Pa,e Two CJaica;o Sunday Tribune Singing Cowboy of Fil ms Chestnut brown, he comes from a line' of fine Kentucky horses. Just broken, Ten Strike will be trained personally by Autry for Corrals Fans circus performances. Two other favorites in the Gene Autry himIIeU. Autry stable include Lindy, a the cow puncher film chestnut with stocky legs who hero who draw. 110 was born on the day the famous much fan mail. American aviator fiew the At- lantic. For fast riding, where sure-footed ness is at a premium, Autry uses Shorty, a little cow pony from Texas. "How did Champ act when you first started making pic- tures?" we asked. "Well, he was pretty nervous the first day, but after that he just settled right down," an- swered Gene. "I was pretty nervous myself. I didn't know how I was going over. The popularity of his first pte- ture, "The Phantom Empire," a serial in twelve chapters, estab- lished Autry rapidly among the fans of western pictures. Autry made his first appearance before the camera three years ago, in November, 1934. He has made twenty-one pictures since then, his present schedule calling for eight productions a year. His most recently completed picture All tuned up for a cowboy .ong. Left to right: Gene Autry. with hill old was "S P r I n g tim e in the guitar; Polly Bowie•• and Smiley Burnette. with hill windJammer. Rockies." Of all his pictures Autry a Hero Autry says he liked best "Boots crown sombrero. It is the same such a deep sense of the respon- and Saddles," most of which was hat in adult size which happy sibility of his work was a bit made at Autry's favorite location of Woolly youngsters the country over are unusual. at the foot of Mount Whitney wearing as the Gene Autry hat. Discussion during luncheon near Lone Pine, Cal. Mention of Chicago recalled turned to Gene's horses. Next e • • Westerns memories for Gene. He reml- to their cowboy heroes them- nisced about his days there. He selves, juvenile admirers prob- It was his singing that brought By ROSALIND SHAFFER lived on the north side near Ev· ably are most familiar with their Autry his screen chance. The H oZZywood, CaZ. anston. Most big cities, he said, mounts. Autry's favorite is the old Mascot studio, which later FYOU went down the list of were unfriendly, but Chicago 8· year- old Champion, better became Republic, was looking current motion picture popu· . was diiTerent. He liked it there, known as Champ to his youthful for a singing cowboy with which Ilarities as measured by fan and he still likes it. • worshipers. C ham p , whom to enter the new field of musical m a i I received you probably "Westerns were the natural Autry took oiT an Oklahoma westerns. Autry had built up a would run across a vaguely ra- answer to the criticism of the ranch, also gets fan mail and has following and the studio brought miliar name. Not because you low morality of films, which first been with the cowboy actor since him out on trial for" The Phan- ever had seen any of his pictures, grew voluble three or four years Autry first crashed the films in tom Empire." and as a Chicagoan you probably ago," Gene soberly explained. 1934. He is a dark brown, with The singing came naturally to haven't, but because the name "The simple action of bravery white legs and a bald or "blazed" Gene, as it comes to most cow- created the impression that you and rightness triumphing over face. boys. had heard it before. deceit and villainy, which char- Autry recently has purchased " Riding alone so much of the The name is Gene Autry. acterizes the westerns, is rtdl- another mount. This horse will time, a cowboy gets lonesome," Remember him? The drawl- culed by sophisticated people, not replace Champ, he assured explained the star, who rode ing-Texan who accompanied him- who fail to realize the deep Im- us, but will simply be a substl- herd on his father's ranch near self on his guitar and lifted his pression that motion pictures- tute. The new horse is called Ten Achille, Okla., from later boy- without knowing the technicali· The latter assignments were in- Autry is intensely loyal. His tenor voice in plaintive melodies for good or bad - make upon Strike, but that name is to be hood on, Ie so he naturally hums ties of composition?" we In- valuable, because I usually got pictures literally bulge with Ok- of 'the western range? young minds. That we are en- changed, and possibly Autry will little tunes to amuse himself." quired. the night shift, where I did a lot lahomans and other old friends Can this be the same Gene tertaining children and at the request the aid of his army of As for the guitar playing, that " 0, I just keep humming it to of guitar playing and singing, who at one time or another Autry who is right up with Clark same time trying to stamp basic fans in selecting an appropriate also was natural to Gene, who my arranger, who works it up since there was nothing else helped him along. Johnny Mar- Gable, Tyrone Power, and Errol conceptions of right