Pencil signature of William Boyd, in an old Autograph Book.
Actor William Boyd has been one of my favorite Western Stars all my life. Born in 1895, in Hendrysburg, Ohio, Boyd went on to Hollywood in the 1920's, where he became a leading man in Silent film romances, earning an annual salary of 100,000.
He was the lead actor in Cecil B. De Mille's The Volga Boatman (1926) and in DeMille's extravaganza, The King of Kings, helping Christ carry the cross, as Simon of Cyrene.
After a long period of unemployment, due to a scandal involving an actor with a similar name, and partly due to age, in 1935, at age 40, Boyd was offered the supporting role of Red Connors in the movie Hop-a-Long Cassidy. Boyd ask to be considered for the title role and won it.
The original Hopalong Cassidy character, written by Clarance E. Mulford for pulp fiction, was changed from a hard drinking, rough-living wrangler
Mulford's Hopalong Cassidy
to its eventual incarnation as a cowboy hero who did not smoke, drink or sware and who always let the bad guy start the fight.
The Hopalong Cassidy series ended in 1947 after 66 films, with Boyd producing the last 12.
Anticipating television's rise, Boyd spent $350,000 to purchase the rights to the Hopalong Cassidy character, books and films. In 1949, he released the films to television, where they became extremely popular and began the long running genre of Westerns on television.
Both Bill Boyd, and his wife, Grace signed many contracts with the television studios in those early years. I was fortunate enough to acquire one a few years ago, from a contract signed in 1951.
Boyd's wife Grace took a chance right along with her husband, and in the end it payed off. I have a wonderful picture of Grace, before she retired from the screen, which she has signed, "Mrs. Hopalong". It is a real treasure.
Bill Boyd so identified with his character, he often dressed as a cowboy in public. He appeared regularly as Hopalong Cassidy on the cover of numerous magazines, including the June 12, 1950 issue of Life,
and the November 27, 1950 issue of Time.
William Boyd passed away in 1972 in Laguna Beach, California, but he will always be remembered, by a generation of "little buckaroos" all grown up, who owe a debt of gratitude to a great man that taught them how to be honest, and true.
You have created a wonderful tribute to the cinema cowboys of our youth, Bill.I enjoyed watching these entertainers when I was a kid back in the 50’s and their memory has not faded. Recently the magic of YouTube enabled my wife and I to enjoy several episodes of Spin and Marty. What a trip! Keep the memory flames burning. Ken (age now 70).
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