The Art Roamer Show Animals

During the earliest "Tarzan of the Apes" movies Red Coleman, an animal trainer and choreographer, illegally obtained a baby ape during location shots in the Congo. This same ape was introduced to a lovely gorilla at the San Diego Zoo and they eventually became the proud parents of Bongo the Movie Ape. Little Bongo was quick to learn the basics of the English language and to act on cue. Talent representatives of Pacific Cowboy Pictures brought Bongo and his entire family to their star Art Roamer, who eagerly took them in as his own kin. This led to numerous appearances by Bongo in Art Roamer films and later to Bongo's own T.V. shows.

More about Bongo...

Mrs. Pecker

It was not widely known that Mrs. Pecker was actually a chicken. Shown here on Cowgirl Carlie's lap in a scene with Woody, Mrs. Pecker played the role of a chicken with a naturalness that led the cream of Hollywood's finest actors to her door to learn her acting secrets. Art was overcome by her convincing performances and took many opportunities to make sure there were exceptional dramatic parts in the show for her. Art posted a round-the-clock guard for Mrs. Pecker following threats by Buzzy Cookman to use her in a cowboy chicken chili soup recipe.

Nightmare and Stumbler

There were dozens of horses at the sprawling A&R Ranch, including Nightmare and Stumbler , pictured here with Lenny Sawyer and an unnamed third horse who was often used as a stunt double for the other two. Another fixture on the show and at the ranch was The Show Fox (not shown). This red fox helped guard the horses and, reluctantly, Mrs. Pecker. Nightmare and Stumbler wore glasses owing to their script and cue card reading.