Roscoe Blevel Ates (January 20, 1895 – March 1, 1962) was an American

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

performer, actor of stage and screen, comedian and musician who primarily featured in

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

films and television. He was best known as western character Soapy Jones. He was also billed as Rosco Ates.

Early years

Ates was born on January 20, 1895, in the northwest of

Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County, Mississippi, Forrest County (where it is the county seat and most populous city) and extending west into Lamar County, Mississippi, Lamar County. The ci ...

, in the rural hamlet of Grange (Grange is no longer included on road maps). Ates spent much of his childhood learning how to manage a speech impediment, succeeding when he was 18.

Early career

Ates played violin to accompany silent films at a theater in

Chickasha, Oklahoma Chickasha is a city in and the county seat of Grady County, Oklahoma, Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,051 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, a 0.1% increase from 2010. The city is named for and strongly ...

. Following that experience, he became an entertainer as a concert violinist but found economic opportunities greater as a

comedian, appearing as half of the team of Ates and Darling. For 15 years, he was a headliner on the Orpheum Circuit, and he revived his long-gone stutter for humorous effect

Military service

Ates served in World War II, training of the Air Force fighter squad program in Houston at Ellington Field Texas.

Theater and personal appearances

On Broadway, Ates appeared as James McCracken in the musical comedy ''Sea Legs'' (1937). In the late 1930s, Ates made a personal appearance tour in Scotland and England. He also toured selected American cities with ''Hollywood Scandals'', a stage revue with 35 people.

Film career

His first film role was a ship's cook in ''South Sea Rose''. The next year he was cast as "Old Stuff" in the

widescreen Widescreen images are displayed within a set of aspect ratio (image), aspect ratios (relationship of image width to height) used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ...

film '' Billy the Kid'' starring

Wallace Beery Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in '' Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in '' Grand Hotel'' (1 ...

. Here is a listing of his films: *'' South Sea Rose'' (1929) as Ship's Cook *''

Marianne Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed i ...

'' (1929) as Orderly (uncredited) *'' City Girl'' (1930) as Reaper *'' Double Cross Roads'' (1930) as Ticket Agent (uncredited) *'' Caught Short'' (1930) as Bit Part (uncredited) *'' The Big House'' (1930) as Putnam *'' Check and Double Check'' (1930) as Brother Arthur *'' Love in the Rough'' (1930) as Proprietor *'' Soup to Nuts'' (1930) as Pants Presser at Al's Tailor Shop (uncredited) *'' Those Three French Girls'' (1930) as Elmer (uncredited) *'' Billy the Kid'' (1930) as Old Stuff *''

Remote Control A remote control, also known colloquially as a remote or clicker, is an consumer electronics, electronic device used to operate another device from a distance, usually wirelessly. In consumer electronics, a remote control can be used to operat ...

'' (1930) as Stuttering Piccolo Player (uncredited) *'' Cimarron'' (1931) as Jesse Rickey *'' The Champ'' (1931) as Sponge *''

Politics Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...

'' (1931) as Peter Higgins, the town barber *'' Reducing'' (1931) as Stuttering Ticket Agent (uncredited) *'' A Free Soul'' (1931) as Man Shot at in Men's Room (uncredited) *'' The Great Lover'' (1931) as Roscoe *''Too Many Cooks'' (1931) as Mr. Wilson *'' She Went for a Tramp'' (Short) (1931) *'' The Voice of Hollywood Number 7 (Second Series)'' (Short) (1931) *'' Cut It Out, Doctor'' (Short) (1931) *'' Use Your Noodle'' (Short) (1931) *'' A Clean-Up on the Burb'' (Short) (1931) *'' The Lone Starved Ranger'' (Short) (1931) as Roscoe, the Stuttering Man *'' The Big Shot'' (1931) as Rusty, the Barber *'' The Rainbow Trail'' (1932) as Ike Wilkins *'' Come on Danger!'' (1932) as Rusty *'' Renegades of the West'' (1932) as Dr. Henry Fawcett *'' Freaks'' (1932) as Roscoe *'' The Roadhouse Murder'' (1932) as Edmund Joyce *'' Ladies of the Jury'' (1932) as Andrew MacKaig *'' Never the Twins Shall Meet'' (1932) as Alfred Guppy / Albert Guppy *''

Young Bride ''Young Bride'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by William A. Seiter and written by Garrett Fort, Ralph Murphy and Jane Murfin. The film stars Helen Twelvetrees, Eric Linden, Arline Judge, Roscoe Ates and Polly Walters. The ...

