Video Link: Roy Rogers 'Under California Stars' (From Under California Stars (1948))

Cowboy Church #108

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Jim Reeves singing Have Thine Own Way Lord. This song was written by Adelaide A. Pollard in 1902. Pollard had a strong urge to go to become a missionary in Africa. When her attempt to raise funds failed to fall through she found herself feeling distressed. However at a prayer meeting she heard an elderly lady pray, "It really doesn't matter what you do with us, Lord -- just have your way with our lives . . .." This simple prayer stuck with her an moved her. When she got home that night she sat down and wrote this song. This simple story shows us that God may not give us something we think we should have when we think we should have it because he has a powerful work to perform through our lives first and with how many people have been moved by this song it is easy to say that God knew what he was doing. Next up comes Tennessee Ernie Ford singing Rock of Ages. This hymn was written by Augustus Toplady. In the 1775 article, Life a Journey, he published the first stanza of the hymn. A year later the complete hymn appeared in Gospel Magazine under the title A Living and Dying Prayer for the Holiest Believer in the World. This is followed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing Softly and Tenderly. This song was written by Will Lamartine Thompson, who also wrote patriotic and secular songs as well as gospel. His other gospel song include Lead Me Gently Home Father and Jesus is all the World to Me. Softly and Tenderly was first published in Sparkling Gems, Nos. 1 and 2, a collection of hymns published by Thompson's own company, in 1880. Before his good friend evangelist Dwight L. Moody passed away Moody told Thompson “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.” This recording comes from Roy and Dale's 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. Next is The Bailes Brothers with their 1951 recording of Daniel Prayed.  Next comes Charlie Rich singing Old Time Religion. It is unknown all who wrote this song, yet Charles Davis Tillman plays a major role in why we know this song today. Tillman was born shortly after the American Civil War and one day he was passing some fields in South Carolina and heard some former slaves singing this song. It stuck with him and he jotted down the lyrics. The song was officially published for the first time in 1873, but who knows how long it was around before then. This recording comes from Rich's 1976 gospel album, Silver Linings. Next is the singing cowboy, Gene Autry with Silver Spurs (Upon the Golden Stairs). Gene co-wrote this with Cindy Walker. This recording comes from an episode of Gene's Melody Ranch Radio Show dated 11/18/45. This is followed by Johnny Cash singing No Earthly Good. In the notes for the Unearthed box set, John wrote, "That's a song I wrote for phony pious Christians 'You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good.' People who are always talking about Heaven and how close we are to being there give Christianity a bad name. And it should have a good name because it's a wonderful thing. Wonderful and I don't like it, it makes me very angry, when charlatans abuse and misuse the Gospel of Jesus Christ, It's outrageous and totally uncalled for." Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers singing The Place Where I Worship. This recording comes from their 1963 gospel album, Hymns of the Cowboy. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:8


Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Psalm 119:30

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:3-4

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Proverbs 28:26

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelations 21:5

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Luke 3:18

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on its own. Matthew 6:34-35

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Thanks for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again. 

Cowboy Church #66

Hello my friends and welcome back to another service of Cowboy Church.

Today's musical selection begins with The Louvin Brothers singing Don't Let 'Em Take the Bible Out of the Schoolroom. Listening to this song makes one realize how much the world has changed. The idea of the Bible being taught in a classroom is one that is foreign to multiple generations today (unless they went to a Christian school). This is followed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing It is No Secret What God Can Do. This recording comes from their 1962 gospel album, The Bible Tells Me So. Next comes Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of Read the Bible Everyday. The title of this songs seems like obvious advice, yet some many Christians fall out of this important habit. It is so easy to simply say "I'm not going to read my Bible today but I'll read it tomorrow" then not read it tomorrow or the day after. I admit to having done this multiple times and believe me I am not proud of that in the slightest. As Christian reading the Bible should be a priority. After all it is in the one and only true word of God and reading it strengthens us spiritually and to deal with what we see in this world of troubles. Without reading it our minds stop thinking about God completely and with our minds not on the things of God we fall out of fellowship with him and feel less secure in him. If you don't do this then I challenge you to. It will do you a world of good. If you already do this make sure you do not fall out of the habit. Since Charlie Daniels has passed away so recently the rest of today's musical selection is dedicated to him. First is The Charlie Daniels Band original, Whose Side Are You On from the 1996 Christian album, Steel Witness. Second is I've Found a Hiding Place  from the 2005 bluegrass gospel album, I've Found a Hiding Place. Afterwards is Jerusalem's Shame from the 1994 Christian album The Door. Following is Softly and Tenderly from the 2003 gospel album, How Sweet the Sound: 25 Hymns and Gospel Greats. Today's musical selection ends with It's Happening Now from Steel Witness.

