X-Nico

16 unusual facts about Gene Autry


Autry National Center

The Autry was established in 1988 by the actor and businessman Gene Autry (as "Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum") to explore and share the comprehensive story of the American West and the multiple cultures, perspectives, traditions, and experiences–real and imagined–that make the West significant.

Barbara Britton

She teamed with Scott again in the 1948 western Albuquerque, and that same year she starred opposite Gene Autry in Loaded Pistols.

East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad

Movie cowboy Gene Autry later bought the unit, intending to transport it to California for use in his films.

George Archainbaud

Later he was also one of the principal directors of Gene Autry's Flying A TV productions, where he made several episodes for such weekly television series as Buffalo Bill Jr., Annie Oakley and The Adventures of Champion (TV series).

Hardrock, Coco and Joe

The song was also recorded by Gene Autry, but in Autry's version, Joe is depicted as having a high, childlike voice, not a bass one.

Here Comes Santa Claus

"Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" is a Christmas song written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman.

Jerry Scoggins

Ten years later in 1946, country music and cowboy legend Gene Autry changed their name to the Cass County Boys when he hired them to work on his Melody Ranch radio program.

KOOL-FM

At the time, no other station in the Phoenix market had an oldies format, and Osborne was given the freedom by KOOL-FM (then owned by Gene Autry) to play anything he wanted.

Nichols Industries, Inc.

By 1962 the matinee idols like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and many others were gradually making fewer movies and television shows, and children's interest in cap guns began waning.

Old Warner Brothers Studio

In 1967, Gene Autry and his company, Golden West Broadcasters, acquired the old studio property from Paramount for $5 million.

Pioneertown, California

Roy Rogers, Dick Curtis, and Russell Hayden were among the original developers and investors, and Gene Autry frequently taped his show at the six-lane Pioneer Bowl bowling alley.

Robert L. May

Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy Gene Autry.

Royal Edward Arms

Notable guests include Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Governor General Roland Michener, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Gene Autry, and George Hees.

Smoky Dawson

He was widely touted as Australia's first singing cowboy complete with yodel, in the style of Gene Autry: Dawson had an extraordinary long and prolific career, releasing his first single in 1941 and his last album in 2005, aged 92, making him the worlds oldest recording artist (although now surpassed by the forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn).

Tioga, Texas

Gene Autry lived in Tioga as a child; one of the main streets through the town is named for him.

You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven

You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven is a song written by Gene Autry and recorded by the Delmore Brothers and Roy Acuff.


Cowboy Slim Rinehart

He was among the first of the "Singing cowboys" of the 1930s and 40s (whose ranks included Jimmie Rodgers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers among others), and gained notoriety and national recognition as a broadcaster and singer on the infamous border radio station XEG during that time period.

Cricket Records

Among established name artists to appear on Cricket were Gene Autry, William Bendix, Smiley Burnette, Bobby Colt, Dennis Day, Eddie Dean, Leif Erickson, Ray Heatherton, Boris Karloff, Maury Laws, Gisele MacKenzie, Norman Rose and David Wayne.

Douglas B. Green

The show features the music of such classic western performers as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Rex Allen, and the Sons of the Pioneers, as well as more obscure recordings.

Doyle Dykes

Dykes is an avid collector of old Western movies, including the films of John Wayne, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Steve McQueen.

Gene E. Sease

Born in the small coal mining town of Portage, Pennsylvania, Gene Sease is the youngest of five siblings and was named after the famous singing cowboy, Gene Autry.

Hank Ballard

His major vocal inspiration during his formative years was the "Singing Cowboy", Gene Autry, and in particular, his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again".

Jingle Jangle Jingle

Versions were recorded by many other musicians, including Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Glenn Miller, The Merry Macs and Burl Ives.

John Harvey Gahan

He wrote many well-loved cowboy songs and sold them to better known performers such as Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, et al. for the total sum of $25.00 to buy milk for his wife’s baby.

Maurice Starkey

He claimed to have held a job as a chef for a hotel restaurant owned by Gene Autry, and once cooked for restaurant customer Howard Hughes.

Nichols cap guns

By 1962 the matinee idols like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and many others were gradually making less movies and television shows and children's interest in cap guns began waning.

Poverty Row

Republic began by releasing serial shorts and Westerns with Gene Autry in the 1930s before eventually riding the success of eventual superstar John Wayne and embarking on more ambitious projects, such as 1953's Wayne hit, The Quiet Man.

Ride Ranger Ride

Texas Ranger Gene Autry (Gene Autry) and cavalry Lieutenant Bob Cameron (George J. Lewis) are competing for the attentions of Dixie Summerall (Kay Hughes), the beautiful daughter of Colonel Summerall (Robert Homans) at Fort Adobe, Texas.

Salty Holmes

While a member of the Prairie Ramblers, Holmes befriended Gene Autry, who invited him to Hollywood to star in Westerns in 1936 and 1944; among the films Holmes appeared in are Arizona Days and Saddle Leather Law.

Snake River Stampede Rodeo

Gene Autry was the first of such singers, followed by others, such as Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, Rex Allen, and the Sons of the Pioneers.

The Old Chisholm Trail

It has been recorded by the world's most popular Western singers, including Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bing Crosby, Randy Travis, and Michael Martin Murphey.

Virginia Carroll

She appeared on screen in these westerns opposite Tex Ritter, Don "Red" Barry, Roy Rogers, Johnny Mack Brown, Bill Elliott, Gene Autry and Whip Wilson.