This page is devoted to one of the silver screen's leading
ladies, Virginia Herrick. An accomplished actress and singer,
she has appeared in films with some of the biggest western
stars ever to ride the range. In 2004 I did an interview with her,
and thanks to Virginia and the ever-wonderful Dick Madigan,
I present the following interview and photo for your enjoyment.
I'd like to say a big thanks to these folks, and i'd also like to
add that both Virginia
and Dick are two of the most wonderful
people i've ever met. Genuinely nice people through and
through, I consider it
a real honor and a priviledge to know
them.
John Saunders
Here is a list of on-screen roles featuring Virginia -
FRONTIER PHANTOM (Lash Larue) 1952
MONTANA DESPERADO (Johnny Mack Brown) 1951
ROAR OF THE IRON HORSE (Jock Mahoney) Serial 1951
SILVER RAIDERS (Whip Wilson) 1950
I KILLED GERONIMO (James Ellsion) 1950
VIGILANTE HIDEOUT (Rocky Lane) 1950
CISCO KID T.V SHOW (Duncan Renaldo) "QUARTERHORSE" 1052
"HIDDEN VALLEY" 1951
GENE AUTRY SHOW (Gene Autry) "SIX SHOOTER SWEEPSTAKES" 1950
COWBOY G-MEN T.V SHOW (Russell Hayden) "RAWHIDE GOLD" 1953
She also starred in a non-western titled "WHY MEN LEAVE HOME" in 1951
and Dick has informed me that she also did a non-credited bit-part in the film
"BLUES BUSTERS" featuring the Bowery Boys.
She also co-starred in an unreleased t.v pilot western with Bill Hale (Monte
Hale's brother) and Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune titled BUCKSKIN RANGERS.
Here is the interview we did as follows -
How did you become involved in acting?
You also did some t.v shows,how did that come about?
I first became involved with acting when I was with the Harry Conover agency
in New York City as a model. I would work with illustrators who would use
pictures of me acting out stories,commercials, etc..Then they would make
their illustrations from the pictures. I also did many ads for toothpaste, soap,
hair coloring, blouses and ski wear. I took directions well and realized that I
liked being before the camera.
When I returned home to Hollywood to be with my ailing mother, I met an
actor's agent who had moved next door to us. One day he approached me,
gave me his card and said he would like to arrange a screen test for me.
I told him I didn't think I could act in movies because I was much too shy
and thought that would be the end of it.
Then one day the agent called and said a new t.v game show was being
started and they needed a girl who could hand things to the host and say
a few words now and then like Vanna White on "Wheel of Fortune".
I thought that would be perfect for me because I had done a lot of that type
of show while in New York. I had worked on many t.v shows in the late 40's
such as "Blind Date" and "The Arthur Godfrey Show".
The agent got me the job as the girl assistant and called some producers
over at Republic Pictures,telling them to watch the show when it aired.
He did not tell me however. Evidently, they liked what they saw because the
very next day they called the agent and told him to bring me out.
I met the producers and without any further tests, was signed to a contract.
You starred with some great western icons,Johnny Mack Brown,
Whip Wilson, Lash Larue, Rocky Lane, Jock Mahoney, Jimmy Ellison,
Gene Autry....Any particular rememberances of these actors and
what it was like working with them?
In my first ever movie, entitled "Vigilante Hideout", I starred with Rocky Lane.
Needless to say, I was thrilled but scared to death.Other than that in the
scenes in which we worked together, I had no contact with Rocky because
he appeared to be pretty self-involved. But as time went by I found that working
in B-Westerns was not that demanding and lots of fun.
I could become whatever character I was playing, usually a grandchild, sister,
daughter or niece.My next picture was "Silver Raiders" with Whip Wilson.
I remember him as a good-natured man who was always practicing his whip.
However, if I had known at the time that he had a fine singing voice I would
have suggested we do a duet. In my third picture, "I Killed Geronimo" my co-
star was Jimmy Ellison. He was easy to work with and very helpful.
So I had made three movies and while I got to use a gun in "I Killed Geronimo"
I had yet to ride a horse. But in my next two appearances they found out I
could ride a horse as well as shoot a gun and I became more involved in the
action. It became even more fun and I was more in demand.
In the 15 chapter serial at Columbia called 'Roar of the Iron Horse", the male
lead was Jock Mahoney. I enjoyed watching him do his own stunts because
he had been an accomplished stuntman before he became an actor.
Like Rocky Lane,he liked being the center of attention...I kept to myself.
I guess my favorite leading man had to be Johnny Mack Brown.
He was very professional and a real southern gentleman.
In my television appearances I found all of the leads to be fine men.
Gene Autry, Russell Hayden, Jackie Coogan, Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carrillo
were consumate professionals. I was particularly impressed by Leo Carrillo
because he was such a cultured gentleman, not at all like the clown he portrayed
in the series.
