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SCV In the Movies | Episode 24: Son Of The Border
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Tom Keene stars in “Son of the Border” (RKO Radio Pictures 1933)
Krieg began leasing his Vasquez Rocks property to film companies in the 1920s, and his nephew Ray Toney continued the practice after Krieg’s death in 1937 — as did Jefferson Asher, who bought 400 acres of the Vasquez property in 1934, including the rock house, which the Ashes expanded into the headquarters of their Triple A Ranch. Our film predates the Ashers’ purchase by one year. The inimitable Yakima Canutt appears in this film in two capacities: as himself (“Yak”), and as star Tom Keene’s stunt double. Keene (1896-1963) was a second-string actor typical of those who played the good-guy roles for the Poverty Row studios of the 1930s such as Republic and Monogram. Film buffs may note the presence of Lon Chaney Jr. as the character Jack Breen. It’s an early appearance for Chaney, who was credited as Creighton Chaney until 1935. (His dad, the famous “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” had died in 1930). Charles King plays his typical bad-guy role; rounding out the named cast are Julie Haydon as the love interest, Edgar Kennedy, David Durand, Al Bridge and Claudia Coleman. Read the pertinent Vasquez Rocks history [here]. ABOUT E.J. STEPHENS
By day, E.J. can be found in Burbank on the Warner Bros. Studios lot where he is a tour guide and an audience coordinator on Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show. When not giving tours at the studio, E.J. and Kimi host tours of their own for their Newhall-based company, Newhallywood Tours.
ABOUT BILL WEST
In his spare time, Bill writes software for Walt Disney Imagineering, where he has contributed to Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage and other attractions. Previously, he wrote software at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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