Letter written by Janus Barfoed in Denmark to Art Mix/George Kesterson February 20 1970. Janus was a Fan and a Movie Buff. I wonder if George ever answered this letter?

James Barfoed
19 Christiansvej
2920 Charlottenlund
Denmark

Dear George Kesterson,
You will probably be surprised to receive a letter from far-away Denmark, but there is one here, who has been thinking so much about you, that your ears must have been ringing.

Since 1939 I have collected stills, pressheets and posters on B-Westerns and have in my collection about 7000 different ones. Also I have tried to register these films on cards and after having been corresponding with Wally Wales since 1965, I decided to go to the US in order to visit the old reliable Western stars. I lived for a week with Wally in his wonderful Cabin in Montana and we were riding horseback and talking about the old movie days. From there I went to Los Angeles, where I spent 5 days with Ken Maynard and also saw Cliff Lyons, who has been a wonderful and helpful friend ever since. Both he and I tried awful hard to locate you, as I wanted to talk with you - but all our efforts were in vain; I believe that also Kermit Maynard tried.

Not until a week ago did I receive a letter from Cliff, where he finally had detected your address - and I am very sorry to learn that you are in a hospital. I do hope that you are getting better everyday.

Cliff told me about the old days when you all were on location in Texas, making a series for Charles Davis; He gave me as a present his movie material, stills and pressheets - and among them were also stills on two movies starring you plus a pressheet on WEST OF THE ROCKIES, giving all information regarding credits and cast. On the other one he could not remember title, etc. From a friend in England I have received some stills from some of your starring films (possibly produced by Denver Dixon) but on their backs wer some titles, which I fear are British ones - and therefore impossible to identify. I now have mad ecopies of the stills and given all poossible information on the back of them - and would ask you if you kindly will try to assist me in my efforts as for identifying them.

I realize that no one can do anything without some kind of sources, like pressheets, a scrapbook or stills from your own collection - and I wonder if you have kept any records of your work as a start? Since your career and production always have interested me a lot - and I have always been irritated that you appeared in so many Westerns in the thirties and fourties without being mentioned in the castlists; I have picked you out in dozens and dozens of movies via my stills and registered your name in the cast. This could be done very often because your big hat was easy to spot!

An attempt to list Art Mix (George Kesterson's STARRING Westerns)

WEST OF THE ROCKIES: Still No: M 2
Production: J.Charles Davis. 1929.
Director: Horace B. Carpenter
Screenplay: ?
Author: Philip Schuyler.
Camera: E.L. McManigal.
Editor: ?
ART MIX (G.K.) Fontaine Larue, Horace B. Carpenter, Bud Osborne, Cliff Lyons, Ione Reed, Inez Gomez, Alfred Hewston, George Brown, Pete Crawford, Antone Sanches. ( have roles thru pressheet)
*****************************
(No Title) Still N: 1M (Stills Enclosed)
Production: J.Charles Davis. 1929?
Director: ?
Screenplay: ?
Author:?
Camera : E.L. McManigal ?
Editor: ?
ART MIX (G.K.) Ione Reed, Horace B. Carpenter, Cliff Lyons, Lafe McKee, Bud Osborne, (others?)
****************************
In and add in 1929 Davis announces the following: Westerns. No star mentioned or any other inf: BELOW THE BORDER, DEEP SEA COWBOY, THE GAUCHO'S WAY, ROVERS AND ROPES, A TEXAN'S HONOR, WINGS OF THE WEST. and then WEST OF THE ROCKIES, wich is okay. Since Cliff says you made 8 in the series for Davis. I wonder if the above were iwth you as the start? Can you remember/see anywhere if this is true? Would indeed like to ahve the above necessary credits and also the players' names and if possible the still numbers in corners of stills.
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The folowing titles are (perhaps) with you as the star - or Denver Dixon = Victor Adamson. Would you please try to detect if YOU starred in them? All possible credits, year, and players will be extremely appreciated: TERROR OF PUEBLO (1925). ROMANCE OF THE WASTELANDS (1925). THE DANGER RIDER (192?). THE SHADOW RANGER (192?). LASH OF THE LAW (192?) RIDERS OF MYSTERY RANCH (192?). SOUTH OF THE SANTA FE (192?). RIDERS OF BORDER BAY (192?). A PAIR OF HELLIONS (192?). DESERT MESA (192?)

SAGEBRUSH POLITICS (1929-30) was directed by Denver - but were you or he the star?? Need also on this one all credits and cast.

In England they usually changed American titles to British ones (!): The following probably have been changed - stills are enclosed - hoping you can identify them plus recognize persons; DEVIL VALLEY. FIGHTING HEART. HEART(S) OF HATE. RECKLESS ROMANCE. Can you possibly tell if titles are false - tell the correct ones - and if they were produced by Denver Dixon?

In case you should own the originals I would like very much to know the still numbers. I am trying to make a complet list of your starring Westerns and enclosed I have made up as much as I have been able to find - but I must confess that I have no way of knowing which ones were made by you or Dixon! Thats why it is so important if you will try to check th elist and of course, also ad any starring Westerns not on the list.

I have also enclosed one of my register-card to show you what I am looking for to make a card satisfctory - Company, producer, director, screenplay, author, camera editor - and of course a complete list of players.

Hoping this request will not frighten you and that you will be able to help me to make a complete as possible list of your starring Westerns for Dixon. Davis and any other company/producer - I find it is on high time that one seriously is trying to throw light on your career, which has been so neglected.

I will be extremely happy to hear from you at any rate and will be hoping that you will take the time and trouble to assist me.

All good wishes for you now and in the future - Yours Sincerely (Signed by Janus Barfoed)

PS: In case you still have material on your old Westerns, like stills, pressheets and posters - would there be any chance of buying them from you? They would add so much value to my collection

Signed by Janus: