Monday, May 19, 2014

Reel Cowgirls of the Santa Susanas -- Nell O'Day


Nell O'Day (1909–1989) was an accomplished equestrian and B-Western actress of the 1930s and 1940s.  Beginning in 1941 she won starring in roles placing her as the heroine in westerns, often opposite Johnny Mack Brown, Ray "Crash" Corrigan, Max Terhune, and John 'Dusty' King.

In 1943, while under contract with Republic Pictures, she began starring in the serial films of the Three Mesquiteers, alongside Bob Steele, Tom Tyler and Jimmie Dodd. Her last starring role was in 1943, in the film Boss of the Rawhide, opposite Dave O'Brien. 

About 1946, she then turned full-time to writing; one success was the play "The Bride of Denmark Hill," which was later turned into a BBC-TV production in England.  She died of a heart attack on January 3, 1989, in Los Angeles, California.

Nell O'Day's Santa Susana locations filmography includes:


Boss of Bullion City (1940) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal


Pony Post (1940) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch)(Corriganville) Universal


Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal


Law of the Range (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Brandeis Ranch)(Iverson Ranch) Universal


Rawhide Rangers (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Kathryn Adams, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal

The Masked Rider (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day - Universal

Arizona Cyclone (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal


Fighting Bill Fargo (1941) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Jean Brooks (Iverson Ranch) Universal


Stagecoach Buckaroo (1942) - Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day (Iverson Ranch) Universal

Arizona Stage Coach (1942) - Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, John King, Max Terhune (Corriganville) Monogram


Thundering Trails (1943) - Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, Jimmie Dodd - Republic

The Return of the Rangers (1943) - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson - PRC

Boss of Rawhide (1943) - Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson (Corriganville) Alexander-Stern

Update 2022:

November, 2022: Merrill T. McCord has written a wonderful biography on Nell O'Day titled Ballerina on a Horse, The Life, Careers, and Times of Nell O'Day.


This 8 1/2 x 11 softcover has 219 pages, over fifty photos, and a complete film listing as well as a year-by-year careerology.The book is $33.00 ($29.50 plus $3.50 U. S. postage), and can be ordered from:


Merrill T. McCord

10208 Fleming Avenue

Bethesda, Maryland 20814



1 comment:

  1. Noted film historian Merrill T. McCord has just published a wonderfully thorough and engrossing biography of Nell O' Day, Ballerina on a Horse: The Life, Careers, and Times of Nell O'Day, which I highly recommend. It's available from the author for $33, including shipping, at 10208 Fleming Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

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