The Film
Hollywood Horses traces the trajectory of the Hollywood wrangling industry from its inception to its present-day state. The film explores all aspects of the infamous wrangling business: horses with star power, devoted audiences, training techniques, wild stunts, collectable marketing memorabilia, the crucial involvement of the American Humane Association, and the Hollywood pictures themselves.

At the center of Hollywood Horses is the story of Clarence "Fat" Jones, the filmmaker's great-grandfather. Hollywood's first wrangler, Fat Jones had a career that spanned 51 years, from 1912 to 1963, from the first day a horse was rented to a movie production to the end of the industry's "hay days." By exploring archival footage, private collections, and personal memories, the film takes us on an exciting journey into the fading past. Hollywood Horses will give voice to the men and women who worked tirelessly, humanely, and patiently behind the scenes to give us the magnificent horse, larger than life, on the silver screen.

History
Fat Jones became the first professional movie wrangler in 1912 in Edendale, California. He was watching a Pathé film production when the producer asked if he could borrow two horses. Fat agreed to rent them, and thus began what would become for him a million dollar business and for the San Fernando Valley, a multi-million dollar industry. As Hollywood became the center of production for the American film studios, the Western emerged as the most popular genre, with its inherent action and spectacle. The visual icon of the Western was the horse, serving as trusty steed to the cowboy, chasing down run-away stagecoaches, and leading trail drives across the vast expanse of the West.

The Hollywood stables grew up with the film industry, providing horses and equipment, and teaching movie stars how to ride. By the 1920s and 30s, horses were so beloved they starred in hundreds of their own serials and films like "Rex, King of the Wild Horses" and "My Friend Flicka." With the advent of television, there was a reprise in the Western, as seen in "The Gene Autry Show," "The Roy Rogers Show," and "Gunsmoke." There were new horse stars in this era, featured in programming like "Fury" and "Mr. Ed." Throughout the 1960s and 70s horses were featured on shows like "Bonanza," and "Little House on the Prairie."

However, over the ensuing years fewer and fewer Westerns and frontier epics were being made, as the genre passed out of popularity. The San Fernando Valley was slowly paved over, and the stables were replaced by housing and strip malls. Today, just a few of the o ld time wranglers are still around to tell us the exciting tales from Hollywood's classic movie era. And while most of the horses are gone, we can still be entertained and awestruck by their majestic performances on the silver screen.

The Horses and Their Trainers
At the Fat Jones Stables, Jack Lindell trained Flicka and Rex, King of the Wild Horses. Ralph McCutcheon made a successful equine star out of a pinto stallion, Dice, ridden by Gene Autry and Gregory Peck. McCutcheon also discovered and trained Fury, one of the most popular horses of his era. The most popular horse with movie stars at the Fat Jones Stable was Steele - John Wayne and Ben Johnson's favorite horse. There were several Silvers over the years, and trick horses like Missed-A-Shot, who specialized in rearing.

Glen Randall trained Roy Rogers's famous pal Trigger, and the chariot horses in "Ben Hur." Glen's son Corky trained Cass Ole, better know as the Black Stallion. In the later years, Fat Jones Stables housed the Bonanza horses. Stevie Myers and Joan Edwards had the horses for "Little House on the Prairie" for a time. Denny Allen took over "Little House," and with Kenny Lee they did the horses for "Silverado" and the "Legend of Lone Ranger."

Today, with relatively few movies calling for horses, only a few of these trainers and wranglers remain. Hollywood Horses talks to them about the bygone era of the much-loved movie horse and the few talented people who trained them.

© 2001 Missed-A-Shot Film Productions
updated 03/11/2008

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