Hoot Gibson

Hoot Gibson

Biography: Hoot Gibson was a colorful figure, a light-hearted, fun-loving personality on screen and off. Hoot’s cheerful westerns included a significant amount of comedy. His mild, peaceful character rarely carried a gun. As an expert horseman, Hoot was always impressive on a galloping horse. Gibson’s film career began in 1910 with a few films for the Biograph Company interspersed among rodeo competitions. In 1914 he was a stuntman for the serial The Hazards of Helen, doubling the serial’s star Helen Holmes. His stunts included fights on trains and transfers from a train to a horse. He had supporting roles in numerous Western short films, including playing the villain in A Knight of the Range (1916) opposite popular western star Harry Carey. He appeared in three of the Westerns made by Carey and director John Ford in 1917: Straight Shooting, The Secret Man, and A Marked Man. Hoot’s starring career at Universal Studios was launched in two films directed by Ford, Action (1921) and Sure Fire (1921). In these films, Hoot plays a wandering cowboy who rescues the pretty young co-star from outlaws. Hoot became a popular western star for Universal. Film titles such as Ridin’ Wild (1922), Thrill Chaser (1923), Hit and Run (1924), Hurricane Kid (1925), and Galloping Fury (1927) guaranteed Hoot’s fans five reels of action and fun. Hoot’s easygoing approach gave his films a lighthearted tone. A deft comedian, he featured as much comedy as drama. As talkies arrived, Hoot continued as a Western star, but with lower budget producers such as M.H. Hoffman Inc. (distributed on a state rights basis by Allied Pictures Corporation) and Walker Futter Productions (Diversion Pictures). In 1935, Hoot co-starred with Harry Carey in Powdersmoke Range, advertised by RKO as the "Barnum and Bailey of Westerns" (whatever that means). The cast list of this "all star" (B western stars) film included Bob Steele, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Tom Tyler, William Farnum, and other Westerners from the silent era. In 1937 at Republic, he made a serial, The Painted Stallion, in support of new cowboy star Ray Corrigan. An aging Hoot retained his fine horsemanship and comic flair, but fan interest had moved to the new singing cowboys, especially Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Hoot’s Westerns had lost their appeal. In the late thirties, out of movies, Hoot toured with circuses and appeared at rodeos and fairs. In 1943, after seven years off the screen, Hoot returned in the Trail Blazer series at Monogram Studios. In these Westerns, Marshall Hoot Gibson, initially co-starred with Ken Maynard and later with Bob Steele and Chief Thundercloud, upholds the law and captures outlaws and crooked businessmen threatening the lives and property of innocent citizens. Hoot made eleven Trail Blazer films; the last was Trigger Law (1944). John Ford brought Hoot back for a cameo role in The Horse Soldiers (1959). His last screen appearance was as a sheriff’s deputy in Ocean’s Eleven (1960), another cameo.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: August 05, 1892

Deathday: August 23, 1962

Popularity:

3.693

Known For

Burning the Wind
Burning the Wind

1929-02-10

The Fire Eater
The Fire Eater

1921-12-24

Sure Fire
Sure Fire

1921-11-05

Spurs
Spurs

1930-08-24

The Denver Dude
The Denver Dude

1927-02-13

40-Horse Hawkins
40-Horse Hawkins

1924-04-21

Ride for Your Life
Ride for Your Life

1924-02-25

The Man from the East
The Man from the East

1914-12-15

The Telltale Knife
The Telltale Knife

1914-11-03

Ridin' Wild
Ridin' Wild

1922-11-19

Let 'er Buck
Let 'er Buck

1925-03-22

The Silent Rider
The Silent Rider

1927-01-02

Galloping Fury
Galloping Fury

1927-11-20

Life in Hollywood No. 3
Life in Hollywood No. 3

1927-08-25

The Horse Soldiers
The Horse Soldiers

1959-06-11

His Only Son
His Only Son

1912-10-09

Cavalcade of the West
Cavalcade of the West

1936-10-01

The Flyin' Cowboy
The Flyin' Cowboy

1928-05-12

Judge Not; or The Woman of Mona Diggings
Judge Not; or The Woman of Mona Diggings

