Above - Jack King, circa 1934 in OUTLAW'S HIGHWAY (Jack D. Trop, 1934), his solo effort as a B western hero. Above and below - note the longish nose, prominent chin, and creases on his cheek. Above - Jack King, circa 1937, and about 43 years old. 1934 theater ad.

Tall, thinnish Jack King appeared in about fifty films from 1930 - 1942. Most were westerns - and he was generally unbilled as a henchman, rider, posse member, etc. and he may have done some stunt work. He wasn't getting big paydays from that type and quantity of movie jobs. His real life was more complex, full of twists and turns.

At the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), our B western Jack King is confused with song writer Jack King whose full name was Jack Albert King. That fellah composed many movie tunes and hits included "How Am I to Know". Composer Jack Albert King passed away at his Hollywood home on October 27, 1943.

State of Tennessee military archives have records on our guy. Burt J. King was born in 1894 in Jackson, Tennessee and enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard on July 9, 1915 in Memphis. In May, 1918, his unit sailed to Europe for World War I duty and he was a Sergeant in the 105th Field Signal Battalion. He returned to the states in Summer, 1919, rank was now Sergeant First Class, and he was honorably discharged on July 17, 1919. In addition to the Tennessee records, his World War II draft registration confirms his birth info as Jackson, Tennessee and November 11, 1894 - plus, he's 6 feet tall and 190 pounds.

In this profile - as well as various records and articles - there are several common threads. One is his Tennessee born wife Mary Reynolds and they tied the knot in 1917 ... or 1919 ... or 1926. When the 1930 census was taken, King and Mary were in Los Angeles and her father Jess Reynolds was living with them. Another consistency is King's November 11, 1894 birth date.

In the late 1920s, Hollywood trade publications and newspapers had tidbits on King, wife Mary, and their travelin' dog act:

• September 1, 1928 Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World: "The Coston Circuit, operators of more than 100 neighborhood pictures houses in Chicago, have secured the Chicago rights for the personal appearance of Lone Eagle, the movie dog, and his director, Burt King, and his pal Teddy, a straggly Airedale. Lone Eagle, who was named in honor of Col. Lindbergh, has appeared in a number of motion pictures and is quite popular among the children."
• September 21, 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World: "NASHVILLE, TENN., Sept. 17 (1929). - Kings Productions Inc., has been granted a charter to produce pictures featuring the police dog Lone Eagle. Burt J. King owns the dog of the incorporators and will hold the office of general business manager and director."
• Newspapers had a few mentions of their vaudeville touring: in June, 1928, King, Lone Eagle, and straggly Airedale Teddy / Teddie did a performance for crippled children at a hospital in Elyria, Ohio; March, 1928 at the Majestic Theater in Port Huron, Michigan; March, 1929, at the Lyric Theater in Traverse City, Michigan; and in May, 1929, they're at theaters in Blythville, Arkansas and Sikeston, Missouri.

In the early 1930s, Jack King and Mary were in sunny California. He became the owner and trainer of Kazan, a german shepherd pooch, and the dog was featured in three films for Jack D. Trop, Sherman S. Krellberg, and Sol Lesser's Principal Pictures company. All were ultra low budget and churned out for the independent market.

King was producer and star of OUTLAW'S HIGHWAY (Jack D. Trop, 1934). In 1935, Sherman S. Krellberg changed the title and released it as FIGHTING FURY (Krellberg / Regal, 1935). Didn't matter as HIGHWAY is tedious, slow, a real stinker. The only positive is veteran Tom London as a scrufty, cackling, oafish no-good working for brains heavy Philo McCullough. Recall "Teddy, that straggly Airedale" who was touring with King in the late 1920s? Teddy shows up as a ranch mutt in OUTLAW'S HIGHWAY ... and even gets billed in the opening titles and credits.

For Sol Lesser, King teamed up with prolific director Spencer Gordon Bennet for JAWS OF JUSTICE (Principal, 1933) and FEROCIOUS PAL (Principal, 1934). Those collaborations began and ended quickly ... and there was money problems:

