Ace Cain

Biography

An Oklahoma native whose childhood and teen-years were spent on the Cain family farm in Wichita Falls, Texas, "Ace" Cain spent most of the decade of the 1920s in the U.S. Army, serving primarily in the Pacific Rim---China, the Phillipines, Hawaii---and became a prolific and skilled gambler. After his Army days, he was a bootlegger in Hollywood during the latter years of Prohibition. He owned and operated Ace Cain's Cafe on Western Avenue near Sunset Blvd. across the street from 20th Century-Fox studios, and his brother Jim Cain operated a retail liquor store next door. Because of his imposing size and menacing features, he was given villain roles in 14 Poverty Row westerns made in the mid-30s. He later owned the Uncle Ace Liquor Store and Uncle Ace Motel located on Western Avenue near Santa Monica Blvd. He also bought and operated the Rocky Springs Country Club in Saugus, California, a place with a dubious reputation because of the many "very friendly" women---ex-models and show girls---who frequented the club.