In the mid 1950's Hollywood actors started holding fast draw contests and Hugh O'Brian claimed to be the fastest. There is an apparently true story repeated that on a movie set with Audie Murphy, O'Brian pestered Murphy to see who was the fastest. Murphy showed no interest and finally said, “OK, with live ammunition.” O'Brian wisely backed down.
Who was the fastest gun in Hollywood?
Ron Bolza
Slatington, Pennsylvania
Some of the names might surprise you. How about Sammy Davis Jr. and Jerry Lewis?
The first fast draw competition took place at Knott’s Berry Farm in 1954.
Hugh O’Brian claimed his 0.25 of a second was the fastest, but Davis Jr. and Lewis were reportedly faster. O’Brian challenged Audie Murphy to a contest, but when Murphy requested live ammunition, O’Brian wisely declined.
Others who were good at fast draw during the 1950s and 1960s, says Firearms Editor Phil Spangenberger, included Wally “Mr. Peepers” Cox, Hugh Downs (a host of the early Today show), dancer Donald O’Connor, singers Marty Robbins and Frankie Lane, and actors Glenn Ford, Clu Gulager, Ernest Borgnine, Jock Mahoney and Clint Eastwood.