• August 21, 1933 Film Daily: "Spencer Bennett and B. John King will make a series of six features starring Kazan, the dog, with Jack Perrin and his horse, Spotlight. The productions will be distributed by Principal Pictures." (Perrin's white horse was Starlight, not Spotlight.)
• January 18, 1934 Hollywood Reporter: Headline: "Troubles Pile Up For 'His Ferocious Pal'" ; "While Sol Lesser and Spencer Bennett [sic] are engaged in scrapping with each other as to who is to meet the obligations accruing on 'His Ferocious Pal', three more attachments were nailed on the negative of the picture yesterday, making five in all. Picture is the second that Bennett [sic] made for Principal Pictures' release and has a $2,500 list of claims to meet."
• January 27, 1934 Hollywood Reporter: Headline: "Lesser Clears Dog Pic" ; "Terminating his argument with Spencer Bennett [sic] ... Sol Lesser paid off the claims against the negative, clearing it for further work. Producer shelled out $4,800 to wipe the slate clean. Principal Pictures releases it."
• February 8, 1934 Hollywood Reporter had a ferocious review of FEROCIOUS PAL - a few excerpts: "There are just two good things about this picture: one is an unnamed jackass; the other is Kazan, one of the most intelligent dogs that ever reached the screen." ; " ... the poor dog was given a terrible story, terrible direction, a supporting cast that was amateurish, and a raw deal."

In early 1935, Jack King was bankrupt, owed about $14,000.00, and legal wranglings included threats that Kazan would be auctioned off to pay the bills. Supporting King's effort to keep his dog were Hollywood's Mrs. Leslie Carter and Alice Brady. In May, 1935, the court ruled that Kazan would remain with King and 25% of the dog's future earnings had to be used for debt payoff.

About a year later, King established his "John King Productions" company with plans to star himself and Kazan in an eight film series called "The Phantom Trio". That didn't happen.

Early 1938 Van Nuys, California newspapers had reports of his next venture, the California Shepherdize Inc. seeing-eye dog school and kennel. A few newspaper blurbs:

• "... Jack King, founder of the new California Shepherdize, new seeing eye dog corporation with kennels in Van Nuys ..."
• "Sketches of the building plan for California Sherpherdize Inc., a training school for guide dogs and blind people were under consideration this week by Jack King ... western film actor and founder of the corporation."
• King's canines included "Kazan, mascot of Shepherdize, star of 'Fighting Fury', 'Jaws of Justice' and other films, and Zana, trained eye-dog ... "

Found no follow-up articles or announcements that his seeing eye dog school was operational. Probably not.

Then things got crazier. The Golden Gate International Exposition (1939 - 1940) was a World's Fair at San Francisco's Treasure Island. Also going on was the 1939 - 1940 New York World's Fair in Queens, New York. A public relations stunt to connect these Fairs was a "Pony Express" ride and tour that began in Frisco in May, 1939 and ended about 120 days later in a celebratory meetup in New York City with Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia.

In charge of that Pony Express ride were Jack King and he was supported by wife Mary, relief rider Don Hackett, many horses, a trailer, etc. Along the way, they did tour stops at Ford car dealerships and 'Kazan' did performances. September, 1939 newspapers had more: "Mr. and Mrs. Jack King, official 'Pony Express Riders' from the San Francisco World's Fair ..." ; "... are accompanied by their famous police dog, 'Kazan', star of the current film, 'Fighting Fury' and several other Hollywood productions."

Right is a poor quality newspaper photo of King (in buckskins and on horseback) and wife Mary as they arrive at the New York World's Fair in late September, 1939. The photo caption reads: "Chief Scout of the modern Pony Express, Jack King, hands a letter to Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York City as the rider arrives at the New York World's Fair. With him is his wife, Mrs. Mary King, relief rider. Kazan, dog star of the movies and mascot of the new Pony Express, is with Mrs. King."

Circa late 1939, King and Mary were back in Los Angeles and he picks up some uncredited roles in a few more westerns.

In 1941, Kazan passed away and newspapers carried an AP Syndicated death notice: "HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 4 (1941) - Kazan, German shepherd film star of a half-decade ago, died Sunday (August 3) in the home of his master, actor and stunt man Jack King. Mr. King saw Kazan in a pound ten years ago and paid 85 cents for the pup. As the star of 'Fighting Fury' and other films the dog earned as much as $250 a day."

Wonder if Kazan and Lone Eagle were the same dog? Aaah ... a mystery that we can't solve.

As noted earlier, King was a World War I Signal Corps veteran. His World War II draft registration had him residing at Camp Ayres, Chino, California and employer was the California State Guard. And in the 1942 and 1944 California Voter Registrations, Burt J. King's occupations were "Captain" (in 1942) and "Navy Police" (in 1944). Further down this webpage is a 1942 photo of Lieutenant Burt J. King of the California State Guard. Military history indicates that Camp Ayres was originally a camp for the WPA (Work Projects Administration). During World War II, it was utilized by the California Guard and became a POW camp for German prisoners. As to that "Navy Police" occupation: probably an error; or perhaps King was mustered out circa 1943 or so because of age, and then hired as civilian police / security at military bases. Another mystery.

