Innovative Pioneer Cowboy Actor. His career began in 1923 during the silent movie era. With his white cowboy hat, fancy shirt and a pair of six-shooters, he appeared in over 90 films. Ken Maynard was one of the first singing cowboys with Columbia Records and the first to make a star (Tarzan) from the horse he rode on the screen. He was born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana into a family of five, two sons and three daughters to William H. and Emma May Maynard. The family moved to Columbus, Indiana where Ken grew up. He became an accomplished horseman and performed in rodeos and was a trick rider with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show as well as a circus rider with Ringling Brothers. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army.
His career was in a tailspin in the 1940's, overweight, intoxicated for great lengths of time, he joined Hoot Gibson in 1943 to make a low budget series called the "Trail Blazers." Many of his films are among the finest of the "B" westerns..."The Man Who Won" (Debut), "In Old Santa Fe," "Hell-Fire Austin," "Come On, Tarzan," "Trail Drive," "Strawberry Roan," "Wheels of Destiny," and his last "Harmony Trail." After his career ended in 1944, he owned and operated a small circus featuring rodeo riders but it vanished along with the millions he made as a cowboy star. From a lavish lifestyle, with cars and planes, he elapsed into one of poverty, alcoholism and eventually impaired health.
He parked his touring trailer at the Shady Tree Trailer Park on Ilex Street in San Fernando living in it for years until it simply fell to pieces. He became a drunken recluse locking himself in his trailer engaging in drunken binges for weeks at a time. He made a few cameo movie appearances but mainly while his name was useful, worked at carnivals, and cut the ribbon to open new shopping center opening. He had one last high point with an appearance on the "Today Show." Ken died penniless at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. Legacy.
He was the brother of Kermit Maynard, screen and circus performer and frequent double for Ken and many other actors. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Vevay Public Library in his hometown maintains an archive on him. Ken Maynard artifacts held by collectors are suspect. Ken engaged in a scheme to obtain money in his sunset years. After selling off all his authentic belongings, he would acquire cowboy goods at stores and swap meets then peddling it as authentic "Ken Maynard Memorabilia."