Reno Browne
Encyclopedia
Reno Browne, sometimes billed as Reno Blair (April 20, 1921 – May 15, 1991) was an accomplished equestrian
and B-movie
actress during the late 1940s and into the 1950s, with most of her films being in 1949.
Born Josephine Ruth Clarke in Reno
, Nevada
to wealthy parents, her father being a successful attorney
, Browne first became a licensed pilot
, and proficient at riding horses. After taking drama
lessons, she embarked on a film career, signing a contract with Monogram Pictures
. She starred with Whip Wilson
in the 1949 western Haunted Trails, and that same year started a thirteen-episode radio
show titled Reno Rides Again. Also in 1949 she starred in West of El Dorado with Max Terhune
and Johnny Mack Brown
. In total, she starred in fourteen westerns of the period, at times with Roy Rogers
and Jimmy Wakely
.
She and Dale Evans
were the only western actresses to have their own comic book
s based on their characters, Browne having four issues published in 1950 by Marvel Comics
. In 1951, Bill Haley and His Saddlemen
recorded a single called "My Palomino and I"/"My Sweet Little Girl from Nevada" for Cowboy Records
(CR 1701) which was released as by "Reno Browne and Her Buckaroos", even though Browne had no connection with the recording (though her photo did appear on the sheet music for the latter song).
For a period, she was married to western actor Lash LaRue. She retired to Reno, and during the 1980s she attended several western film festivals. She was diagnosed with cancer
, and died in Reno on May 15, 1991.
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
and B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
actress during the late 1940s and into the 1950s, with most of her films being in 1949.
Born Josephine Ruth Clarke in Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
to wealthy parents, her father being a successful attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Browne first became a licensed pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, and proficient at riding horses. After taking drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
lessons, she embarked on a film career, signing a contract with Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
. She starred with Whip Wilson
Whip Wilson
Whip Wilson was an American cowboy film star of the late 1940s and into the 1950s, known for his roles in B-westerns....
in the 1949 western Haunted Trails, and that same year started a thirteen-episode radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
show titled Reno Rides Again. Also in 1949 she starred in West of El Dorado with Max Terhune
Max Terhune
Max Terhune , was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956....
and Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
. In total, she starred in fourteen westerns of the period, at times with Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
and Jimmy Wakely
Jimmy Wakely
James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II...
.
She and Dale Evans
Dale Evans
Dale Evans, was an American writer, movie star, and singer-songwriter. She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.-Early life:...
were the only western actresses to have their own comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s based on their characters, Browne having four issues published in 1950 by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. In 1951, Bill Haley and His Saddlemen
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets , was the earliest group of white musicians to bring rock and roll to the attention of...
recorded a single called "My Palomino and I"/"My Sweet Little Girl from Nevada" for Cowboy Records
Cowboy Records
Cowboy Records was a record label in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Buddy DeSylva and Johnny Mercer in 1942. It was later owned by Jimmy DeKnight and Jack Howard. Artists who recorded for the label included Bill Haley, who made his first commercial single release with the label as...
(CR 1701) which was released as by "Reno Browne and Her Buckaroos", even though Browne had no connection with the recording (though her photo did appear on the sheet music for the latter song).
For a period, she was married to western actor Lash LaRue. She retired to Reno, and during the 1980s she attended several western film festivals. She was diagnosed with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and died in Reno on May 15, 1991.
External links
- Reno Browne/Blair at b-westerns.com
- Reno Browne, Hollywood's Greatest Cowgirl