Scoop – Where the Magic of Collecting Comes Alive! – The Good Guy in Black
We need more of this kind of thing today, kids don’t really have anyone to look up to these days. Hopalong Cassidy was always one of my Dad’s favorites, and I remember watching his movies with my Dad when I was a kid.
Those are some of my favorite times growing up, and I wouldn’t trade those for anything. Thanks Dad!
Scoop – Where the Magic of Collecting Comes Alive! – The Good Guy in Black
The Good Guy in Black
Rare poster from the first Hopalong Cassidy movie in 1935
Grace Bradley circa 1934
Young Bill Clinton dressed as Hoppy
Some celebrities emphatically proclaim that they don’t want to be role
models. They won’t adhere to certain behaviors, even if their limelight
activities may be mimicked by children. Others take on the role with
pride, using their clout to organize events, raise money for charities,
and the new trend of being green.One celebrity who loved being a role model was William Boyd. Known
primarily as Hopalong Cassidy, Boyd wanted the character, and his
public appearances, to mean something to people. However, Hoppy wasn’t
always that way. As a pulp-fiction character he was a whisky-drinking,
hard-living, foul-mouthed wrangler. When Boyd took the role to film he
cleaned up the character making him a cowboy hero who didn’t drink,
swear, or smoke, and he never started a fight.Hopalong Cassidy was known as a noble cowboy, and he took that
seriously. When Hoppy producer Harry Sherman wanted to cancel the
series, Boyd gambled virtually everything he had to buy the character
rights from creator Clarence Mulford and movie rights from Sherman. He
sold many of his possessions and spent most of his money on the belief
that America wanted more Hoppy, and that he could deliver.Boyd was always good to his fans. He generously gave money to
charities and hospitals to help those less fortunate. On a regular
basis, he would visit hospitals and take part in children’s programs to
interact with his youthful fans. When going to hospitals, dressed as
Hoppy, he would bring gifts for children, making their day in the
process.Aside from taking part in charities, he expressed moral justness.
By the end of every Hopalong Cassidy show he gave encouraging advice
telling people to be kind to animals, support their country, go to
church, behave for your parents, etc. At a department store opening he
refused to sign autographs until the two lines, one of African American
children and one of Caucasian children, were integrated.William Boyd was not just an entertainer, but a humanitarian. His
personal values and unwavering pursuit of morality imparted wisdom to
generations of children and that will always be part of his legacy.Gemstone’s Hopalong Cassidy book is well on its way. Co-authored by
his widow, Grace Bradley Boyd, the book will give insight into William
Boyd’s life, the love he shared with Grace, and the message he and
Hoppy shared with America. Gemstone is still collecting photographs of
children dressed as Hoppy. If you have these photos, particularly of
the early 1950s, send them to russ@russcochran.com.
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