1915-09-27

A Knight of the Range
A Knight of the Range

1916-02-07

The Passing of Hell's Crown
The Passing of Hell's Crown

1916-04-22

The Wedding Guest
The Wedding Guest

1916-05-27

The New Superintendent
The New Superintendent

1911-11-16

A Four-Footed Hero
A Four-Footed Hero

1912-12-10

Cowboy Sports and Pastimes
Cowboy Sports and Pastimes

1913-02-01

In the Secret Service
In the Secret Service

1913-05-17

Kid Pink and the Maharajah
Kid Pink and the Maharajah

1914-03-12

Shotgun Jones
Shotgun Jones

1914-04-27

The Hazards of Helen
The Hazards of Helen

1917-02-24

Buckshot John
Buckshot John

1915-02-04

The Death Train
The Death Train

1915-03-06

The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine
The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine

1915-05-07

The Hazards of Helen Ep33: In Danger's Path
The Hazards of Helen Ep33: In Danger's Path

1915-06-26

The Ring of Destiny
The Ring of Destiny

1915-11-18

Stampede in the Night
Stampede in the Night

1916-02-26

The Night Riders
The Night Riders

1916-04-01

The Capture of Red Stanley
The Capture of Red Stanley

1916-05-27

The Mysterious Cipher
The Mysterious Cipher

1916-06-24

The Voice on the Wire
The Voice on the Wire

1917-03-18

A 44-Calibre Mystery
A 44-Calibre Mystery

1917-05-22

The Golden Bullet
The Golden Bullet

1917-06-26

The Wrong Man
The Wrong Man

1917-07-07

The Painted Stallion
The Painted Stallion

1937-06-05

Clearing the Range
Clearing the Range

1931-04-01

Wild Horse
Wild Horse

1931-08-02

Frontier Justice
Frontier Justice

1936-10-01

The Hard Hombre
The Hard Hombre

1931-09-20

West Is Best
West Is Best

1920-01-17

Roarin' Dan
Roarin' Dan

1920-01-24

The Sheriff's Oath
The Sheriff's Oath

1920-02-28

Hair Trigger Stuff
Hair Trigger Stuff

1920-03-05

Runnin' Straight
Runnin' Straight

1920-03-13

Held Up for the Makin's
Held Up for the Makin's

1920-03-20

The Texas Kid
The Texas Kid

1920-04-17

Wolf Tracks
Wolf Tracks

1920-05-07

Masked
Masked

1920-05-15

Thieves' Clothes
Thieves' Clothes

1920-05-22

The Broncho Kid
The Broncho Kid

1920-06-05

The Shootin' Kid
The Shootin' Kid

1920-07-01

The Smilin' Kid
The Smilin' Kid

1920-08-21

The Champion Liar
The Champion Liar

1920-09-11

The Big Catch
The Big Catch

1920-09-25

The Sawdust Trail
The Sawdust Trail

1924-08-10

The Winged Horseman
The Winged Horseman

1929-05-24

Hit and Run
Hit and Run

1924-08-10

The Shootin' Fool
The Shootin' Fool

1920-10-23

The Cowboy Counsellor
The Cowboy Counsellor

1932-10-14

The Tell-Tale Wire
The Tell-Tale Wire

1919-10-18

A Trick of Hearts
A Trick of Hearts

1928-03-18

Painted Ponies
Painted Ponies

1927-09-25

Riding for Fame
Riding for Fame

1929-08-19

The Wild West Show
The Wild West Show

1928-05-20

Courtin' Wildcats
Courtin' Wildcats

1929-12-22

The Danger Rider
The Danger Rider

1928-11-18

Clearing the Trail
Clearing the Trail

1928-10-07

Play Straight or Fight
Play Straight or Fight

1918-06-15

The Midnight Flyer
The Midnight Flyer

1918-06-29

