Cowboy film extra Jerome "Blackjack" Ward re-enacts his confrontation with fellow extra Johnny Tyke for Lieutenant W.A. Ellenson, Los Angeles, February 24, 1940
Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. Cowboy film extra Jerome "Blackjack" Ward (beard, right) re-enacts his confrontation with fellow extra John Ainsworth Tyacke a.k.a. Johnny Tyke for Lieutenant W.A. Ellenson (left) and other police. Blackjack allegedly shot Tyke with a .45 in Gower Gulch, the name given to the area near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street where film extras hang out waiting for work. Ward entered a plea of not guilty based on self defense and temporary insanity. He was ultimately set free after many witnesses attested to Tyke's violent nature. Text from original nitrate sleeve: Ward, Jerome "Blackjack" (Shot and killed John Tyke, on Sunset Blvd. 2-23-40); Jackson, Yukon Jake; Tyke, John; Ward, Mickey - Mrs.; Ellenson, W.A. - Lt. Handwritten annotation from nitrate negative: L to R Jerome "Blackjack" Ward [???] - Lieut W.A. Ellenson
Type
image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
ark:/21198/zz0027zz1k
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles Entertainment Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles Cowboys--California--Los Angeles Crime Police--California--Los Angeles Homicides--California--Los Angeles Legal Ward, Jerome Ellenson, W.A
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.