SENIORS NEWS Owen Gene Autry, alias ‘Gene Autry’ - An extraordinary life
SCENE: Country town Gatton, early Queensland style, childhood picture theatre School of Arts, with weekly Saturday matinee: blinds drawn, tucked up in deep, lieback canvas seats, fantales and bucket of Peter’s ice-cream poised to go..... curtains across, Movietone News, “Flash Gordon” or “Phantom”, then Gene Autry in black and white film, rode across the silver screen on his Spanish quarter-horse “Champion”, the first of succeeding twenty-two “Champions” throughout his life. With his side-kick Smiley (‘Frog’) Burnette, he began a successful film career at 27 in “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” after being well received in a ‘bit’ part in “Old Santa Fe”. Born a cowboy (son of a whittler) Tioga Texas 1907, he led a semi-fatherless life, poor, but skilled early in rural life, hardening his resolve to succeed well. He worked many jobs to help sustain his musical mother and three siblings, also purchasing a guitar which his mother taught him to play, performing
‘around the ridges’. His talent was recognised on night shift as a railroad, telegraphic morse-code operator. With little schooling, his Mother dying young, he headed off to the ‘big smoke’ to make his name in a sound recording studio, accidentally being liked by singing “That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine”, heard by its composer; recorded and sold millions of copies. He married his young accompanist, song-writer and launched his “Melody Ranch” radio show at his ranch outside Los Angeles, shunning a Hollywood lifestyle. Launched, on his way up, he acted in 93 films from 1935-1954; a clean image, wholesome and immaculately dressed, a BaptistMason, role model to many generations of youngsters. He ‘rescued’ many a leading lady (including Rita Hayworth) thinking himself a ‘wooden’ actor, an average singer-guitarist, but remarked, “People like me - that’s all that matters!”. He wrote, co-wrote 650 songs, keeping up with hit parade favourites. He
unwillingly, at his wife’s request, recorded “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” which became a top seller, loved by children everywhere. He had no children, leaving $450 million, giving $250 million to charity. Despite time out in the U.S. Air Forces’ Burma Campaign as supply pilot on dangerous missions over China and India, WWII, even with Roy Rogers temporarily usurping his position with Republic Pictures, he returned to his personal personae after the conflict, his identity, authenticity intact. Entering corporate business post movie making, he owned Record companies, motels, airports, golf courses, a basketball team, ranches, a televi-
sion network, buying up his old films to adapt. He was consequently widowed, very wealthy at 71 and lonely. He married his long-time trusted banker, 35 years his junior, now 70. On his death at 91 years, Jackie Autry continued her late husband’s famous interests, including fondly displaying his successful life in films, outfits/memorabilia from rodeos, personal stints etc. Recording his Royal Family Buckingham Palace ‘fan’ visit on tour to Britain-Ireland. All this and more are collected/displayed for posterity in Gene Autry’s enormous famous U.S. Western, Cowboy Heritage Museum. He was made an honorary citizen of Mexico for his work in the Latin-American Industry and honoured as a much loved, admired self-made actor with business success at the American Academy Awards, prior to his death in 1998. A legend, he inspired, entertained millions, as a ‘romantic’ prairie-riding “goodie”, respectfully wooing ladies (on the rebound after
Rudolf Valentino - desert sheik - gave the wrong moral message. He did just that: Spanish-Mexi-
By Thea Booth
can South of the Border Missions, Call of the Canyon in Indian country style, riding into town
with the Sheriff posse, cleaning up the screen ‘baddies’. Thank you, Gene Autry!
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August 2011 - Brisbane Seniors - Page 13