Pre-Poll Data Collecting -- Westerns Stars

Cafe Society
41

For those interested in taking this project to the next level, please look over Lists of Western films - Wikipedia to see if we might just ask interested voters to select from that list, for some reasonable group of time periods, their Top X-Number by period and post them.

We could decide from that set of responses what would work best as a final tallying approach.

I must confess that with the several current threads on this basic idea, I’m getting a little swamped with ideas and approaches, and any help would be greatly appreciated. :slight_smile:

Assuming that the period before the 1940’s would have few Dopers who would feel all that knowledgeable about them, I would suggest:

40s-60s
70s-90s
2000-on

and make it Top Ten (max) from each period.

Any better ideas?

42

not only decades but the media: silent films, talking films, radio and tv.

you might also split between juvenile and adult. like on tv a child would watch Roy Rogers and a child might watch Gunsmoke (because it had horses) though Gunsmoke was an adult western. though there clearly were many tv westerns which made an attempt at appealing to both simultaneously.

43

Here’s another update (as of Post #42) with dates attached (courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/ ) to help with the task of breaking this list of 91 down into more manageable sizes.

Your suggestions are more than welcome! :slight_smile:

Nick Adams (1931–1968)
Broncho Billy Anderson (1880–1971)
James Arness James Arness (1923–2011)
Gene Autry Gene Autry (1907–1998)
Parley Baer (1914–2002)

Tom Berenger (1949- )
Ward Bond (1903–1960)
Richard Boone Richard Boone (1917–1981)
Earnest Borgnine (1917–2012)
Walter Brennan (1894–1974)

Jeff Bridges (1949- )
Josh Brolin (1968- )
Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (1921–2003)
Johnny Mack Brown Johnny Mack Brown (1904–1974)
Yul Brynner (1920–1985)

Smiley Burnette Smiley Burnett (1911–1967)
Yakima Canutt (1895–1986)
Hopalong Cassidy = William Boyd (1895–1972)
James Coburn (1928–2002)
Chuck Connors Chuck Connors (1921–1992)

William Conrad (1920–1994)
Gary Cooper (1901–1961)
Kevin Costner (1955- )
Russell Crowe (1964- )
Ken Curtis (1916–1991)

John Dehner (1915–1992)
Andy Devine (1905–1977)
James Drury (1934- )
Robert Duvall (1931- )
Clint Eastwood (1930- )

Jack Elam (1920–2003)
Sam Elliott (1944- )
Henry Fonda (1905–1982)
Glenn Ford (1916–2006)
James Garner (1928–2014)

Chief Dan George (1899–1981)
Graham Greene (1952- )
Clu Gulager (1928- )
Gene Hackman (1930- )
William S. Hart (1864–1946)

George ‘Gabby’ Hayes (1885–1969)
Terence Hill (1939- )
Dustin Hoffman (1937- )
William Holden (1918–1981)
Tim Holt (1919–1973)

Arthur Hunnicutt (1910–1979)
Ben Johnson (1918–1996)
L. Q. Jones (1927- )
Tommy Lee Jones (1946- )
Val Kilmer (1959- )

Alan Ladd (1913–1964)
Burt Lancaster (1913–1994)
Michael Landon (1936–1991)
Alan Rocky Lane = Allan Lane (I) (1909–1973)
Lash LaRue Lash Larue (1917–1996)

Guy Madison (Wild Bill Hickock) Guy Madison (1922–1996)
Dean Martin Dean Martin (1917–1995)
Strother Martin Strother Martin (1919–1980)
Lee Marvin (1924–1987)
Lee Marvin’s horse (???- )

Ken Maynard (1895–1973)
Joel McCrea (1905–1990)
Steve McQueen Steve McQueen (1930–1980)
Tom Mix Tom Mix Tom Mix (1880–1940)
Clayton Moore Clayton Moore (1914–1999)

Audie Murphy (1924–1971)
Franco Nero (1941- )
Paul Newman (1925–2008)
Warren Oates Warren Oates (1928–1982)
Jack Palance (1919–2006)

Slim Pickens (1919–1983)
Robert Redford (1936- )
Duncan Renaldo (The Cisco Kid) (1904–1980)
Burt Reynolds (1936- )
Roy Rogers (1911–1998)

Randolph Scott Randolph Scott (1898–1987)
Tom Selleck (1945- )
Jay Silverheels Jay Silverheels (1912–1980)
Bud Spencer (1929- )
Charles Starrett (1903–1986)

Bob Steele (1907–1988)
Jimmy Stewart (1908–1997)
Woody Strode (1914–1994)
Wes Studi Wes Studi (1947- )
Dub Taylor (1907–1994)

Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989)
Clint Walker (1927- )
Eli Wallach (1915–2014)
John Wayne (1907–1979)
Dennis Weaver (1924–2006)

Chill Wills (1902–1978)

**Keep the names coming until we decide how to arrange the voting! :slight_smile: **

44

Here’s that same list broken down by (approximate) decades:

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

=== Pre 1900

Broncho Billy Anderson (1880–1971)
Walter Brennan (1894–1974)
Yakima Canutt (1895–1986)
Hopalong Cassidy = William Boyd (1895–1972)
Chief Dan George (1899–1981)
William S. Hart (1864–1946)
George ‘Gabby’ Hayes (1885–1969)
Ken Maynard (1895–1973)
Tom Mix Tom Mix Tom Mix (1880–1940)
Randolph Scott Randolph Scott (1898–1987)

=== 1900-1909

Gene Autry Gene Autry (1907–1998)
Ward Bond (1903–1960)
Johnny Mack Brown Johnny Mack Brown (1904–1974)
Gary Cooper (1901–1961)
Andy Devine (1905–1977)
Henry Fonda (1905–1982)
Alan Rocky Lane = Allan Lane (I) (1909–1973)
Joel McCrea (1905–1990)
Charles Starrett (1903–1986)
Bob Steele (1907–1988)
Jimmy Stewart (1908–1997)
Dub Taylor (1907–1994)
John Wayne (1907–1979)
Chill Wills (1902–1978)

=== 1910-1919

Parley Baer (1914–2002)
Richard Boone Richard Boone (1917–1981)
Earnest Borgnine (1917–2012)
Smiley Burnette Smiley Burnett (1911–1967)
Ken Curtis (1916–1991)
John Dehner (1915–1992)
Glenn Ford (1916–2006)
William Holden (1918–1981)
Tim Holt (1919–1973)
Arthur Hunnicutt (1910–1979)
Ben Johnson (1918–1996)
Alan Ladd (1913–1964)
Burt Lancaster (1913–1994)
Lash LaRue Lash Larue (1917–1996)
Dean Martin Dean Martin (1917–1995)
Strother Martin Strother Martin (1919–1980)
Clayton Moore Clayton Moore (1914–1999)
Jack Palance (1919–2006)
Slim Pickens (1919–1983)
Duncan Renaldo (The Cisco Kid) (1904–1980)
Roy Rogers (1911–1998)
Jay Silverheels Jay Silverheels (1912–1980)
Woody Strode (1914–1994)
Eli Wallach (1915–2014)
=== 1920-1929

James Arness James Arness (1923–2011)
Charles Bronson Charles Bronson (1921–2003)
Yul Brynner (1920–1985)
James Coburn (1928–2002)
Chuck Connors Chuck Connors (1921–1992)
William Conrad (1920–1994)
Jack Elam (1920–2003)
James Garner (1928–2014)
Clu Gulager (1928- )
L. Q. Jones (1927- )
Guy Madison (Wild Bill Hickock) Guy Madison (1922–1996)
Lee Marvin (1924–1987)
Audie Murphy (1924–1971)
Paul Newman (1925–2008)
Warren Oates Warren Oates (1928–1982)
Bud Spencer (1929- )
Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989)
Clint Walker (1927- )
Dennis Weaver (1924–2006)

=== 1930-1939

Nick Adams (1931–1968)
James Drury (1934- )
Robert Duvall (1931- )
Clint Eastwood (1930- )
Gene Hackman (1930- )
Terence Hill (1939- )
Dustin Hoffman (1937- )
Michael Landon (1936–1991)
Steve McQueen Steve McQueen (1930–1980)
Robert Redford (1936- )
Burt Reynolds (1936- )

=== 1940-

Tom Berenger (1949- )
Jeff Bridges (1949- )
Josh Brolin (1968- )
Kevin Costner (1955- )
Russell Crowe (1964- )
Sam Elliott (1944- )
Graham Greene (1952- )
Tommy Lee Jones (1946- )
Val Kilmer (1959- )
Franco Nero (1941- )
Tom Selleck (1945- )
Wes Studi Wes Studi (1947- )

======

Lee Marvin’s horse (???- )

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

45

I had the itch to track down older threads on the general topic of Westerns and associated subject matter. These may add to your choices in some way, and if you know of other similar threads, please link to them.

=========================

The LAST Great Western?
07-10-2003, 06:50 AM
Zeldar

Remembering the B Westerns
08-20-2003, 11:29 AM
Zeldar

Jack Elam RIP
10-23-2003, 06:53 AM
Shirley Ujest

What will be the next setting to parallel the Old West?
04-28-2006, 12:22 PM
Zeldar

I watched “The Searchers” on cable last night and…
05-18-2006, 08:42 AM
Zeldar

Broken Trail (spoilers) Observations
06-26-2006, 09:41 AM
Zeldar

Great Western Movie Lines
05-18-2008, 01:01 AM
carnivorousplant

Your favorite Westerns?
03-11-2009, 03:13 PM
Zeldar

Re-cast The Magnificent Seven with today’s actors
03-24-2009, 12:32 PM
Zeldar

Best Western (movie)
03-21-2010, 10:46 AM
Zeldar

Old Western Movie Stock Device?
03-22-2010, 10:33 AM
ralph124c

John Wayne vs. Clint Eastwood
04-03-2010, 10:46 AM
Zeldar

Old West accouterments – costuming and collecting
04-03-2010, 10:14 PM
Johnny L.A.