Around 1950, the Kings moved from Los Angeles to the Palmdale, California area. And he got involved in some politicking. April, 1952 California newspapers listed candidates for California's June 3, 1952 primary election for U. S. Congressional seats and Republican Burt John King was one of ten people running for the 21st district nomination. That district covered Lancaster and Palmdale, California. Newspapers indicated that King was a veteran of both World Wars and his platform was pro-America, anti-Communist, and anti-big labor bosses. Voters weren't impressed as he received a paltry 1792 votes in that June, 1952 primary and the Republican winner was Edgar W. Hiestand (with 29,000+ votes).

Then we find Burt John King (1894 - 1966) and Mary E. King (1897 - 1973) spending their later years in Arkansas. Both passed away there and are interred at Dennard Cemetery, Dennard, Van Buren County, Arkansas.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jack King. But the birth and death info is incorrect - is showing the October, 1943 death of song writer Jack Albert King: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454792/

The Internet Movie Database has info on Kazan: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1548882/

Found no birth info or early 1900s census records on King and family. The earliest info on King were World War I Army service details at the State of Tennessee Archives. And in the 1930 and 1940 census, King's an actor.

Info on his Tennessee born wife Mary Reynolds was fairly easy to locate. There are a few family trees on ancestry.com, and her parents were Jesse Parker Reynolds (1872 - 1946) and Mamie Orene Burford (1876 - 1940). But none of the trees had info beyond 1910 or 1920 ... and nothing on her marriage to King. Strange because the 1930 census has Mary's father, Jess / Jesse Reynolds, living with her and hubby King in Los Angeles. I've highlighted Mary and the Reynolds surname in this color in the info that follows.

Another common thread is King's birth date - the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), World War II draft registration, and grave marker indicate he was born November 11, 1894, and I've highlighted that in this color.

• 1910 census and census takers worksheet - living in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee are 38 year old Jessie P. Reynolds (born Tennessee; occupation "House Painter"), his 34 year old wife Mamie (born Tennessee), three daughters and a son. One of the daughters is 12 year old Mary E. Reynolds (born Tennessee): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGXY-9C4
• 1920 census and census takers worksheet - boarding with the Gates family in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee are 26 year old Bert King (born Tennessee; occupation "Clerk - Rubber Co.") and 23 year old Marie [sic] E. King (born Tennessee; no occupation). Bert is listed as married while Marie is single: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNPK-YGD
• 1930 census and census takers worksheet - renting at 6015 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles are 35 year old Bert [sic] King (born Tennessee; occupation "Actor - Movie Studio"), his 33 year old wife Mary (born Tennessee), and 60 year old father-in-law Jess Reynolds (born Tennessee; occupation "Contractor - Painting"). King was a World War I veteran: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJB-PLG
• 1940 census and census takers worksheet - 45 year old Burt John King (born Tennessee; occupation "Actor - Motion Pictures") and his 42 year old wife Mary (born Tennessee; occupation "Waitress - Cafe") are living at the Mission Hotel, Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles. In 1939, he worked 25 weeks and earned $1000.00: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9C6-QPT
• Ancestry.com had his death certificate with a couple errors - 72 year old Bert [sic] John King was born November 11, 1894 in Jacksonville [sic], Tennessee. He was "retired" from "Motion Picture" business; was an Army veteran of World War I; he and wife Mary E. King lived in Searcy, Arkansas, and she was the death certificate informant. He passed away from respiratory failure and emphyzema at the Leslie Hospital, Leslie, Arkansas on December 28, 1966 and burial at Dennard, Arkansas cemetery.
• Social Security Death Index (SSDI) - 72 year old Burt King was born November 11, 1894, last residence was Leslie, Searcy County, Arkansas, and he passed away in December, 1966: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JG3V-M3Y
• Social Security Death Index (SSDI) - 76 year old Mary King was born July 10, 1897, last residence was Leslie, Searcy County, Arkansas, and she passed away in September, 1973: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9R6-Q4F

Marriage strangeness - there's three marriage licenses for King and Mary Reynolds. Did they marry, divorce, re-marry, divorce, and re-marry a third time?

