Max Terhune
Max Terhune was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Among these, Terhune starred in The Three Mesquiteers and Range Busters series.
Baseball
Terhune worked as a tool maker and when he was 20 he played semi-pro baseball for teams in Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Newark; he also spent the 1913 season playing Class-D baseball for the Vincennes Alices of the Kitty League.
During this time he became friends with Kermit Maynard, a star university athlete who launched a career as a silent western movie star that continued into the sound era. Kermit's younger brother was Ken Maynard, a hugely popular western star from the early 1920s through the 1930s.
Film career
Terhune performed in 21 episodes of a popular Republic Studios western series called The Three Mesquiteers. His character, Lullaby Joslin, was launched by another popular character actor, Syd Saylor, but then Terhune stepped into the series which, involving 12 different actors, lasted for a total of 51 pictures over eight years. His co-stars in 15 of the pictures were Robert Livingston and Ray "Crash" Corrigan. He then worked with Corrigan and John Wayne, who took over Livingston's role shortly before Wayne's career was launched by his starring role in Stagecoach.
Terhune and Corrigan went on to work together in another trio western series, The Range Busters. He did several supporting roles with Gene Autry. It was Autry, with whom he had worked in radio in Chicago, who convinced him to come to Hollywood. Later he worked in Johnny Mack Brown westerns at Monogram. Terhune played the comic sidekick — with a major distinction. He always traveled the range with his dummy Elmer sharing his saddle. Elmer received a film credit for his appearances.
Magic
Besides being a ventriloquist, whistler and animal imitator, Terhune was a magician. Card tricks were his forte, and he often performed such in his movies. His former vaudeville act included juggling, bird calls and barnyard animal impressions, talents also incorporated into his sidekick roles. His hands doubled for those of Clark Gable in "The King and Four Queens" in 1956. He performed on occasion at The Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Later years
He appeared frequently on weekends in the 1950s at Corriganville, a popular western film location developed by his co-star and friend who purchased the land in the late 1930s. Tourists paid to see stunt shows and musical performances as well as wander around the western streets where scores of films and TV episodes were filmed over 25 years.
His last film role was in the major Hollywood film Giant, in which he played the dramatic role of the physician Dr. Walker.
Family
Terhune married Maude Cassady and they had three children: Donald Roltaire, Robert, and Maxine. His son Robert was a stuntman who doubled burly actors like George Kennedy in films. Donald Roltaire was killed at age 27 in an automobile accident near Fresno, California, in 1958.
Death
Terhune died in Cottonwood, Arizona, at the age of 82.
Selected filmography
Ride Ranger Ride – Rufe JonesGhost-Town Gold – Lullaby JoslinThe Big Show – VentriloquistRoarin' Lead – Lullaby JoslinRiders of the Whistling Skull – Lullaby JoslinHit the Saddle – Lullaby JoslinThe Hit Parade – Rusty CallahanGunsmoke Ranch – Lullaby JoslinCome on, Cowboys – Lullaby JoslinRange Defenders – Lullaby JoslinHeart of the Rockies – Lullaby JoslinBoots and Saddles – Wedding Guest The Trigger Trio – Lullaby JoslinManhattan Merry-Go-Round – HimselfWild Horse Rodeo – Lullaby JoslinMama Runs Wild – ApplegateThe Purple Vigilantes – Lullaby JoslinCall the Mesquiteers – Lullaby JoslinOutlaws of Sonora – Lullaby JoslinLadies in Distress – Dave EvansRiders of the Black Hills – Lullaby JoslinHeroes of the Hills – Lullaby JoslinPals of the Saddle – Lullaby JoslinOverland Stage Raiders – Lullaby JoslinSanta Fe Stampede – Lullaby JoslinRed River Range – Lullaby JoslinThe Night Riders – Lullaby JoslinMan of Conquest – Deaf SmithThree Texas Steers – Lullaby JoslinThe Range Busters – 'Alibi' TerhuneTrailing Double Trouble – 'Alibi' TerhuneWest of Pinto Basin – 'Alibi' TerhuneTrail of the Silver Spurs – 'Alibi' TerhuneThe Kid's Last Ride – 'Alibi' TerhuneTumbledown Ranch in Arizona – 'Alibi' TerhuneWrangler's Roost – 'Alibi' TerhuneFugitive Valley – 'Alibi' TerhuneSaddle Mountain Roundup – 'Alibi' TerhuneTonto Basin Outlaws – 'Alibi' TerhuneUnderground Rustlers – 'Alibi' TerhuneThunder River Feud – 'Alibi' TerhuneRock River Renegades – 'Alibi' TerhuneBoot Hill Bandits – 'Alibi' TerhuneTexas Trouble Shooters – 'Alibi' TerhuneArizona Stage Coach – 'Alibi' TerhuneTexas to Bataan – 'Alibi' TerhuneTrail Riders – 'Alibi' TerhuneTwo Fisted Justice – 'Alibi' TerhuneHaunted Ranch – 'Alibi' TerhuneLand of Hunted Men – 'Alibi' TerhuneCowboy Commandos – 'Alibi' TerhuneBlack Market Rustlers – 'Alibi' TerhuneBullets and Saddles – 'Alibi' TerhuneCowboy Canteen – Professor MerlinSheriff of Sundown – Third Grade SimmsHarmony Trail – Marshal Max TerhuneSwing, Cowboy, Swing – 'Alibi' TerhuneAlong the Oregon Trail – HimselfThe Sheriff of Medicine Bow – AlibiGunning for Justice – Alibi ParsonsHidden Danger – AlibiLaw of the West – Alibi JenkinsTrails End – AlibiWest of El Dorado – AlibiRange Justice – AlibiWestern Renegades – Sheriff AlibiSquare Dance Jubilee – SheriffRawhide – Stagecoach Passenger from Missouri Jim Thorpe – All-American – Farmer Giant – Dr. Walker
Television
The Lone Ranger – Sidney Boswell, episode: "Danger Ahead" I Love Lucy - Ventriloquist, episode: "Ricky Loses His Temper"