(From Old Corral image collection) Above from L-to-R are Ray Whitley, Lee 'Lasses' White and a young Tim Holt at RKO prior to Holt entering World War II service. (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Rod Cameron, Fuzzy Knight, Dan White, Whitley and Eddie Dew in Cameron's BEYOND THE PECOS (1945). (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R are Rod Cameron, Dan White, Whitley, Eddie Dew, and on the far right is Roy Bucko ... in another scene from BEYOND THE PECOS. |
Ray Whitley Filmography Westerns in black Shorts --- including Whitley's 18 starring shorts --- in blue Other films in green Special thanks to Les Adams for providing this filmography. |
Release Date |
Title | Company | Star | Director | Leading Lady |
Whitley Role |
8/31/34 | MOUNTAIN MELODY | Educational | Johnny Luther | Lloyd French | N/A | Ray Whitley |
9/13/35 | RODEO DAY | Educational | Johnny Luther | Lloyd French | N/A | Ray Whitley |
10/11/35 | HILLBILLY LOVE | Educational | Johnny Luther | Lloyd French | N/A | Ray Whitley |
9/11/36 | KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED | 20th Century-Fox | Robert Kent | Howard Bretherton | N/A | Singer |
10/12/36 | HOPALONG CASSIDY RETURNS | Paramount | William Boyd | Nate Watt | N/A | Davis |
4/3/37 | HITTIN' THE TRAIL | Grand National | Tex Ritter | Robert N. Bradbury | N/A | Band Leader |
8/6/37 | MYSTERY OF THE HOODED HORSEMEN, THE | Grand National | Tex Ritter | Ray Taylor | N/A | Guitar Player |
11/8/37 | OLD WYOMING TRAIL, THE | Columbia | Charles Starrett | Folmer Blangsted | N/A | Foreman Jim |
12/29/37 | RHYTHM WRANGLERS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Jane Walsh | Ray Whitley |
2/2/38 | WHERE THE WEST BEGINS | Monogram | Jack Randall | J. P. McGowan | N/A | Band Leader |
4/8/38 | RAWHIDE | 20th Century-Fox | Smith Ballew | Ray Taylor | N/A | Guitar Player/Singer |
4/9/38 | WESTERN WELCOME, A | RKO | Ray Whitley | Leslie Goodwins | Diana Gibson | Ray Whitley |
4/22/38 | BUCKAROO BROADCAST, A | RKO | Ray Whitley | Jean Yarbrough | Pauline Hadden | Ray Whitley |
5/13/38 | GUN LAW | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Singing Sam McGee |
6/24/38 | BORDER G-MAN | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Luke Jones |
8/12/38 | PAINTED DESERT | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Steve |
9/16/38 | RENEGADE RANGER, THE | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Happy |
12/16/38 | PRAIRIE PAPAS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Jack Townley | Jean Joyce | Ray Whitley |
3/23/39 | TROUBLE IN SUNDOWN | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Andy |
4/7/39 | RANCH HOUSE ROMEO | RKO | Ray Whitley | Lou Brock | Mary Parker | Ray Whitley |
6/6/39 | SAGEBRUSH SERENADE | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Jean Joyce | Ray Whitley |
6/14/39 | RACKETEERS OF THE RANGE | RKO | George O'Brien | D. Ross Lederman | N/A | Smokey |
9/8/39 | CUPID RIDES THE RANGE | RKO | Ray Whitley | Lou Brock | Elvira Ross | Ray Whitley |
12/15/39 | BANDITS AND BALLADS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Lou Brock | Unknown | Ray Whitley |
3/22/40 | MOLLY CURES A COWBOY | RKO | Ray Whitley | Jean Yarbrough | Kathryn Adams | Ray Whitley |
6/14/40 | CORRALLING A SCHOOL MARM | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
6/14/40 | PRAIRIE LAW | RKO | George O'Brien | David Howard | N/A | Band Leader |
10/4/40 | WAGON TRAIN | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Ned |
11/8/40 | BAR BUCKAROOS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Lloyd French | Jane Patten | Ray Whitley |
12/6/40 | FARGO KID, THE | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Johnny |
1/31/41 | PRAIRIE SPOONERS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Harry D'Arcy | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
2/7/41 | ALONG THE RIO GRANDE | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
4/15/41 | REDSKINS AND REDHEADS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Harry D'Arcy | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
