Floyd Taliaferro Alderson (November 13, 1895 – February 10, 1980) was an American film actor who specialized in westerns. After serving in the Great War, he began his career in the era of silent films, when he frequently used the name Wally Wales.
Wally Wales | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card for Saddle Mates (1928) | |
| Born | Floyd Taliaferro Alderson November 13, 1895 Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 1980 (aged 84) Sheridan, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Years active | 1921-1964 |
Although he transitioned to sound, he was given smaller parts, and used the name Hal Taliaferro. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1921 and 1964. He lived his later life in Montana at his family ranch.
Biography
editBorn Floyd Taliaferro Alderson in 1895 in Sheridan, Wyoming,[1][2] he was raised on his family's ranch, near Birney in Rosebud County, Montana.[3][4]
Young Alderson's first "outside" job was on a cattle drive for rancher John B. Kendrick. He also drove a tourist stage for the Buffalo Bill Stage line before drifting west in 1915. He settled in Los Angeles where he worked as a wrangler on Universal's ranch.
In 1917 during the Great War, Alderson joined the army and served in the American Expeditionary Forces in France. After his return to the US, he became involved in films as an actor.
From 1921 through 1928 he appeared in twenty-two silent films (mainly Westerns), starring in many under the name Wally Wales. In 1929 he made the successful transition to sound, or "talkies". But gradually his star faded, and he began appearing in much smaller roles, usually as Hal Taliaferro.[3]
He retired from films in the early 1950s and returned to his family ranch in Montana. It was then known as the Bones Brothers Ranch. He built a cabin there and lived out his remaining active years painting landscapes.[3]
He died in a Sheridan, Wyoming nursing home from complications of a stroke and pneumonia in 1980, at age 84.[3] In 2004 the Bones Brothers Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP).
Filmography
edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | Western Hearts | Pete Marcel | as Floyd Taliaferro |
| Crossing Trails | Peter Marcus | ||
| 1925 | Tearin' Loose | Wally Blake | |
| The Hurricane Horseman | Wally Marden | ||
| Galloping On | Wally Moore | ||
| 1926 | The Roaring Rider | Uncredited | |
| The Fighting Cheat | Wally Kenyon | ||
| Vanishing Hoofs | Wally Marsh | ||
| Ridin' Rivals | |||
| Double Daring | Wally Meeker | ||
| Twisted Triggers | Wally Weston | ||
| Ace of Action | Wally Rand | ||
| 1927 | The Cyclone Cowboy | Wally Baxter | |
| Tearin' Into Trouble | Wally Tilland | ||
| The Meddlin' Stranger | Wally Fraser | ||
| Skedaddle Gold | Kent Blake | ||
| White Pebbles | Zip Wallace | ||
| Soda Water Cowboy | Wally | ||
| The Desert of the Lost | Jim Drake | ||
| Pals of the West | |||
| 1928 | Desperate Courage | Jim Dane | |
| Saddle Mates | John Benson | ||
| The Flyin' Buckaroo | Bill Mathews | ||
| 1929 | Overland Bound | Buck Hawkins | |
| The Voice from the Sky | Jack Deering | ||
| 1930 | Bar-L Ranch | Frank Kellogg | |
| Canyon Hawks | Dick Carson | ||
| Trails of Danger | Bob Bartlett | ||
| The Utah Kid | Deputy | Uncredited | |
| Breed of the West | Wally Weldon | ||
| 1931 | Red Fork Range | Wally Hamilton | |
| Hell's Valley | Wally, Texas Rangers Captain | ||
| Riders of the Cactus | Bob Bronson | ||
| Flying Lariats | Wally Dunbar | ||
| So This Is Arizona | Bob Ransome | ||
| 1932 | Law and Lawless | Buck Daggett | |
| 1933 | Deadwood Pass | Pete Sorrenson | |
| Rusty Rides Alone | Hank Quillan | Uncredited | |
| King of the Arena | Bronc Riding Spectator | Uncredited | |
| The Fighting Texans | Henchman Bill | ||
| Secrets of Hollywood | An Actor | ||
| The Trail Drive | Henchman Steve | Uncredited | |
| Sagebrush Trail | Deputy Sheriff | ||
| The Mystery Squadron | Mystery Flyer | Serial, [Chs. 5–6, 10], Uncredited | |
| 1934 | Potluck Pards | Bud Wallace | Short, as Walt Williams |
| The Lucky Texan | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Border Guns | Sheriff Tom | Uncredited | |
| West of the Divide | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Wheels of Destiny | Cowhand | Uncredited | |
| Adventures of Texas Jack | Texas Jack | ||