The Branded Man
The Branded Man

1918-06-13

Danger, Go Slow
Danger, Go Slow

1918-12-16

The Black Horse Bandit
The Black Horse Bandit

1919-03-15

His Buddy
His Buddy

1919-03-29

Ace High
Ace High

1919-06-07

Kingdom Come
Kingdom Come

1919-06-21

The Fighting Heart
The Fighting Heart

1919-08-16

The Mounted Stranger
The Mounted Stranger

1930-02-08

Trigger Tricks
Trigger Tricks

1930-06-01

The Four-Bit Man
The Four-Bit Man

1919-08-21

The Jack of Hearts
The Jack of Hearts

1919-09-13

The Crow
The Crow

1919-09-15

The Face in the Watch
The Face in the Watch

1919-10-15

The Trail of the Holdup Man
The Trail of the Holdup Man

1919-11-29

The Lone Hand
The Lone Hand

1922-10-16

The Lone Hand
The Lone Hand

1919-12-13

The Double Hold-Up
The Double Hold-Up

1919-12-20

The Jay Bird
The Jay Bird

1920-01-03

Trimmed
Trimmed

1922-07-03

The Fightin' Terror
The Fightin' Terror

1920-06-19

A Gamblin' Fool
A Gamblin' Fool

1920-10-02

The Grinning Granger
The Grinning Granger

1920-10-09

One Law for All
One Law for All

1920-10-16

'in Wrong' Wright
'in Wrong' Wright

1920-10-30

Cinders
Cinders

1920-11-06

Double Danger
Double Danger

1920-11-13

Marked Trails
Marked Trails

1944-07-29

Lucky Terror
Lucky Terror

1936-02-20

The Two-Fisted Lover
The Two-Fisted Lover

1920-11-20

Step on It!
Step on It!

1922-05-29

The Loaded Door
The Loaded Door

1922-08-14

The Galloping Kid
The Galloping Kid

1922-09-11

Kindled Courage
Kindled Courage

1923-01-08

The Gentleman from America
The Gentleman from America

1923-02-19

Single Handed
Single Handed

1923-03-25

Dead Game
Dead Game

1923-04-23

Double Dealing
Double Dealing

1923-05-21

Shootin' for Love
Shootin' for Love

1923-06-28

Out of Luck
Out of Luck

1923-07-23

Blinky
Blinky

1923-08-17

The Ramblin' Kid
The Ramblin' Kid

1923-10-14

A Man's Land
A Man's Land

1932-06-10

Tipped Off
Tipped Off

1920-11-27

Hook and Ladder
Hook and Ladder

1924-01-07

Broadway or Bust
Broadway or Bust

1924-06-09

The Ridin' Kid from Powder River
The Ridin' Kid from Powder River

1924-11-30

The Hurricane Kid
The Hurricane Kid

1925-01-25

The Two Brothers
The Two Brothers

1910-05-12

The Phantom Bullet
The Phantom Bullet

1926-05-09

Hey! Hey! Cowboy
Hey! Hey! Cowboy

1927-04-03

A Hero on Horseback
A Hero on Horseback

1927-06-10

The Local Bad Man
The Local Bad Man

1932-01-14

The Stranger
The Stranger

1920-12-04

Superstition
Superstition

1920-12-04

The Brand Blotter
The Brand Blotter

1920-12-06

Fight It Out
Fight It Out

1920-12-11

The Man With The Punch
The Man With The Punch

1920-12-18

The Trail of the Hound
The Trail of the Hound

1920-12-25

Winning a Home
Winning a Home

1920-01-01

The Saddle King
The Saddle King

1921-01-01

The Driftin' Kid
The Driftin' Kid

1921-01-08

Sweet Revenge
Sweet Revenge

1921-01-13

Kickaroo
Kickaroo

1921-01-22

The Fightin' Fury
The Fightin' Fury

1921-02-05

Out o' Luck
Out o' Luck

1921-04-19

The Cactus Kid
The Cactus Kid

1921-03-26

Who Was the Man?
Who Was the Man?

