Monte Hale

Monte Hale (born Samuel Buren Ely) was an American B-Western film star and country musician. Sometimes reported to have been born in San Angelo, Texas, he was actually born in Ada, Oklahoma but grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, attending Washington Grade School and Shawnee High School. (Texas birthplace reportedly sounded better for the movies). After working as a laborer at various jobs in Ada and Enid OK Herod Ely settled in Shawnee and became an evangelist with the Church of God. His oldest son, Buren, was known to use his musical talent during his father's services. The boy had gathered pecans and picked cotton to earn money to buy his first guitar. Soon he was singing and playing the guitar wherever he could find an audience. His parents had divorced and both had remarried with youngest brother Bobby going with his mother. In 1934, 16-year-old Buren left home as many boys did during the Depressions. He headed for Houston and found work playing his music. From there he went to Albuquerque working on a radio station. A man there convinced him to head to California but all he was able to do there was scratch together a small band and play at a winter resort dude ranch. After four years he returned to with the Texas Vaudeville and local rodeo shows. During World War II he got a job as a replacement guitarist with the Stars Over Texas Bond Drive joining several Republic Pictures celebrities and staff. This introduced him to western stars like Chill Wills and convinced Phil ...

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Giant (1956)

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Stevens
CAST:  Elizabeth Taylor  •  Rock Hudson  •  James Dean  •  Carroll Baker

Wealthy rancher Bick Benedict and dirt-poor cowboy Jett Rink both woo Leslie Lynnton, a beautiful young woman from Maryland who is new to Texas. She marries Benedict, but she is shocked by the racial bigotry of the White Texans against the local people of Mexican ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Stevens
CAST:  Elizabeth Taylor  •  Rock Hudson  •  James Dean  •  Carroll Baker

Home on the Range (1946)

Two brothers settle a wilderness, one builds the largest cattle ranch in the state while the other creates a game preserve to protect the wild life. Trouble lies ahead.....  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Bob Nolan  •  Tom Chatterton

Two brothers settle a wilderness, one builds the largest cattle ranch in the state while the other creates a game preserve to protect the wild life. Trouble lies ahead.....  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Bob Nolan  •  Tom Chatterton

Man from Rainbow Valley (1946)

When unscrupulous rodeo promoter Colonel Winthrop gets the idea of capturing "Outlaw" and making him a show horse, his niece Kay North tricks Monte into believing she is a writer assigned to do an article on the real horse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Jo Ann Marlowe  •  Ferris Taylor

When unscrupulous rodeo promoter Colonel Winthrop gets the idea of capturing "Outlaw" and making him a show horse, his niece Kay North tricks Monte into believing she is a writer assigned to do an article on the real horse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Jo Ann Marlowe  •  Ferris Taylor

The Missourians (1950)

In the little town of Dorado, widely known as a town with no crime and no bank to rob, young Polish-born Steve Kovacs is fighting a two-edged sword of prejudice; his foreign birth and also the fact that his brother, Nick Kovacs, is the leader of an outlaw gang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Blair
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft  •  Lyn Thomas

In the little town of Dorado, widely known as a town with no crime and no bank to rob, young Polish-born Steve Kovacs is fighting a two-edged sword of prejudice; his foreign birth and also the fact that his brother, Nick Kovacs, is the leader of an outlaw gang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Blair
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft  •  Lyn Thomas

The Vanishing Westerner (1950)

Posing as wanted men, Chris and Waldorf get hired by Sanderson. He sends them to kill the Sheriff but puts blanks in their guns. When they arrive someone else shoots the Sheriff and Chris is blamed and jailed. The Sheriff's brother then incites the mob to hang Chris.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Aline Towne  •  Roy Barcroft

Posing as wanted men, Chris and Waldorf get hired by Sanderson. He sends them to kill the Sheriff but puts blanks in their guns. When they arrive someone else shoots the Sheriff and Chris is blamed and jailed. The Sheriff's brother then incites the mob to hang Chris.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Aline Towne  •  Roy Barcroft

The Timber Trail (1948)

Monte Hale is a stagecoach driver for Jed Baker's stage-line. Jed believes his brother, Ralph, is behind the many hold-ups of his stagecoaches but has no proof. Ralph, in turn, blames Jed for the attacks on the linemen of his pioneer telegraph company. Big Bart, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lynne Roberts  •  James Burke  •  Roy Barcroft