 
























The following is a video in which Charlie discusses his faith.






He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. Job 5:11

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Number 6:26

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work like you are working for the Lord, not for people. Colossians 3:23

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12

Thank you for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.





-Michael J. Ruhland

Overlooked Classics: Ridin' the Cherokee Trail (1941)

I have made several posts about Gene Autry and Roy Rogers on this blog. However these were far from being the only singing cowboys in the movies in the 1930's and 40's. One of the best singing cowboys was Tex Ritter. From 1936 to 1945, Tex stared in a whole slew of B westerns that featured fantastic country music, fast paced action and corny humor. A great example of this is Ridin' the Cherokee Trail, a movie that is simply pure fun.

The storyline of this movie like in many of these B westerns is very simple. Tex and Slim Andrews are Texas Rangers. A notorious outlaw (Forrest Taylor) has been hiding in the Cherokee Strip so the law can't catch him. Tex and Slim pretend to be fellow outlaws so that they can lure this man over into Texas where they can legally arrest him.

With this very simple story, this movie gives us all the entertainment we could want from a film like this. This film offers some great songs. As well as Tex performing some of these songs we also get some performed by the country band, The Tennessee Ramblers, who also worked with another singing cowboy in the movies, Gene Autry (in the films Ride Ranger Ride (1936), Yodelin' Kid From Pine Ridge (1937)). They were a very talented band and it is a delight to hear them here. Two of the members of that band (Jack Gillette and Harry Blair) wrote the majority of the songs used in this film. Costar Slim Andrews wrote two of the songs himself and cowrote one with Tex Ritter. This simple story leads to a fantastic action filled climax that is simply a heck of a lot of fun. Another treat in this movie is its sense of humor. Slim Andrews is the comedy relief in this movie (a role he played in quite a few Tex Ritter movies), and he is quite good. For instance him pretending to be a tough guy in the bar definitely made me giggle. One of the best scenes of humor in this movie though is when Tex tries to turn a classic piece played by the villain into a cowboy song (one he claims to have wrote himself).

This movie made its premiere on February 24, 1941 at the Tryon in Charlotte, North Carolina. At this premiere The Tennessee Ramblers gave a live performance before the movie.  

The film's director was the very capable Spencer Gordon Bennett. At this time he was directing many B westerns, and some very fun ones.

No one would ever call this movie high art but it certainly is top notch entertainment.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Cowboy Church #4

Happy Sunday my friends and welcome to a new installment of Cowboy Church. 

We start today's musical selection off with another song from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans 1959 album Jesus Loves Me. This song is entitled The Circuit Riding Preacher. Next comes The Carter Family performing Church in the Wildwood in a 1929 recording. Next comes Johnny Cash singing a song from his 1965 album Johnny Cash Sings the Ballads of the True West called Letter From Home. Next Hank Williams sings a gospel classic Where the Soul Never Dies. This recording is from the Mother's Best Flour radio show which starred Hank, who ended almost every show with a gospel number. Next comes Charlie Daniels performing a song he wrote himself, Jesus. This song was off his 1996 Christian album Steel Witness. Last but not least is George Jones performing the great gospel song Leaning on the Everlasting Arms off his 1966 gospel album, Old Brush Arbors.     
















Most of us know Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle from his great series of silent short films. These were fast paced slapstick humor at its best. That is what makes his very first feature film so surprising. The Round Up (1920) is a fairly straight western. What needs to be taken into account here is that by this time there had been few comedy features. In fact Charlie Chaplin wouldn't release The Kid until 1921. Sure there had already been Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914), but that could have been viewed as a fluke, plus tastes in slapstick comedy had already changed significantly since then.  It is most likely that the filmmakers felt that Arbuckle's fast paced slapstick would not sustian a whole feature film and therefore he was put into a rather straight role. He adapts to this very well. Arbuckle was a very talented actor and could adapt to a serious role easily.

One thing many silent movie fans think of when they think of Arbuckle is how he helped Buster Keaton get his start in movies. Though Buster was a huge star by the time of The Round Up, he took a very tiny and uncredited role in this movie. Buster would later say he did this movie just for fun.

