Westerns, during the silent screen era, were cast with gender-specific roles. Actors were cast either as good guys or bad guys; actresses usually played the helpless woman who needed to be rescued. Then along came Texas Guinan with her trick riding, her finesse with gunplay, and the ability to do her own stunts. Very quickly, scripts were written with Guinan in the starring role. She became the gunwoman, boss of the rancho, spitfire, heroine. Most of the silent movies she made between 1917-1922 were lost; unfortunately, too often there’s not even much of a summary left behind.
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The volatile nature of the silver nitrate film stock used by the film industry before 1950 has created this vacuum. When stored improperly, silver nitrate film begins to decompose. Over time, the emulsion side (top layer of film) will bubble up and separate. Damaged film strips have random splotches, tears, and other deterioration.
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Fortunately, collector Mike Aus has rescued several Texas Guinan film titles. Order these from him here: http://www.raresilentfilms.com/index.html
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Here’s an annotated list of Texas Guinan’s motion pictures and her film cameo appearances.
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1933 “Broadway Through a Keyhole” - Tex Kaley
Walter Winchell wrote the script, which was based on Ruby Keeler’s start at Texas Guinan’s speakeasy.
Synopsis: Racketeer Frank Rocci is smitten with Joan Whelan, a dancer at Texas Kaley’s famous Broadway night spot Klub Kaley. Rocci uses his influence to help her get a starring role in the show, hoping that it will also get Joan to fall in love with him. After scoring a hit, Joan accepts Frank's marriage proposal, more out of gratitude than love. Then she falls for a handsome band leader during a trip to Florida. What next?
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1932 “Winner Take All” - Texas Malone
Note: the film includes a rare clip from “Queen of the Night Clubs”
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1929 “Glorifying the American Girl” - Texas Guinan (uncredited role)
Synopsis: The rise of a showgirl, Gloria Hughes, culminating in a Flo Ziegfeld extravaganza "Glorifying the American Girl."
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1929 “Queen of the Night Clubs” - Texas Malone
Synopsis: After working as a hostess for Nick and Andy, Tex Malone leaves their employ and opens a club of her own. Looking for talent to book for the floor show, Tex hires Bee Walters and thereby breaks up Bee's act with Eddie Parr. Andy spitefully kills Tex's friend, Holland, and young Eddie is arrested for the crime on circumstantial evidence. Tex then learns from Eddie's father, Phil, that Eddie is her long-lost son. At the trial, Tex comes to Eddie's defense and persuades one member of the jury that there is reasonable doubt of Eddie's guilt. The jury repairs to Tex's club, where Tex discovers a piece of evidence that conclusively links Andy with the murder. Eddie is freed, and Tex and Phil get together for a second honeymoon.  Supposedly, a “lost film.”
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1925 “Night Life of New York” (uncredited) – a silent film - Famous Players--Lasky
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1921 “Code of Texas Storm” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “Code of the West” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “Spitfire” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “The Claws of Texas” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “The Girl of the Border”  (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “The Soul of Texas” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “Vengeance of Texas Grey” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1921 “I Am the Woman” (5 reels) – drama – Victor Kremer
1921 “Texas of the Mounted” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
Synopsis: When Texas’s brother is killed, she wears his clothes and goes after the killers to avenge his murder.
1921/II “The Stampede” (5 reels) – drama – Victor Kremer Productions
Synopsis: The Stampede was directed by Francis Ford the older brother of John Ford.  It is a five reeler and has not been condensed.  This film is the least well preserved of Texas' surviving film.  It takes place during the Oklahoma land rush and Texas comes to the aid of sick girl.

1921 “The Code of the West” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1920 “The Night Raider” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1920 “A Moonshine Feud” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
Synopsis: “A Moonshine Feud” was filmed in 1920 as a two reeler, but later on condensed down to one reel in 1929.  The two reel version has been preserved by the UCLA Film Archives but is not available to the general public.  The release notes detailing what has been cut are included.  In this movie Texas and her brothers fight a gang of moonshiners.  Texas rescues a revenue agent and they fall in love. Drama for ReelCraft/Bullseye
1920 “The Night Rider” (Short)  – drama – ReelCraft
1920 “The White Squaw” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1920 “The Wildcat” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “Fighting the Vigilantes” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “Just Bill” (Short) – drama – Frohman
1919 “Letters of Fire” (Short) – drama – Bulls Eye
Synopsis: “Letters of Fire” was filmed in 1919.  It was originally a "five reeler" which is the equivalent of a full length movie.  In 1929 it was condensed down to a one reeler.  In this movie Texas plays a sheriff who is framed for cattle rustling.  The head rustler brands her bosom with his initials.  After recuperating Texas catches the rustler and returns the favor. Drama for Bulls Eye / ReelCraft.  
1919/II “Not Guilty” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft / 1st National
1919 “The Boss of the Rancho” (Short) – drama – for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The Lady of the Law” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “The Spirit of Cabin Mine” (Short)
Synopsis: “The Spirit of Cabin Mine” was filmed in 1919.  Only the 2nd half of this film exists but it is still very easy to follow and makes a good one reeler.  Texas was kidnapped as a child and raised by the Indian who killed her mother.  She spurns the advances of the reservation agent and falls in love with his deputy. Drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “My Lady Robin Hood” (Short) – drama – Bulls Eye
1919 “Outwitted” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “The Desert Vulture” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “The Girl of the Rancho” (Short)
Synopsis: “Girl of the Rancho” was filmed as a two reeler (1920), then condensed down to a one reeler in 1929.  Texas spurns the advances of a Mexican bandit, who then kidnaps her sister until she changes her mind.  As the posse and the bandits have a shootout, Texas rescues her sister.  Drama for Bulls Eye / ReelCraft
1919 “The Heart of Texas” (Short) – drama – Texas Guinan Productions
1919 “The Call of Bob White” (Short) – drama – ReelCraft
1919 “The Sacrifice” (Short) – drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The Dead Man's Hand” (Short) – drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The Dangerous Little Devil” (Short) – drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “Little Miss Deputy” (Short) – drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The Girl of Hell's Agony” (Short) — drama for Merritt Films / Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “Some Gal” (Short) — drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “Malamute Meg” (Short) — drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “South of Santa Fe” (Short) —
Synopsis: “South O' Santa Fe” was filmed in 1919 and directed by Cliff Smith.  Cast includes George Cheseboro, Jack Richardson, Anna Purdon.  Texas is hired by a ranch owner to be the foreman of on unruly group of ranch hands. Drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The She Wolf” (Short) — drama for Frohman Amusement Corp.
1919 “The Love Defender” — drama for World Film
1918 “The Gun Girl” (Short) — — — — no details
1918 “Two-Gun Girl” (Short) — — — — no details
1918 “The Hell Cat” — drama for Triangle Film Corporation
1918 “Getaway Kate” (Short) — drama for  Astra Film/ Triangle
1918 “The Love Brokers” — drama for Triangle Film Corporation
1918 “The Gun Woman”
Synopsis: “The Gun Woman” begins with a saloon owner lending her lover the money to buy a house — — a home which he has led her to believe they will live in after their marriage. Instead, he takes the money and buys a saloon in another town.  Drama for Triangle Film Corporation
1917 “The Fuel of Life” (5 reels) — drama for Triangle Film Corporation
1917 “The Stainless Barrier” — drama for Triangle Film Corporation