Lester F. Scott, Jr.

Movie producer Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. was born March 14, 1892 in Los Angeles to Lester Fremont Scott, Sr. and Carrie Betts. Father Lester was a busy and respected real estate developer, broker, and mining engineer and involved in several mining ventures in the 1910s - 1920s.

Newspapers and trade publications from 1915 - 1916 have Scott as an assistant director with the Lasky Film company; assistant to director Francis J. Grandon at Mutual; and then, assistant to director Oscar Apfel at Fox.

In 1916, he married actress Irene Hunt (real name: Irene A. Murtaugh), and there was a messy divorce in February, 1920 (with Scott admitting that he caused their breakup).

In the 1920s, Scott was handling sales and distribution for producer Bert Lubin, and later, for C. C. Burr. Striking out on his own in early 1924, he formed the independent Approved Pictures Corporation which quickly became Action Pictures, Inc., and he hired three real westerners as cowboy movie heroes ... and all three got name changes to improve saleability of their cinema adventures:

   Kenneth Stanhope Sanderson became "Buddy Roosevelt".
   Wilbert Jay Wilsey became "Buffalo Bill, Jr.".
   Floyd Taliaferro Alderson became "Wally Wales".

The Buddy Roosevelt and Buffalo Bill, Jr. features began in late 1924. Wales' first for Scott was released in 1925. From 1924 - 1928, Scott churned out over sixty western features with those three.

Appears that Scott established a "team" for his productions:

Helming nearly four dozen of the Action Pictures' oaters was Richard Thorpe (1896 - 1991). He spent most of his later years at MGM directing many Tarzans, spectacles such as IVANHOE (MGM, 1952) with Robert Taylor, Mario Lanza in THE GREAT CARUSO (MGM, 1951), and Elvis Presley in JAILHOUSE ROCK (MGM, 1957) and FUN IN ACAPULCO (MGM, 1963). Thorpe was the director on Judy Garland's THE WIZARD OF OZ ... but was replaced by George Cukor ... who was replaced by Victor Fleming.
Prolific story and screenplay writer Elizabeth 'Betty' Burbridge (1895 - 1987) was involved in about thirty of the westerns. In her later years, she was the principal writer for Gene Autry at Republic and also wrote for Autry's Flying A television production company.
Cast members included some familiar faces - a few examples: Charles 'Slim' Whitaker appeared in 19 films; Lafe McKee did 16; and oldtimer Harry Todd showed up in a dozen, sometimes playing sidekick to Buffalo Bill Jr.
One of the leading ladies on Scott's payroll was future A film actress Jean Arthur (1900 - 1991). She did heroine duty in six with Wales, four with Buffalo Bill, Jr., and a couple with Buddy Roosevelt.

The end came for Scott's Action Pictures company in the late 1920s. Times were changing: talking pictures had arrived; there was an economic upheaval due to the 1929 stock market crash and the Depression; lots of shufflin' was occurring with cowboy heroes at the major and minor movie companies; and while theater patrons wanted talking westerns, Tinseltown had concerns about utilizing the primitive sound recording equipment in outdoorsy films. And it was costly and time consuming to equip theaters so they could screen talkies.

In the 1930s, Scott supervised some B grade films and also did some distribution / sales work:

February 12, 1930 Film Daily noted that "Lester F. Scott and William T. Lackey ... will be in charge of Tiffany's outdoor producing units". Scott's time there was brief, but he did supervise several including BORDER ROMANCE (Tiffany, 1929) with Don Terry and Armida, THE UTAH KID (Tiffany, 1930) with Rex Lease, and UNDER MONTANA SKIES (Tiffany, 1930) with Kenneth Harlan. Richard Thorpe directed.
Then came a brief stint as general sales manager for Nat Levine's Mascot serial factory.
Scott re-united with Wally Wales and writer Betty Burbridge for SECRETS OF HOLLYWOOD (Lester F. Scott, 1933). Padded out with lots of silent film clips, the story had Mae Busch reminiscing about ol' Hollywood to Wales and June Walters (Luana Walters). Scott produced and distributed via states rights exchanges and it did get a few theater showings. (UCLA Film and TV archive has some elements of this film.)
In the mid 1930s, he partnered with director Spencer Gordon Bennet for about a half dozen features for Mayfair, two of which starred Buster Crabbe. (See lobby card further down this webpage.)
He was briefly with Republic Pictures - in the February 10, 1937 Variety: "Lester Scott, former Pathe producer, now assistant to Larry Wickland, Rep associate producer." (J. Laurence Wickland (1898 - 1938) was an associate producer and production manager at Republic.)
Scott's last movie job was producing DAUGHTER OF THE TONG (Metropolitan, 1939) for Harry S. Webb's Metropolitan Pictures.