Monte Hale is a stagecoach driver for Jed Baker's stage-line. Jed believes his brother, Ralph, is behind the many hold-ups of his stagecoaches but has no proof. Ralph, in turn, blames Jed for the attacks on the linemen of his pioneer telegraph company. Big Bart, a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lynne Roberts  •  James Burke  •  Roy Barcroft

Law of the Golden West (1949)

Young Buffalo Bill Cody goes after the murderer of his father and uncovers a land-grab conspiracy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Gail Davis  •  Roy Barcroft

Young Buffalo Bill Cody goes after the murderer of his father and uncovers a land-grab conspiracy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Gail Davis  •  Roy Barcroft

Bandits of the Badlands (1945)

Sunset Carson is a wandering cavalier who rides into the Badlands. Hallie Wayne is bedeviled by bandits who've been raiding the livestock of her ranch.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carr
CAST:  Sunset Carson  •  Peggy Stewart  •  Si Jenks  •  John Merton

Sunset Carson is a wandering cavalier who rides into the Badlands. Hallie Wayne is bedeviled by bandits who've been raiding the livestock of her ranch.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carr
CAST:  Sunset Carson  •  Peggy Stewart  •  Si Jenks  •  John Merton

Colorado Pioneers (1945)

An interesting entry in Republic Pictures' long-running "Red Ryder" B-Western series, this film is not about hardy settlers braving the Colorado winters, as the title would suggest. Instead it's a sort of Reform School Western about a couple of wayward Chicago boys ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Bill Elliott  •  Robert Blake  •  Alice Fleming  •  Roy Barcroft

An interesting entry in Republic Pictures' long-running "Red Ryder" B-Western series, this film is not about hardy settlers braving the Colorado winters, as the title would suggest. Instead it's a sort of Reform School Western about a couple of wayward Chicago boys ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Bill Elliott  •  Robert Blake  •  Alice Fleming  •  Roy Barcroft

Rough Riders of Cheyenne (1945)

Sunset returns to find the Carson-Sterling feud still going. Sterling has been killed and it's not long before Andrew Carson is murdered. To end the feud Sunset challenges Martin Sterling to a shootout. Unknown to Sunset, Martin's sister Melinda has waylaid her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carr
CAST:  Sunset Carson  •  Peggy Stewart  •  Mira McKinney  •  Monte Hale

Sunset returns to find the Carson-Sterling feud still going. Sterling has been killed and it's not long before Andrew Carson is murdered. To end the feud Sunset challenges Martin Sterling to a shootout. Unknown to Sunset, Martin's sister Melinda has waylaid her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas Carr
CAST:  Sunset Carson  •  Peggy Stewart  •  Mira McKinney  •  Monte Hale

Sun Valley Cyclone (1946)

In this western, Red Ryder rounds up a gang of horse thieves who have been stealing cavalry horses.  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Bill Elliott  •  Robert Blake  •  Alice Fleming  •  Roy Barcroft

In this western, Red Ryder rounds up a gang of horse thieves who have been stealing cavalry horses.  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Bill Elliott  •  Robert Blake  •  Alice Fleming  •  Roy Barcroft

Last Frontier Uprising (1947)

Singing cowboy Monte Hale plays "himself" in the Republic western Last Frontier Uprising. Actually, he's not really himself, but a federal agent, dispatched to Texas to buy horses on behalf of the government. Hale runs up against a vicious gang of horse thieves, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lesley Selander
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart  •  Roy Barcroft

Singing cowboy Monte Hale plays "himself" in the Republic western Last Frontier Uprising. Actually, he's not really himself, but a federal agent, dispatched to Texas to buy horses on behalf of the government. Hale runs up against a vicious gang of horse thieves, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lesley Selander
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart  •  Roy Barcroft

Under Colorado Skies (1947)

Monte Hale has been working as a teller in a Texas bank during the summer to earn money for his medical college expenses during the upcoming year. He is about to leave to return to college when the bank is held up by two members of a notorious gang, headed by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Paul Hurst  •  William Haade

Monte Hale has been working as a teller in a Texas bank during the summer to earn money for his medical college expenses during the upcoming year. He is about to leave to return to college when the bank is held up by two members of a notorious gang, headed by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Paul Hurst  •  William Haade

California Firebrand (1948)