| Nevada Cyclone | Dick | Short, as Walt Williams | |
| The Lost Jungle | Crewman | ||
| Romance Revier | Frank Wells | Short, as Walt Williams | |
| Western Racketeers | Sheriff Rawlings | ||
| Honor of the Range | Third Man Nominating Boots | Uncredited | |
| Arizona Cyclone | Jim Blaine | Short | |
| The Fighting Rookie | Gambler | ||
| Sundown Trail | Wally Barton | Short | |
| Smoking Guns | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| The Lost Jungle | Sandy (Mary R crewman) | Uncredited | |
| Carrying the Mail | Wally Reed | Short | |
| Desert Man | Wally Bradley | Short | |
| Fighting Through | Frisco | Uncredited | |
| Pals of the West | Captain Wally Wallace | Short | |
| The Law of the Wild | Deputy Tom | Serial, [Chs. 7-8], Uncredited | |
| The Lone Rider | Jeff Smith | Short | |
| The Way of the West | Wally Gordon | ||
| West of the Law | Wally Williams (ranch foreman) | Short | |
| The Oil Raider | Oil Well Driller | Uncredited | |
| Range Warfare | Tommy Lord | ||
| Mystery Mountain | Corwin Teamster | Uncredited | |
| 1935 | The Cactus Kid | Cowhand Andy | |
| Unconquered Bandit | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| The Rustlers of Red Dog | Henchman Wally | Uncredited | |
| The Lone Bandit | Sheriff Jim Mace | ||
| Six Gun Justice | Nevada Joe | ||
| The Phantom Empire | Thunder guard | Uncredited | |
| Five Bad Men | Bad man #4 | ||
| The Pecos Kid | Eric Grayson | ||
| The Cowboy and the Bandit | Chuck | ||
| The Miracle Rider | Ranger Burnett | Uncredited | |
| The Call of the Savage | Lancer Officer-in-Charge | Serial, [Chs. 10-12], Uncredited | |
| Silent Valley | Fred Jones | ||
| Fighting Caballero | Henchman Wildcat | ||
| The Silver Bullet | Deputy Jake | as Walt Williams | |
| The Laramie Kid | Road Gang Guard | Uncredited | |
| Stranded | Peterson | Uncredited | |
| The Vanishing Riders | Wolf Lawson | ||
| Get That Man | Thomas, Prescott Chaueffeur | Uncredited | |
| Men of Action | Henchman Wally | Uncredited | |
| Danger Trails | 'Desolation' Wilson | ||
| Heir to Trouble | Cowhand Spurs | ||
| Powdersmoke Range | Aloysius 'Bud' Taggart | ||
| Between Men | Blacksmith Luke | Uncredited | |
| Western Courage | Slim | Uncredited | |
| Gun Play | George Holt | ||
| Lawless Riders | Sidekick Carl Walton | ||
| Swifty | Price McNiel | ||
| Trigger Tom | Sam Slater | ||
| The Shadow of Silk Lennox | Inspector Swann | Uncredited | |
| 1936 | Lucky Terror | Henchman Shake | Uncredited |
| Hair-Trigger Casey | Dave Casey | ||
| Heroes of the Range | Trail Boss | Uncredited | |
| Avenging Waters | Slivers | ||
| The Crime Patrol | Henchman Driving Getaway Car | Uncredited | |
| The Phantom Rider | Henchman Lew | ||
| The Traitor | Texas Ranger Hank | Uncredited | |
| The Unknown Ranger | Chuckler | as Hal Talioferro | |
| Ambush Valley | Joel Potter | ||
| Law and Lead | Steve Bradley, posing as The Juarez Kid | ||
| The Gun Ranger | Hanby - Outspoken Juror | Uncredited | |
| Rio Grande Ranger | Ranger Hal Garrick | ||
| 1937 | Two Gun Law | Cattle Buyer | Uncredited |
| Law of the Ranger | Wally Hood | ||
| Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm | Buffalo Brady | ||
| The Painted Stallion | Jim Bowie | ||
| One Man Justice | Neal King | ||
| The Rangers Step In | Breck Warren | ||
| Heart of the Rockies | Captain Brady - Blackstone Park | ||
| Trapped by G-Men | Federal Agent | ||
| The Trigger Trio | Henchman Luke | ||
| Wells Fargo | Minor Role | Uncredited | |
| 1938 | The Lone Ranger | Bob Stuart | |
| Stagecoach Days | Milt Dodds | ||
| The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | Townsman talking to Boys | Uncredited | |
| Pioneer Trail | Henchman Smokey | ||
| South of Arizona | Murdered Ranger Frank Madison | Uncredited | |
| Phantom Gold | Dan | ||
| Black Bandit | Weepy | ||
| Crime Takes a Holiday | Farrell | Uncredited | |
| Guilty Trails | Sundown Ansel | ||
| Prairie Justice | Alfalfa | ||
| Rio Grande | Bart Andrews | Uncredited | |
| 1939 | The Thundering West | Frank Kendall | |
| Frontiers of '49 | Kit | ||
| North of the Yukon | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Man of Conquest | Tennessean | Uncredited | |
| Western Caravans | Joel Winters | ||
| Overland with Kit Carson | Jim Stewart | ||
| Riders of the Frontier | Henchman Buck | ||
| Fugitive at Large | Truck Guard | Uncredited | |
