Wheeler Oakman

Vivian Eichelberger was born in Washington D. C. on February 21, 1890. Adopting the screen name of "Wheeler Oakman", he became a memorable heavy in serials and westerns.

Oakman's acting began in traveling repertory and stock theater and an early stage work was 1908 in the eastern touring company of the play "Under Skies". His movie debut was 1912 for Selig Polyscope and he became busy in films for Selig, Lubin and other companies. And he progressed to starring roles. World War I intervened and he enlisted in the Army Field Artillery and served from March, 1918 - January, 1919. After military service, Oakman returned to Hollywood. In 1920, he was at Universal in a couple films with actress Priscilla Dean. But their marriage was unsuccessful and they divorced circa 1926. By the late 1920s, his leading man days were over and he transitioned to talking pictures. For the remainder of his Hollywood employment, Oakman played mostly villain and character roles in serials, westerns, and some A and B grade features. His 36 year screen career ran from 1912 - 1948, totaled nearly 300 films, and his finale was SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1948; 15 chapters). And there were three more marriages, more divorces, and birth of a son.

Trade publications mention some questionable biography tidbits. They have him attending Georgetown University and playing baseball there. Found no records to support that. Early records have him touring in 1908 with the play "Under Skies"; in the 1910 census, Oakman was an actor, age of 20 years and 2 months; 1912 was his first film and he was 22 years old. The 1940 census had a column to indicate the highest grade of school completed - Oakman reported H1, meaning one year of High School.

While Oakman did westerns, fans may also remember him wearing a suit or tuxedo, and portraying a gangster, slick crook, gambler or detective. In sound B westerns, he menaced most of the cinema heroes. His most frequent adversary was Tim McCoy and amounted to sixteen 1930 oaters at Columbia, Puritan and Monogram.

Some memorable Oakman roles in westerns and serials:

in SUNDOWN RIDER (Columbia, 1933), the "branded" Buck Jones tracks down Oakman, the man who framed him as a rustler.
in IN OLD SANTE FE (Mascot, 1934), Oakman was among the no-goods trying to steal Tarzan from Ken Maynard.
Oakman was "Argo, the High Priest" versus Gene Autry in THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (Mascot, 1935) chapterplay.
Oakman was "Ace Barko", a member of the gang harassing ranch owner Frank LaRue and his daughter Ann Savage in the Russell Hayden SADDLES AND SAGEBRUSH (Columbia, 1943).

By 1940, Oakman had slowed down due to heart problems, and his credited and uncredited roles in the 1940s amounts to only thirty or so films. He and producer Sam Katzman must have been friends as Sam used Oakman in fifteen serials and some non-westerns in the 1940s at both Monogram and Columbia: he was in three Bela Lugosi cheapy horror films, one of which included the East Side Kids; he did two other East Side Kids comedies; and he also worked in seven Katzman cliffhangers. As mentioned earlier, Oakman's screen finale was an uncredited role in Sam Katzman's production of SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1948; 15 chapters).

I checked Jack Mathis' Republic Confidential - Volume 2 - The Players (published by Jack in 1992), and was surprised that he worked in only three films for Republic Pictures: DARKEST AFRICA (Republic serial, 1936), THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN (Republic serial, 1939), and the short MEET THE STARS #8: STARS PAST AND PRESENT (Republic, 1941).

He was married four times. First to actress Priscilla Dean in 1920. Wife number two was Virginia Mae Jennings and they tied the knot September 19, 1927 in Los Angeles County and son Wheeler Oakman Jr. was born December 18, 1928. He married Frances I. James on December 28, 1932 in Clark County, Nevada. And in the 1940 census, his wife is listed as Mary T.

During his later years, he was employed as an assistant manager at a North Hollywood theater. Wheeler Oakman passed away from a heart ailment at his North Hollywood home on March 19, 1949.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above - Cavalry officer Tim McCoy gets busted from the service in this scene from END OF THE TRAIL (Columbia, 1932). Likable Lafe McKee is on the left, and doing the 'busting' is Wheeler Oakman, the real baddie in the story. The man between Oakman and McCoy is Henry Hall. The other player is unidentified.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from L-to-R are Richard 'Dick' Cramer, June Marlowe, Charline Barry (child) and Wheeler Oakman in a lobby card and a crop/blowup from RIDDLE RANCH (Beaumont, 1935). This June Marlowe is not the June Marlowe of Our Gang fame. Cramer played a good guy rancher in this.

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Above from L-to-R are Wheeler Oakman, Kermit Maynard, and Olympic champion James Francis 'Jim' Thorpe in a lobby card from CODE OF THE MOUNTED (Ambassador-Conn, 1935).

