GENE AUTRY
Information From IMDb
Date of Birth
29 September 1907,
Near Tioga, Texas, USA
Date of Death
2 October 1998,
Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA (lymphoma)
Birth Name
Orvon Grover Autry
Nickname
The Singing Cowboy
Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)
Alternate Names:
Bob Clayton | Johnny Dodds
Spouse
Jackie Autry (19 July 1981 - 2 October 1998) (his death)
Ina Mae Spivey (1 April 1932 - 20 May 1980) (her death)
Trade Mark
Song: "Back in the Saddle Again", horse: Champion
Trivia
His first hit record was "That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine" in 1932.
Autry was the first owner of the Los Angeles Angels American League baseball club, subsequently renamed the California Angels when the team was relocated to Anaheim in 1966. (The team has been renamed twice: the Anaheim Angels, and now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.) A radio station owner, Autry was interested in acquiring the broadcasting rights to the Angels games when he found out the team, part of the American League's first expansion, was for sale. He bought it. Autry owned the team in its entirety from its first year of play, 1961, until 1997, when he sold part of the franchise to Disney, who renamed the team the Anaheim Angels. Autry's widow sold the rest of the team to Disney after his death the next year at the age of 91.
He has five stars in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame; for Recording, Movies, TV, Radio, and live theater.
According to a Hollywood legend, published in The Orange County Register after his death, Autry was discovered singing in a telegraph office in Oklahoma by Will Rogers. Rogers told him that he had a pretty good voice, and suggested that he go to Hollywood where he could make some money singing in the movies. Gene followed Rogers' advice and became "The Singing Cowboy." Autry himself related this story in an interview with Cecil B. DeMille on the Lux Radio Drama Hour. In the interview, Gene added that the next time he saw Rogers was in Hollywood. According to Gene, Will just nodded and said, "I see you made it, kid."
Interred at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California, USA, in the Sheltering Hills section, Grave #1048.
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969.
Grandson of an itinerant preacher, he became a multi-millionaire through his investments and real estate holdings.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1980.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1972.
He was the most popular of the "singing cowboys." In his heyday he was making six to eight feature westerns a year.
More than 50 years after the last Gene Autry western, he is better known to later generations as a singer. His remastered vintage recordings of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" remain very popular holiday standards into the 21st century.
The California/Anaheim Angels franchise retired #26 in his honor.
Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 19-22. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Owned Golden West Broadcasters, which owned and operated San Francisco AM radio station KSFO, Los Angeles television station KTLA channel 5, and Los Angeles AM radio station KMPC.
During the war, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
During World War II, when he left Republic Pictures to join the U.S. Army, he was the only officer allowed to wear cowboy boots with his uniform.
In response to his millions of young fans who wanted to be like Gene Autry, he developed a code of conduct, "The Cowboy Code", which is as follows: 1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. 2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. 3. He must always tell the truth. 4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. 5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. 6. He must help people in distress. 7. He must be a good worker. 8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. 9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws. 10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
In 1940 the National Association of Theater Owners voted him the fourth biggest box office attraction, behind Mickey Rooney, 'Clark Gable' and Spencer Tracy.
On January 1st, 1942, the small town of Berwyn (Carter County, Oklahoma) changed its name and became 'Gene Autry'.
In 1992 he was said to be worth $320 million.
Mini Biography
After high school Gene Autry worked as a laborer for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad in Oklahoma. Next he was a telegrapher. In 1928 he began singing on a local radio station, and three years later he had his own show and was making his first recordings. Three years after that he made his film debut in Ken Maynard's In Old Santa Fe (1934) and starred in a 13-part serial the following year for Mascot Pictures, The Phantom Empire (1935). The next year he signed a contract with Republic Pictures and began making westerns. Autry--for better or worse--pretty much ushered in the era of the "singing cowboy" westerns of the 1930s and 1940s (in spite of the presence in his oaters of automobiles, radios and airplanes). These films often grossed ten times their average $50,000 production costs. During World War II he enlisted in the US Army and was assigned as a flight officer from 1942-46 with the Air Transport Command. After his military service he returned to making movies, this time with Columbia Pictures, and finally with his own company, Flying A Productions, which, during the 1950s, produced his TV series "The Gene Autry Show" (1950), "The Adventures of Champion" (1955), and "Annie Oakley" (1954). He wrote over 200 songs. A savvy businessman, he retired from acting in the early 1960s and became a multi-millionaire from his investments in hotels, real estate, radio stations and the California Angels professional baseball team.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan
Mini Biography
Orvon Gene Autry is considered by many to be the greatest western star of all time. He earned the designation of "America's Favorite Cowboy". He was "discovered" by Will Rogers while working as a telegrapher. One of his stars on the Walk of fame is for Live Performance (including rodeo), not live theater. Also, "That Siver-Haired Daddy of Mine" sold over 500,00 copies in its first release. He is the first artist in history to have a gold record. Also, he is also the first artist to ever sell 1,000,000 copies of a record - "That Silver-Haired daddy of Mine". He was also the first artist ever to sell out Madison Square Garden. His song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is the second highest selling Christmas song of all time. It has sold over 30 million copies. In 1940, he was the 4th highest grossing box office attraction according to Theater Exhibitors of America. The only stars above him were, Mickey Rooney, Clark gable, and Spencer Tracy. By 1948, Dell Publishing was printing over 1,000,000 Gene Autry Comic Books per year. Gene Autry was #49 on CMT's 50 Greatest Men of Country Music, and he also had 2 songs on CMT's 100 Greatest Songs Of Country. everything Gene touched seemed to turn to gold. After he retired from acting, he had many successful business ventures, including radio and television stations. He also owned the California Angels. When he sold part of his interest to Disney, the became the Anaheim Angels. He was Vice President of The American League until his death. Sadly, he never got to see his beloved Angels win the World Series. The team even retired Gene's number "26". He has a town named after him - Gene Autry, Oklahoma. They host a festival/celebration every year. Gene died in 1998 from lymphoma.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Robyn Garner
Personal Quotes
[in a conversation with director Frank McDonald about his career] I'm not a good actor, a good rider or a particularly good singer, but they seem to like what I do, so I'll keep on doing it as long as they want.
[on the music industry] It occurs to me that music, with the possible exception of riding a bull, is the most uncertain way to make a living I know. In either case you can get bucked off, thrown, stepped on, trampled--if you get on at all. At best, it is a short and bumpy ride.
In my day, most people thought dance hall girls actually danced.
[on Errol Flynn] He spent more time on a bar stool, or in court, or in the headlines, or in bed, than anyone I knew.
[on the difference between modern westerns and the westerns made during his day] I could never have played scenes like where The Sundance Kid kicks the guy in the nuts [in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)] or anything like Clint Eastwood does.
[about his 'image' as a cowboy star] I couldn't shoot a man in the back. I couldn't take a drink at a bar. They would have run me out of town.
Salary
Shooting High (1940) $25,000
The Phantom Empire (1935) $150/week
Filmography
Actor
1. All American Cowboy (1985) (TV)
2. Silent Treatment (1968)
3. "The Gene Autry Show" .... Gene Autry (91 episodes, 1950-1955)
... aka Melody Ranch
- Dynamite (1955) TV episode .... Gene Autry
- The Rangerette (1955) TV episode .... Gene Autry
- Ride Ranchero (1955) TV episode .... Gene Autry
- Saddle Up (1955) TV episode .... Gene Autry
- Feuding Friends (1955) TV episode .... Gene Autry
(86 more)
4. Last of the Pony Riders (1953) .... Gene Autry
5. Saginaw Trail (1953) .... Gene Autry
6. Pack Train (1953) .... Gene Autry
7. Goldtown Ghost Riders (1953) .... Gene Autry
8. On Top of Old Smoky (1953) .... Gene Autry
9. Winning of the West (1953) .... Gene Autry
10. Blue Canadian Rockies (1952) .... Gene Autry
11. Wagon Team (1952) .... Gene Autry
12. Barbed Wire (1952) .... Gene Autry
... aka False News (UK)
13. Apache Country (1952) .... Gene Autry
14. Night Stage to Galveston (1952) .... Gene Autry
15. The Old West (1952) .... Gene Autry
16. Valley of Fire (1951) .... Gene Autry
17. The Hills of Utah (1951) .... Dr. Gene Autry
18. Silver Canyon (1951) .... Gene
19. Whirlwind (1951) .... Gene Autry aka The Whirlwind
20. Texans Never Cry (1951) .... Gene Autry
21. Gene Autry and The Mounties (1951) .... Gene Autry
22. The Blazing Sun (1950) .... Gene Autry
... aka The Blazing Hills (USA)
23. Indian Territory (1950) .... Gene Autry
24. Beyond the Purple Hills (1950) .... Gene Autry
25. Hoedown (1950) (uncredited) .... Cameo appearance
26. Cow Town (1950) .... Gene Autry
... aka Barbed Wire (UK)
27. Mule Train (1950) .... U.S. Marshal Gene Autry
28. Sons of New Mexico (1949) .... Gene Autry
... aka The Brat (UK)
29. Riders in the Sky (1949) .... Gene Autry
30. The Cowboy and the Indians (1949) .... Gene Autry
31. Rim of the Canyon (1949) .... Gene Autry/Marshal Steve Autry
32. Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949) .... Gene Autry
33. The Big Sombrero (1949) .... Gene Autry
34. Loaded Pistols (1948) .... Gene Autry
35. The Strawberry Roan (1948) .... Gene Autry
... aka Fools Awake (UK)
36. The Last Round-up (1947) .... Gene Autry
37. Robin Hood of Texas (1947) .... Gene Autry
38. Saddle Pals (1947) .... Gene Autry
39. Twilight on the Rio Grande (1947) .... Gene Autry
40. Trail to San Antone (1947) .... Gene Autry
41. Sioux City Sue (1946/I) .... Gene Autry
42. Bells of Capistrano (1942) .... Gene Autry
43. Call of the Canyon (1942) .... Gene Autry
44. Stardust on the Sage (1942) .... Gene Autry
45. Home in Wyomin' (1942) .... Gene Autry
46. Heart of the Rio Grande (1942) .... Gene Autry
47. Cowboy Serenade (1942) .... Gene Autry
... aka Serenade of the West (UK)
48. Sierra Sue (1941) .... Gene Autry
49. Down Mexico Way (1941) .... Gene Autry
50. Under Fiesta Stars (1941) .... Gene Autry
51. Sunset in Wyoming (1941) .... Gene Autry
52. The Singing Hill (1941) .... Gene Autry
53. Back in the Saddle (1941) .... Gene Autry
54. Ridin' on a Rainbow (1941) .... Gene Autry
55. Melody Ranch (1940) .... Gene Autry
... aka Gene Autry's Melody Ranch (USA: poster title)
56. Ride Tenderfoot Ride (1940) .... Gene Autry
57. Carolina Moon (1940) .... Gene Autry
58. Gaucho Serenade (1940) .... Gene Autry
... aka Keep Rollin' (USA: TV title)
59. Shooting High (1940) .... Will Carson
60. Rancho Grande (1940) .... Gene Autry
61. South of the Border (1939) .... Gene Autry
62. Rovin' Tumbleweeds (1939) .... Gene Autry
63. In Old Monterey (1939) .... Sergeant Gene Autry
64. Colorado Sunset (1939) .... Gene Autry
65. Mountain Rhythm (1939) .... Gene Autry
66. Blue Montana Skies (1939) .... Gene Autry
67. Mexicali Rose (1939) .... Gene Autry
68. Home on the Prairie (1939) .... Gene Autry
69. Western Jamboree (1938) .... Gene Autry
70. Rhythm of the Saddle (1938) .... Gene Autry
71. Prairie Moon (1938) .... Gene Autry
72. Man from Music Mountain (1938) .... Gene Autry
73. Gold Mine in the Sky (1938) .... Gene Autry
74. The Old Barn Dance (1938) .... Gene Autry
75. Springtime in the Rockies (1937) .... Gene Autry
76. Boots and Saddles (1937) .... Gene Autry
77. Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937) .... Deputy Sheriff Gene Autry
78. Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge (1937) .... Gene Autry
... aka The Hero of Pine Ridge
79. Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm (1937) .... Gene Autry
... aka Rhythm on the Ranch
80. Round-Up Time in Texas (1937) .... Gene Autry
81. Git Along Little Dogies (1937) .... Gene Autry - Circle A Ranch Owner
... aka Serenade of the West (UK)
82. The Old Corral (1936/I) .... Sheriff Gene Autry
... aka Texas Serenade (UK)
83. The Big Show (1936) .... Gene Autry / Tom Ford
84. Ride Ranger Ride (1936) .... Texas Ranger Gene Autry
85. Oh, Susanna! (1936) .... Gene Autry aka Tex Smith
86. Guns and Guitars (1936) .... Gene Autry
87. The Singing Cowboy (1936) .... Gene Autry
88. Comin' 'Round the Mountain (1936) .... Gene Autry
89. Red River Valley (1936) .... Gene Autry
... aka Man of the Frontier (USA: TV title)
90. The Singing Vagabond (1935) .... Captain Tex Autry
91. Sagebrush Troubadour (1935) .... Gene Autry
92. Melody Trail (1935) .... Gene Autry
93. Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935) .... Gene Autry
94. The Phantom Empire (1935) .... Gene Autry
... aka Gene Autry and the Phantom Empire
95. Mystery Mountain (1934) (uncredited) .... Thomas, Lake teamster [Chs. 6-8, 12]
96. In Old Santa Fe (1934) (uncredited) .... Gene Autry, Guest Singer
... aka Down in Old Santa Fe
Producer
"Annie Oakley" 1956-1957 Annie Oakley (TV series) (executive producer - 3 episodes)
– Dude's Decision (1957)
– Santa Claus Wears a Gun (1956)
– Annie and the Bicycle Riders (1956)
"Buffalo Bill, Jr." 1955 Buffalo Bill, Jr. (TV series) (executive producer - 2 episodes)
– A Bronc Called Gunboat (1955)
– First Posse (1955)
Saginaw Trail 1953 Saginaw Trail (executive producer - uncredited)
"Death Valley Days" 1952 Death Valley Days (TV series) (executive producer)
"The Gene Autry Show" 1950-1952 The Gene Autry Show (TV series) (executive producer - 4 episodes)
– Horse Sense (1952)
– The Peacemaker (1950)
– The Silver Arrow (1950)
– Gold Dust Charlie (1950)
"The Range Rider" 1951 The Range Rider (TV series) (executive producer)
Riders in the Sky 1949 Riders in the Sky (executive producer - uncredited)
Music Department
Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm 1937 Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm (songs)
Guns and Guitars 1936 Guns and Guitars (composer)
The Singing Vagabond 1935 The Singing Vagabond (composer)
Sagebrush Troubadour 1935 Sagebrush Troubadour (composer)
Melody Trail 1935 Melody Trail (composer)
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Composer
Here Comes Santa Claus 2003 Here Comes Santa Claus (short)
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Miscellaneous Crew
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Hollywood Follies 1994 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Hollywood Follies (TV movie)
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