Besides being Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's first feature film, this movie also marked another milestone in movie history. It was the first feature length western to be shot in Lone Pine California. There would be many more to come. Such western stars and directors as John Wayne, Tom Mix, John Ford, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Randolph Scott, Tim Holt, James Stewart, Hoot Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Joseph Kane and Henry Fonda would make some of their classic westerns there. It wasn't just old westerns that were shot in Lone Pine though. Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained (2012) and Disney's The Lone Ranger (2013) also had scenes shot there.

This film also features Arbuckle less at the creative end of things than he was in his shorts. Arbuckle often directed and wrote his own short subjects. In The Round Up his only job is as an actor. George Melford directs and Tom Forman writes.

Arbuckle's feature film career did not last very long as in 1921 he was wrongfully accused of rape and murder. He was found innocent, but his film career had ended.

The Round Up would be remade in 1941 under the same title. That film would also be shot in Lone Pine.

The film is not available to watch on the internet, but it is available on DVD and Blu-ray. It has also been occasionally shown on TCM. Here is Robert Osborne introducing the movie on TCM.

 

Since I can't share a video of the feature, here is a 1918 short starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and Buster Keaton called Out West (1918).



You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11.Great are the works of the LORD; They are studied by all who delight in them. Psalm 111:2Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17We count those blessed who endured You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Cowboy Church #3

Happy Sunday my friends, welcome back to Cowboy Church.

For our musical selection today we begin with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing a gospel song Dale wrote herself, The Bible Tells Me So from the husband and wife team's 1959 album Jesus Loves Me. Next up comes the title track from Willie Nelson's 1976 gospel album, The Troublemaker. This is a song that manages to be both a gospel song and a protest song. Next comes Ray Price singing a classic gospel song Softly and Tenderly. Then we have the possum himself, George Jones singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Next is The Carter Family performing Can the Circle Be Unbroken. This recording comes from 1935. Based off a traditional gospel song, A.P. Carter wrote new lyrics for this version which would soon become the lyrics all country singers use. Now we end with the 1991 music video for Johnny Cash's Goin' By The Book. 

                                               The following is a 1955 article about Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and their daughter Marion from the TV Radio Mirror (the top half of the second page is unrelated).





  


The following is a 1939 article from Silver Screen about the classic John Ford western (staring the one and only John Wayne) Stagecoach (1939). Note that the majority of the 3rd page is from a different article and only the top of the 6th page is from this article.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1John 4:8

" There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Cowboy Church #2

Happy Sunday my friends and welcome back to cowboy church. 

For our musical selection we begin with the King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers, singing A Cowboy's Prayer from his and Dale Evans' 1959 album, Jesus Loves Me. Next comes Waylon Jennings performing the classic gospel song Precious Memories from his 1976 album Are You Ready For the Country. Now comes Johnny Cash performing his self penned The Greatest Cowboy of Them All on his 1978 Christmas TV special. Next comes Gene Autry singing The Last Round Up, this version coming from his feature film, The Singing Hill (1941). This song was written by the one and only Cole Porter. Next comes Tennessee Ernie Ford singing The Old Rugged Cross. We end with Kris Kristofferson singing the self penned Why Me Lord and telling the story of how he wrote this great song.

The following is a 1949 article about Roy Rogers in Radio and Television Mirror.




Now for our feature presentation a silent western, Riders of the Purple Sage (1925). This film stars the legendary screen cowboy Tom Mix and is directed by Lynn Reynolds a regular director for Tom Mix during this period. This film was shot in Lone Pine, California. There have been tons of great films shot in Lone Pine and though it is not as common today, films still continue to be shot there. If you have ever been there (which I highly recommend), it is easy to see why. You immediately feel like you just stepped into an old western movie. Though Tom Mix did a lot of shooting in Lone Pine, it would usually just be a few scenes. Riders of the Purple Sage was the one time where the majority of the film was shot there. This film was based loosely around the 1912 Zane Grey novel of the same name. This was not the first time this novel would be made into a movie and it would not be the last. It had been adapted for the screen earlier in 1918, would be again in 1931 and 1941 for the big screen and finally as a TV movie in 1996. However this 1925 version remains my favorite. The novel had Mormons who practiced polygamy as the villains. However this film version and the other movie versions there was no mention of the Mormon religion and this part of the story was simply overlooked. This movie was in production from November 7, 1924 to December 13, 1924. Grey wrote a sequel book in 1915 called The Rainbow Trail. Later in 1925 a movie version of that book also starring Tom Mix and directed by Lynn Reynolds would be released. Without further ado enjoy Riders of the Purple Sage (1925).

