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Whip Wilson
Whip Wilson
Whip Wilson
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Whip Wilson (born Roland Charles Meyers,[1] June 16, 1911 – October 22, 1964) was an American cowboy film star of the late 1940s and into the 1950s, known for his roles in B-movie Westerns.

Key Information

He was one of eight children. Wilson had been a moderately successful singer before coming to Hollywood. Following Buck Jones's death in the famous Cocoanut Grove fire of 1942, which claimed the lives of 492 people, Monogram Pictures had been searching for someone to replace him. Producer Scott R. Dunlap saw Meyers, and thought he looked similar to Jones. Apparently, this was enough to build him into a cowboy star. Because of the fame being generated by Lash LaRue, who used a bullwhip in his films, Monogram decided to make Meyers a similar whip-wielding character, renaming him Whip Wilson.

Movie career

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Wilson was a good-looking man. When he first moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career, producers built him up with a lot of press, but it was enough to take him to the height of major stardom. He did star in 22 B-movie Westerns, more than Lash LaRue, Sunset Carson, Monte Hale, Rex Allen, or Eddie Dean.

Monogram Pictures introduced Wilson to the public this way: "He was born on a fabulous ranch in Pecos, Texas, was a rodeo champion, has an engineering degree, is a direct descendant of General Custer, and he was a World War II Marine hero, and he does his own movie stunts." None of these claims was true. In fact, he had not even one shred of experience that could possibly resemble the fictional persona that Monogram created for him. He was one of the very few Western film heroes of the day who was not a "cowboy" in real life. Most had at least some experience as genuine cowboys or cowgirls, and fit the part. Many had also actually served during World War II.

His first film role was playing a sheriff (uncredited) in God's Country (1946), followed by a co-starring role alongside Monogram's singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely in the 1948 film Silver Trails, both of which gave him experience in front of the camera. The next year, Whip Wilson starred in his own series of films, the first being Crashin Thru, followed by Haunted Trails, Range Land, and Riders of the Dusk. He first was given a horse named "Silver Bullet", whose name was later shortened to "Bullet", then changed to "Rocket" due to Roy Rogers having a dog named "Bullet" in his films.

Wilson may have come along too late to establish himself as a major star; studios were already phasing out low-budget Westerns. Veteran comedian Andy Clyde (as "Winks" Grayson) was a valuable asset as co-star, but the series got little attention. After 12 films, Clyde left the cast, replaced by Fuzzy Knight (playing his sidekick "Texas") and later by Jim Bannon. In 1950, Wilson starred in Gunslingers, Arizona Territory, Cherokee Uprising, Fence Riders, and Outlaws of Texas. In 1951, his character continued in Lawless Cowboys, Stage to Blue River, Canyon Raiders, and Abilene Trail.

Nothing was novel or original about Wilson to distinguish himself from other cowboy stars. The name of his horse, the bullwhip gimmick, and the false past created by his publicity agents were all derivative. Wilson's career never really took off, and by 1952, his Hollywood career was all but over, with him starring in Night Raiders and his last film, Wyoming Roundup. He appeared uncredited in a 1953 Western The Silver Whip, then was hired to perform the whip scenes in the 1955 Burt Lancaster film The Kentuckian. It was the last film on which he worked. He later appeared as a guest on TV's You Asked for It, giving a bullwhip demonstration.

Personal life

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He married three times,[2] and lived his last years with his third wife managing an apartment complex in Hollywood. On October 22, 1964, Wilson died of a heart attack at the age of 53.[3]

Legacy

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Wilson made little impact on the Western film industry, although three issues of a Whip Wilson comic book series were published by Marvel Comics in 1950, curiously as numbers 9, 10, and 11.[4] Issue #11 was later reprinted in 1965 by I.W. Comics. Many of his co-stars, in later years, indicated they never really appreciated his films, but they did appreciate his kind demeanor and his character.

Years after his death, his widow, Monica Wilson, stated; "He was handsome, intelligent, had a beautiful personality, a sense of humor, a good lover and a wonderful husband. Our love was proven love. We were asked many times in Hollywood how we stayed together. Our answer was true love will survive."

Sixteen of his films are available on DVD today.

List of "Whip Wilson" feature films

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  • NOTE - He also appeared in four other Westerns in an uncredited (minor role) capacity....God's Country (1946), Silver Trails (1948), The Silver Whip (1953), and the 1955 Burt Lancaster blockbuster The Kentuckian.

References

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Whip Wilson

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''Whip Wilson'' is an American actor known for starring as a whip-wielding cowboy hero in a series of 22 low-budget B-Western films produced by Monogram Pictures between 1949 and 1952. His screen persona combined elements of popular Western stars like Buck Jones, to whom he bore a resemblance, and Lash LaRue, with the signature bullwhip that inspired his stage name. Although his films received mixed reception and were often described as mediocre, Wilson achieved moderate success during the waning years of the B-Western genre. Born Roland Charles Meyers on June 16, 1911, in Granite City, Illinois, as one of eight children, he worked as a moderately successful singer before transitioning to Hollywood. Monogram executive Scott R. Dunlap signed him after noticing his likeness to the late Buck Jones and equipped him with a whip to create a distinctive character, while fabricating an elaborate promotional biography that falsely claimed he was born on a Texas ranch, was a rodeo champion, held an engineering degree, and served as a decorated Marine in World War II. His series began with Crashing Thru (1949) and ended with Wyoming Roundup (1952), often featuring veteran sidekick Andy Clyde in the earlier entries, along with a white horse initially named Silver Bullet and later renamed Rocket. After the series concluded, Wilson performed whip-handling scenes in one additional film, The Kentuckian (1955), before retiring from acting to operate an apartment complex with his third wife, Monica. He died of a heart attack on October 22, 1964, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 53.

