This Week in the West: Gene Autry, the Hollywood Cowboy Who Did It All

🤠This Week in the West 🎙️ Episode 48: Gene Autry, the Hollywood Cowboy Who Did It All

📢 Episode Summary: Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, was born in Texas in 1907 and grew up in Oklahoma, where his love for music was nurtured while working as a telegraph operator. Encouraged by Will Rogers, Autry began performing on radio, eventually landing record deals and breaking into film with a persona that combined cowboy grit, musical talent, and wholesome charm. His horse, Champion, became almost as famous as he was, and his popularity soared through movies, radio shows, and merchandise that made him a household name.

When World War II began, Autry set aside his Hollywood stardom to serve as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war, he returned to the screen, launched his own production company, and continued a remarkable music career that included holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Here Comes Santa Claus. His recordings have sold more than 100 million copies, and he has become forever linked with Christmas traditions.

Autry was more than an entertainer—he was a businessman, rancher, rodeo stock contractor, and the founding owner of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. He left behind Melody Ranch, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the distinction of being the only person with stars in all five categories of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His influence on Western film, country music, and American popular culture remains unmatched.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How Gene Autry rose from a small-town telegraph operator to one of Hollywood’s most beloved cowboys
• The role Autry played in shaping both Western film and country music, as well as his service during World War II
• How Autry built a lasting legacy through business ventures, holiday music, and cultural landmarks like the Autry Museum of the American West

👥 Behind the Scenes Host: Seth Spillman Producer: Chase Spivey Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Official site of Gene Autry: https://www.geneautry.com/home.php
• A dive into Autry’s baseball ownership legacy: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/gene-autry/
• The Autry Museum of the American West: https://theautry.org/

📬 Connect With Us: 🌐 Website: www.thecowboy.org 📖 Read Our Blog: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/blog/ 📩 Email: [e-mail] 📲Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ncwhm/ 📷Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalcowboymuseum ❎X/Twitter: https://x.com/ncwhm 💼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-cowboy-&-western-heritage-museum

🗺️ Visit Us: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111. See us on the map

💡 Support Us:🏅Become A Member of the Museum: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/support/memberships/ 🛒Shop at Persimmon Hill, our Museum store: https://persimmonhillstore.com/

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