| Daughter of the Tong | FBI Agent Lawson | ||
| Outpost of the Mounties | Evans | ||
| The Story of Charles Goodyear | Baker | Short | |
| Saga of Death Valley | Henchman Rex | ||
| The Stranger from Texas | Clay Billings | ||
| Two-Fisted Rangers | Sheriff Jim Hanley | ||
| Zorro's Fighting Legion | Dungeon Thug | Uncredited | |
| 1940 | Bullets for Rustlers | Eb Smith | |
| Pioneers of the West | Jed Clark | ||
| Dark Command | Angry Townsman in Bank | Uncredited | |
| The Man with Nine Lives | Sheriff Ed Stanton | ||
| Adventures of Red Ryder | Cherokee Sims | ||
| The Carson City Kid | Rick Harmon | ||
| Colorado | Weaver | ||
| Cherokee Strip | Ben Blivens | ||
| Young Bill Hickok | Morrell | ||
| Texas Terrors | John Millbourne | Uncredited | |
| The Border Legion | Sheriff Amos Link | ||
| Hi-Yo Silver | Bob Stuart | (archive footage) | |
| 1941 | Along the Rio Grande | Sweetwater Sheriff | |
| The Great Train Robbery | Pierce | ||
| In Old Cheyenne | Henchman Pete | ||
| Border Vigilantes | Henchman Big Ed Stone | ||
| Sheriff of Tombstone | A.J. Slade | ||
| Law of the Range | Tim O'Brien | ||
| Under Fiesta Stars | Smoky - Rodeo Announcer | Uncredited | |
| Bad Man of Deadwood | Henchman Ripper | ||
| Riders of the Timberline | Ed Petrie | ||
| Roaring Frontiers | Link Twiddle | ||
| Jesse James at Bay | Paul Sloan, Lawyer | ||
| Red River Valley | Murdock | ||
| 1942 | Bullets for Bandits | Croupier | Uncredited |
| Romance on the Range | Sheriff Wilson | ||
| Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die | Dick Mason | ||
| Sons of the Pioneers | Henchman Matt | ||
| King of the Mounties | Ed Johnson | Serial, (Ch. 6), Uncredited | |
| Little Joe, the Wrangler | Ben Travis | ||
| Heart of the Golden West | Henchman Drake | Uncredited | |
| American Empire | Malone | ||
| Ridin' Down the Canyon | Henchman Pete | ||
| 1943 | Idaho | Bud (Belle's henchman) | |
| Hoppy Serves a Writ | Henchman Greg Jordan | ||
| It's a Great Life | Master of the Hounds | Uncredited | |
| The Leather Burners | Telegrapher Lafe | ||
| Song of Texas | Henchman | ||
| Colt Comrades | Murder Freight Agent | Uncredited | |
| Frontier Law | Frank Rodgers | ||
| Silver Spurs | Steve Corlan | ||
| The Man from Music Mountain | Henchman Slade | ||
| Cowboy in the Clouds | Haldey | ||
| The Woman of the Town | Wagner | ||
| 1944 | The Fighting Seabees | Lt. Commander. Hood | Uncredited |
| Lumberjack | Henchman Taggart | ||
| Cowboy and the Senorita | Matt Ferguson | ||
| Forty Thieves | Jess Clanton | ||
| The Yellow Rose of Texas | Ferguson | ||
| Atlantic City | Businessman | Uncredited | |
| Haunted Harbor | Lawson | Serial, [Ch. 1, 6-7] | |
| Vigilantes of Dodge City | Walter Bishop | ||
| Zorro's Black Whip | Henchman Baxter | ||
| 1945 | Utah | Steve Lacy | |
| Springtime in Texas | Henchman Red Higgins | ||
| Federal Operator 99 | Matt Farrell | ||
| The Cheaters | Jim McDonald | Uncredited | |
| Fallen Angel | Gus Johnson - Police Officer | Uncredited | |
| San Antonio | Cowboy | Uncredited | |
| 1946 | The Scarlet Horseman | Henchman | Uncredited |
| The Phantom Rider | Nugget | ||
| Miss Susie Slagle's | Doctor | Uncredited | |
| In Old Sacramento | Doctor | Uncredited | |
| Heading West | Jim Mallory | Uncredited | |
| Plainsman and the Lady | Pete | ||
| 1947 | Ramrod | Jess More | |
| Heaven Only Knows | One of Byron's Gunmen | Uncredited | |
| 1948 | West of Sonora | Sandy Clinton | Uncredited |
| The Gallant Legion | Billy Smith | ||
| Red River | Old Leather | ||
| Blood on the Moon | Cowboy | Uncredited | |
| 1949 | Brimstone | Dave Watts | |
| 1950 | Colt .45 | Stagecoach Guard | Uncredited |
| The Savage Horde | Sergeant Gowdy | ||
| California Passage | Buck Hanley | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | The Sea Hornet | Bone | |
| 1952 | Junction City | Sandy Clinton | |
| 1964 | Law of the Lawless | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^ Huey, William R. (1985). In Search of Hollywood, Wyoming, 1894-The Silent Years-1921. William R. Huey.
- ^ U.S. Census, 1900, Rosebud County, Montana
- ^ a b c d University of Wyoming Archive Catalog description, Wally Wales Papers
- ^ Anderson, Chuck, The Old Corral, http://www.b-westerns.com/wales1.htm
External links
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wally Wales.
- Wally Wales at IMDb