Born Edmund Richard Gibson August 6, 1892
in Tekamah, Nebraska, "Hoot" Gibson acquired his unique nickname
as the result of delivering packages for the Owl Drug Company as a youth.
Gibson grew up on a farm and cattle ranch, but cared little for farming
or ranching.
Crazy about horses, Gibson was fearless and with little experience he
decided to compete in rodeos and Wild West shows from 1912 to 1917. He
found extra work as a wrangler, a stuntman, and a double for Harry Carey
with Universal Studios. Gibson interrupted his budding movie career to
serve in World War I, but he returned to Universal in 1920 and quickly
surpassed Carey to be Universal's top western star. During the 1920s, Gibson starred in a number of films directed by his
friend John Ford. His biggest film during those years was The Flaming
Frontier (1926) one of the first to portray Custer's Last Stand. Gibson's
career peaked as the silent era came to a close.
He was married to Sally Eilers from June 27, 1930 to September
24, 1933 when they divorced. Gibson was inducted
into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and
Western Heritage Museum in 1979.
He shot several movies with Sally Eilers including The
Long, Long Trail (1929), Roarin'
Ranch (1930) Trigger
Tricks (1930) and Clearing
the Range (1931). More
History
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