nPostednon September 29, 2013
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nTodaynlet’s sing “Happy Birthday” to the “Singing Cowboy,” GenenAutry.
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nWasnhe really a cowboy? Well, as a boy in Texas and Oklahoma, Autrynhelped out on his dad’s ranch, so he was, kinda’ sorta’. n
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nDidnhe really sing? You bet! Gene Autry was a singer and actor, and henbecame famous with radio, movie, and television appearances. Autrynearned enough as a performer to become an owner; he owned a TVnstation, several radio stations, and even the Angels Major LeaguenBaseball team!
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GenenAutry is probably most famous as the good-guy cowboy who sings—thenguy who is “straight-shooting,” the hero who is honest, brave,nand true. But his biggest singing hits were Christmas songs! He wasnthe first singer to record “Frosty the Snowman,” and he wrote asnwell as sang “Here Comes Santa Claus.” His biggest hit, hittingn#1 in the U.S., was “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
GenenAutry is probably most famous as the good-guy cowboy who sings—thenguy who is “straight-shooting,” the hero who is honest, brave,nand true. But his biggest singing hits were Christmas songs! He wasnthe first singer to record “Frosty the Snowman,” and he wrote asnwell as sang “Here Comes Santa Claus.” His biggest hit, hittingn#1 in the U.S., was “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”n
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nThatnstuff was “before my time” – heck, Autry was born a long timenago, on this date in 1907! – but in 1988 Autry started a museumnthat displays his collection of Western art and memorabilia. Thenmuseum is in Los Angeles, right next to the L.A. Zoo. And I’ve beennthere a lot a lot a lot! There are great Native American
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nartifacts,nfun Western movies exhibits, and a fantastic show of Western art oncena year!
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| This painting by Howard Terpning was one of my favorites of this year’s art show! |
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nHerenare a few fun facts about Gene Autry:
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- An town in Oklahoma changed its name from Berwyn to Gene Autry. Thisn was in 1941, when Autry was just 34 years old! Can you imagine hown many times in his 91 years Gene Autry went to Gene Autry,n Oklahoma…just because he could!
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- Speaking of changing one’s name, Gene Autry was born Orvon Grover Autry!
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Autryn is the only person to have five different stars on the Hollywoodn Walk of Fame! “Why so many?” you ask. Well, they give out starsn for motion pictures (movies), radio, recording (music), television,n and live theater. And Autry did enough in each category to get an star for each! Wow!n
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nThen number 26 was retired by the Angels baseball team in honor of theirn owner, Gene Autry.
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nAutry’sn old ranch, Melody Ranch (in Santa Clarita, CA), has been restoredn and now serves as a movie location and as the location of the Cowboyn Festival every year. n
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nAlsonon this date:
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nMuseum Day Live
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nAnniversarynof the launch of Canada’s first satellite
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nInventors’nDay in Argentina
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nPlannAhead!
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on Septembernholidays, Septembernbirthdays,nand historicalnanniversaries in September.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Octobernholidays, Octobernbirthdays,nand historicalnanniversaries in October.