4/18/41 | ROBBERS OF THE RANGE | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
6/13/41 | CYCLONE ON HORSEBACK | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
7/18/41 | MUSICAL BANDIT, THE | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
8/8/41 | SIX GUN GOLD | RKO | Tim Holt | David Howard | N/A | Smokey |
10/10/41 | BANDIT TRAIL, THE | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
11/11/41 | CALIFORNIA OR BUST | RKO | Ray Whitley | Lloyd French | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
12/12/41 | DUDE COWBOY | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
1/30/42 | KEEP SHOOTING | RKO | Ray Whitley | Harry D'Arcy | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
2/27/42 | RIDING THE WIND | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
4/17/42 | LAND OF THE OPEN RANGE | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
4/23/42 | CACTUS CAPERS | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
6/5/42 | COME ON DANGER! | RKO | Tim Holt | Edward Killy | N/A | Smokey |
7/12/42 | RANGE RHYTHM | RKO | Ray Whitley | Charles E. Roberts | Virginia Vale | Ray Whitley |
7/24/42 | THUNDERING HOOFS | RKO | Tim Holt | Lesley Selander | N/A | Smokey Ryan |
5/22/44 | BOSS OF BOOMTOWN | Universal | Rod Cameron | Ray Taylor | N/A | Corporal Clark |
7/7/44 | TRIGGER TRAIL | RKO | Rod Cameron | Lewis Collins | N/A | Gilroy |
8/18/44 | TRAIL TO GUNSIGHT | RKO | Eddie Dew | Vernon Keays | N/A | Barton |
11/10/44 | RIDERS OF THE SANTA FE | Universal | Rod Cameron | Wallace Fox | N/A | Hank |
12/15/44 | OLD TEXAS TRAIL, THE | Universal | Rod Cameron | Lewis Collins | N/A | Amarillo |
4/25/45 | HOLLYWOOD AND VINE | P.R.C. | James Ellison | Alexis Thurn-Taxis | N/A | Tex |
4/27/45 | BEYOND THE PECOS | Universal | Rod Cameron | Lambert Hillyer | N/A | Dan Muncie |
6/1/45 | RENEGADES OF THE RIO GRANDE | Universal | Rod Cameron | Howard Bretherton | N/A | Tex Henry |
4/20/46 | WEST OF THE ALAMO | Monogram | Jimmy Wakely | Oliver Drake | N/A | Keno Wilson |
3/13/49 | GUN LAW JUSTICE | Monogram | Jimmy Wakely | Lambert Hillyer | N/A | Musician Ray |
10/11/56 | GIANT | Warner Bros. | Elizabeth Taylor | George Stevens | N/A | Business Manager Watts |
(Courtesy of Les Adams) The above photo of Whitley and his Six-Bar Cowboys is from a promo piece on the Whitley shorts. From L-to-R are Whitley, unidentified, Ken Card, unidentified, unidentified. Les Adams adds that Whitley mentioned that Willie Phelps, Norman Phelps, Earl Phelps and Ken Card were regulars with the group. Other members included Curly Hoag, Candy Hall, Spade Cooley and Chuck Baldra. February, 2002: the daughter of Willie Phelps advised that none of the Phelps brothers are in this photo. There's a website on the Phelps Brothers - Norman, Earl and Willie - who were part of Ray Whitley and the Six-Bar Cowboys group and the site includes several photos with Whitley: http://phelpsbrothers.tripod.com/ |
Ray Whitley Songs Special thanks to Les Adams for providing this listing of Whitley authored or co-authored tunes that were used in the B-western. |
Release Date |
Song Title | Film | Writers | Company |
4/3/37 | Ridin' the Old Prairie Trail | Hittin' the Trail | Ray Whitley | Grand National |
4/3/37 | Washboard Rag | Hittin' the Trail | Ray Whitley | Grand National |
11/8/37 | Goodbye Old Paint | The Old Wyoming Trail | Ray Whitley | Columbia |
6/24/38 | Back in the Saddle Again | Border G-Man | Ray Whitley | RKO |
6/24/38 | To Watch the Settin' Sun | Border G-Man | Ray Whitley | RKO |
8/12/38 | Painted Desert | The Painted Desert | Ray Whitley | RKO |
9/16/38 | Senorita | The Renegade Ranger | Ray Whitley | RKO |
9/16/38 | Move Slow Little Dogie | The Renegade Ranger | Ray Whitley | RKO |
3/23/39 | Home on the Prairie | Trouble in Sundown | Ray Whitley | RKO |
3/23/39 | Prairie Winds | Trouble in Sundown | Ray Whitley | RKO |
6/14/39 | Caboose on the Red ball Train | Racketeers of the Range | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/14/39 | Sleepy Wrangler | Racketeers of the Range | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