In 1939, he married Dolores Emma Voght (1897 - 1981) and they were together through his death in 1958. Dolores was secretary to Roy and Walt Disney from 1930 - 1965.

Circa 1940, Scott disappears from Hollywood ... and based on his death certificate and other information, he did a career change and got involved in California gold mining. Guessing he learned that trade from his father.

His death certificate confirms a March 14, 1892 California birth date and parents as Lester, Sr. and Carrie Betts. Suffering from arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular - renal disease, 66 year old Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. passed away from a heart attack on September 10, 1958 at Braewood Sanitarium, South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California. His employer and occupation were "self employed" and "Gold Mining operator". Forest Lawn was in charge and he was cremated at Forest Lawn Crematory.

Some sources (including the IMDb and Wikipedia) have Scott dying in a 1954 automobile accident in Mesa, Arizona. That wasn't Hollywood's Lester F. Scott, Jr. You'll find a link below to a newspaper report on the April 17, 1954 accident in Mesa, Arizona that claimed the lives of 71 year old Lester F. Scott and his wife Florence. The article had a lengthy bio on him and noted that "From 1916 to 1943 he was a national executive of the Camp Fire Girls."

1916

Above and below are Scott biographies from 1916 and 1927 Motion Picture News studio directories available at the Internet Archive. Throop Polytech was the forerunner of California Institute of Technology. His college time is suspect because of his 1912 - 1920 work activities noted in Los Angeles City Directories, trade publications, etc.

1927

Trade ad for the 1926 - 1927 series of silent oaters starring Buddy Roosevelt, Wally Wales, and Buffalo Bill, Jr. from Scott's Action Pictures ... and released through Pathe's Exchanges.

Trade ad for the 1927 - 1928 release season which was the last batch of silent westerns from Lester F. Scott Jr.'s Action Pictures ... and our three heroes are now two. Buddy Roosevelt had jumped ship and in early 1928, he did westerns for Rayart.

(Image courtesy of Jay Wilsey's granddaughter and
daughter, Tamera Mankini and Frances Eldene Wolski)

Above is a production still from THE INTERFERIN' GENT (Action Pictures/Pathe, 1927). The man on the left is prolific director Richard Thorpe (1896 - 1991).

Thorpe directed many of the Wilsey silents and he spent most of his later years at MGM where he directed many Tarzan films, spectacles such as IVANHOE (MGM, 1952) with Robert Taylor, Mario Lanza in THE GREAT CARUSO (MGM, 1951), and Elvis Presley in JAILHOUSE ROCK (MGM, 1957) and FUN IN ACAPULCO (MGM, 1963). Thorpe was the director on the Judy Garland THE WIZARD OF OZ, but he was replaced by George Cukor ... who was replaced by Victor Fleming. Thorpe also directed many of the Wally Wales and Buddy Roosevelt series for Scott and Action Pictures.

(Image courtesy of Jay Wilsey's granddaughter and
daughter, Tamera Mankini and Frances Eldene Wolski)

Above - Buffalo Bill Jr. (Jay Wilsey) shares a tender moment with future A list actress Jean Arthur (1900 - 1991) in FAST AND FEARLESS (Action Pictures/Weiss Brothers-Artclass, 1924). Title lobby card shown below.

With Scott's Action Pictures, Jean Arthur was the leading lady in six with Wally Wales, four with Buffalo Bill, Jr., and a couple with Buddy Roosevelt.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above lobby card from the silent THE SADDLE CYCLONE (Action Pictures/Weiss Brothers-Artclass, 1925) starring Buffalo Bill Jr. (Jay Wilsey). From left to right are Wilsey, an unidentified player, and a youngish Lafe McKee on the right (with dark hair and a dark moustache).

(Image courtesy of Jay Wilsey's granddaughter and
daughter, Tamera Mankini and Frances Eldene Wolski)

Above are Harry Todd, Lafe McKee and Buffalo Bill Jr. (Jay Wilsey) in THE RIDIN' ROWDY (Action Pictures/Pathe, 1926). Todd often portrayed Wilsey's sidekick.