'' (1932) as Mike, the Pool Hall Bartender *'' Hold 'Em Jail'' (1932) as Slippery Sam Brown *'' Sham Poo, the Magician'' (1932) as Roscoe / Tourist *'' Deported'' (1932) *'' Lucky Devils'' (1933) as Gabby *'' What! No Beer?'' (1933) as Schultz the Brewmaster *''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

'' (1933) as Fish *'' The Cheyenne Kid'' (1933) as Bush *'' The Past of Mary Holmes'' (1933) as Bill-Poster Klondike *''

King Kong King Kong, also referred to simply as Kong, is a fictional giant monster resembling a gorilla, who has appeared in various media since 1933. The character has since become an international pop culture icon,Erb, Cynthia, 1998, ''Tracking Kin ...

'' (1933) as Press Photographer (uncredited) *'' Scarlet River'' (1933) as Ulysses Mope *'' Golden Harvest'' (1933) as Louis Jenkins aka Loopey Lou *'' She Made Her Bed'' (1934) as Santa Fe *'' Merry Wives of Reno'' (1934) as The Trapper *'' Woman in the Dark'' (1934) as Tommy Logan *'' Dizzy and Daffy'' (1934) as 'Call-'Em-Wrong Jones', the Umpire *'' So You Won't T-T-T-Talk'' (1934) as Elmer Whipple *'' The People's Enemy'' (1935) as Slip Laflin *'' Why Pay Rent?'' (Short) (1935) as Elmer Whipple *'' Once Over Lightly'' (Short) (1935) *'' On the Wagon'' (1935) as Elmer *'' Fair Exchange'' (1936) as Elmer Goodge *'' God's Country and the Woman'' (1937) as Gander Hopkins *'' Drug Store Follies'' (Short) (1937) as The Stuttering Comic *'' Alpine Cabaret'' (Short) (1937) as Elmer *'' The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'' (1938) as Oscar "Snake-Eyes" Smith *'' Riders of the Black Hills'' (1938) as Sheriff Brown *''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * Gone with the Wind (novel), ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * Gone with the Wind (film), ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind ...

'' (1939) as a convalescing Confederate soldier. While scratching his back on a tent pole, he utters the line "These animules is driving me crazy!" *'' Three Texas Steers'' (1939) as Sheriff Brown *'' Rancho Grande'' (1940) as Tex *'' You're Next!'' (1940) as Mr. Tillson (uncredited) *'' The Cowboy from Sundown'' (1940) as Deputy Gloomy Day *'' Captain Caution'' (1940) as Chips *'' Chad Hanna'' (1940) as Ike Wayfish *'' Untamed'' (1940) as Bert Dillon *'' I Want a Divorce'' (1940) as Process Server (uncredited) *'' Fireman, Save My Choo Choo'' (Short) (1940) as Fireman *'' Bad Men of Missouri'' (1941) as Lafe *'' Sullivan's Travels'' (1941) as Hollywood Diner Counterman (uncredited) *'' I'll Sell My Life'' (1941) as Happy Hogan *'' Robin Hood of the Pecos'' (1941) as Jailer Guffy *'' She Knew All the Answers'' (1941) as Gas Station Attendant *'' Glove Affair'' (Short) (1941) as Uncle Tom *'' Ziegfeld Girl'' (1941) as Janitor Changing Pictures (uncredited) *'' Mountain Moonlight'' (1941) as Gardener *'' Reg'lar Fellers'' (1941) as Emory McQuade *'' Birth of the Blues'' (1941) as Cab Driver (uncredited) *''

One Foot in Heaven ''One Foot in Heaven'' is a 1941 American biographical drama film directed by Irving Rapper and starring Fredric March, Martha Scott, Beulah Bondi, Gene Lockhart and Elisabeth Fraser. The film was adapted by Casey Robinson from the autobi ...

