Rusty Wescoatt, Athletics and Acting

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Born Norman Edward Wescoatt in Hawaii on August 2, 1911, “Rusty” Wescoatt played football for the University of Hawaii before making his professional wrestling debut in Hawaii during 1933. Wescoatt was also a swimming champion. Wescoatt initially made more news for his swimming than his wrestling when he traveled to the continental United States in 1935. On Easter Sunday, April

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The Phantom (1931)

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On November 1, 1931, Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures released The Phantom (1931), a low-budget thriller. The film (affiliate link) opens with a death row inmates escape from the prison on the day of his execution. After he jumps from the prison wall to the top of the train, a plane with a rope ladder picks up the prisoner. While the

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Mr. Moto’s Gamble (1938)

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Peter Lorre reprises his role as Mr. Kentaro Moto, Interpol Agent, in Mr. Moto’s Gamble (1938). James Tinling directed this film and Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1937). Tinling’s participation caused Lorre to portray Mr. Moto more like Inspector Chan with a little jujitsu thrown in. In this film, Mr. Moto teaches a criminal investigation class to several budding investigators including

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Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938)

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Twentieth Century – Fox Film Company released the fourth Mr. Moto film, Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938), on June 24, 1938. Lou Breslow and John Patrick set the film in Cambodia allowing Twentieth-Century Fox to use stock footage of the recently discovered ruins of Angkor Wat. The discovery of Angkor Wat captured the attention of the American public. Many

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The Fat Man (1950)

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Since the beginning of commercial film making, production companies are always looking for new content. Film companies have always used popular books as a source of content and inspiration. Since the 1950s, popular television shows provided film adaptations and inspiration. In the early days of talking films, popular radio shows led to many film adaptations. Lum and Abner, Jack Benny,

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Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947)

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On May 20, 1947, Ralph Byrd returned to the Dick Tracy franchise in Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947). It was welcome news for fans of the franchise although Chester Gould was a notable exception. Gould created the Tracy character for the comic page of the Detroit Mirror. After the Chicago Tribune picked up the comic for syndication, it’s popularity exploded. Gould

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Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)

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Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947) is one of the final entries (affiliate link) in “B” film series. RKO Pictures took the series over from Republic Pictures, who released the original Dick Tracy serials in the late 1930s and early 1940s. RKO Pictures released the film to theaters on September 26, 1947. RKO brought Boris Karloff in to play Gruesome, one

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Dick Tracy (1937)

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In early 1937, Republic Pictures released the first chapter of its first Dick Tracy serial. Dick Tracy (affiliate link) consisted of 15 chapters for a total of almost 300 minutes. Ralph Byrd played the popular comic book detective Dick Tracy. In this serial, the Spider, whose true identity is unknown, leads a gang of criminals dedicated to enriching themselves and

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Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)

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Chester Gould created the Dick Tracy comic strip in 1931. Originally published through the Detroit Metro, the strip moved to the Chicago Tribune where it made the paper and Gould rich through syndication. It was only a matter of time before Dick Tracy made his debut on the silver screen. Ralph Byrd played Dick Tracy in four 15 chapter serials

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