       

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Cowboy Church #1

Welcome to a new weekly instalment on this blog entitled Cowboy Church. A Cowboy Church post will go up every Sunday. Each post will feature some classic country gospel music, some bible verses and various items about one of more old western movies.

First up our music selection begins with one of country music's all time finest singer-songwriters Hank Williams, performing his own self penned I Saw the Light on one of his rare TV appearances, look for a young June Carter (before she married Johnny Cash) in this video. Next up comes Willie Nelson and Dyan Cannon performing the old gospel tune, Unclouded Day in the movie, Honeysuckle Rose (1980). How can you have Cowboy Church without Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Here we have them performing a gospel song each. Gene sings a great gospel song written by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath and Sonny Burke, called Somebody Bigger than You or I. This version is from Gene's feature film, The Old West (1952). Roy sings the gospel classic Peace in the Valley. This recording comes from the 42nd episode (The Rene Eigen Case) of Roy's radio show.  After this comes Johnny Cash performing his self penned I Was There When it Happened on TV. Next Charlie Daniels Band's version of Somebody Was Praying For Me. We end with the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet (Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Grandpa Jones, Kenney Price) performing Where Could I Go but to the Lord on a 1980 episode of Hee Haw. 

“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’" Isaiah 12:2

"“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Movie preview for King of the Cowboys starring Roy Rogers.

     
An article from Hollywood Magazine About Gene Autry, from 1940.

Now to end with here is a silent short western film starring none other than Tom Mix. So enjoy, Sagebrush Tom (1915).




-Michael J. Ruhland

Hooray For Gene Autry

I have expressed before on this blog my fondness for old Gene Autry westerns. The reason for this is quite easy. The movies are very fun (plus I am a country music fan as well as a movie fan). However also contributing to this is that there is something about Gene's screen presence that is incredibly inspiring. How can you watch one of these movies and not want to be a cowboy, riding a beautiful horse, saving the day and of course singing a song or two along the way. He was a larger than life role model, that every red blooded American boy could look up to and each time I watch one of his movies or TV episodes (as well as listening to his music and radio show as well) I become one of those red blooded American boys. Though naturally he was human and was not as perfect as his onscreen character, still the more I read about him as a person the more I like him. For an example here is an article from TV Radio Mirror (dated May 1956), entitled "Hooray for Gene."


"Some years ago, in the process of joining his rodeo with another, Gene Autry entered a banker's conference room to sign the papers closing the deal. The dealers, flanked by their lawyers were surprised to see Gene arrive alone. As Gene later explained simply 'I trust everybody.....' This trust is one of Gene's outstanding character traits, and to a great extent responsible for his ever continuing success: In 1956 Gene Autry will be celebrating his twenty-sixth year on radio and his sixteenth year for the same sponsor - one of the longest associations of a star and his sponsor in showbusiness history.

"What is there about Gene Autry that wears so well? The answer is to be found in Gene's sincerity, his honesty of heart and manner, simple as one of his western tunes. Plain folks, it seems, never wear out their welcome. And Gene Autry with his simplicity is forever welcome in his listener's homes.

"The love his coworkers have for Gene is well shown in their loyalty and long tenure in his organization - many have been with him for twenty years or more. Louise Moraweck, for example first played viola for Gene's radio orchestra for ten years and has since worked six more years on his radio staff. She describes good friend Gene as follows: 'Gene is consistent and even-tempered. Perhaps I should say he has a complete lack of temperament. So many actors are 'stars.' He is not one of them he is just Gene. He is so unaffected you can't help but loving him.

"'On the other hand he is so full of energy. On the road he doesn't mind a seven day a week schedule, matinee and evening performances, Sunday rehearsal and radio show or visits to the governor, mayor or city officials. Whenever there is a break in the day, his first stop is the children's hospital. He works best when he has the most to do. Yet he never loses his temper - though I can tell you he has had plenty of occasions to do so.

"'I remember when I first went to work for him, I was in charge of his 'original' record collection - relics they were, his first recordings, many out of release and impossible to duplicate. Some had already been destroyed a fire at his home, so that made the remainders even more valuable in his eyes.

"'One day the arranger came to me asking if he could borrow one of the 'firsts,' saying he needed it for a special job on the air show. My conscience hurt when I handed it over, but I did so only on his promise that he would return it the very next day. You can imagine how I reacted when he came in to say he had dropped and broken the record. Gene had every right in the world to lose his temper. But when I told him, he said 'Forget it Louise, you can't cry over spilled records...''