'' (1941) as George Reynolds (uncredited) *'' The Palm Beach Story'' (1942) as Fourth Member, Ale and Quail Club *'' The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine'' (1942) as Dan Kady *'' Can't Help Singing'' (1944) as Lemuel (uncredited) *'' The Great Moment'' (1944) as Morton's Sign Painter (uncredited) *'' Wild West'' (1946) as Soapy Jones *'' Colorado Serenade'' (1946) as Soapy *'' Driftin' River'' (1946) as Soapy Jones *'' Stars Over Texas'' (1946) as Soapy Jones *'' Tumbleweed Trail'' (1946) as Soapy Jones *'' West to Glory'' (1947) as Soapy Jones *'' Shadow Valley'' (1947) as Soapy Jones *'' Wild Country'' (1947) as Soapy Jones *'' Range Beyond the Blue'' (1947) as Soapy Jones *'' Black Hills'' (1947) as Soapy Jones *'' Check Your Guns'' (1948) as Soapy Jones *'' The Hawk of Powder River'' (1948) as Soapy Jones *'' The Westward Trail'' (1948) as Soapy Jones *'' Tornado Range'' (1948) as Soapy Jones *'' The Tioga Kid'' (1948) as Soapy Jones *'' Thunder in the Pines'' (1948) as Wheezer, Boomer's Head Logger *'' Inner Sanctum'' (1948) as Willie *'' Father's Wild Game'' (1950) as Rancher *'' Hills of Oklahoma'' (1950) as Dismal, the Cook *'' Honeychile'' (1951) as Bob *'' The Blazing Forest'' (1952) as Beans *'' Trail Guide'' (1952) as Stammering Man (uncredited) *'' Those Redheads from Seattle'' (1953) as Dan Taylor *'' The Stranger Wore a Gun'' (1953) as Jake Hooper, the Stage Driver (uncredited) *'' Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops'' (1955) as Wagon Driver *'' Lucy Gallant'' (1955) as Clem Anderson, the Hotel Clerk (uncredited) *'' Meet Me in Las Vegas'' (1956) as Scotty (uncredited) *''

Come Next Spring ''Come Next Spring'' is a 1956 American Trucolor drama film directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Ann Sheridan, Steve Cochran and Walter Brennan. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. The theme song, "Come Next Spring", with ...

'' (1956) as Shorty Wilkins *'' The Birds and the Bees'' (1956) as Vendor (uncredited) *'' The Kettles in the Ozarks'' (1956) as Townsman (uncredited) *'' The Big Caper'' (1957) as Falkenburg (uncredited) *'' Short Cut to Hell'' (1957) as Road Driver (uncredited) *'' The Sheepman'' (1958) as Town Loafer (uncredited) *''Cissie'' (TV Movie) (1959) as Papa *'' The Silent Call'' (1961) as Sid *'' The Ladies Man'' (1961) as Pet Shop Owner *'' The Errand Boy'' (1961) as Ralph the Prop Man (uncredited)

Musical performances

Ates performed these songs in his films: *'' Billy the Kid'': "

Turkey in the Straw "Turkey in the Straw" is an American folk song that first gained popularity in the 19th century. Early versions of the song were titled "Zip Coon", which were first published around 1834 and performed in minstrel shows, with different people cl ...

" (1930) *''Remote Control'': " The Wedding March" (1930) *''Renegades of the West'': " Farmer in the Dell" (1932) *''Rancho Grande'': "Dude Ranch Cow Hands" (uncredited, 1938) *''Cowboy from Sundown'': "The Craw-dad Song" (1940) *''Captain Caution'': "Hilda" (1940) *''Colorado Serenade'': " Home on the Range" (1946) *''Driftin' River'': "Way Back in Oklahoma" (1946) *''Wild West'', also known as ''Prairie Outlaw'': Song, "Elmer, The Knock-Kneed Cowboy" (1946)

Television career

In 1950, Ates appeared in his first television role as Deputy Roscoe on ABC series '' The Marshal of Gunsight Pass.'' Ates appeared on television in multiple roles. He was cast as Henry Wilson in the episode "The Census Taker" of the syndicated western series '' The Cisco Kid,'' and he also appeared that same year in the

Gale Storm Josephine Owaissa Cottle (April 5, 1922 – June 27, 2009), known professionally as Gale Storm, was an American actress and singer. After a film career from 1940 to 1952, she starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, '' My Litt ...

sitcom, '' My Little Margie'' and ''

Boston Blackie Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle (1881–1928). Blackie was originally depicted as a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's stories, and became a private detective in adaptations for films, radio and televisi ...

''. He appeared on Gail Davis's '' Annie Oakley'' series as Curly Dawes, the telegraph operator. In 1958, Ates was cast as "Old Timer" in the episode "The Sacramento Story" of NBC's '' Wagon Train''. In 1959, Ates appeared in western series ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne (actor), John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Ci ...

'', '' State Trooper'', and '' Buckskin''. He had a nameless role as a barfly in the 1958 episode of "Maverick" called "Gun-Shy", a spoof of the series Gunsmoke. In 1960, he was cast as Fenton in the episode "Hot Ice Cream" of Charles Bronson's ABC series '' Man with a Camera'', as Lou Nugget in "The Fabulous Fiddle" of Scott Brady's syndicated '' Shotgun Slade'', and as Deputy Boak in "The Missing Queen" of Andrew Duggan's ABC crime drama '' Bourbon Street Beat'', set in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

Later roles

From 1958 to 1960, Ates appeared five times on CBS's ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' mystery series. In 1960, Ates appeared as a guest in the presentation of the life story of honorary Hollywood mayor Johnny Grant on NBC's '' This Is Your Life'' biography series with host Ralph Edwards. Ates's last credited roles were in 1961 as a drunk in

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor and television host. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the America ...

's ABC series '' The Untouchables'' and as sheriffs in '' The Red Skelton Show.'' His final screen appearance in

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, with a career spanning seven decades in film, stage, television and radio. Famously nicknamed as "Th ...

's 1961 film '' The Errand Boy'' was uncredited.

Family and death

Ates was married three times. After his divorce from the former Clara Callahan, he married Leonore Belle Jumps in 1949. She died in 1955. In December 1960, Ates married model Beatrice Heisser.Parish, James Robert (1978).
Hollywood Character Actors
'. Westport, CN: Arlington House Publishers. p. 37. . Ates died of lung cancer at the age of 67 at the West Valley Community Hospital in

Encino, California Encino is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. History Etymology The name Encino is the misspelling in masculine of Encina, the Spanish language, Spanish word for "holm oak” (Quercus ilex). The Spanis ...

Television appearances

* '' The Marshal of Gunsight Pass'' (1950) (Season 1 Episode 1) as Deputy Roscoe * '' The Marshal of Gunsight Pass'' (1950) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Shotgun Messenger") as Deputy Roscoe * '' The Marshal of Gunsight Pass'' (1950) (Season 1 Episode 22) as Deputy Roscoe * '' My Little Margie'' (1953) (Season 2 Episode 12: "Hillbilly Margie") as Zeke * '' Big Town'' (1953) (Season 3 Episode 25: "Lynch Law") as Ed Crowley * ''

'' (1953) (Season 2 Episode 30: "Grab Bag") as Professor Edgar Franklin * '' Schlitz Playhouse'' (1953) (Season 3 Episode 5: "The Prize") as Emil * '' The Mickey Rooney Show'' (1954) (Season 1 Episode 2: "The Moon or Bust") as Henry * '' The Adventures of Champion'' (1955) (Season 1 Episode 20: "The Real Unfriendly Ghost") as Canary Twigg * '' Annie Oakley (TV series)'' (1956) (Season 3 Episode 10: "Showdown at Diablo") as Telegrapher Curly Dawes * '' Annie Oakley (TV series)'' (1957) (Season 3 Episode 31: "Annie and the Miser") as Neighborly Walsh * '' The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' (1957) (Season 3 Episode 20: "Sorrowful Joe Returns") as Jorgenson * '' Schlitz Playhouse'' (1958) (Season 7 Episode 36: "Long Distance") * ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'' (1958) (Season 6 Episode 19: "Cockeyed Charlie Parkhurst") as Pop McCrary * '' M Squad'' (1958) (Season 2 Episode 6: "Force of Habit") as Edwin Winkler * ''