Directed by Philip Ford in 1948. When cowboy Monte Hale (Monte Hale) returns home to investigate his uncle's murder, he's mistaken for a fierce outlaw and is hired by the town's corrupt mayor, Lance Dawson (Douglas Evans), as the new sheriff. But Monte secretly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Paul Hurst  •  Alice Tyrrell

Directed by Philip Ford in 1948. When cowboy Monte Hale (Monte Hale) returns home to investigate his uncle's murder, he's mistaken for a fierce outlaw and is hired by the town's corrupt mayor, Lance Dawson (Douglas Evans), as the new sheriff. But Monte secretly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Lorna Gray  •  Paul Hurst  •  Alice Tyrrell

Son of God’s Country (1948)

Bill Sanger has his men out raiding and killing to obtain the ranches along the route that he knows the new railroad will use. He then kills the editor that received a letter that would expose him. But the editor earlier hid the letter in a chamber of his gun. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Pamela Blake  •  Paul Hurst  •  James Nolan

Bill Sanger has his men out raiding and killing to obtain the ranches along the route that he knows the new railroad will use. He then kills the editor that received a letter that would expose him. But the editor earlier hid the letter in a chamber of his gun. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  R.G. Springsteen
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Pamela Blake  •  Paul Hurst  •  James Nolan

Prince of the Plains (1949)

Banker Ned Owens refuses to call in the many unpaid loans made to the local ranchers as he knows they are being terrorized by a gang of crooks and unable to pay. But the secret leader of the gang is James Taylor large stockholder of the bank.....  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Shirley Davis  •  Roy Barcroft

Banker Ned Owens refuses to call in the many unpaid loans made to the local ranchers as he knows they are being terrorized by a gang of crooks and unable to pay. But the secret leader of the gang is James Taylor large stockholder of the bank.....  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Shirley Davis  •  Roy Barcroft

South of Rio (1949)

The town of Rio Blanco is the center of a fight over the statehood issue and is a perfect setup for Lon Bryson and Chuck Bowers, who organize a couple of phony protection associations. Opposing them is Henry Waterman, publisher of the Rio Blanco Herald. He and his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Kay Christopher  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft

The town of Rio Blanco is the center of a fight over the statehood issue and is a perfect setup for Lon Bryson and Chuck Bowers, who organize a couple of phony protection associations. Opposing them is Henry Waterman, publisher of the Rio Blanco Herald. He and his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Kay Christopher  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft

Outcasts of the Trail (1949)

Legendary lawman Pat Garrett wins the Fourth of July buckboard race in a small Nevada town against the unscrupulous Fred Smith and pretty Lavinia White. Lavinia blames Garrett for sending her father Ivory White to jail for robbing 100,000 dollars. White, who has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Jeff Donnell  •  Roy Barcroft

Legendary lawman Pat Garrett wins the Fourth of July buckboard race in a small Nevada town against the unscrupulous Fred Smith and pretty Lavinia White. Lavinia blames Garrett for sending her father Ivory White to jail for robbing 100,000 dollars. White, who has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Jeff Donnell  •  Roy Barcroft

San Antone Ambush (1949)

Just after the Civil War a Texan and his men are fighting a ruthless Commissioner and his excessive taxes. After a Lieutenant is falsely accused of a pay wagon massacre by the Commissioner's men, he deserts the Army and tries to clear himself. At first he belives ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Bette Daniels  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft

Just after the Civil War a Texan and his men are fighting a ruthless Commissioner and his excessive taxes. After a Lieutenant is falsely accused of a pay wagon massacre by the Commissioner's men, he deserts the Army and tries to clear himself. At first he belives ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Bette Daniels  •  Paul Hurst  •  Roy Barcroft

Ranger of Cherokee Strip (1949)

Having been framed for murder, the half-breed Joe Bearclaws (Douglas Kennedy) escapes from jail and Ranger Steve Howard (Monte Hale) goes after him. He catches up with him in the Cherokee Strip where he has no authority. Joe is then framed for another murder and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Alix Talton  •  Roy Barcroft

Having been framed for murder, the half-breed Joe Bearclaws (Douglas Kennedy) escapes from jail and Ranger Steve Howard (Monte Hale) goes after him. He catches up with him in the Cherokee Strip where he has no authority. Joe is then framed for another murder and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Philip Ford
CAST:  Monte Hale  •  Paul Hurst  •  Alix Talton  •  Roy Barcroft
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