Lash of the West

Lash LaRue was a popular B western star of the late Forties, dressing in black and cracking an 18 ft bullwhip. In the early Fifties, many of the former cowboy stars were going into television, either on a network show or hosting their own films. Buster Crabbe, who had been Lash's predecessor at PRC in the Forties, hosted a NYC TV show called "Buster's Buddies." Ray Crash Corrigan had his own TV show as well as operating the Corriganville movie ranch. Lash of the West was a 15 minute show where Lash talked about his grandfather who had been a famous marshal in the days of the West. There would be a fade out to clips from one of Lash's films. Filmed in 1953, it only ran a few months, and then re-appeared a few years later. Lash himself would go on to play a semi-regular part on the Wyatt Earp TV show as Sheriff Johnny Behan. After years of personal problems, Lash finally became an evangelist and became a popular guest at Western film conventions in the South. He also took a bit part in the TV remake of "Stagecoach" at the request of his former fans, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Lash Larue, King of the Western Bullwhip, starred in a series of very low-budget oaters in the 1940's and early 1950's. Along with his scraggly sidekick Fuzzy St. John, the undemanding series of films were staples of the Saturday matinees.

As the B-westerns were killed off, in part due to TV, Lash moved to the small screen (If you cant BEAT them, join them ...). Lash "whipped up" this so-so show, where he showed clips of his old films, cut up into very small segments.

Larue, who resembled Bogie, was out of his element in this TV show. Original shows would have helped, with fresh writing. It worked with Hopalong Cassidy's TV show, but NOT here.

I am a Lash fan and even met him once here in North Carolina, but I don't really recommend this one.