I really don’t know much about Gene Autry and was never a fan of him or his films but I have to say that looking back over many years – well before the fifties – he was very successful.
He invested from the Thirties in Property , Films and later in Television – and this made him a very rich man.
In 1982, he sold Los Angeles television station KTLA for $245 million. He ranked for many years on the Forbes magazine list of the 400 richest Americans, before he fell in 1995 to an estimated net worth of $320 million.
He even pilots his own plane around the USA – Above
And before he sets off – he likes to brief Champion on where he is going to – BELOW
About a decade ago, a large-scale restoration project on a lot of Gene Autry’s Films working from his own 16mm and 35mm uncut material, made sure these films when shown again would look and sound good – as they did apparently.
Many of the Titles are available on DVD from The Timeless Media Group featuring Gene Autry films made in the 1950s.
BELOW – Gene Autry in a scene from a Western Film
BELOW – Hills of Utah 1951
Gene Autry is the only person to have all FIVE stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Silver Canyon – Above Gene Autry’s leady lady Gail Davis in this film seems to have him covered in the scene above. Mind you they must have got on well as they appeared in quite a few films together and later she was the star of the TV Series Annie Oakley produced by Gene Autry’s Company.
In fact this is what he had to say about Gail Davis :-
‘There are lots of girls who can ride and shoot and lots who can act, but the girl who could do both just couldn’t be found. Then this kid came along and I didn’t have any more problems. A whole generation of children grew up with Gail Davis playing Annie Oakley on television. Before that she co-starred with me in several of my movies. She also toured with me on a number of occasions. Gail was an extremely talented individual. She had a kind, generous heart and brought so much joy to so many children. She never stopped doing that right up to the day she passed away.’
Texans Never Cry – I love that shot above of Gene and Champion having a welcome drink of water
Following the death of his first wife, he went on to marry Jackie in July 1981 and they remained together until his death in 1997.
Jackie Autry came into Gene’s life after his first wife of 48 years, Ina, died of cancer. Jackie was Autry’s banker and helped him oversee his vast holdings that included the radio and television stations and the California Angels baseball team.
She was 34 years younger and not sure she wanted to be married. But it lasted 18 years and she would not have missed a single day.
“Somebody said to me, ‘If you had to describe your relationship with your husband?’ I would say my husband was my best friend. He was my pal. My buddy. My lover. And my child,” she said. “All in one person.”
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