Buck Jones Horse Silver Hollywood Western Star 1930s RARE Original Photo
The collection consisted of hundreds of original photos and signed fan photos that the collector painstakingly acquired directly from both celebrities and studios. Photo Overview Buck Jones, one of the most beloved cowboy stars of early Hollywood, poses with his famous horse Silver in this striking 8x10 studio photograph.
Jones wears his signature wide-brimmed cowboy hat and a dark western-style lace-up shirt with a horseshoe emblem, while Silver is outfitted in an ornate bridle decorated with silver conchos and beadwork. The image captures the iconic duo in an intimate close-up, cheek to cheek, conveying the deep bond between the cowboy star and his equine partner. Written on the front in white ink is "Buck Jones 61, " likely a production or fan club numbering. This photograph comes from the estate of Miss Gladys Sylvia, a dedicated Hollywood collector who amassed an extraordinary collection of original celebrity photographs acquired directly from studios and stars during the golden age of cinema. Printed on Velox photographic paper, this is a genuine silver gelatin print from the late 1920s or early 1930s, during the peak of Jones's film career.
Historical Notes Buck Jones (born Charles Frederick Gebhart in 1891) was one of the top three Western stars of the 1920s and 1930s alongside Tom Mix and Tim McCoy. After working as a real cowboy, Army cavalryman, and rodeo performer, he broke into films in 1917 and became a major star at Fox Film Corporation through the 1920s. Silver, the white horse seen here, was Jones's most famous mount and appeared with him in dozens of films - the horse became so popular that Jones featured him prominently in publicity materials and fan club items. When sound films arrived, Jones successfully made the transition, starring in serials and features for Columbia and Universal throughout the 1930s. By the early 1940s he was touring with a Wild West show while still making films. Tragically, on November 28, 1942, Buck Jones died from injuries sustained in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire in Boston, Massachusetts - one of the deadliest nightclub fires in American history, which claimed 492 lives. Jones had been in Boston for a war bond drive and was attending a dinner in his honor at the club. He was pulled from the burning building alive but succumbed to his injuries two days later at age 51. His death shocked the nation and he was mourned by millions of fans who had grown up watching his films.Print analysis This is a genuine silver gelatin photographic print on Kodak Velox paper, as confirmed by the distinctive Velox watermark pattern visible across the entire back of the photograph. Velox was a contact printing paper manufactured by Eastman Kodak, widely used for studio portrait prints in the 1920s and 1930s.
The paper stock, tonal range, and slight warm sepia tone are all consistent with a period print. The numbering "61" on the front suggests this was part of a numbered fan photo series distributed by the studio or Buck Jones's fan club. Given that the image appears to date from the late 1920s to early 1930s based on Jones's age and styling, and the Velox paper is consistent with that era, this is assessed as a Type 1 original photograph, printed contemporaneously with when the image was taken. Condition This is an antique photo and is in good vintage condition.
Please see photos for any foxing, corner damage, tears, folds, smudges, or other age damage that may be present.