Where Have all the Sidekicks Gone?

What happens when a hero goes by the wayside? I asked myself that question recently, and found an amazing answer. If you think of Roy Rogers, the sidekicks he had were many. Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Smiley Burnette, Andy Devine, Chico Rodriguez (recently dead), Pinky Lee, and of course, Gabby Hayes.

If you think of Gene Autry,, Pat Buttram, and Smiley Burnette,.

Hoppy had California, and George Reeves ( 1 movie).

Rex Allen had Buddy Ebsen and Slim Pickens most notably.

The Lone Ranger, had Tonto-Jay Silverheels.

What happened to the aides, the sidekicks, the comedian of the pair when the hero put on the rocking chair and laid aside the boots and 6 guns?

In some cases, nothing. Tito Guizar faded into obscurity after his Roy Rogers days. Pinky Lee had a slower fade into TV nothingness, but still has a place in the hearts of Roy Rogers fans.

Gabby Hayes, fell from the saddle into the Gabby Hayes Show, which was produced in New York, and a short run comic book series with DC comics. He had guest appearances on some shows in the 1960's, but mostly lived on in his western work. He died childless, but had 'fathered' many millions of fans. Today, Gabby Hayes Days is in it's 4th year.

Buddy Ebsen, Rex Allen's aide, is still living. In his 90's, he was the original Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. After his westerns, he did TV appearances and landed the role that made him most famous, Jed Clampett of the Beverly Hillbillies. In the 1970's, Barnaby Jones called and he came running. His most recent movie appearance was in the Dietrich Bader Beverly Hillbillies as Barnaby. Always a class act, I saw him interviewed on the occasion of Rex Allen's death. Looking aged, he was still the Buddy of old. Waiting to calm down Granny or stop Jethro from eating more glue from the pot.

Slim Pickens, of course is the most enduring of the Rex Allen sidekicks. He graduated from movies to a recording career that made him many fans.

Jay Silverheels, Tonto, had the most impact of all the sidekicks. Graduating from the TV series in 1961, he went on to found the Indian Actors Guild in Hollywood. Mentoring many native American actors, he had an immense influence on the portrayal of natives on film. He starred in several good movies, the best being Cochise. Near the end of his life, he started a second career as a jockey winning many races. He mocked himself on Johnny Carson in 1977 when Johnny asked him how long he'd been Tonto, 30 lousy years! Just as he was coming back, his health stopped him and he died in 1980.

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