(Courtesy of Mark Heller)

Above is a cast and crew photo during the filming of the made-in-Canada mountie adventure UNDERCOVER MEN (J. R. Booth/Dominion, 1935) which starred Charles Starrett. Standing from left to right are: unidentified woman, director Sam Newfield, heroine Adrienne Doré, unidentified man, a very young Kenne Duncan (in hat and suit, and billed as Kenneth Duncan), unidentified woman, and Wheeler Oakman (in the mounted police unifom). Left to right kneeling in the front row are: unidentified man, Charles Starrett, unidentified man (appears to be actor Eric Clavering; definitely not I. Stanford Jolley), and actor Phil Brandon (who portrayed one of the mounties).

(Courtesy of Val Warren)

Above still from the Gene Autry serial, THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (Mascot, 1935). From left to right are Wheeler Oakman (as "Argo", the Muranian High Priest), Jay Wilsey/Buffalo Bill, Jr. (as a Muranian guard), Frankie Darro, Betsy King Ross, and Roger Williams (Muranian guard).

(From Old Corral collection)

Card cheat Wheeler Oakman is on the right with a derringer on Rex Lease, while saloon owner J. Frank Glendon enjoys a cigar at his desk. Scene from Tim McCoy's ACES AND EIGHTS (Puritan, 1936).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

L-R are June Lang, Maxie Rosenbloom, and Wheeler Oakman in a lobby card from the comedy 3 OF A KIND (Monogram, 1944). Stars were Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard, and producer was Sam Katzman. Rosenbloom was light heavyweight boxing champ in the early 1930s.

On the trail of Wheeler Oakman

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), the California Death Index, and the death certificate provide more about Wheeler Oakman:

Washington D. C. birth record (not birth certificate) for Vivian Eichelberger - he was born February 21, 1890 in Washington D. C to F. T. Eichelberger and Mildred Watkins Eichelberger: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F75T-52K
1900 census - living in Washington D. C. were 58 year old Frank Eichelberger (born Maryland), his 42 year old wife Minnie (born Virginia), 10 year old son Vivian Eichelberger, and three more schildren: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMFQ-VKQ
October 3, 1908 issue of Billboard had V. Wheeler Oakman as a cast member of the Under Skies Company.
1910 census - 20 year old Vivian Eichelberger (occupation "Actor") was living in Washington D. C. with his widowed mother Mildred M. Eichelberger and three siblings: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKLJ-MBD
World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 - 27 year old Wheeler Vivian Oakman was married and lived at 2401 W. 9th, Los Angeles, California. He was born February 21, 1890 in Washington D. C.; occupation and employer were "Actor" and "not employed at present": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-26181-30946-83?cc=1968530
ProQuest Fold 3 military records and newspapers had military service records. He enlisted in the Army in March, 1918 and Veterans Administration Index has a January 26, 1919 discharge date:
March, 1918 - Actor Wheeler Oakman enlisted in Field Artillery for World War I service: https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news-actor-wheeler-oakman-enlist/147032356/
Private Wheeler V. Oakman was stationed with the Army Field Artillery at Camp Kearney, San Diego County, California.
Private Wheeler V. Oakman departed August 15, 1918 on an outgoing ship. His home was Ivanhoe Street, Los Angeles.
Corporal Wheeler V. Oakman 144th Field Artillery, departed December 23, 1918 on a ship returning to the U. S. His home was Ivanhoe Street, Los Angeles.
Ancestry.com had the Veterans Administration Index: Wheeler Vivian Oakman's military service ended January 26, 1919. He was born February 21, 1890 and died March 19, 1949 in the Los Angeles area.
1920 census: living in Los Angeles were 38 year old May Preston Dean (born New York), her 21 year old daughter Priscilla (born New York; this is actress Priscilla Dean), 29 year old boarder Wheeler P. Oakinair? [sic] (born Washington D. C.), and a boarder: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHQF-FX2
Ancestry had the 1920 census takers worksheet: could not decipher their Los Angeles home address. Wheeler is listed as married, but Priscilla was single. The occupations of Priscilla and her mother were "Actress-Motion Pictures", and Wheeler was "Actor-Motion Pictures".
June, 1920 Motion Picture Classic magazine is available at the Internet Archive and has an article on Priscilla Dean ... and announcement of her quiet and secret marriage to Wheeler Oakman: https://archive.org/details/motionpicturecla1920broo/page/n479/mode/2up?view=theater
July 18, 1925 Billboard had a blurb in their Divorce column - "Priscilla Dean has agreed to a 'friendly separation' from Wheeler Oakman, but no divorce has been contemplated. Mr. Oakman is appearing in a New York play. Miss Dean is making a series of motion pictures in Los Angeles."
September 19, 1927 Los Angeles County marriage license of 37 year old Wheeler Vivian Oakman (born Washington DC) and 20 year old Virginia Mae Jennings (born Nebraska): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29941-2752-39?cc=1804002
Birth index for Wheeler Oakman Jr., born December 18, 1928 in California, and mother's maiden name was Jennings: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2R3-RQH
1930 census: living in Los Angeles were Wheeler V. Oakman (born Washington D. C.) and James P. Hogan (born Massachusetts): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCVM-9WX
Ancestry had the 1930 census takers worksheet: Hogan was the head of household and was renting at 1953 1/2 Vista Del Mar, Los Angeles. Occupation of Hogan was "Director-Motion Pictures" and Oakman was "Actor-Motion Pictures". Both were married (but no wives were present) and both answered "Yes" and "WW" (meaning World War I) to the are you a veteran question.
The Internet Movie Database has more on director James P. Hogan (1890-1943): http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003373/
Nevada Marriage Ledger had Oakman marrying Frances I. James on December 28, 1932 in Clark County, Nevada.
1940 census: 50 year old Wheelie [sic] Oakman (born Washington D. C.), 39 year old wife Mary T. (born Texas) and a lodger were renting in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9CD-KV2
1940 census takers worksheet: the Oakmans were renting at 2028 Blackwood Drive, Los Angeles. He completed one year of high school; occupation was "Actor-Motion Pictures", and in 1939, he worked 18 weeks and earned $1305.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-27797-2801-90?cc=2000219
1942 World War II draft registration: 52 year old Wheeler Vivian Oakman was born February 21, 1890 in Washington D. C. He lived at 1623 Broadview, Glendale, California; contact was the Screen Actors Guild; occupation/employer was "free lance actor" and "Motion picture studios" and he was 5 foot, 11 inches tall and weighed 176 pounds: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16372-90858-32?cc=1861144
Death certificate: Wheeler Vivian Oakman was born February 21, 1890 in Washington, D. C.; his parents were F. F. Eichelberger and Mildred Watkins. Was a World War I veteran (serving from 2/13/1918-1/26/1919); occupation was "Retired Actor" and "Theater Manager"; and he was divorced. He passed away March 19, 1949 at his home at 13021 Chandler Boulevard, North Hollywood, California. An autopsy was performed and cause of death was coronary occlusion. Burial at Valhalla Cemetery, Burbank, California. Death certificate informant was his son, Wheeler Oakman, Jr.
Death notice for Oakman in the March 20, 1949 Santa Barbara News-Press: https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-barbara-news-press-death-announcem/147033233/
California Death Index has a record for: Wheeler Vivian Oakman, born 2/21/1890 in the District of Columbia, Mother's maiden name of Watkins, and he passed away in the Los Angeles area on 3/19/1949. You'll also find a second Wheeler Oakman record, which is for his son: Wheeler Oakman, born 12/18/1928, Mother's maiden name of Jennings, and he passed away in the Riverside, California area on 6/17/1992.
Find A Grave website reports that Oakman is interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. No marker on his gravesite: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14769745/wheeler-oakman

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Wheeler Oakman: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0643048/

No mentions of Oakman at the Internet Broadway Database or Off Broadway Database.

There's a circa 1919 photo of Oakman at the American Film Company (nicknamed the "Flying A") website which is maintained by the University of California at Santa Barbara. When you get to this webpage, click on the letter O, and scroll down the listing for Wheeler Oakman: https://flyinga.gledhilloralhistory.org/wp/the-people/

"How Wheeler Oakman Started In The Movies" article in early 1920s Moving Picture Weekly magazine at the Internet Archive. Mentions him attending Georgetown University and playing baseball there ... and all of that is doubtful.: https://archive.org/details/movingpicturewe1014movi_1/page/n1603/mode/2up?view=theater&q=%22OAKMAN+STARTED%22

A few newspaper photo articles of Oakman starring for Selig in 1914 - 16:
1914 Wheeler Oakman in CHIP OF THE FLYING U and THE LONESOME TRAIL: https://www.newspapers.com/article/mexico-ledger-wheeler-oakman-in-chip-of/147006256/
1914 Wheeler Oakman in the movie THE SPOILERS: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tacoma-daily-ledger-wheeler-oakman-i/147006956/
1916 Wheeler Oakman with Selig Polyscope film company in Los Angeles: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-telegram-wheeler-oakman-with/147030541/

There's several circa 1924 photos of the large Beverly Hills home of Oakman and wife Priscilla Dean at the Silents Are Golden website: http://www.silentsaregolden.com/homes/homedeanoakman.html