(Courtesy of Bruce Hickey)

Left to right are Buddy Roosevelt, Tom Bay, Charles 'Slim' Whitaker and Al Taylor in a lobby card from Roosevelt's THE BANDIT BUSTER (Action Pictures/Pathe, 1926).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card for THE OIL RAIDER (Mayfair, 1934) which Buster Crabbe did on loan from Paramount. Note the "Courtesy of" under Buster's name to reference his Paramount status. The "Scott-Bennet Production" in the lower left refers to Lester F. Scott, Jr. (producing) and Spencer Gordon Bennet (directing). Earlier, Crabbe did BADGE OF HONOR (1934) for the Scott-Bennet team. Mayfair existed from the late 1920s through mid 1930s and Crabbe's THE OIL RAIDER was the last - or among the last - of Mayfair's films.

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on:
Lester F. Scott: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0778778/
Scott's first wife, actress Irene Hunt (real name: Irene A. Murtaugh): https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0402475/

The IMDb has a "People working together" search:
Scott did about four dozen films with director Richard Thorpe: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0778778,nm0861703
Scott did about three dozen films with writer Elizabeth 'Betty' Burbridge: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0778778,nm0120762

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the American Film Institute (AFI) has a list of Scott's productions: http://catalog.afi.com/Person/98427-Lester-F-Scott-Jr?isMiscCredit=False

Some sources (including the IMDb and Wikipedia) have Scott dying in a 1954 automobile accident in Mesa, Arizona. That wasn't Hollywood's Lester F. Scott, Jr.
The April 18, 1954 Albuquerque, New Mexico Journal reported on the April 17, 1954 automobile accident in Mesa, Arizona that claimed the lives of 71 year old Lester F. Scott and his wife Florence. The article had a lengthy bio on Scott and noted that "From 1916 to 1943 he was a national executive of the Camp Fire Girls.": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77942884/albuquerque-journal/

More on Dolores Voght Scott, secretary to Roy and Walt Disney from 1930 - 1965: https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/forgotten-disney-heroines-disney-secretaries

Photo of the newly married Lester F. Scott and actress Irene Hunt in the December, 1916 issue of Photoplay at the Internet Archive ... and check out his spiffy wardrobe and white shoes: https://archive.org/details/phojuldec1011chic/page/n984/mode/2up?view=theater

On the trail of Lester F. Scott, Jr. / Lester Fremont Scott, Jr.

Family Search (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), newspapers, trade publications, and the death certificate provide more on Lester F. Scott, Jr. and family.

As of May, 2021, I found no family trees for him on Ancestry.com.

Common threads in the info below is his mother Carrie Betts and I've highlighted her in this color. And Scott's various movie occupations are highlighted in this color.

