October 7 Birthday Wishes

Andy Devine [1905 - 1977]
Tommy Farrell [1921 - 2004]

Howdy Manco!!

Andy Devine first showed up in silent films, back in 1926, in a film titled, The Collegians. Believe it or not, Andy appeared in almost 150 films, including the 1939 John Wayne film, Stagecoach and Red Badge Of Courage, before receiving any real attention. It was the new medium t.v., and the 1951-1958 kiddie show, The Adventures Of Wild Bill Hickok and his role as Jingle .P. Jones, the sidekick of Guy Madison, that brought him national attention. With his high raspy voice and his rotund figure and comical hi-jinks on the show, the kids just ate it up. He next took on The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn and Two Rode Together, before being cast in the role that would define his career. That of Marshal Link Appleyard in the 1962 movie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. He also was cast in the epic western, How The West Was Won and the comedy favorite, It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Andy would continue to appear on t.v. shows like The Virginian and Alias Smith And Jones right up until the time of his death in 1977. Both John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart attended his funeral! An excellent actor and one whose voice you will never forget!!

Tommy Farrell was one of those actors, whose face it is difficult to remember. I had to look him up on google and still don't remember him. He appeared in 49 films, including Singing In The Rain, North By Northwest and Kissin Cousins, but was only credited in Kissin Cousins. He had recurring roles on several t.v. series beginning in the late 50's, with This Is Alice, The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin, Bourbon Street Beat, Room For One More and F Troop. One of those actors who contributed to both film and t.v., but is difficult to bring to mind.

Ed

Andy Devine is one of the great character actors of the history of cinema. He played in anything from B Westerns to A movies like Romeo and Juliet (1936) and A Star Is Born (1937). Usually he played nervous characters, but sometimes he played the hero, as he did in Island in the Sky. He appeard in 400 movies, most notably as Buck the driver in Stagecoach (1939) and as he reluctant marshal in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. On TV, he played Guy Madison's sidekick Jingles on The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, as well as host the children's show Andy's Gang from 1955-1960, and he was a guest on Jack Benny's radio show over 75 times. He had a very distinctive voice, and when he was asked if he had "strange nodes" on his vocal chords he replied "I have the same nodes as Bing Crosby, only his are in tune." He died of leukemia at the age of 71.

Tommy Farrell was the son of Warners contract actress Glenda Farrell, and played Cpl. Thad Carson on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. His film appearances include Strangers on a Train, North By Northwest, Singing in the Rain, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Besides a recurring role on Here's Lucy, his other TV appearances include Cheyenne, Maverick, Gunsmoke, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Gomer Pyle, and F Troop.

Tommy Farrell is one of those actors that Jim and I had the pleasure of visiting a number of times. Besides the shows mentioned above, Tommy also played sidekick to Whip Wilson in a number of films, and also appeared in films with Johnny Mack Brown (like Colorado Ambush, recently released on DVD by Critix's Choice in a set of about seven other Monogram westerns which I ordered for on October 2 and hopefully will arrive soon). He also worked in some of those old serials they used to make. He also did stand up comic routines on the stage. A great guy.