Broncho Billy Anderson is a handsome man with a name to match. The name is not his own, but in Hollywood Broncho Billy Anderson is not unique in this regard. Broncho Billy Anderson’s reputation rests on westerns, and Broncho Billy Anderson is a better cowboy name than Max Aronson. The West may have enjoyed its share of Jewish cowboys, but no one has yet figured out how to make money from them.
Broncho Billy Anderson plays not one, not two, but three roles in Edwin Porter’s The Great Train Robbery, the first real western. After that, Broncho Billy Anderson becomes a western star, the first motion picture cowboy. As a director, Broncho Billy Anderson also films the first pie-in-the-face gag. Broncho Billy Anderson is a man of many firsts.
Broncho Billy Anderson makes hundreds of pictures, taking his crew on the Western Pacific Railroad through Niles Canyon week after week. Acting, directing, editing.
Broncho Billy’s Last Spree.
Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner.
Broncho Billy’s Adventure.
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress.
Broncho Billy’s Pal.
Broncho Billy’s Cowardly Brother.
Broncho Billy for Sheriff.
In 1915 alone, Broncho Billy Anderson releases more than thirty Broncho Billy westerns. After a while, even Broncho Billy Anderson gets tired of Broncho Billy, so Broncho Billy Anderson departs for New York to become a theater impresario. Unfortunately, Broncho Billy Anderson buys the Longacre Theater. The Longacre Theater is cursed because the man who built it, Harry Frazee, also owns the Boston Red Sox. Harry Frazee is responsible for selling Babe Ruth’s contract to the Yankees, so his theater shares the Curse of the Bambino.
Broncho Billy Anderson gives up, and returns to California to produce motion pictures.
In later years, at the Oceana Apartments, he will be asked about the many people who have helped him along the way. Whenever he can, he gives credit to Broncho Billy Anderson, because Broncho Billy Anderson performs two great favors for him, two acts that change his life forever.
The first is that Broncho Billy Anderson believes in him.
The second is that Broncho Billy Anderson introduces him to Babe.