John 'Dusty' King (born Miller McLeod Everson, July 11, 1909 – November 11, 1987) was an American singer and film actor renowned for his Westerns particularly the Range Busters series.

John King
King in Half a Sinner (1940)
Born
Miller McLeod Everson

(1909-07-11)July 11, 1909
DiedNovember 11, 1987(1987-11-11) (aged 78)
OccupationActor
Years active1935–1946

Biography

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Everson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Everson travelled the country working a variety of jobs, such as chauffeuring motorcars from Detroit to Cincinnati, lumberjacking in New Mexico, and working as a ranch hand in Arizona.[1]

Everson found himself a radio announcing job in Covington, Kentucky then returned to Cincinnati where he announced, hosted, and sang. Hearing him on the radio, bandleader Ben Bernie hired him as a singer with Everson changing his name to John King. Noting his good looks and popularity, Bernie recommended him to Hollywood with Zeppo Marx also agreeing with Bernie.[1]

Hollywood

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King was contracted to Universal Pictures making several films and playing the lead in the serial Ace Drummond. He made appearances in films for other studios before being hired by Monogram Pictures to play the lead in a Cinecolor Western, The Gentleman from Arizona in 1939. The following year King would play "Dusty" in the Range Busters series of Westerns.[citation needed]

The Range Busters were Monogram's version of Republic Pictures' The Three Mesquiteers. King played the singing cowboy alongside of Ray "Crash" Corrigan who was later replaced by David Sharpe and comedy relief Max Terhune with his dummy Elmer for a total of 18 films in the series.

In Haunted Ranch (1943), Sharpe leaves the trio to enlist in the US Army in the Spanish–American War. Not only did Sharpe actually enlist in the US Army Air Forces but King himself was drafted in the USAAF serving in Special Services in Arizona.[citation needed]

After discharge there were no film offers, so King returned to radio, later buying a station. He later left the radio industry to run a waffle shop in La Jolla, California.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1935 Stolen Harmony Fagin in Skit Uncredited
1935 The Affair of Susan Boy in Fun House Uncredited
1935 His Night Out Salesman Uncredited
1935 Three Kids and a Queen Reporter Uncredited
1935 Fighting Youth Singing Band Leader
1936 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell Bruce Browning Serial
1936 Next Time We Love Juvenile Uncredited
1936 Dangerous Waters Singing Sailor
1936 Sutter's Gold Alvarado Jr. Uncredited
1936 Love Before Breakfast Johnny Uncredited
1936 Nobody's Fool Master of Ceremonies Uncredited
1936 Crash Donovan Johnny Allen
1936 Postal Inspector Ralph Uncredited
1936 Ace Drummond Ace Drummond Serial
1936 Three Smart Girls Bill Evans
1937 The Road Back Ernst
1937 Merry-Go-Round of 1938 Tony Townsend
1938 The Crime of Doctor Hallet Dr. Philip Saunders
1938 State Police Sgt. Dan Prescott
1938 Breaking the Ice Henry Johnson
1938 Sharpshooters Prince Alexis
1938 Charlie Chan in Honolulu Randolph
1939 The Three Musketeers Aramis
1939 Inside Story Paul Randall
1939 The Hardys Ride High Philip 'Phil' Westcott
1939 Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation Howard Stevens
1939 The Gentleman from Arizona Pokey Sanders
1940 Midnight Limited Val Lennon
1940 Half a Sinner Larry Cameron
1940 The Range Busters 'Dusty' King
1940 Trailing Double Trouble
1940 West of Pinto Basin
1940 Blame It on Love Jeff Wadsworth
1941 Trail of the Silver Spurs Dusty King
1941 The Kid's Last Ride
1941 Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona
1941 Wrangler's Roost
1941 Fugitive Valley
1941 Saddle Mountain Roundup
1941 Tonto Basin Outlaws
1941 Underground Rustlers
1942 Thunder River Feud
1942 Law of the Jungle Larry Mason
1942 Rock River Renegades Dusty King
1942 Boot Hill Bandits
1942 Texas Trouble Shooters
1942 Arizona Stage Coach
1942 Texas to Bataan
1942 Trail Riders
1943 Two Fisted Justice
1943 Haunted Ranch Dusty King posing as Hank Travers
1946 Renegade Girl Cpl. Brown (final film role)

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Rainey, Buck Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary 1912–1956, 2005, McFarland, p.714
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