"The people who work with Gene, his friends who know him best, can tell you that no one in Hollywood is more of a 'real person' than Gene Autry. 'One of Gene's most wonderful qualities' says his long time friend and TV producer Lou Gray, 'is that Gene never changes. He is the same quiet unassuming man today that he was twenty five years ago when I first met him... When we go on location to Joshua Tree, Gene is just one of the cowboys. If a call goes out for a crack of dawn scene, he's there and he's still there when the sun goes down. If a hard-riding scene comes up, something that might require a stuntman, Gene says 'Aw come on now, let's don't make a big thing of this,' - and we go ahead and do it.

"'To go back twenty-five years; I first heard of Gene when I worked in a New York agency. Each month the record sales report came across my desk. Gene's records for Sears & Roebuck were beginning to hit the top ten. People in the office began asking, 'Who's Gene Autry?'

"'One day Gene finally got to the New York office. He came clumping in, wearing boots and a big white hat and said 'Howdy' to all the girls. They just gaped. You didn't see many boots on Madison Avenue in those days. Well from then on we referred to Gene as the 'boy in the big white hat.' Of course he's a big man now - point is, as far as I can see, Gene hasn't changed. I still call him 'The man in the big white hat' and he still says 'Howdy.'

"Says his wife Ina, 'Gene talks in plain United States, and I mean the plainest. In fact he spoke so easy it made an impression on me the first day we met. Gene had known my aunt and uncle for some years, and I was staying with them while going to college in Springfield, Missouri. They talked about him and how he was playing on Station WLS. To a kid in college, like me, anybody in Chicago radio was really big.

"'I was a dither when Gene stepped off the train for a visit that morning in 1931, but he spoke more 'Missouri' than my uncle and aunt! And I thought, Now there's a person whose head will never be turned by success. I think I decided there and then 'there's the man for me.' We went back to the house, visited for a spell, and then he took me to a movie. When he left we wrote. Then he visited again, three or four times and finally he wrote to me from St. Louis to come and get married. I did and I've never been unhappy about it a day in my life - and before long we'll have been married a quarter of the century.'

"With nearly twenty-five years of marriage, twenty-six years of radio, and a record of sixteen years with the same sponsor, TV RADIO MIRROR salutes Gene Autry. For - as many of his faithful listeners long ago agreed - to know Gene is to love him... plain folks it seems never wear out their welcome."

For our musical selection today we have a classic gospel song recorded by Gene on June 19, 1952. This song features Johnny Bond on guitar and backing vocals. Bond had a pretty successful career as a country singer himself. This song was written by Jimmy Kennedy. Kennedy had previously written a song called South of the Border which was a huge hit for Autry in 1939, coming for Autry's feature film South of the Border (1939). Today's song is entitled God's Little Candles.


Gene also sang this song in his feature film, Pack Train (1953). Here is that version of the song.

 
-Michael J. Ruhland

Roy Rogers: A Western Star is Born

The following is an article from the Motion Picture Herald, dated August 24, 1943 and titled A Man, A Horse and a Campaign.

"This is a story of how a star was made. Its is the story of a campaign which added to the integrity of motion picture exploitation and the publicity of the advertising principals and methods of a toothpaste manufacturer.

"The star is Republic's Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger, and this is how it happened.

"Gene Autry top box office western star and for two years high up in the charmed circle of Hollywood's ten biggest money makers, was U.S. Army Bound. Time was short. Republic and its customers wanted a successor in an hurry. So driven by necessity, the studio decided upon a record-breaking apportion for the buildup of the man they hoped to crown 'King of the Cowboys.'


"Promotion Went into High With Rodeo Appearance"By October 25, 1942, nine months ago, the Rogers' promotional campaign was in high gear. On that date he appeared in New York's Madison square garden, at the World's Championship Rodeo. Roy took only the proverbial bull by the horns, leaving the rough stuff for the professional cowboys out for cash prizes, but he got top billing and during his New York visit appeared on Fred Allen's radio program, was photographed at Randolph Field and exchanged with Mayor LaGuardia a pair of silver spurs for the key to the city.


"In the whirlwind campaign that followed, the name of the man who was to be Gene Autry's successor became known to public and exhibitors alike. Autry's rise to fame was slow but steady, but Roy Rogers' name was shot across the cinema horizon like a fighter plane heading for his target.