Early life

Birth and family background

Whip Wilson, whose real name was Roland Charles Meyers, was born on June 16, 1911, in Granite City, Illinois. He was one of eight children. Official records, including the Social Security Death Index and census data, confirm his Illinois birth and family origins, with his mother's maiden name listed as Prewett. In contrast, Monogram Pictures publicity materials fabricated an entirely different background, claiming he was born in 1911 on a ranch near Pecos, Texas, along with other untrue details such as rodeo championships and an engineering degree; none of these claims were accurate.

Pre-film career and military service

Whip Wilson, born Roland Charles Meyers, worked as a moderately successful singer prior to his entry into Hollywood. He was described as talented in this field before transitioning to acting, though specific details of his singing engagements remain limited in available records. Monogram Pictures fabricated portions of his promotional biography, including the claim that he was a "World War II Marine hero," as part of efforts to enhance his image as a Western star. Other exaggerated elements in studio publicity were also invented.

Film career

Discovery and debut

Wilson was discovered by Monogram Pictures executive Scott R. Dunlap, who spotted him and noted his strong resemblance to the recently deceased Buck Jones. Dunlap, a friend of Buck Jones, signed Wilson to help fill the void left by Jones' death in 1942, promoting him as a whip-handling cowboy styled as a blend of Buck Jones' rugged heroism and Lash LaRue's whip artistry. Wilson made his film debut in a supporting role in the Jimmy Wakely western Silver Trails (1948). To build his image, Monogram created a promotional biography claiming Wilson was a champion rodeo performer, held an engineering degree, descended from General George Armstrong Custer, was born in Texas, and performed all his own stunts; these assertions have since been debunked as deliberate fabrications by the studio. His screen horse was initially named Silver Bullet, later shortened to Bullet and then renamed Rocket to prevent confusion with Roy Rogers' famous dog. Prior to his Hollywood entry, Wilson had some background as a singer.

Monogram Western series

Whip Wilson starred in 22 B-Western features produced by Monogram Pictures from 1949 to 1952, marking the primary phase of his leading-man career in the genre. Following his supporting appearance in Silver Trails (1948), his first starring vehicle was Crashing Thru (1949), while the series concluded with Wyoming Roundup (1952). The films highlighted Wilson's whip-cracking persona, with reports that he frequently practiced his whip techniques between takes to enhance the action sequences. The early entries featured veteran comedian Andy Clyde as Wilson's regular sidekick in the first 12 films. This partnership ended after Cherokee Uprising (1950), and the subsequent five films paired Wilson with Fuzzy Knight and Jim Bannon together. The final five pictures utilized various supporting players, including Fuzzy Knight in multiple appearances alongside others such as Tommy Farrell and Rand Brooks. Leading ladies in the series included Reno Browne in six films and Phyllis Coates in six others, providing consistent female co-star presence across the run. The Monogram series unfolded against the backdrop of the B-Western genre's rapid decline, driven by the widespread adoption of television, escalating production costs, and Monogram's financial challenges as the studio transitioned toward becoming Allied Artists. Wilson never placed in the Motion Picture Herald / Boxoffice annual top ten (or top five) cowboy star polls during this period. While early films such as Haunted Trails (1949) were regarded as among the strongest in the series, the departure of Andy Clyde contributed to a noticeable drop in quality, with later entries affected by threadbare budgets and becoming increasingly routine and cut-and-dried.

Later film work

After the conclusion of his starring Monogram Western series in 1952, Whip Wilson had no further starring or credited acting roles in films. His subsequent film work was limited to uncredited appearances, including a small role in The Silver Whip (1953) and contributions to The Kentuckian (1955), where he performed whip-handling scenes and stunts as Walter Matthau's stunt double during the production's bullwhip sequences. Wilson additionally served as Matthau's bullwhip instructor for the film, leveraging his established expertise with the weapon. This limited, behind-the-scenes engagement marked the end of his involvement in motion pictures.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Wilson married Monica (née Myers) on July 2, 1938; she was his third wife, and the couple had no children. Following his retirement from acting, Wilson and Monica operated an apartment complex near Disneyland in Anaheim, California together. In her recollections, Monica described her husband as handsome, intelligent, humorous, and a devoted husband.

Retirement activities

After his film career ended in the mid-1950s, Whip Wilson retired from the entertainment industry entirely and took up managing an apartment complex near Disneyland in Anaheim, California alongside his wife Monica. This represented a complete shift away from show business, with no further involvement in acting, production, or any related endeavors. Later, the couple moved to Lake Tahoe and opened a motel and gift shop. His post-acting life remained focused on property management.

Death

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