Gene Autry and Roy Rogers - The Singing Cowboys - Documentary

In this four part love letter to the Western, Movie Man Eric Houston takes a look at the many stars who laid claim to the title King of the Cowboys.
Part two examines the career of cinema's two most famous singing cowboys, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. You'll see how Gene went from playing guitar in a telegraph office to becoming one of the biggest stars of the silver screen. A stint in World War 2, though, allowed his star to fade and allowed a contest winning newcomer named Roy Rogers usurp the title King of the Cowboys.

[@Sean-xq3qo]

Hey this was really good! Not sure how it hasn't gotten more attention.

[@ghostrider-ek8gu]

Excellent

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Wonderful documentary Bro 🤠👍🏻

[@Red_bema14]

since there are no subtitles available here is the script via word document dictation (yes its not going to be spot on but here it is); The early part of the 20th century was dominated by the great silent western stars and the title king of the Cowboys drifted between the gritty pseudo realistic William S Hart and the flamboyant heroic Tom mix the advent of sound changed everything though putting a great many western star is out of work it was no longer enough to look the part of the dashing western star you had to sound like one too but audiences weren't interested in gruff and gravelly western types no the 1930s saw the rise in popularity of the singing Cowboys who combined the straightforward heroism and flashy costumes of Tom mix with plentiful catchy tunes that were of course ideal for the new sound motion pictures and the first of the singing Cowboys was Gene Autry now it's and that audio movie man Eric Houston when Gene Autry came to films he was already a popular singer born Oregon Grover autry in 1907 the young singer was working at a Telegraph office entertaining himself by singing and playing the guitar a customer heard him and suggested autry switch professions gene signed a deal with Columbia records in 1922 and started out his careere not as a cowboy but as a hillbilly singer with songs like do right daddy Blues before transitioning to country and hits like that silver haired daddy of mine and of course back in the saddle again I'm back in the saddle again friend is a friend cattle feed I'm back in the saddle again riding the range once more my own people you sleep out every night and go little is right back in saddle update I hope rock into him from back in the saddle again in all lottery made some 640 recordings including the popular Christmas hits Rudolph the red nosed reindeer Santa Claus is coming to town and here comes Santa Claus which autry wrote himself write it down bag that's buildable toys for boys and girls again his records have sold more than 100 million copies and he has more than a dozen gold and platinum records to his name including the first record ever certified gold autry's first film was in old Santa Fe where he was part of a quartet of singing Cowboys he next took the starring role in the 12 part serial the phantom empire manning uranium welcome how do you like our world well I think the dampness and air of your land is more suited to Reston mode yeah you interest me go on my business is thing I think about forces sunshine the plane will how could anybody think about those things here kinda makes you feel good just saying you know autry his horse champion and his sidekick smiley Burnett appeared in 44 low budget films throughout the 1940s he was Republic studios biggest star and one of the top grossing western stars of the Thirties 40s and 50s you have a beautiful voice no one else not educated to that type music things left in their life and their leader something like in the heart of the web yes you know that yes You will from 1943 to 1945 though autry took a break from motion pictures to fight in World War 2 as a member of the US Air Force ironically his time away saw his popularity slip and allowed another singing cowboy to assert his place as king of the singing Cowboys an everyone hello list she's a tropical number when she dances on but to the singing love affair Lauren Taylor Ann everyone calls up Anita because her name is Anna danity lacosta belladonna you do that follow it up with some an when she wings her everybody Roy Rogers early careeer was inexorably tide Daughtry the young singer whose birth name was Leonard slye had been recording with the group called the sons of The Pioneers when he began appearing in small roles for Republic including alongside offer I work my way down at the car OK it was when Audrey began demanding more money for his work in 1938 that sly had his first real shot at fame you see or Republic studios agreed to pay autry more money they balanced the books by using him less often the studio then launched a competition to find a new singing cowboy who could cheaply star in movies that would fill in the gaps in republic's annual catalog sly won the contest in Republic inspired by comedian Will Rogers gave him the moniker Roy Rogers whenever stop love you throughout the night and you promise never Rogers popularity grew steadily and when Audrey left to serve in World War 2 Rogers stayed home and continued making pictures in this relative vacuum Rogers popularity outstripped on trees Ann Rogers became not only the nation's favorite singing cowboy but the number one top grossing western star from 1942 to 1954 a savvy businessman Rogers early on negotiated to keep all of the rights for his name voice and face allowing him to make money off a slew of merchandise that included dolls novels and comic books it's estimated that only Walt Disney had more pieces of merchandise bearing his name like autry Rogers typically played himself in movies and was supported by a number of familiar sidekicks including his dog bullet his horse trigger the great Gabby Hayes and even his real life wife Dale Evans whom he met while filming the cowboy in the signe Rita I haven't seen ship yet oh she's fixing up for her interests no little girls take their birthdays pretty seriously like I thought 16 was arrive old age or maybe you are right but ladies downstairs do you mind impressive service ladies and gentlemen I want you to meet Floyd Rogers a very good friend of chips and of mine with a very special song for all of us both Audrey and Rogers would remain popular throughout the rest of their lives especially once they both made the transition to television granting them a regular spa in the home lives of children across America next time we'll take a look at one of Austrian Rogers cowboy contemporaries the high in the saddle Randolph Scott until then stay safe watch movies

[@edmondscott7444]

Pity about awful background noise ruins the video. Please delete.