• The March 2, 1917 Nashville,Tennessee Banner newspaper: "Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Reynolds announce the marriage of their daughter, Mary, and Mr. Burt J. King, which took place on Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Carroll-street church in Memphis ... Mr. and Mrs. King will make their home in Memphis."
• February 25, 1917 Shelby County, Tennessee marriage license of Burt J. King and Mary Reynolds: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKH9-C7RX
• December 27, 1919 Shelby County, Tennessee marriage license of Burt J. King and Mary Reynolds: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKH9-ZNMT
• October 22, 1926 Lucas County, Ohio marriage license of 32 year old Bert J. / Burt J. King (born Tennessee; occupation "Accountant") and 30 year old Mary Reynolds (born Tennessee). Both are divorced and this is their 2nd marriage. The license is made out to Bert J. King, but he signs it as Burt J. King. His parents were Harry King and Minnie Bray. Her parents were Jesse Reynolds and Mamie Brouder / Bronder / ???: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2Q4S-72M

In addition to World War I service in the 105th Field Signal Battalion, King's World War II draft registration has him doing some type of military, security or police duty. And in the 1942 and 1944 California Voter Registrations, his occupation is "Captain" and "Navy Police".

• Tennessee State Library and the Tennessee Archive have military records on Burt J. King - he was born in Jackson, Tennessee and enlisted in the National Guard in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee on July 9, 1915. Originally assigned to an Infantry unit, he was transferred to the 105th Signal Battalion and served overseas in World War I. Honorably discharged as a Sergeant First Class on July 17, 1919:
  https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll38/id/11279/rec/2
  https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll38/id/12135/rec/2
• Fold3 Military records had ship manifests for Burt J. King, 105th Field Signal Battalion, World War I service - his rank was Sergeant when he sailed May, 1918 to Europe and was Sergeant First Class when he returned Summer, 1919 from Marseille, France to New York City.
• Wikipedia has more on the 105th Signal Battalion from World War I - it was part of the Army National Guard 30th Division which was comprised of units from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)
• World War II draft registration dated April 27, 1942 - 47 year old Burt J. King was born November 11, 1894 in Jackson, Tennessee. His residence was Camp Ayres, Chino, San Bernardino County, California. Employer was Calif. State Guard, 700 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles. Mail address and contact was wife Mary King, 1830 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, California. King is 6 feet tall and weighs 190 pounds: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V48P-XJD
• More on Camp Ayres in Chino, California - was originally a camp for WPA projects. During World War II, it was used by the California Guard and later became a POW camp for German prisoners: http://www.militarymuseum.org/ChinoPOWCamp.html

Ancestry.com had many California Voter Registrations, some of which list occupations. Most have their home address as 1830 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, which ties back to King's World War II draft registration:

• 1932 - living at 1508 La Baig Avenue, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Democrat) and Mary E. King (Democrat).
• 1934 - living at 17615 Ventura Boulevard, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Democrat) and Mary E. King (Democrat).
• 1940 - living at 1830 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Republican; occupation "actor") and Mary E. King (Democrat; occupation "housewife").
• 1942 - living at 1830 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles is Mary E. King (Democrat; occupation "housewife").
• 1942 - living at 700 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles is Burt J. King (Republican; occupation "Captain"). (That's the Calif. State Guard address in his WW2 draft registration above.)
• 1944 - living at 1830 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Republican; occupation "Navy Police") and Mary E. King (Democrat; occupation "aircraft").
• 1946 - living at 1830 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Republican) and Mary E. King (Democrat).
• 1948 - living at 1830 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles are Burt J. King (Republican) and Mary E. King (Republican).
• 1950 - living at 50th at West, Palmdale Precinct, Los Angeles County are Burt John King (Republican) and Mary E. King (Republican).

In that 1950 voter registration above, King and wife Mary resided in the Palmdale, California precinct. April, 1952 California newspapers listed candidates for California's June 3, 1952 primary election for U. S. Congressional seats and Republican Burt John King was one of ten people running for the 21st district nomination. That district covered Lancaster and Palmdale, California. Newspaper reports indicated that King's platform was pro-America, anti-Communist, and anti-big labor bosses. Voters weren't impressed as he received a paltry 1792 votes in that June, 1952 primary (and the Republican winner was Edgar W. Hiestand with 29,000+ votes).

