James Newill

Biography

Newill, one of Hollywood's largely unsung singing cowboys, began his career as a tenor with the Los Angeles Light Opera company in the early 30's. By the middle of the decade, he fronted the microphone as a vocalist with various society orchestras, including those of Gus Arnheim, Phil Harris and Eddy Duchin. He was briefly on air with the Burns & Allen radio show (broadcast by CBS) and also had a spell in vaudeville. In 1937, he was spotted by one of the myriad of talent scouts roaming the state and so commenced on the Hollywood western trail. His first port of call was Poverty Row outfit Grand National, a studio which inaugurated filming the popular boys adventure yarn Renfrew of the Royal Mounted. After the initial two instalments, Newill appeared as the titular hero in another five (with ever-declining production values) for Monogram. He was briefly on loan-outs to Fox and RKO between 1941 and 1942 and made Decca recordings with the Victor Young Orchestra. He then popped up as Texas Ranger Jim Steele in 14 episodic low-budget westerns for bottom-of-the-drawer company PRC. In between filming, he and co-star Dave O'Brien also tried their hand at goat farming. In 1944, Newill was replaced by Tex Ritter and left the range (and screen acting) for greener pastures on the New York stage. In the 1950's and 60's, he undertook a variety of occupations: operating a sawmill, disk-jockeying for a classical radio station, running a kiddies ride business and even trying his hand (without much financial success) at making fiberglass speedboats. He retired in 1971.