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18SmokeSignalschapterplayFlamingFrontiers1938andthenTheOregonTrail1938also15chapters.Universalinturncommencedtomake28JohnnyMackBrownwesternsbeginningwithDesperateTrails1938andconcludingwithTheLoneStarTrail1943.Thefiveyearpartnershipwasasignificantbenefittoboththestarandthestudio.FeninandEversonnotedAtUniversaltheJohnnyMackBrownseriesprovidedsomeofthebestandfastestWesternsfullofactionandmadewithexcellentproductionvaluesparticularlynotablewerethemusicalscoresandfirst-classcamerawork.TheywereoftheopinionthatDesperateTrails1939WestOfCarsonCity1940andRidersOfPascoBasin1940wereamongthemostoutstandingfilmsoftheseries.WhileatUniversalJohnnywaspartneredupfirstwithformercowboyleadingmanBobBakerandlaterthepopularballadeerTexRitter.HissidekickduringtheserieswasFuzzyKnightandmostoftentheleadingladywasNellODayorJenniferHoltdaughterofJackHoltsisterofTim.HealsorodeabeautifulpalominonamedRebelformostoftheentireseries.OftheUniversalsBoydMagersrecommendsLawAndOrder1940ArizonaCyclone1941andDeepInTheHeartOfTexas1942.WesternfilmhistorianBuckRaineysummedupJohnnyscowboyfilmsBrownwashardlyaslouchasanactorriderorfighterhisWesternswerechockfullofbrawlsgunfireandhardridingandwerebuiltaroundstorieswhichallowedforsomedisplayofhisactingtalents.JohnnyandConniewereaverysocialcouple.TheyfrequentedMarionDaviesbeachhomethatshesharedonoccasionwithhersugardaddyWilliamRandolphHearstaswellasattendedfancycostumeballsattheHearstCastleinSanSimeon.TheBrownsresidedinBeverlyHillsandwerefriendswiththeSpencerTracysDouglasandMaryPickfordFairbanksJeanetteMacDonaldandcowboyscreenheroCharlesStarrett.JohnnylovedtoplaytenniswiththelikesofLewAyresGingerRogersCharlesFarrellandFayWrayandhostedmanytennismatcheswiththeHollywoodelite.Duringtheearly30sJohnnyplayedpolowithWillRogersJackHoltSpencerTracyLeslieHowardJamesGleasonBigBoyWilliamsandHalRoach.HeandConnieweredevotedtoeachotherandremainedtogetheruntildeaththeydidpart.TheyhadfourchildrenfirstadaughterJaneasonLachlanLockyandthentwomoredaughtersCynthiaandSally.ByallaccountstheBrownhouseholdwasahappyfamilywithdevotedparentsandvoidofscandal.DonMillerdevotedanentirechapterinhisbookHollywoodCorralatributetotheBWesternstoBrownofAlabama.HenotedTherewasacourtlySoutherncharmaboutBrownwhichwasattimesahelpandahindrance.Inhisearlieryoungerdaysthissuggestionofgraciousnessandnobilitywouldtendtooveremphasizeadramaticsituationandcausesomestiltednessinhisplaying.LateronsettledinhisWesternrolesitlentwarmthtohisactingthatwasmissingfrommostrangeheroeseventhebestofthem.Itservedtocontrasthismoreruggeddutiesinfilmstoo.Thishandsomepolitegentlemancouldalsofightlikethedevilandwasthemeanest-lookingmaninpictureswhenengagedinhandtohandcombat.WhenJohnnyMackswungahaymakeranditconnecteditwasfeltrighttothelastrowinthebalcony.In1943JohnnywassignedbyHIGHNOON