Best Western (not the motel chain)
04-03-2010, 12:30 AM
MovieMogul

A remake of The Magnificent Seven
08-03-2010, 09:41 PM
Boyo Jim

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594597
Why do western soundtracks sound “western”?
01-25-2011, 08:42 PM
findgrover

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=611513
Help me locate/identify a Western Movie music cue
06-07-2011, 12:46 PM
Zeldar

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=634513
Just from memory (no Googling) name the old B Western Cowboys
12-11-2011, 11:25 AM
Zeldar

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=652816
A Modern Day Magnificent Seven
05-23-2012, 04:20 PM
Zeldar

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=680048
Who’s the toughest TV cowboy?
01-24-2013, 05:26 AM
Love Rhombus

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=730238
Movies where knives are prominently featured
08-04-2014, 10:12 AM
Zeldar

=========================

And here are some references to look into:

Western Actors

List of Western films

=========================

46

It’s been several days since any additional names were added. But before proceeding with the voting, I wanted to be sure that the big names were mentioned, as best we can at this time.

Just for the trivia value, the oldest still living star on our list is Clint Walker, with L.Q. Jonesjust a few months younger. The youngest (so far) is Josh Brolin.

Please add to the list if you can think of others who qualify as true stars of Westerns (TV, Movies, whatever).

47

Several sidekicks were noted, so if Duncan Renaldo is on the list, Leo Carillo should be too.

Honestly though, it seems a vanishingly small chance that either would advance very far in the voting.

48

Cleavon Little made a very fine cowboy. :wink:

49

How in the world did we all miss Fess Parker? Old Yeller, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, for cripes sake. I had a serious boy-dad crush on this guy when I was a kid.

50

I’ve added these:

Leo Carillo (1881–1961)
Cleavon Little (1939–1992)
Fess Parker (1924–2010)

and that brings the totals up to :



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

=== Pre  1900 (11)
=== 1900-1909 (14)
=== 1910-1919 (24)
=== 1920-1929 (20)
=== 1930-1939 (12)
=== 1940-     (12)

+++ Total     (93)

As things stand, I’m seeing four preliminary polls to narrow the crowd down:

  1. — 1909
  2. 1910-1919
  3. 1920-1929
  4. 1930-

More names?

Other suggestions?

51

Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, Lorne Greene Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Timothy Oliphant, Ian McShane, Powers Booth, William Sanderson. 1st 3 from Bananza, 2 from F Troop, 4 from Deadwood.

52

Righteous! Better late than never on these folks!

53

With these updates –

Dan Blocker (1928–1972)
Pernell Roberts (1928–2010)
Lorne Greene (1915–1987)
Forrest Tucker (1919–1986)
Larry Storch (1923- )
Timothy Oliphant (1968- )
Ian McShane (1942- )
Powers Boothe (1948- )
William Sanderson (1944- )
---- the totals now look like:



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

=== Pre  1900 (11)
=== 1900-1909 (14)
=== 1910-1919 (26)
=== 1920-1929 (23)
=== 1930-1939 (12)
=== 1940-     (16)

+++ Total    (102)
54

Vote in Favorite Westerns Stars born before 1910 and/or continue mentioning names here. Other lists will be posted at a later time. Tidy-up poll(s) if needed will also come later.

55

Early voting (10 so far) has these guys ahead:

John Wayne (1907–1979)
Jimmy Stewart (1908–1997)
Gary Cooper (1901–1961)
Walter Brennan (1894–1974)
Henry Fonda (1905–1982)

I’m going to give the nominations process a little more time before putting up the next poll(s).

56

After 20 Voters the only new name to be added to the Top Vote-Getters is Gene Autry (1907–1998) and his by only a small amount.

I’ll go ahead and put up the next batch (1910-1919) for early voting there, but please continue adding new names as you think them worthy, both in this thread and in the OTHER categories of the newer threads.

We have a way to go before even trying to nail down SDMB’s Favorite Western Star, so “keep them cards and letters comin’ in!”

Thanks for your participation! :slight_smile:

57

Lemme predict – it’ll be Eastwood or Wayne, with Gary Cooper as the long shot.

58

I won’t even try to argue that! It may prove entertaining to see who else makes the Top Ten All-Time list, though. Care to shoot for THAT?

59

Sure! Though really I shouldn’t, as I can’t afford the penalty for being wrong. :slight_smile:

Clayton Moore
Kevin Costner
Alan Ladd
Sam Elliot
Gene Autry (though I’ve never liked singing cowboys)
Paul Newman
Steve McQueen

Most of those guys will be remembered for one iconic western role they played, rather than being, er, essential to the genre.

If it were just me making the list, I would add Randolph Scott, Ben Johnson and Jack Elam.

60

A new poll (Favorite Westerns Stars born 1910-1919) is now up.