Gene Autry

by Frank M. Roberts

August 2016

I've done a host of 'B' movie cowboy stories for the infamous Jimbo, but I've yet to tackle the two big guys - Autry and Rogers so, to start to rectify the situation I will go down the duo list alphabetically meaning, we begin with a good look at Orvon Grover Gene Autry.

He was born in Tioga, TX but, while still a youngster his dad moved the family to Oklahoma (where the wind comes right behind the rain, according to Rodgers and Hammerstein). It was there that his grandpa trained him to sing in the church choir but, by his teens, he took another route - singing in local night spots.

Soon, he became fascinated with railroads and telegraphs and, he got a job as a telegrapher. Then, fate stepped in. The country's most famous cowboy of the time came around - no less a personage than singer-actor-writer-philosopher -- Will Rogers. He heard young Autry pickin' and singin'. He listened, then gave him some sage advice: "You know, young fella, you ought to get yerself a job on the radio." So-o-o, Gene packed and used a free pass on the railroad to get to New York. That was in 1928, and that was the place and year, yours truly entered the world).

The sage advice was heeded and our hero headed, not to the Big Apple, but to KVOO in Tulsa, a powerful AM station of that era. In a short time he became known as Oklahoma's singing cowboy. Next, he was signed to the Okeh label (the 'B' product of Columbia Records) and, afore you know it, the man had a hit - a major hit about, "That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine." (I had a minor hit about, 'that bald-headed daddy of mine').

Things continued to look up thanks to Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck. Their stores served as the main outlet for Autry's records and, they were so thrilled with sales they offered our hero a job on WLS - a major radio outlet. Next, Nat Levine offered Gene a test in the Ken Maynard movie, "In Old Santa Fe." That was in old 1934. Nat L., of course, was head guy at Republic and responsible for some of the best of the 'B' westerns.

While a few tunes had been sung in westerns before, Mr. A. is regarded as the first singing cowboy. So, there! His first starring role was in "Phantom Empire," a sort-of minor cowboy sci-fi series. The serial was done for Mascot; the year was 1935.

Autry's first regular movie was - speaking of familiar titles - "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," popularized by the Sons of the Pioneers. (Lead singer was the 'other' guy). The film, itself, is usually recognized for establishing the model of singing cowboy pictures.

Unless you'd been living in a screen-less cave, you know the formula: A singing cowboy, his dumb but funny sidekick, and his smart and beautiful horse. They help the local rancher and, of course, his lovely daughter by keeping the bad guys from stealing the cattle, etc., etc.

About the equine: The original Champion was one of the most beautiful hosses in films. He was described as, "a dark sorrel with a blazeface," and was billed as - what else? - "The World's Wonder Horse." He was Autry's mount for all his pre-war films.

As for his master, his movies set new standards for quality in the industry. He was - get this - one of the top-10 box-office draws after only his second year on screen. He held the number one position from 1937 to 1942, when he entered the service.

In 1988, our cowboy hero established the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in L. A. to house and exhibit that aspect of the culture of our nation. 'Tis described as a 'must see spot' when you visit Southern Calif.

P. S. Autry's sidekick, of course, was Smiley Burnette who I wrote about in a previous story, based on the day I spent with both the smiling one and his "Petticoat Junction" sidekick, Rufe Davis, once one of the Three Mesquiteers. Check the Jimbo index. In that story, you will learn how the two joined forces. Incidentally, the star's pet name for his sidekick was --- Smiley Birdsnest.

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A few more Autry items: He died in '98, two days after his 91st birthday; he was twice wed - Ina Mae, then Jackie; He was once billed as 'Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy.' Hmm!; He was, of course, the star of teevee's "Gene Autry Show." Duh! That ran from 1950 to 1956; He made 95 movies and remains the only western star on the list of top-10 box office moneymakers.

He released (gulp) 635 records and, not only co-wrote his trademark tune about being, "Back In the Saddle Again," but, as you absolutely know, he got a gold record for, of course, the story of the red-nosed reindeer. Another seasonal favorite he penned was, "Here Comes Santa Claus," and, for Easter he offered the "Peter Cottontail" tale. Another one of his biggies was the Jimmie Davis piece, "You Are My Sunshine."

Gene Autry hung up his spurs in 1956 and became - Gene Autry, the ultra-successful businessman. (see Autry Towers). He owned four radio stations, and the Gene Autry Hotel in Palm Springs and, he had several other properties. In 1982, he sold L. A. teevee station, KTLA for - jeez, Louise - $245 million. As you can imagine, he ranked, for many years, in the Forbes Magazine list of the 400 richest Americans. His estimated worth was about - about? $320 million. (Sorry, no Trump jokes).

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I usually come up with a list of the star's movies, but Jimbo won't grant me 368 pages, so I'll settle for just a few titles: "Mexicali Rose," with Smiley, of course. "Ride, Ranger, Ride," with Smiley, of course, plus the Tennessee Ramblers. Gene and 'Champ Jr. appeared in "Robin Hood Of Texas." There was, also, "Sioux City Sue." Gene and Smiley blazed the "Colorado Sunset." "Beyond the Purple Hills" was advertised as, "Gene's hottest action picture." Jo Dennison, Don Beddoe, and James Millican, all familiar folk, co-starred.

Getting personal again. I never met the man, but a fellow reporter, the late Harry Stapleton, who also wrote for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, spent several days with him. The cowboy's baseball team, the L. A. Angels, wanted Jimmy 'Catfish' Hunter (as did most other major league teams).

In his high school days, I broadcast Jimmy's baseball and football games but, when fame struck, the Perquimans County, N. C. pride and joy worked with lawyers from the nearby town of Ahoskie. Harry covered the negotiations. (Sh - secret -- Jimmy's ultimate dream was to be a New York Yankee which, of course, was a dream come true).

The dream that didn't come true? According to Buddy Ebsen, "he said he'd like to have made a true Western. He said his were kind of fantasies, so you couldn't really believe them, but you could be entertained by them." DAMN RIGHT!!

Autry and horse - true Champions.

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As usual, we wind up these leading man bios with some info about the guys 'n gals in the background. Strange, today -- Glenn Strange, that is. He is a 'Weed-er' born in Weed, New Mexico. He began his theatrical career in radio in 1927, initially as a member of a western group, the Arizona Wranglers.

He was with them until 1934 and, during that time, made several films and several theatrical appearances. In some of his pictures, he served as Dick Foran's sidekick in that star's westerns. Later, he became a 'heavy'. He was in westerns and non, and one of his favorite roles was in the "Frankenstein Monster." On teevee, he was oft seen in "Gunsmoke." Other westerns include, "Red River," "Texas Carnival," "Law Of the Range."