11/16/39 | Back in the Saddle Again | Rovin' Tumbleweeds | Ray Whitley and Gene Autry (rewrite) | Republic |
9/20/40 | Lonely Rio | Triple Justice | Ray Whitley | RKO |
3/14/41 | Back in the Saddle Again | Back in the Saddle | Ray Whitley and Gene Autry (rewrite) | Republic |
4/15/41 | Redskins and Redheads | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO | |
4/18/41 | The Railroad's Coming To Town | Robbers of the Range | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/13/41 | Bangtail | Cyclone on Horseback | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/13/41 | Tumbleweed Cowboy | Cyclone on Horseback | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/13/41 | Blue Nightfall | Cyclone on Horseback | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
8/8/41 | Rock Along Home | Six Gun Gold | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
8/8/41 | Six Gun Gold | Six Gun Gold | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
9/5/41 | Song of the Dusty Trail | Bad Man of Deadwood | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | Republic |
10/10/41 | On the Outlaw Trail | The Bandit Trail | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
12/12/41 | At The End of the Canyon Trail | Dude Cowboy | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
12/12/41 | An Echo in the Wind | Dude Cowboy | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
12/12/41 | Silver River | Dude Cowboy | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
12/12/41 | I'm A Dude Cowboy | Dude Cowboy | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
2/27/42 | I'll Live Until I Die | Riding the Wind | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
2/27/42 | Going On a Hayride Tonight | Riding the Wind | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
4/17/42 | Land of the Open Range | Land of the Open Range | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
4/17/42 | Ki-Yo My Horse Is Slow | Land of the Open Range | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/5/42 | Come On Danger | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO | |
7/24/42 | Ramble On | Thundering Hoofs | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
7/24/42 | Thundering Hoof Beats | Thundering Hoofs | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
9/25/42 | Move Along Little Dogie | Bandit Ranger | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
9/25/42 | I'm Musical Ike | Bandit Ranger | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
11/20/42 | Where the Mountains Meet the Moonlight | Pirates of the Prairie | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
11/20/42 | Grandpop | Pirates of the Prairie | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
1/29/43 | On the Outlaw Trail | Fighting Frontier | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
1/29/43 | The Edwards and the Drews | Fighting Frontier | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
4/2/43 | Down the Cherokee Trail | Sagebrush Law | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
4/2/43 | Crazy Old Trails | Sagebrush Law | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
7/23/43 | Twilight on the Prairie | Red River Robin Hood | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | RKO |
6/14/44 | Twilight on the Prairie | Twilight on the Prairie | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | Universal |
7/7/44 | Twilight on the Prairie | Trigger Trail | Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | Universal |
10/15/45 | I Hang My Head and Cry | Flaming Bullets | Gene Autry, Ray Whitley and Fred Rose | P.R.C. |
5/15/49 | Across the Rio Grande | Across the Rio Grande | Ray Whitley and Jimmy Wakely | Monogram |
9/8/52 | Back in the Saddle Again | Wagon Team | Ray Whitley and Gene Autry (rewrite) | Columbia |
= Whitley is credited with one or more tunes in these films, but we need to determine the specific song titles. |