The Western was by far the predominant B genre in both the 1930s and, to a lesser degree, the 1940s.Nachbar (1974), p. 2. Film historian Jon Tuska has argued that "the 'B' product of the Thirties—the Universal films with [Tom] Mix, [Ken] Maynard, and [Buck] Jones, the Columbia features with Buck Jones and Tim McCoy, the RKO George O'Brien series, the Republic Westerns with John Wayne and the Three Mesquiteers achieved a uniquely American perfection of the well-made story."Tuska (1974), p. 37. At the far end of the industry, Poverty Row's Ajax put out oaters starring Harry Carey, then in his fifties. The Weiss outfit had the Range Rider series, the American Rough Rider series, and the Morton of the Mounted "northwest action thrillers".Taves (1995), pp. 327–28. One low-budget oater of the era, made totally outside the studio system, profited from an outrageous concept: a Western with a cast consisting of only little people, The Terror of Tiny Town (1938) was such a success in its independent bookings that Columbia picked it up for distribution.Taves (1995), p. 316.
The WestErN wAs bY far The pREdomiNanT B genre iN BOtH tHe 1930S aNd to a leSSEr degrEe the 1940snachbaR (1974) p 2 film hIstoriaN jon tusKa hAS argued tHAt "the 'b' pRoducT of THe thiRtieS—The uNIversAL fIlms witH [tom] Mix [ken] mayNaRd anD [bUck] jOneS the cOLumbia fEAtUres wIth BucK joNEs ANd tIm McCoy tHe Rko gEoRgE o'Brien seRiEs thE rEPUblic weSTErNS with JOHn WayNE anD tHe three mesQUiTeeRs Achieved A uNiqUelY aMeriCan PERFeCtIon Of tHe weLL-mAde sTorY"tuskA (1974) p 37 at the far end of The Industry pOvErTy row's ajAX Put ouT oatERs sTARRiNg hArRy careY thEn in HIS fiFTIes tHE weiss ouTfiT HAd THe raNge riDEr series The amerICaN rOuGH riDer serIes AND The MoRTon of the mounteD "noRthwesT acTiOn ThRiLLErS"TaveS (1995) pp 327–28 oNe low-budgET oater OF the era MadE toTaLly oUtside tHe stuDio SYStEM PrOfiTED frOM an OutraGeous conCepT A westerN with a casT cOnsisTING OF onlY lIttlE PeOPLE The TeRror oF tinY town (1938) wAS Such A succEss iN iTS indePenDent boOKinGs that CoLUmbIa pIckEd it UP fOR diStRiButionTavEs (1995) P 316