Jack Ingram

John Samuel Ingram was born November 15, 1900 or 1902 in Chicago and his parents were Jacob (born Ireland) and Ann/Annie (nee Fitzgerald) Ingram (born Illinois).

Ken Jones and Arthur F. McClure had a profile on Jack Ingram in their book Heroes, Heavies and Sagebrush (A. S. Barnes and Company, 1972):

He joined the Army at the age of 15, and was wounded, spending two years in a hospital in France. Although he studied law at the University of Texas, he found that he had the ability to entertain and became a member of a successful traveling minstrel show and later toured the country with the Mae West stage shows. In 1929 he was signed by Paramount ...

Ingram's grave marker has a 1902 birth year and "Texas, Pvt, HQ Company, 8th Field Artillery, World War I". Checking military history, the 8th Field Artillery was formed July, 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas and sailed to France in August, 1918. World War I ended a few months later, with the Armistice signed on November 11, 1918. Based on Ingram's November 15, 1902 birth date (which appears to be correct), he would have been only sixteen years and a few days old when the war ended. And he would have been about 15 years and 9 months of age when his unit sailed to France. I do realize that he probably falsified his age when he enlisted.

More details have become available on Ingram's military record since the Jones and McClure book biography (details further down this webpage). He enlisted in the National Guard in Dallas, Texas on June 28, 1917 and claimed to be 18 and 2/12 years old (which seems to confirm that he fibbed on his age). He served overseas with the 8th Field Artillery from August 18, 1918 to June 6, 1919; attained the rank of Private; and he was honorably discharged on August 22, 1919. As to him being wounded and recovering in a hospital in France - that appears to be incorrect. His military record includes the notations "Wounds or other injuries received in action: None" and "Was reported 0 per cent disabled on date of discharge ...".

The earliest trace of Ingram's movie career occurs circa 1935, and he quickly became typecast as a henchman in serials and westerns. By the 1940s, he often portrayed the brains heavy or assistant to the boss villain. Sometimes he was clean shaven, and sometimes he wore a mustache.

He freelanced everywhere and anywhere and was one of the most prolific performers in westerns and serials. Les Adams has him identified in 300+ sound era films - included in that quantity are over 200 oaters and about 50 cliffhangers. If you view his film career in detail, the bulk of his western and serial work is tied to several producers, directors and production companies:

From 1936-1951, he did about 85 films at Republic Pictures, most of which were serials and cowboy films.
Jack seemed to be a favorite with producer Sam Katzman, appearing in about two dozen of Sam's low budget productions, and most were 1940s - early 1950s chapterplays at Columbia Pictures. Jack also shows up in some Columbia oaters starring Wild Bill Elliott, Charles Starrett, others.
Ingram also had connections with prolific director Sam Newfield (and his producer brother Sig Neufeld). He was cast in over two dozen Newfield films, and you can spot him at Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) in the starring series of Bob Steele, Buster Crabbe, Lash LaRue, the Frontier Marshal trio, and the George Houston/Bob Livingston Lone Rider adventures. Ingram got additional PRC paychecks working for producers Art Alexander and Arthur Stern in a dozen of the twenty-two Texas Rangers trio yarns.

When western and serial production began to fade in the early 1950s, Ingram moved to TV work and can be seen in episodes of GENE AUTRY, ANNIE OAKLEY, THE CISCO KID, TALES OF WELLS FARGO, THE LONE RANGER, more.

His movie (and TV) career spanned about twenty years, from the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s.

Ingram was married twice (his first wife has not been identified). He married Eloise "Lou" Fullerton on August 11, 1944, and they were together through Jack's passing on February 20, 1969 from arteriosclerotic heart disease.

On subsequent pages, ther's a 4-page brochure from Ken Jones' collection which promotes Ingram's western musical stage show. The brochure is from the early 1950s since it includes a list of his 1950-51 film appearances. You'll also find a color shot of Ingram with screen bad guy Ted Adams when they toured as "The Two Best Bad Men of Western Pictures" in the early 1940s.

Ingram's Movie Ranch

(Courtesy of Ken Jones)

As mentioned, Ingram acquired his movie ranch in 1944 and sold the property in the mid 1950s. The new owners planned to turn the property into a dump, and there are a few articles on the legal battles and local protests in the Van Nuys (California) News newspaper on the Newspaper Archive website. Those articles contradict reports that 4 Star Productions purchased the property (though 4 Star may have leased or rented the facility while the owners continued to push for the dump). It also appears that Jack sold the property in 1955. Excerpts below from two of the articles:

August 4, 1955:
"... no felony violations in connection with the proposed rezoning of the Jack Ingram motion picture location ranch in Woodland Hills for a rubbish dump, the County Grand Jury had ruled today."

"The Grand Jury can find nothing to criticize in the actions of ... the purchasers of the Ingram movie ranch, in attempting to secure zoning variances or dump permits."

December 13, 1959:
"Woodland Hills and Calabasas residents were preparing today to renew a fight that was successfully conducted three years ago to prevent establishment ... of a rubbish dump on the 160 acre Jack Ingram ranch adjoining Old Topanga Road near Woodland Hills."

For many years, movie location expert Jerry Schneider ran several websites. One was on movie locations and the other was his book selling. In January, 2026, he took the Movie Locations website down and merged it with the book site. Go to: http://www.fictionhousepress.com/, and in the left side menu, scroll down to "Special Websites" and you'll find his movie locations, Corriganville, and "Behind the Scenes". He has descriptions and photos of the Ingram Ranch.

Bobby Copeland provided some info and trivia on Jack Ingram and his movie location ranch:

Prior to Ingram owning the land, it was purchased by two other movie cowboys as a scheme to avoid being drafted by the Army during World War II. The land was also once part of the Charlie Chaplin estate.

Apparently, Jim Newill and Dave O'Brien heard about some provision by the government that provided deferment to those owning ranches and raising animals. They decided to buy the land and raise goats. They did not have the property long, until they were called for physicals --- both were classified 4-F. They immediately started looking for a buyer, and sold the ranch to Jack Ingram (in 1944), who had worked with Newill and O'Brien in some of their Texas Rangers features at PRC. Ingram, in an economy move, bought an old bulldozer and enlisted the help of several other movie badman friends to clear the site.

Since the land already had a nice house on it, Jack made it his family home. Often, when making a movie, Ingram would only have to step off his front porch to go to work. Some of the films shot there were several with Lash LaRue, including MARK OF THE LASH, Bill Elliott's KANSAS TERRITORY, Wayne Morris' THE DESPERADO, and many others. Some of the TV shows were THE LONE RANGER, THE ROY ROGERS SHOW, and THE CISCO KID. In 1955, the enterprising Ingram bought a yacht, and, like he had done with the ranch, made it his home (it was also used for Lloyd Bridges' TV show, SEAHUNT). In 1956, failing health forced Ingram to sell his ranch to 4 Star Productions, which used the site for a number of years for filming.

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Jack Ingram: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0408984/

Daniel Neyer's "The Files of Jerry Blake" serial website has lots of details and images on Jack Ingram doing cliffhangers: https://filesofjerryblake.com/serial-henchmen/jack-ingram/

More on Jack Ingram can be found at the Family Search website (free), Newspaper Archive, death certificate, California Death Index, and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI):

