Art Davis

A cowboy troubadour who had recorded for both Victor and Columbia, rotund Art Davis appeared as a musician in a few B-Westerns before supporting one-time-only cowboy star Monte Rawlins (aka Dean Spencer) in the bizarre The Adventures of the Masked Phantom (1939). Davis billed himself as Larry Mason for the occasion, perhaps hoping that no one would notice his participation in this, one of the decade's more ridiculous (albeit entertaining) low-budget ventures. He was Art Davis again when signed by poverty row newcomer PRC in 1942, as one of the Frontier Marshals. The ramshackle studio's bid to compete with rival Republic Pictures' popular Three Mesquiteers Westerns, the Frontier Marshal vehicles co-starred Davis with screen newcomer and fellow troubadour Bill "Cowboy Rambler" Boyd and Lee Powell. The latter, who took care of most of the action, suffered the indignity of being billed below his two sidekicks but that was truly the sole remarkable feature of this wretched series. The demise of Frontier Marshals after only six installments came as a relief to everyone concerned and Davis returned to performing with his hillbilly singing group Art Davis and his Rhythm Rangers. The Art Davis of B-Westerns should not be confused with the animator of the same name.