1921-04-16

Crossed Clues
Crossed Clues

1921-04-30

Double Crossers
Double Crossers

1921-05-21

The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West

1921-06-04

Bandits Beware
Bandits Beware

1921-06-25

The Movie Trail
The Movie Trail

1921-07-09

The Man Who Woke Up
The Man Who Woke Up

1921-07-23

Hollywood or Bust
Hollywood or Bust

1928-09-10

Smilin' Guns
Smilin' Guns

1929-03-31

The Lariat Kid
The Lariat Kid

1929-05-12

Points West
Points West

1929-08-25

Trailing Trouble
Trailing Trouble

1930-03-23

The Concentratin' Kid
The Concentratin' Kid

1930-10-26

The Boiling Point
The Boiling Point

1932-07-15

Beating the Game
Beating the Game

1921-07-30

The Winning Track
The Winning Track

1921-01-01

Headin' West
Headin' West

1922-02-13

The Bear Cat
The Bear Cat

1922-04-03

The Dude Bandit
The Dude Bandit

1933-04-05

By Indian Post
By Indian Post

1919-05-23

Sunset Range
Sunset Range

1935-04-02

Rainbow's End
Rainbow's End

1935-07-16

The Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede

1925-11-01

The Rattler's Hiss
The Rattler's Hiss

1920-03-22

The Riding Avenger
The Riding Avenger

1936-06-14

The Fighting Parson
The Fighting Parson

1933-08-01

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

1976-05-01

Wild Horse Stampede
Wild Horse Stampede

1943-04-16

The Woman in the Web
The Woman in the Web

1918-04-08

Flight to Nowhere
Flight to Nowhere

1946-09-30

Outlaw Trail
Outlaw Trail

1944-04-29

The Governor's Special
The Governor's Special

1916-04-22

The Law Rides Again
The Law Rides Again

1943-08-06

Blazing Guns
Blazing Guns

1943-10-08

Death Valley Rangers
Death Valley Rangers

1943-12-03

Westward Bound
Westward Bound

1944-01-17

Arizona Whirlwind
Arizona Whirlwind

1944-02-21

Straight Shooting
Straight Shooting

1917-08-27

The Last Outlaw
The Last Outlaw

1936-06-19

Chip of the Flying U
Chip of the Flying U

1926-03-14

The Pay Train
The Pay Train

1915-06-11

Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Eleven

1960-08-10

The Buckaroo Kid
The Buckaroo Kid

1926-11-14

The Saddle Hawk
The Saddle Hawk

1925-03-08

The Flaming Frontier
The Flaming Frontier

1926-09-11

Taming the West
Taming the West

1925-03-01

The Spirit of the West
The Spirit of the West

1932-03-01

The Prairie King
The Prairie King

1927-05-15

Trigger Law
Trigger Law

1944-09-29

The Utah Kid
The Utah Kid

1944-08-25

The Texas Streak
The Texas Streak

1926-09-26

Swifty
Swifty

1935-12-12

Spook Ranch
Spook Ranch

1925-09-20

The Marshal's Daughter
The Marshal's Daughter

1953-06-25

The Man from Texas
The Man from Texas

1915-03-02

Powdersmoke Range
Powdersmoke Range

1935-09-27

The Gay Buckaroo
The Gay Buckaroo

1931-12-02

Sonora Stagecoach
Sonora Stagecoach

1944-06-10

We're switching to Hollywood
We're switching to Hollywood

1931-06-09

Feud of the West
Feud of the West

1936-04-14

The Soul Herder
The Soul Herder

1917-08-07

Cheyenne's Pal
Cheyenne's Pal

1917-08-13

The Secret Man
The Secret Man

1917-09-30

A Marked Man
A Marked Man

1917-10-29

Action
Action

1921-09-12

The Fighting Brothers
The Fighting Brothers

1919-03-01

The Rustlers
The Rustlers

1919-04-26

Gun Law
Gun Law

1919-05-10

The Gun Packer
The Gun Packer

1919-05-24

Headin' South
Headin' South

1918-02-25

The Long, Long Trail
The Long, Long Trail

1929-10-26

Arizona Sweepstakes
Arizona Sweepstakes

1926-01-10

Roaring Ranch
Roaring Ranch

1930-04-27

Hello, 'Frisco
Hello, 'Frisco

1924-09-28

Red Courage
Red Courage

1921-10-10

The Thrill Chaser
The Thrill Chaser

1923-11-26

King of the Rodeo
King of the Rodeo

1929-01-06

The Rawhide Kid
The Rawhide Kid

1928-01-29

The Man in the Saddle
The Man in the Saddle

1926-07-11