"Through national magazines, newspapers, rural weeklies, billboards and the airwaves, the campaign has deluged the American public with volumes of Roy Rogers material.


"By topping press and radio publicity and advertising with personal appearances of their Western star, Republic has seen to it that few are the Americans who have neither seen nor heard of Rogers. As a result, exhibitors not only have found themselves with a name to substitute for Gene Autry, but are also finding that their Western-fan patrons are more concerned with who is heading the cast then with the title.


"Engaged in Six-Week Tour of American Army Camps"Leaving New York in October of last year, Rogers appeared with the rodeo in Boston and Buffalo. From Buffalo, he went to Toledo, to participate in the Community Chest Drive. Then followed a six week tour of Army camps, with 136 performances in 20 days. Roy ended that phase of his campaign in Las Vegas, where he was named Grand Marshall of the Helldorado celebration, and where he checked into his hotel astride his horse Trigger who holding a pencil in his mouth signed the register with an X as the cameras clicked.

"When time allowed he took to the road, making personal appearances from coast to coast, calling on children at orphanages in Washington and Texas, performing for soldiers at camps, USO Canteens, Stage Door Canteens and participating in War Bond drives.

"His personal appearances hit a climax two weeks ago when he appeared at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago in conjunction with the first run of his 'Song of Texas.' Even the studio has lost count of the number of his personal appearances.

"In conjunction with the Rogers' tours, Republic has plastered billboards from coast to coast with advertisements of their cowboy star, reading: 'Roy Rogers - King of the Cowboys - 'Trigger' - Smartest Horse in the Movies - Appearing in Republic Pictures - Satisfying America's Demand for Western Romance!' Republic points out that the display concerns Roy and Trigger only, all without reference to the title of any picture.


"There followed in the wake of this combined exploitation and advertising a great flood of publicity in fan and general magazines, daily newspapers and weeklies. Photographs of Rogers, usually in the company of Trigger, appeared in display windows, pamphlets and all types of periodicals. Roy astride Trigger rearing up on his hind legs, decorated the Life Magazine's July 12th issue with a featured story inside.          

"In exploitation, all chapters of the Junior Rodeo fans of America, a national organization, are kept informed by Republic where and when Roy Rogers films are showing and in many cases are feeding their local chapters with the same service.

"Past and Present Cowboy Kings Unique Stunt
"There are two albums of Roy Rogers Cowboy Songs, published in cooperation with Republic. The company is prepared to provide exhibitors with the sheet music albums at reduced prices for promotional prize contests or tieups with music stores.

"One exhibitor worked out his own exploitation idea. The Skouras Victory theatre in Bayside, N.Y., booked William S. Hart's 'Tumbleweed,' ran it with 'Idaho,' staring Roy Rogers, and advertised the program as 'King of the Cowboys, Past and Present.'

"The first known Western star was Max Aronson, former vaudeville actor, who, as Broncho Billy Anderson, directed, produced and stared in screenplays written by Max Aronson, turning out one a week for 376 weeks. In the season just ended, Roy Rogers starred in eight big-budget (Some $350,000 per picture) films for Republic, with eight more big-budget pictures scheduled for the new season.

"Republic executives have emphasized that through consistent use of trade paper advertising, the exhibitor has been kept abreast of the national campaign, conceived and supervised by Charles Reed Jones, Republic's director of advertising and publicity.

"Report 100 Per Cent Rise on Rogers Films
"At their recent sales meetings Republic officials announced that film rental grosses on current releases had reached a new high surpassing all expectations, and that the gross receipts on the Roy Rogers big-budget films were 100 per cent above last year.

"James R. Grainger, Republic president has attributed the 100 per cent rise in receipts on Rogers' films to the increased production budgets, and the advertising and exploitation campaign on the films. Ad no small percentage of the expenditure went into the personal promotion of Roy Rogers, 'King of Cowboys.'"


Now for our music selection for today. This clip is from the 35th episode (the 6th episode of the 2nd season) of the TV show Hee Haw (1969-1997), which premiered on October, 20, 1970. Also guest staring on this episode was Roy's wife, singing partner, and often film costar Dale Evans and Doug Kershaw. Roy was a popular guest star on this show appearing in 4 episodes in season 2 alone. The song Roy is performing in the script is a Merle Haggard cover, The Fighting Side of Me. This patriotic song was written by Merle. It was released as a single in December 1969, and then was the title track for his 1970 live album.

   

       

Here is Merle performing the song.





   Happy Trails to you until we meet again.

-Michael J. Ruhland