California Digital Newspaper collection has an April 16, 1952 newspaper with a list of candidates for the June, 1952 California primary election - Republican Burt John King from West Lancaster, California was running in the 21st district: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19520416.1.6&srpos=1&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-%22burt+john+king%22-------1

Find A Grave website has photos of the markers for Burt John King and Mary E. King at Dennard Cemetery, Dennard, Van Buren County, Arkansas:

His marker reads: "Burt John King, Tennessee, Sergeant First Class, 105 Field Signal Battalion, World War I, November 11, 1894 - December 28, 1966": https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14340880/burt-john-king

Mary E. King (July 10, 1897 - September 12, 1973): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14340865/mary-e-king

More on Dennard Cemetery, Dennard, Van Buren County, Arkansas at the Arkansas GenWeb: http://www.argenweb.net/vanburen/cemetery/cemdenna.htm

I did contact the Searcy County, Arkansas library. They did not find an obituary for King, but an obit for Mary was in the local Marshall Mountain Wave newspaper - excerpt: "Mrs. Mary King, 76, passed away September 12, 1973 in the Nursing Home in Jacksonville, Arkansas. She was born July 10, 1897 in Nashville, Tennessee ...". No mention of hubby Burt or children in her obit.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

March 17, 1934 Hollywood Filmograph: "John King, owner of the famous dog Kazan, has cancelled his contract with Sol Lesser, Principal Pictures Corporation, and is not to finish what was known as the Kazan series for that organization. Mr. King is planning an entirely new series of feature pictures starring Kazan ..."

March 16, 1934 Hollywood Reporter: Headline: "Bennett-King Prods. Split; King Goes Solo" ; "Bennett-King Productions does a fade-out with John King parting company from Sol Lesser as a result of recent arguments over releasing contracts through Principal Pictures. Outfit made two of six pictures slated to star the dog, Kazan. King will continue production with the dog on his own ..."

King's bankrupcy from May, 1935 newspapers.

March, 1935 newspapers: "Screen celebrities started a movement to save from the auction block one of their fellow players, Kazan, movie dog. Led by Mrs. Leslie Carter and Miss Alice Brady, the film group determined to prevent the police dog from being separated from its owner, Jack King, by bankruptcy action."

April 10, 1935 Variety: "Kazan, film dog, saved from auction block when L. A. judge postponed bankruptcy action of Jack King, owner of the pooch."

May 18, 1935 Motion Picture Herald: "Under a unique court decision in Los Angeles this week, Kazan, valuable police dog which has appeared in numerous motion pictures, will be permitted to stay with his master, Jack King. Bankruptcy Referee Earl Moss approved an offer by which creditors of Mr. King agree to permit the dog to stay with its owner, the creditors to take 25 per cent of the dog's earnings until 35 per cent of their claims are satisfied. Creditors threatened to take the animal to satisfy claims aggregating $14,000."

Right is a poor quality newspaper photo from late September, 1939 of King and Kazan at the New York Worlds Fair. Accompanying the photo was a lengthy article - a few excerpts:

"... these two rode into the New York World's Fair after a 3,500-mile trip from the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. They're Kazan, wonder-dog of the movies and official mascot and goodwill ambassador of the Western Fair, and Jack King, Chief Scout of the Exposition."

"Friendly Ford dealers helped them all along the route, King said. That's why they came first to the Ford Exposition at the New York World's Fair. There, Hon. Stanley Howe, executive secretary to Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York, greeted them ..."

Right is another poor quality newspaper photo of King (in buckskins and on horseback) and wife Mary as they arrive at the New York World's Fair.

The photo caption reads:

"Chief Scout of the modern Pony Express, Jack King, hands a letter to Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York City as the rider arrives at the New York World's Fair. With him is his wife, Mrs. Mary King, relief rider. Kazan, dog star of the movies and mascot of the new Pony Express, is with Mrs. King."

June 2, 1939 Gallup, New Mexico Independent article on the Pony Express riders stopover in Gallup: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gallup-independent-jack-king-j-c/180836239/

October 6, 1939 Drumright, Oklahoma Weekly Derrick has a photo article on Jack King, Mary King, Don Hackett, and King's dog Kazan at the end of their long Pony Express ride to the New York World's Fair: https://www.newspapers.com/article/drumright-weekly-derrick-jack-king-mary/180713043/

New York Public Library, Digital Collections has several photos of King and wife Mary at the New York World's Fair: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/1e6dd2f0-c530-012f-c1f8-58d385a7bc34?q=%22pony+express%22&sort=relevance

Worthpoint Auction has one of the commemorative letters carried by the Pony Express riders to New York ... and mailed back to San Francisco. On the back of the envelope are signatures of Jack King, his wife Mary E. King, and relief rider Don Hackett: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1939-pony-express-airmail-envelope-1734235233