Cowboy film extra Jerome "Blackjack" Ward talks to police during a re-enactment of his confrontation with fellow extra Johnny Tyke, Los Angeles, February 24, 1940
Access to this collection is generously supported by Arcadia funds. Cowboy film extra Jerome "Blackjack" Ward talks to police during a re-enactment of his confrontation with fellow extra John Ainsworth Tyacke a.k.a. Johnny Tyke. Blackjack fatally 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: Jerome "Blackjack" Ward
Type
Image
Format
b&w nitrate negative
Identifier
uclamss_1387_22817-10 ark:/21198/zz0027zz5n
Language
No linguistic content
Subject
People Crime Homicides--California--Los Angeles Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles Judicial proceedings--California--Los Angeles Cowboys--California--Los Angeles Ward, Jerome
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.