John 'Dusty' King

John 'Dusty' King (born Miller McLeod Everson, July 11, 1909 November 11, 1987) was a singer and film actor renowned for his Westerns particularly the Range Busters series.

John King
King in Half a Sinner (1940)
Born
Miller McLeod Everson

(1909-07-11)July 11, 1909
DiedNovember 11, 1987(1987-11-11) (aged 78)
OccupationActor
Years active19351946

Biography

Everson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Everson travelled the country working a variety of jobs, such as chauffeuring motorcars from Detroit to Cincinnati, lumberjacking in New Mexico, and working as a ranch hand in Arizona.[1]

Everson found himself a radio announcing job in Covington, Kentucky then returned to Cincinnati where he announced, hosted, and sang. Hearing him on the radio, bandleader Ben Bernie hired him as a singer with Everson changing his name to John King. Noting his good looks and popularity, Bernie recommended him to Hollywood with Zeppo Marx also agreeing with Bernie.[1]

Hollywood

King was contracted to Universal Pictures making several films and playing the lead in the serial Ace Drummond. He made appearances in films for other studios before being hired by Monogram Pictures to play the lead in a Cinecolor Western, The Gentleman from Arizona in 1939. The following year King would play "Dusty" in the Range Busters series of Westerns.

The Range Busters were Monogram's version of Republic Pictures' The Three Mesquiteers. King played the singing cowboy alongside of Ray "Crash" Corrigan who was later replaced by David Sharpe and comedy relief Max Terhune with his dummy Elmer for a total of 18 films in the series.

In Haunted Ranch (1943), Sharpe leaves the trio to enlist in the US Army in the Spanish–American War. Not only did Sharpe actually enlist in the US Army Air Forces but King himself was drafted in the USAAF serving in Special Services in Arizona.

After discharge there were no film offers, so King returned to radio, later buying a station. He later left the radio industry to run a waffle shop in La Jolla, California.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1935Stolen HarmonyFagin in SkitUncredited
1935The Affair of SusanBoy in Fun HouseUncredited
1935His Night OutSalesmanUncredited
1935Three Kids and a QueenReporterUncredited
1935Fighting YouthSinging Band Leader
1936The Adventures of Frank MerriwellBruce BrowningSerial
1936Next Time We LoveJuvenileUncredited
1936Dangerous WatersSinging Sailor
1936Sutter's GoldAlvarado Jr.Uncredited
1936Love Before BreakfastJohnnyUncredited
1936Nobody's FoolMaster of CeremoniesUncredited
1936Crash DonovanJohnny Allen
1936Postal InspectorRalphUncredited
1936Ace DrummondAce DrummondSerial
1936Three Smart GirlsBill Evans
1937The Road BackErnst
1937Merry-Go-Round of 1938Tony Townsend
1938The Crime of Doctor HalletDr. Philip Saunders
1938State PoliceSgt. Dan Prescott
1938Breaking the IceHenry Johnson
1938SharpshootersPrince Alexis
1938Charlie Chan in HonoluluRandolph
1939The Three MusketeersAramis
1939Inside StoryPaul Randall
1939The Hardys Ride HighPhilip 'Phil' Westcott
1939Mr. Moto Takes a VacationHoward Stevens
1939The Gentleman from ArizonaPokey Sanders
1940Midnight LimitedVal Lennon
1940Half a SinnerLarry Cameron
1940The Range Busters'Dusty' King
1940Trailing Double Trouble
1940West of Pinto Basin
1940Blame It on LoveJeff Wadsworth
1941Trail of the Silver SpursDusty King
1941The Kid's Last Ride
1941Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona
1941Wrangler's Roost
1941Fugitive Valley
1941Saddle Mountain Roundup
1941Tonto Basin Outlaws
1941Underground Rustlers
1942Thunder River Feud
1942Law of the JungleLarry Mason
1942Rock River RenegadesDusty King
1942Boot Hill Bandits
1942Texas Trouble Shooters
1942Arizona Stage Coach
1942Texas to Bataan
1942Trail Riders
1943Two Fisted Justice
1943Haunted RanchDusty King posing as Hank Travers
1946Renegade GirlCpl. Brown(final film role)

Notes

  1. Rainey, Buck Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary 1912–1956, 2005, McFarland, p.714
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