George Houston (actor)
George Houston, born George Fleming Houston (January 11th, 1896-November 12th, 1944) was an American B-western film actor and accomplished opera singer in the early half of the 20th century.
Early life, World War I service
Born and raised in Hampton, New Jersey, his parents were Thomas and Margaret Fleming Houston. His father, Thomas, was from Scotland, and had been blinded as a child in an accident. His father became a successful Presbyterian minister, and was called, respectfully, "the blind evangelist". George Houston attended his fathers services, and learned to sing through the church.
Although Hollywood would later advertise that George Houston attended Rutgers University, he did not. Instead, he attended Blair Academy, in New Jersey, where he ran track, then later he attended the "Institute of Musical Art", the original name for what would eventually become Julliard School. Houston received two degrees, one in voice, and one for teaching music.
Houston joined the US Army, serving in France during World War I, attached to the 17th French Division, in the Ambulance Service. His military service ran from June 5th, 1917 to April 12th, 1919.
Acting career
After doing some stage acting on Broadway, Houston was enticed to try his acting skills in Hollywood by the early 1930's, hoping to win parts in singing films. He received small bit parts in six different films, but no roles that cast him in a starring role, nor a singing role. After his sixth, he found himself unemployed.
In 1935 a small production company, Grand National Pictures, took notice of Houston, and hired him to play the lead role in the 1936 film Captain Calamity, then later to play the role of Wild Bill Hickok in Frontier Scout. The film, released in 1938, was successful, and brought Houston to the notice of other production companies. That same year he would play a small role in Blockade with Henry Fonda and Madeleine Carroll, but in which he was billed as "George Byron".
However, by 1940 Grand National Pictures was in trouble, and they went out of business soon after. Houston had been billed prior to this time by a new company, Producers Distribution Corp., as the character of Billy the Kid in an eight film series for that company. However, when it came time to film the series, Bob Steele was cast in the role for six episodes, and was replaced by Buster Crabbe following Steele's departure to Republic Pictures.
However, Producers Distribution, known as PDC, did give Houston his own series of films. In total, he would play in eleven films surrounding his character "The Lone Rider". Al "Fuzzy" St. John played his sidekick in all eleven films. However, by the end of 1942, Houston was being replaced by veteran actor Bob Livingston in the character of the "Lone Rider". St. John and actor Dennis Moore would remain with the series.
Houston would return to his singing interests, but died unexpectedly on November 12th, 1944, of a heart attack. His wife, Virginia Card, was at the time starring in the Broadway hit Oklahoma!, which had just debuted in 1943. Houston was, at the time of his death, preparing to take his opera company on a nationwide tour.