Up for sale is a vintage film reel that is likely Jack Perrin’s The Phantom of the Desert (1930), a classic early sound-era cowboy adventure. The exact gauge of this reel (8mm or 16mm) is not confirmed, though western shorts and features like this were commonly issued for home projection in the mid-20th century.
About the Film:
Released in 1930, The Phantom of the Desert starred Jack Perrin, a prolific cowboy actor who appeared in hundreds of silent and early sound westerns. The film reportedly features one of Perrin’s notable animal co-stars, a clever horse that often played a central role in his pictures. The story centers on the fight against mysterious rustlers terrorizing a ranch—an archetypal western plot of the era.
Historical Significance:
Perrin’s career spanned from silent serials of the 1910s through B-movie westerns of the 1930s and 40s.
The Phantom of the Desert is remembered among fans of “animal star” westerns, where heroic horses were often given prominent billing alongside their riders.
Films like this were staples of small-town theaters during the Depression, offering affordable escapism and reinforcing the cowboy as an enduring American hero.
Condition:
Reel comes housed in a vintage film canister.
Sold as a collectible artifact of early western cinema.
Playability is not guaranteed — film has not been tested.