and wrong cognomen. This latest addition cannot read a note. into proper shape," he explained. to do. vin and his brother, Frankie Flynn in fan mail acclaim? It is. with our pictures is a definite to the Autry stable of a half "My mother taught me." he This system has been respon- H But things began to tighten Marvin, work in all of Autry's Singing cowboys, with a wide source of satisfaction." dozen or so mounts is a 4·year· relates. sible for a long list of cowboy up on the railroad long before horse operas. Frankie doe s appeal in the rural sections of For a man not yet turned 30 old from a California ranch. "How do you compose music songs, including the popular they did elsewhere, and we could much of the arranging on Aut- the country, have set a new pop- "Silver Haired Daddy," which see bad times coming. When ry's original compositions. He ularity in motion pictures-the Autry wrote in collaboration they started cutting out one sta- also leads the cowboy orchestra musical westerns. And your old with Jimmy Long. The latter tion after another I got a pass to which features Gene's pictures. friend Gene AutrY,'out of a half has been the melodist on many New York, where I tried to get One of the latest additions to Re- dozen or so headliners in the of Autry's com p 0 sit ion s . on with a phonograph company. public's talent is Ruth Bacon, a field, is rated as No. 1 among .•Roundup Time in Reno," which A cowboy star, Johnny Marvin, Waurika, Okla., girl and pro- the crooning "punchers." featured Republic's latest pic- helped me get an interview with tegee of Autry. Tom Sullavan, In one recent month Autry reo ture, "Manhattan Merry- Go . Nat Shilkret, leader of a phone- actor and trick rider, who ap- ceived 2,728 fan letters, topping Round," is another Autry compo- graph company orchestra. ShU· pears in Autry's pictures, is a his closest rival, Tyrone Power, sition. More than 340,000record- kret said I had some ability, but former native of Clinton, Okla. by more than a thousand. The ings of "Silver Haired Daddy" advised me to go back to Tulsa • e • cowboy's salary is said to be have been sold. Smiley Bur- and train some more. I was dis- $7,500per picture in a field where nette, another former Chicago appointed, but it was good ad- Autry lives a quiet home life one picture is turned out every entertainer, aids Autrey on song vice, and after I got my start in Hollywood with his wife, an- month. One of the major studios composing. Shilkret's company brought me other former Oklahoman, who was .reported to have o1!ered Oddly enough, the depression back to New York in 1929." before her marriage to the actor Autry's home studio, Republic, a played a big part in shaping Autry's account of his march was Ina Mae Spivey of Duncan. half a million dollars for the Autrey's motion picture career. up the ladder to film prominence He met her at Springfield, Mo. star's contract. Republic astute- " After I got out of high school was filled with mention of people Mrs. Autry is a nonprofessional. ly said, " Nothing doing." in Tioga, Tex., in 1925," he reo who had helped him along the The Autrys are building a new To check up on the lively ea- counted, "I went to work on the route. Besides Johnny Marvin, home in San Fernando valley, reer of this Texas-born, Oklaho- southwestern division of the wno got him his first break, the popular film colony rural reo rna-bred cowhand who wen t Frisco (St. Louis and San Fran- there were Jack Owens, one-time treat, where they will quarter from a railroad dispatching ot- cisco) railroad and learned teleg- popular entertainer; Smiley Bur- Champ and a few other horses fice to filmdom's fame in seven raphy. I worked up and down nette, who plays in Autry's pic- on a small three-acre ranch. yea r s, we accepted luncheon the line as a dispatcher at Sa- tures, and H. J. Yates, president The actor's people are of with him one noon recently. pulpa, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, of a record company. French and Irish descent. His Visioning a fioridly dressed cow- In Bed Bock canyon in the lower range. of the Sierra Nevadall .. Gene Autry aboard hi. favorite mount. Champ. and a number of tank town!;.' To all of his old associates father, Delbert Autry, is in the boy stomping into the studio cattle business in Clovis, N. M. offices to the clank of spurs and Gene was born in Tioga, Tex., Sept. 29. 