabbe did five serials at Universal, a period when that studio was going through another of their financial ups and downs. He was certainly a good lookin' guy with lots of muscles. He seemed to have all the equipment and talent to become one of the greatest action heroes of the silver screen, perhaps even in A features. And when videotapes came out, the three Flash Gordon chapterplays were among my first acquisitions.Īs I mellowed and grew older, I began to wonder what happened with or to Buster Crabbe in the post FLASH GORDON (and post BUCK ROGERS) days. All my school buddies - as well as lots of gals - were fascinated by the weekly episodes and the muscular star. I do fondly remember when these were initially broadcast on TV during the early 1950s. Since there was the original chapterplay and two sequels, it appears they were popular and made money for Universal Pictures. He retired to Scottsdale, Arizona, and died there of a heart attack in 1983.Having been born in 1943, I wasn't around to gauge the importance and fan appeal of Buster Crabbe and the three FLASH GORDON serials when they were in their original theatrical release. He developed several business interests including Buster Crabbe Swim Pools. His debts were paid, but his acting skills grew less in demand. He was the host a children's series in New York City and starred in an NBC adventure series called Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion. He got into debt and looked for ways to make money. In the late 1940s, Crabbe left movies to put together his own water show. He played the heroes in 103 feature length jungle, crime, drama, and western B-movies as well as the heroes in nine movie serials. Īfter the 1932 Olympics, he went to Hollywood. He won 16 world and 35 national records during his swimming career. He trained as an Olympics swimmer, and won a bronze medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 1932 Summer Olympics. He went to the University of Southern California, and was a member of its first swim team. 1933 –1983 ) (his death)Ĭrabbe started swimming as a boy. ![]()
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