"Ride 'em cowboy," was the expression running through my mind as I toured the NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, in Oklahoma City, OK., recently. If you are in the area, a visit there is a MUST.
In my early years, I was fascinated by the image of the cowboy. Western movies were the first movies I remember seeing. For a nickel (yep, five cents), I saw stars like TOM MIX, HOOT GIBSON, KEN MAYNARD, TIM MCCOY and others. Every year our Century Theatre ran a 12-week series called THE COVERED WAGON, starring Tim McCoy, Each chapter ended with that stentorian call to "Circle the wagons," as protection from the marauding "Injuns." We could hardly wait until the following week to find out what had happened.
While some of the actors had distinguished military careers (MCCOY, GIBSON, and GENE AUTRY), GENE AUTRY 's career was probably the most versatile and successful of all. He was the first singing cowboy --his famous song was "RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER." He is the only celebrity with five stars on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. He was an astute businessman, owning radio and television stations and the LOS ANGELES ANGELS baseball team. He was so esteemed by the ball players that a Number 26 was retired in his honor at the park.
So, dear reader, if you want to enjoy some "REAL OLDIES," get some Western videos or CDs. They will cost you more that a nickel but, you will find them to be great entertainment.
More, later.
P.S All of the men listed here are members of THE COWBOY HALL OF FAME, at the above museum, in Oklahoma City.
In my early years, I was fascinated by the image of the cowboy. Western movies were the first movies I remember seeing. For a nickel (yep, five cents), I saw stars like TOM MIX, HOOT GIBSON, KEN MAYNARD, TIM MCCOY and others. Every year our Century Theatre ran a 12-week series called THE COVERED WAGON, starring Tim McCoy, Each chapter ended with that stentorian call to "Circle the wagons," as protection from the marauding "Injuns." We could hardly wait until the following week to find out what had happened.
While some of the actors had distinguished military careers (MCCOY, GIBSON, and GENE AUTRY), GENE AUTRY 's career was probably the most versatile and successful of all. He was the first singing cowboy --his famous song was "RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER." He is the only celebrity with five stars on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. He was an astute businessman, owning radio and television stations and the LOS ANGELES ANGELS baseball team. He was so esteemed by the ball players that a Number 26 was retired in his honor at the park.
So, dear reader, if you want to enjoy some "REAL OLDIES," get some Western videos or CDs. They will cost you more that a nickel but, you will find them to be great entertainment.
More, later.
P.S All of the men listed here are members of THE COWBOY HALL OF FAME, at the above museum, in Oklahoma City.
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