The Story of Kentucky Boy, Hollywood's Hero Dog

On August 15th, 1929, a fire broke out at the Evans Studio.  Fortunately, the fire was extinguished before it did much damage.  There was an estimated loss of $25,000 in draperies and antiques, but the building was in good enough shape to host a talk by Dr Jogesh Misrow in late September.

The short report in the Los Angeles Times also mentions that the fire was put out before it could threaten the Mar-Cal Theater, which it claimed adjoined the studio.  However, what it didn't mention was the role of Kentucky Boy, the dog that saved the studio.

 

The basic story of Kentucky Boy's heroic deed is pretty straightforward.  On that fateful night, the 7 year old Airedale was out for a long walk with his owner, Robert Byrne.  While heading down Hollywood Blvd, Kentucky Boy broke loose, running for the Evans Studio.  When Byrne finally caught up, he found the dog scratching at a side door, smoke pouring out.  He raised the alarm and the fire was quickly put out.  For his actions, Kentucky Boy was awarded a medal by the State Humane Society.  Very quickly, his fame grew, as did the story of his heroic efforts.

Word spread of his medal, inspiring local humane societies and other groups to honor the dog.  Over the next several years, Kentucky Boy amassed 19 such medals, including ones bestowed by the mayor of Los Angeles and the governor of California. Stories about his honors and exploits were printed around the country.

From The Cincinnati Enquirer

 He even appeared in ads for dog food.

 

Interestingly, the story of the fire was often changed and embellished whenever it was retold.  In fact, the only article that I found that mentions the Evans Studio was from a couple of months after the fire.  After that, it was at best implied that the building that was saved was a film studio, often it was explicitly called a Hollywood motion picture studio.  In some accounts, fire was bellowing from the building by the time Kentucky Boy arrived, and studio employees were running around in a panic!  Other accounts moved the studio to "Poverty Row" (i.e. nearby Gower St.), again implying that it was a movie studio.

Of course, simply saving a building would not be enough to warrant giving a dog 19 medals.  He was also credited with saving the lives of nearly 300 people who were watching a film in the Mar-Cal Theater.  As mentioned earlier, the initial report of the fire said that the studio adjoined the theater, suggesting that if the fire had not been noticed, the theater would have also been set ablaze.  However, there's one small problem with that story.  The studio was not next to the theater.

Between the 2 buildings was the former Mabel Condon Exchange, as well as 2 driveways.  None of the 3 buildings were physically connected, so for the theater to have caught fire, the flames would have had to have jumped over the 2 driveways.  Possible, of course, but one would think that by the time the second building would have been engulfed, the theater would have already been evacuated.

The Evans Studio is the white building on the left and the Mar-Cal Theater is the large building on the right.

Tall tales or not, Kentucky Boy's fame lasted until his death in 1937.  A memorial service was held in Lafayette Park where several dignitaries, including actor Hobart Bosworth, gave eulogies.

 

Sadly, 2 years after Kentucky Boy's death, his owner Robert Byrne was murdered in his home.  So far, I have not found any indication that the crime was ever solved, although at least 2 people were arrested.