I was usually the only girl on the set with the exception of a script girl.
I was my own hairdresser, makeup artist and wardrobe lady. I was very much at
ease with male actors because I had grown up with two older brothers.
All the men on the set acted like brothers to me and treated me with respect.
However, I was still very shy and did not mingle or talk much with the crew or
the other actors.
What about guys like Al "Fuzzy" St. John and Andy Clyde?
Andy Clyde, I worked with him in my second movie "Silver Raiders".
It was such fun to work with him. He made me feel so at ease that I could
easily imagine that he was my grandfather (his role in the movie).
As far as Fuzzy St. John was concerned, I only played one or two short
scenes with him so I really did not get to know him.
You left the silver screen and moved to Rome to pursue a career in
opera. Was music a longtime interest of yours?
I have always loved music since I was a tiny child. My first teacher in the old
one-room schoolhouse I attended was a fine musician and a had a beautiful
contralto voice. I started taking music lessons from her when I was six and had
to walk a half-mile to her house for my lessons.
They cost twenty-five cents every Saturday.Over time, my ambition was to
become a concert pianist. I soon became good enough to play her accomp-
animents when she sang for the school programs. When I was eleven, I sang
my first solo and she accompanied me. From then on, I was hooked and knew
singing was what I wanted to do. In later years I spent every penny I could save
on singing lessons. I always tried to find the very best teachers I could afford.
They were no longer cheap like my piano lessons, usually running about twenty
dollars a lesson. But I was determined and worked toward my goal.
Can you tell me a bit about your musical career before you got
involved with movies?
Prior to getting involved with movies, my musical career was basically confined
to giving recitals at the request of my teachers. I also replaced a tempermental
coloratura in a musical comedy entitled "Grandfather's Follies".
We toured the coast and even played a casino in Lake Tahoe. This job paid
real money!..As I mentioned before, I also had entensive experience in early
t.v musicals in New York.
You obviously enjoyed music and opera.
While you were making movies did you ever feel that you should be
pursuing a career in music instead?
Yes I did.
Even though I enjoyed making movies, I kept up with my singing lessons and
never gave up the hope of becoming an operatic soprano. It was during this time
that I met the man who was to become my husband. It was through his interest
in my voice that I was able to further my vocal studies in Rome.
Have you ever recorded?
Has there ever been a record/cd release?
If not, is it something you have considered?
Any plans to do so in the future?
No, I have never recorded professionally nor have I considered it.
I have a tape machine at home and record for my own use to improve my
technique because I am still asked to sing at church in addition to fraternal
and civic events. I still practice every day and will continue to do so as long
as I feel my voice is still there.
After you left the movies, did you ever consider going back to the
big screen?
I never at any time considered going back into pictures because my husband's
assignments took us to all parts of the world and I found it more exciting and
interesting than making movies.
Are you currently performing on stage or touring?
I only perform at B-Western film festivals, when asked to do so.
I know you still travel to shows/conventions and i've been told you
design and make your dresses and costumes.
Is that a hobby or something you've pursued professionally?
Yes, I design and fabricate all of my own costumes and personal clothing.
It is not a hobby, it is a skill I learned from my mother. She had been a
professional seamstress in Seattle and began teaching me as a young child.
I started sewing on an old treadle machine when I was six years old.
By the time I was nine, I was making all of my own clothes. When I entered
high school, I was the best dressed kid there.After we left the ranch, my mother
and I had to support ourselves and we found that our sewing skills were in
great demand.
When you see people today at those conventions collecting and
showing these movies, does it surprise you to see these films
still going strong decades after their release?
Yes, I enjoy participating at these conventions and am amazed at the popu-
larity of the old B-Westerns. The only one I had ever seen before leaving Europe
was "I Killed Geronimo". I don't think many of the others were released until
later so it was a great surprise to me when my friend from church began to
find them on the internet and started to collect them.
It must be a joy to see these films again after all these years.
It must bring back many memories.
It certainly brings back many memories. They were fun when I made them,
but after I married and went abroad to study music I completely forgot about
them. I made so many in such a short period of time that sometimes it's hard
to separate one from the other.
Are there any films you starred in that you would like to see again,
but haven't yet?
There is still one I would love to find but no-one seems to have a copy.
It was entiled "Montana Desperado" and starred Johnny Mack Brown.
Of all the films you starred in,are the any personal favorites of yours?
If I had to pick one that I enjoyed the most, it would probably be "Roar of the
Iron Horse" a fifteen chapter serial made at Columbia.
By that time the producers had learned that I was fully capable of handling
myself on a horse and could shoot a rifle as well as the men.
I was allowed to do both in this film.
As a result I had a large fan club.