Birth certificate for Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. He was born March 14, 1892 in Los Angeles to Lester Fremont Scott, Sr. (born Ohio) and Carrie Betts (born Missouri). Father Lester was a "Mining Operator": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLW-NKJP
1910 census - lodgers living at the Jonathan Club, 610 South Main Street, Los Angeles are 52 year old Lester F. Scott (born Ohio; married; occupation "Broker") and his 18 year old son Lester F. Scott Jr. (born California; single; occupation "Salesman - Retail Oil"). Family Search has his name incorrectly listed as Jim Lester F. Scott - when the record was digitized, the Jr became "Jim": https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVL9-B2W
Father Lester F. Scott was a widower and re-married in 1912 to widow Minnie C Meredith: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8XT-W1K
Ancestry.com had several Los Angeles City Directories for Junior:
  1912 and 1913 Los Angeles City Directories - Lester F. Scott Jr.'s occupation is moving picture operator.
  1914 and 1915 Los Angeles City Directories - Lester F. Scott Jr.'s occupation is commercial cinematography.
  1917 Los Angeles City Directory - Lester Scott Jr.'s occupation is director.
January 1, 1915 Los Angeles Times newspaper has a listing of the production personnel with Cecil B. De Mille at the Lasky Feature Play Company. Lester Scott, Jr. is an assistant director: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78125917/lester-scott-jr-is-an-assistant/
January 29, 1916 Motion Picture News has Lester F. Scott, Jr. as assistant director at Fox.
August 31, 1916 Los Angeles marriage license of Lester F. Scott Jr. (born California; occupation "Motion Picture Business") and Irene A. Murtaugh (born New York; occupation "Actress"). Her stage name was "Irene Hunt". First marriage for both. His parents were Lester F. Scott and Carrie Betts: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H9CG-74ZM
California Digital Newspaper Collection, University of California, Riverside has the February 26, 1920 Los Angeles, California Evening Herald newspaper with an article on the marriage breakup and messy divorce of Irene Hunt and Lester F. Scott. Headlines: "Wanted Home, but Got Boarding House and Humiliation Instead, She Testifies"; "HUSBAND ADMITS FAILURE"; "Letter of Lester Scott, Jr., Tells of Marital Disappointments for His Pretty Wife" : https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19200226.2.396&srpos=1&e=-------en--20-LAH-1--txt-txIN-lester+f.+scott-------1
1927 issue of the Motion Picture News Booking Guide and Studio Directory has Lester Scott Jr., producer, born March 14, 1892 in Los Angeles.
Legal paperwork in Los Angeles in 1928 to confirm Lester Fremont Scott, Jr.'s birth, birth date of March 14, 1892, and parents were Lester Fremont Scott and Carrie Betts: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGL7-ZXH3
1930 census - 38 year old Lester F. Scott Jr. (born California; divorced) was a guest / boarder living at Unit #203, 6504 Selma Avenue, Los Angeles . Occupation was "Manager - Studio" and he was not a World War I veteran: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJB-KQM
1930 census for his father - renting at #267, 641 St. Paul Avenue, Los Angeles are 74 year old Lester F. Scott (born Ohio; no occupation listed) and 65 year old wife Minnie C. : https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:XCVG-WBQ
Death notice in the June 30, 1932 Los Angeles, California Times newspaper for his father, Lester F. Scott. Quote: "He leaves his widow, Mrs. Minnie Clyde Scott, at the local residence, and a son, Lester F. Scott, Jr., motion-picture producer, residing at the Wilcox Hotel, Hollywood.": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77781225/obituary-for-lester-f-scott-aged-78/
California Death Index for his father, 76 year old Lester F. Scott, born about 1856, and passed away on June 25, 1932 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-FW7K
May 16, 1939 Ventura County, California Star-Free Press newspaper had 47 year old Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. and 41 Dolores Emma Vought [sic] applying for a marriage license: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77888350/ventura-county-star-free-press/
Ancestry.com had his World War II draft registration dated April 27, 1942 - 50 year old Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. was born March 14, 1892 in Los Angeles. His residence and workplace is 7904 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles; occupation is "Self"; wife Dolores E. Scott also lives at that address; he's 5 feet, 8 1/2 inches in height and weighs 150 pounds.
Newspapers.com has about ten issues of the Ventura County, California Star-Free Press from 1941 - 1945 with articles on Lester F. Scott, Jr. filing mining claims, applying for water permits for mining, et al. This August, 1941 clipping is the earliest, and Scott is filing claims on Sugar Pine and Old Sawmill mines: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78060911/ventura-county-star-free-press/
Death certificate and a November, 1958 amended death certificate for 66 year old Lester Fremont Scott, Jr. who passed away on September 10, 1958 at Braewood Sanitarium, South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California due to a heart attack from arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular - renal disease. He was born March 14, 1892 to Lester F. Scott, Sr. and Carrie Betts. He lived at 10803 Morrison Street, Los Angeles with wife Dolores (occupation "Private Secretary to Walt Disney"), and she was the death certificate informant. His employer and occupation were "self employed" and "Gold Mining operator". Forest Lawn was in charge and he was cremated at Forest Lawn Crematory.
California Death Index for Lester Fremont Scott mirrors the death certificate - he was born March 14, 1892 in California; mother's maiden name was Betts; and he passed away on September 10, 1958 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPXM-J3X
Funeral announcement in the September 13, 1958 Los Angeles Times for "SCOTT, Lester F. Jr., beloved husband of Dalores [sic] Scott.": https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77779347/lester-f-scott-jr-funeral/
More on Dolores Voght Scott, secretary to Roy and Walt Disney from 1930 - 1965: https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/forgotten-disney-heroines-disney-secretaries
California Death Index for Dolores Voght Scott. She was born April 25, 1897 in California; mother's maiden name of Porteille; and she passed away April 9, 1981 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPCR-LYV
Find A Grave:
Lester Fremont Scott (1892 - 1958) is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85938126/lester-fremont-scott
Dolores Voght Scott (1897 - 1981) is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85938038/dolores-scott

Lester F. Scott Jr. 1892 - 1958 Full name: Lester Fremont Scott, Jr.		Lester F. Scott Jr., 1922
Scott's Action Pictures logo cropped from a 1927 trade ad.