1900 census of Ingram family taken June 6, 1900 (prior to Jack's birth) - living in Chicago, Illinois are 28 year old Jacob Ingram (born Ireland, occupation "teamster"), 27 year old wife Annie (born Illinois), 5 year old son Walter (born llinois), 2 year old daughter Violet (born Illinois), and stepfather John Houston (born Ireland; his age is not shown): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MS38-7MP
1900 census takers worksheet - father Jacob's occupation is "Teamster": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCR3-6FH?mode=g&i=18&wc=9BQJ-N3N%3A1030552601%2C1031967101%2C1033574501%3Fcc%3D1325221&cc=1325221
World War I military enlistment record for John S. Ingram. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and was living in Dallas, Texas. He enlisted in the National Guard in Dallas, Texas on June 28, 1917 and was 18 and 2/12 years old (which confirms that he fibbed on his age). He served overseas from August 18, 1918 to June 6, 1919; attained the rank of Private in the Field Artillery; and was honorably discharged on August 22, 1919. If he was 18 and 2/12 years old when he enlisted, his birth would be mid 1899. This record includes the following notations: "Wounds or other injuries received in action: None" and "Was reported 0 per cent disabled on date of discharge ...": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-XWHC
1920 census of Jack's mother and brother in Chicago - 45 year old Anna Ingram (born Illinois and widowed) and 23 year old son Walter (born Illinois) are living in Chicago, Illinois. Sister Violet is married and there's census info on her below (see Mrs. Paul Drew): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MS38-7MP
1940 census - 37 year old John Samuel Ingram is single, born in Illinois, and is a lodger residing in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CD-GRW
1940 census takers worksheet - John Samuel Ingram is one of many lodgers at 5518 Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles, and he lived in the Los Angeles area in 1935. He is single, occupation is "Actor - Movie Studio", and in 1939, he worked 18 weeks and earned $600.00. His age is 37 as of his last birthday (which would have been November 15, 1939), and that confirms his 1902 birth year. Another B-western performer is also a lodger at that address - Jack Hendricks (John Tally Hendricks AKA Ray Henderson): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-2780-40?cc=2000219&wc=M9Q8-YJ4:n7370162
August 11, 1944 marriage license of 41 year old John Samuel Ingram to 36 year old Eloise Laurel Fullerton (born Pennsylvania) - Jack's address is 1112 N. Buena Vista, Burbank, California; his occupation is "Actor - Various Studios"; this is his second marriage; he was born in Chicago; and his parents were Jacob Ingram (born Ireland) and Ann Fitzgerald (born Chicago). This was the third marriage for Eloise and she reports her occupation as "Writer - Studio":
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93H-M975-4?mode=g&i=1587&wc=96PL-6TL%3A147454701%3Fcc%3D1804002&cc=1804002
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893H-M9SY-R?i=1588&wc=96PL-6TL%3A147454701%3Fcc%3D1804002&cc=1804002
Death certificate: 66 year old John Samuel Ingram was born November 15, 1902 in Illinois to Jack Ingram (born Ireland) and Ann Fitzgerald (born Illinois). His occupation was "Actor - Self employed - Motion Picture". He had suffered from arteriosclerotic heart disease for about ten years and passed away on February 20, 1969 at the West Hills Doctors Hospital, Canoga Park, California. His wife Eloise Ingram was the death certificate informant and they lived at 22457 Clarendon Street, Woodland Hills, California. Burial at Oakwood Memorial Park.
The California Death Index mirrors the death certificate: John S. Ingram was born 11/15/1902 in Illinois and he passed away on 2/20/1969 in California. However, the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) has Ingram's birth year as 1900.
The Van Nuys (California) News newspaper had a death notice and photo for Ingram in their February 21, 1969 edition. Excerpts: " ... interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Chatsworth (California)." "... died yesterday at West Hills Hospital where he had been a heart patient since New Year's Day." ; "Surviving him is his widow Eloise ..." No children, grandchildren or other relatives were mentioned in the obituary.
Ingram's sister Violet is married with children and is Mrs. Paul Drew. She, her husband and children reside in Chicago:
1920 census: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJWS-DD3
1930 census: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XSPJ-SWG
1940 census: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4MF-QX2

Find A Grave website has grave marker photos of John Samuel Ingram (1902-1969) and wife Eloise Fullerton Ingram (1906 - 1996) who are interred next to each other at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California. The marker for Ingram includes "Texas, Pvt, HQ Company, 8th Field Artillery, World War I":
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78589542/eloise-ingram
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11312117/jack-ingram
(Footnote: checking military history on the Internet, the 8th Field Artillery was formed July, 1916 at Fort Bliss, Texas and sailed to France in August, 1918. The Armistice ending World War I was signed November 11, 1918.)

There's a brief mention of Ingram's marriage to Eloise Fullerton on August 11, 1944 at: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~casfvgs/v4fl.html

(From Old Corral collection)

The above lobby card is from the 1959 re-release of the chapterplay, ZORRO RIDES AGAIN (Republic, 1937). Star John Carroll is on the far left in his Zorro outfit. That's Bob Kortman (green shirt) and Jack Ingram (red shirt), both of whom are gang members in the employ of Dick Alexander and Noah Beery Sr.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Three Mesquiteers member Max Terhune has this quartet of baddies captured and stripped down to their long johns in WILD HORSE RODEO (Republic, 1937). From left to right are Henry Isabell, Edmund Cobb, Jack Ingram and Art Dillard.

(From Old Corral collection)

In the above lobby card from WHISTLING BULLETS (Ambassador/Conn, 1937), hero Kermit Maynard and leading lady Harlene Wood check out the prone Jack Ingram. During the 1930s, Harlene/Harley Wood worked in about a half dozen westerns, and after a name change to Jill Martin, was the heroine in the HAWK OF THE WILDERNESS serial. There's more about her in the Heroines/Leading Ladies section on the Old Corral.

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips)

Above - hero Jack Luden with Jack Ingram in a scene from PHANTOM GOLD (Columbia, 1938), the last of Luden's four starring oaters for producer Larry Darmour at Columbia.

(Courtesy of Ed Phillips)

Above - Jack Ingram vs. hero Monte Rawlins in a still from ADVENTURES OF THE MASKED PHANTOM (Equity, 1939). This was the one and only starring film for Rawlins whose real name was Dean Calvin Spencer.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - Ingram and pretty Iris Lancaster in a scene from RIDIN' THE TRAIL (1940), one of the singin' cowboy oaters starring Fred Scott. Originally produced circa 1939 by C. C. Burr for release by Spectrum Pictures, the film got lost when Spectrum folded. Arthur Ziehm picked it up a year or so later, and distributed it.