'' (1958) (Season 1 Episode 36: "More Than Kin") as Hotel Clerk * '' Wagon Train'' (1958) (Season 1 Episode 39: "The Sacramento Story") as Old Timer * '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (1958) (Season 2 Episode 29: "The Newspaper") as Flanny the Typesetter * '' Sugarfoot'' (1958) (Season 1 Episode 14: "A Wreath for Charity Lloyd") as Old Timer (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) (Season 3 Episode 33: "Post Mortem") as Cemetery Clerk * ''

'' (1958) (Season 4 Episode 3: "The Jokester") as Pop Henderson * ''

'' (1958) (Season 4 Episode 11: "And the Desert Shall Blossom") as Ben White * ''

'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 15: "The Painted Beauty") as Juniper Dunlap * '' Wagon Train'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 29: "The Clara Duncan Story") as Joe the Bartender (uncredited) * '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (1959) (Season 4 Episode 14: "Long Odds") as Spoon * '' Lux Playhouse'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 9: "Deathtrap") * '' Buckskin (TV series)'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 29: "A Well of Gold") as Harrison * '' State Trooper (TV series)'' (1959) (Season 3 Episode 11: "The Man from Solitary") as Dusty Peabody * '' Sugarfoot'' (1959) (Season 3 Episode 3: "MacBrewster the Bold") as Lew Long * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 24: "The Visitor") as Old Timer * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 26: "The Gang") as Ike the Townsman * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 34: "The Ring") as Ike Jenkins * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 1 Episode 39: "The Friend") as Ike Jenkins * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 4: "The Exchange") as Ike Jenkins * '' Lawman'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 6: "The Breakup") as Ike Jenkins * ''

Maverick (TV series) ''Maverick'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series with Comedy, comedic overtones created by Roy Huggins and originally starring James Garner as an adroitly articulate poker player plying his trade on riverboats and in ...

'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 16: "Gun-Shy") as Barfly * ''

'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 17: "Two Beggars on Horseback") as Kibitzer * ''

'' (1959) (Season 2 Episode 24: "Two Tickets to Ten Strike") as Joe the Barber * ''

'' (1959) (Season 5 Episode 11: "Road Hog") as Tavern Customer * '' Sugarfoot'' (1960) (Season 4 Episode 3: "Man from Medora") as Barber * '' Lawman'' (1960) (Season 2 Episode 15: "The Stranger") as Ike Jenkins * '' Lawman'' (1960) (Season 2 Episode 36: "Man on a Mountain") as Ike Jenkins * ''

'' (1960) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Hadley's Hunters") as Albert * ''

'' (1960) (Season 5 Episode 25: "The Little Man Who Was There") as Piano Player * ''

'' (1960) (Season 6 Episode 7: "Outlaw in Town") as Zack Martin * '' Man with a Camera'' (1960) (Season 2 Episode 12: "Hot Ice Cream") as Fenton * '' Shotgun Slade'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 29: "The Fabulous Fiddle") as Lou Nugget * '' Bourbon Street Beat'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 23: "The Missing Queen") as Deputy Boak * '' Surfside 6'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 6: "Par-a-kee") as Clem (uncredited) * '' Outlaws (TV series)'' (1960) (Season 1 Episode 4: "The Rape of Red Sky") as Bartender * '' Outlaws (TV series)'' (1961) (Season 1 Episode 23: "Sam Bass") as Old Timer (uncredited) * '' The Untouchables (TV series)'' (1961) (Season 2 Episode 17: "Augie 'The Banker' Ciamino") as Drunk * '' Whispering Smith (TV series)'' (1961) (Season 1 Episode 9: "Three for One") as Sheriff Ben Stanley * '' The Red Skelton Hour'' (1961) (Season 10 Episode 29: "Candid Clem with guest stars Gene Autry and Champion) as Sheriff

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ates, Roscoe 1895 births 1962 deaths Male actors from Mississippi American male film actors American male television actors American male violinists Deaths from lung cancer in California Male actors from Greater Los Angeles Musicians from Hattiesburg, Mississippi Male Western (genre) film actors 20th-century American male actors American vaudeville performers 20th-century American singers 20th-century American violinists 20th-century American male singers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II American male comedians Comedians from Mississippi