A Live-Action Super-Hero
At a time when Western stars outshone super-heroes at the box-office and even had their own comic books, Autry captured the imagination of kids from coast-to-coast. His big-screen and small-screen work in the 1930s and beyond further promoted his music, as well. Unlike predecessor Jimmie Rodgers or successor Hank Williams, Autry could lend his face to a song like “Mexicali Rose,” the title track from a 1939 South of the Border adventure.
Despite taking a break to serve in the military during World War II, Autry starred in a whopping 93 films between 1934 and 1953–including his Mascot/Republic Pictures debut In Old Santa Fe and the bizarre sci-fi serial The Phantom Empire. Many of his movies paired Autry with a fellow country singer from his radio days, Smiley Burnette.
As if motion picture success wasn’t enough, Autry would often ride into America’s living rooms on his horse Champion as the star of the CBS radio show Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch (1940-’56) and a television series, The Gene Autry Show (1950-’56). Such TV programs, paired with prime time variety shows, introduced country music to viewers of all ages.
For the various roles he successfully played throughout his public life, Autry’s name resides in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. He’s also got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a retired number as the longtime owner of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels and (top this, Roy Rogers) an entire city bearing his name in Oklahoma.
