Max Terhune

Actor · Died June 5, 1973, aged 82 · Franklin, Indiana, USA

Max Terhune (12 February 1891 Franklin, Indiana, – 5 June 1973 Cottonwood, Arizona), was an American film actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Terhune performed in 21 episodes of The Three Mesquiteers (co-starring with Robert Livingston and Ray "Crash" Corrigan in the Republic series); The Range Busters (24 entries with Ray Corrigan and John King at Monogram Pictures); several supporting roles with Gene Autry (at Republic), and the Johnny Mack Brown westerns at Monogram. Terhune played the comic sidekick (usually named either Lullaby Joslin or just Alibi)--with a major distinction. He always traveled the range with his dummy Elmer sharing his saddle. Terhune was not only a splendid ventriloquist, but a fine magician. Card tricks were his forte, and he often performed such in his movies. His former vaudeville act included juggling and doing impressions, talents also incorporated into his sidekick roles. He joined the National Barn Dance radio program, along with Gene Autry, in 1933. It was Autry who introduced him to Republic Pictures. His last film role was in the major Hollywood film Giant, in which he played the dramatic role of the physician Dr. Walker. Description above from the Wikipedia article Max Terhune, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: February 12, 1891
Died: June 5, 1973 (aged 82)
From: Franklin, Indiana, USA
Works as: Actor
Titles: 31 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links: IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 32% in 30 days

What are Max Terhune's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Drama24 titles37^th

Action2 titles23^rd

Western2 titles46^th

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight

Morality

58%

Society

15%

Bonds

14%

Power

Survival

Self

Justice24 Community10 Loyalty6 Deception6 Survival3 Corruption2 Friendship2

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 0 · Wry 2 · Earnest 26

Light

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 27 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Grounded

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Grounded 21 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 15 · Intense 0

Steady

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 24 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 3

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 2

Casual

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 27 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Easy watch

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Easy watch 28 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 0

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

24 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 11 of 24 analyzed roles.

Ally

11 of 24

Hero

8 of 24

Trickster

5 of 24

Show the 24 roles

Heroas Lullaby Joslin in Ghost Town Gold (1936)
Tricksteras Lullaby Joslin in Roarin' Lead (1936)
Tricksteras Lullaby Joslin in Come On, Cowboys (1937)
Heroas Lullaby Joslin in Heart of the Rockies (1937)
Heroas Lullaby Joslin in Range Defenders (1937)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in The Trigger Trio (1937)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Wild Horse Rodeo (1937)
Heroas Lullaby Joslin in Come On, Cowboys (1937)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Overland Stage Raiders (1938)
Heroas Lullaby Joslin in Call the Mesquiteers (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Heroes of the Hills (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Outlaws of Sonora (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in The Purple Vigilantes (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Red River Range (1938)
Tricksteras Lullaby Joslin in Red River Range (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
Allyas Lullaby Joslin in Three Texas Steers (1939)
Tricksteras 'Alibi' Terhune in The Range Busters (1940)
Heroas Alibi Terhune in Saddle Mountain Roundup (1941)
Tricksteras Alibi Terhune - posing as The Professor in Fugitive Valley (1941)
Heroas 'Alibi' Terhune in Rock River Renegades (1942)
Heroas 'Alibi' Terhune in Texas to Bataan (1942)
Allyas 'Alibi' Terhune in Black Market Rustlers (1943)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling

Tense

Hopeful

Absurd

Joyful

Other

How their films linger

Fun20 Feel-good16 Rousing9 Bittersweet4 Hopeful4 Cathartic2

How their films end · 3 with a twist

Happy27
Bittersweet1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Max Terhune's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Best Westerns Ever15 titles
Shout! TV3 titles, show their 3 titles on Shout! TV
Great American Pure Flix2 titles, show their 2 titles on Great American Pure Flix
Cineverse1 title, show their title on Cineverse
FilmBox+1 title, show their title on FilmBox+
IndieFlix1 title, show their title on IndieFlix

Subscription and free streaming for Max Terhune's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

I Love Lucy(1951)
Show 1 episode · as Ventriloquist
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Rawhide(1951)
as Miner (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Square Dance Jubilee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Sheriff
Western Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Sheriff Alibi
Range Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Alibi
West of El Dorado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Alibi
Trails End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Alibi
Law of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
as Alibi Jenkins
Hidden Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
as Alibi
Gunning for Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
as Alibi Parsons
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
as Alibi
Along the Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
as Max Terhune
Swing, Cowboy, Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Harmony Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
as Marshal Max
Sheriff of Sundown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
as Third Grade Simms
Cowboy Canteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
as Professor Merlin
Bullets and Saddles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
as Alibi Terhune
Black Market Rustlers(1943)
as 'Alibi' Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Cowboy Commandos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
as Alibi Terhune
Land of Hunted Men(1943)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Haunted Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Two Fisted Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
as 'Alibi' Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Trail Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
as Max 'Alibi' Terhune
Texas to Bataan(1942)
as Alibi Terhune
Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
Arizona Stage Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
as Alibi Terhune
Texas Trouble Shooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Boot Hill Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Rock River Renegades(1942)
as Alibi Terhune
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Thunder River Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
as Alibi Terhune
Underground Rustlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
as Alibi
Tonto Basin Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
as Alibi Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Saddle Mountain Roundup(1941)
as Alibi Terhune
Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
Fugitive Valley(1941)
as Alibi Terhune posing as The Professor (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Wrangler's Roost(1941)
as Alibi Terhune
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Tumbledown Ranch In Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
as 'Alibi' Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
The Kid's Last Ride(1941)
as Alibi Terhune
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
The Trail of the Silver Spurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
as Alibi Terhune
West of Pinto Basin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
as Alibi
Trailing Double Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
as Max 'Alibi' Terhune
The Range Busters(1940)
as 'Alibi' Terhune
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Man of Conquest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
as Deaf Smith
Three Texas Steers(1939)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
The Night Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
as Lullaby Joslin
Red River Range(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Santa Fe Stampede(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Overland Stage Raiders(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
Pals of the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Heroes of the Hills(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Riders of the Black Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Ladies in Distress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
as Dave Evans
Outlaws of Sonora(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Call the Mesquiteers(1938)
as 'Lullaby' Joslin
Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
The Purple Vigilantes(1938)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Mama Runs Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
as Applegate
Wild Horse Rodeo(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Trigger Trio(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Boots and Saddles(1937)
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Heart of the Rockies(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Range Defenders(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Come On, Cowboys(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Gunsmoke Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
The Hit Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
as Rusty Callahan
Hit the Saddle(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
Riders of the Whistling Skull(1937)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
Roarin' Lead(1936)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
Ride, Ranger, Ride(1936)
as Rufe Jones
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
The Big Show(1936)
as Ventriloquist
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Ghost Town Gold(1936)
as Lullaby Joslin
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 12^th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 68 titles from 1936 to 1951.

Film career

1951Screen debut· Rawhide

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting68 of 68 · 37^th

By decade

1930s28 · acting1940s38 · acting1950s2 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Max Terhune's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 37^th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 40^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

40^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

30^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

7^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

75^th and up2
50^th to 74^th3
25^th to 49^th20
Below 25^th6

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 31 titles are Mixed.

Universally Loved1
Cult Classic1
Crowd Pleaser2
Broadly Agreed1
Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

The Purple Vigilantes (1938)

72^nd percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Rawhide (1951)

Midcredits 85^th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the acting 51/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.