1908. His boyhood al- the rustle of lether chaps, we Letters published in this department should be w,'itten on one side of the paper. were surprised when a mild-man- ternated between Texas and Ok- n ere d, medlum-sized, brown- V.i£e .f .Le ~.,.,ie F•• If you wish a personal reply please inclose a stamped, seli-addressed. envelope. lahoma, where his father owned haired chap with gray-blue eyes ranches. He attended grammar 1 Dear Miss 'I'inee : I have been saving you must havt- by now! Gloria Swanson is quietly appeared in the doorway Dear Miss Tlnee: Yesterday I saw "15 He'« 5 feet 10 /! inches tall, weighs 176 school in Achille, Okla., and part Malden Lane," with Lloyd Nolan. I like pounds, and has brown hair and brown pictures of movie stars for quite a few in Hollywood, and it is mmored IIhe will to be introduced as Autry. of his high school in Ravia, him in this type eyes. Educated Santa Clara preparatorv years, and the play in a motion picture some time in the Okla., finishing up his education other day when [uture. William Haine« is also in Holly· e e e of picture v e r y school, Stanlord university. He's married at his original home town high I was going wood and ill in busine"s other than motion much. Why does- to MeZZElrid, pmlessional. He appeared school. Gene is a westerner all right, n't he take simi- on the legitimate stage before going into through them I picturell. I have no information l'egat'ding even if his Lone Star drawl has lar parts m 0 r e pictures. In 1934 he signed a contract with came across Glo- Phillips Holmes, but I have not heard that The Aut r y s were pioneer been somewhat smoothed by sev- often? I think he Pal'amount "tudio. ria Swanson, Wil- he ha., lett Hollywood. Bally Blane and stock, appearing early in Tennes- eral years of urban living. He's would make a liam Haines. and Loretta Young are sisters. Sally'li real see and then, like Daniel Boone, proud of his cowhand back- good lover. Gang- Phillips Holmes. name i.~ Betty Jane Yotmg, and .~he was clearing out for more westerly Dear Miss Tinee: Many. many thanks and I would llke born in Salida, coto., July 11, 1.910. Loret- oft ster parts, as in points when the woods began to ground and the screen wears for your indispensable column. It Is my to know what be- ta's real namR i.., Gretchen Young, and she specially cut western suits, dis- "Internes Can't crowd up. Gene's grandfather Take Money" and favorite section of The Tribune. came of them. wa,~ born in Balt Lake City. Utah .. Jan. 6, was a minister. tinctive rather than ostentatious, "EXClusive," don't Now let me add my .•two cents" to the The other night 19/5. cut along the lines of equestrian voice of Jack M. and Bonita Steffen In reo. 1 saw .•Angel's Not satisfied to rest at the top show him up of the ladder, Autry is looking clothing. Gene does not own a enough, gard to the latest" chiseler-In Of on movie Holiday." with civilian suit to his name except I would be very millions, Robert Taylor. What on earth Sally Blane and Dear Miss Ttnee : How can people be so ahead to the time when westerns for a tuxedo he bought when he obliged i f you can anyone see In him? Why, he hasn't Loretta You n 1(. rude In making remarks about Robert Tay- will show in the big cities instead lor as published In your column? If we wanted to escort a young lady to> w 0 u 1d tell me even a handsome face, much less any abll- The resemblance of being confined to smaller would only show a Christian spirit and do a night club. something about Ity at all at acting. Compare this Robert between them Is towns and side street theaters, with another Robert--the real actor, Rob- so great that I'd unto others as we would have them do as they now are. He looks lor His suit that day was a qulet- Mr. Nolan. GLORIA SWANSON LLOYD NOLAN ert Montgomery, or with Don Ameche 1 ike to k now unto us we could not and would not say I h a v e read Rumor has it she is to this day oecause he thinks pic- toned gray from which specially Fan .u99 •• h lov.r rol •• (what a man he Is!)-and I say that pro- w hat relation- such things. Now, I am a Taylor fan and your column for for him. make" pictur •. tures with rich natural settings 'made high- heeled lether boots a long time and ducers are not only bllnd but dumb as well. ship, If any, then' greatly admire him as an actor. I enjoy protruded'. A gray shirt striped Hoping this will add a little momentum is between them, and also their real names all his pictures, but I also enjoy the pic- will bring into the cramped life enjoy the readers' and your views. Hoping of metropolitan dwellers a great- in black, and set oft by a conserv- to see my letter some Sunday, I am to the rolling ball, I remain and ages. I was told that they are sisters. tures of our other stars and admire them. ative bandana, peeked out from Admiringly yours, S. R. Yours faithfully, ELIZABETH D. If this Is true, would you please give me So here's wishing Robert Taylor success er appreciation 01 the open pral- their real names and ages? Thank you. from the bottom of my heart.! rie and create in them the urge the vest. The star's only conces- Editors note: Maybe he doesn't want Editor's note: Many, many thanks to ROSE ANN BERNSTEIN. HELEN JOHNSON. sion to wild· west flamboyancy to be a lotler. Had. you thought 01 thatr you lor naming the column "Lavorvu:"! to get closer to the grandeur of was a distinctive white low- Mr. Nola,n was born in San Francisco, Cal. "Momentumt" Lady, ycm said it! Editor's note: What (£ nice couccuo« Editor's note: Fight it out, girls! the west. ,