Johnny Mack Brown

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An All-American halfback while attending the University of Alabama, Johnny Mack Brown chose the silver screen over the green grass of the football field when he graduated. Signed to a contract with MGM in 1926, Brown debuted in Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927) with William Haines in a film about - baseball. This was followed by The Bugle Call (1927), which starred the fading Jackie Coogan. In 1928 he appeared in the last Norma Shearer silent film, A Lady of Chance (1928). After that, he worked with Greta Garbo, Marion Davies and Mary Pickford. His muscular good looks only carried him so far in films, however, and by 1930 he had yet to find his place. At MGM Clark Gable was taking the roles that Brown was up for, so he went into a western for director King Vidor, Billy the Kid (1930). While Vidor did not want him for the part to begin with, the picture was successful; however, Brown's career at MGM soon ended. By 1933 he was still making westerns, but they were for low-rung studios like Mascot. More westerns at even lower-rung Supreme Pictures followed, as well as serials like Wild West Days (1937) at Universal. In 1943 Brown took his boots over to Monogram Pictures, where he made over 60 westerns. He started off as "Nevada Jack McKenzie" in the Rough Riders series, but the name soon changed to Johnny. As with most of the early cowboy stars, he was a hero to millions of young children and consistently among the top ten money-makers in westerns from 1942-50. The bubble burst, though, just as it did for Allan Lane, in 1953, as the days of the "B" western came to an end.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2000
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
Movie (archive footage)
1994
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
Movie Self (archive footage)
1992
Legends of the West
Movie Billy the Kid in 'Billy the Kid' (archive footage) (uncredited)
1976
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Movie (archive footage)
1976
It's Showtime
Movie Self (archive footage)
1965
Apache Uprising
Movie Sheriff Ben Hall
1965
The Bounty Killer
Movie Sheriff Green
1965
Requiem for a Gunfighter
Movie Enkoff
1957
Perry Mason
TV show Warner Griffith
1957
Official Detective
TV show
1953
The Marshal's Daughter
Movie Johnny Mack Brown - Poker-Game Player
1952
Canyon Ambush
Movie Johnny Mack Brown
1952
This Is Your Life
TV show Self
1952
Dead Man's Trail
Movie Johnny Mack Brown
1952
Man from the Black Hills
Movie Johnny Mack Brown
1952
Texas City
Movie Johnny Mack Brown