Lester Alvin Burnett, better known as Smiley Burnette, was an American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and other B-movie cowboys. He was also a prolific singer-songwriter who is reported to have played proficiently over 100 musical instruments, sometimes more than one simultaneously. His career, beginning in 1934, spanned four decades, including a regular role on CBS-TV's Petticoat Junction in the 1960s.
Weldon Heyburn was an American character actor and bit player.
Sunset Carson was an American B-western star of the 1940s.
Prairie Moon is a 1938 American Western film directed by Ralph Staub and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Shirley Deane. Written by Betty Burbridge and Stanley Roberts, the film is about a singing cowboy who takes care of three tough boys sent west from Chicago after their father dies and leaves them a cattle ranch.
Cheyenne Wildcat is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and one of the 23 Republic Pictures Red Ryder features. The film, starring veteran western actor, Wild Bill Elliott as Red Ryder, was based on the comic strip "Red Ryder" created by Fred Harman (1938–1964), and licensed through a special arrangement with Stephen Slesinger. Costarring as Little Beaver, was actor Robert Blake.
Overland Mail Robbery is a 1943 American Western film directed by John English and written by Robert Creighton Williams and Robert Yost. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Anne Jeffreys, Alice Fleming, Weldon Heyburn and Kirk Alyn. The film was released on November 20, 1943, by Republic Pictures.
Beneath Western Skies is a 1944 American Western film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and written by Albert DeMond and Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Robert Livingston, Smiley Burnette, Effie Laird, Frank Jaquet, Tom London and Charles Miller. The film was released on March 3, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
The Laramie Trail is a 1944 American Western film directed by John English and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Robert Livingston, Smiley Burnette, Linda Brent, Martin Garralaga, Emmett Lynn and John James. The film was released on April 3, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
Call of the Rockies is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Smiley Burnette, Sunset Carson, Harry Woods, Kirk Alyn, Ellen Hall and Frank Jaquet. The film was released on July 14, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
Bordertown Trail is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Robert Creighton Williams and Jesse Duffy. The film stars Smiley Burnette, Sunset Carson, Weldon Heyburn, Addison Richards, Francis McDonald and Jack Luden. The film was released on August 11, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
Stagecoach to Monterey is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander, written by Norman S. Hall, and starring Allan Lane, Peggy Stewart, Wally Vernon, Twinkle Watts, Tom London and LeRoy Mason. It was released on September 15, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
Firebrands of Arizona is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Randall Faye. The film stars Smiley Burnette, Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Earle Hodgins, Roy Barcroft and LeRoy Mason. The film was released on December 1, 1944, by Republic Pictures.
Santa Fe Saddlemates is a 1945 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Bennett Cohen. Starring Sunset Carson, Linda Stirling, Olin Howland, Roy Barcroft, Bud Geary and Kenne Duncan, it was released on June 2, 1945, by Republic Pictures.
Trail of Kit Carson is a 1945 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander, written by Jack Natteford and Albert DeMond, and starring Allan Lane, Helen Talbot, Tom London, Twinkle Watts, Roy Barcroft and Kenne Duncan. It was released on July 11, 1945, by Republic Pictures.
Oregon Trail is a 1945 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Betty Burbridge. The film stars Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Frank Jaquet, John Merton, Mary Carr and Si Jenks. The film was released on July 14, 1945, by Republic Pictures.
Days of Buffalo Bill is a 1946 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by William Lively and Doris Schroeder. The film stars Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Tom London, James Craven, Rex Lease and Edmund Cobb. The film was released February 2, 1946, by Republic Pictures.
Alias Billy the Kid is a 1946 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Earle Snell and Betty Burbridge. The film stars Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Tom London, Roy Barcroft, Russ Whiteman and Tom Chatterton. The film was released on April 17, 1946, by Republic Pictures.
Red River Renegades is a 1946 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, Tom London, Ted Adams, LeRoy Mason and Kenne Duncan. It was released on July 23, 1946 by Republic Pictures.
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon is a 1947 American Western film in the Red Ryder film series directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Earle Snell. The film stars Allan Lane, Robert Blake, Martha Wentworth, Peggy Stewart, Arthur Space and Emmett Lynn. The film was released on July 1, 1947, by Republic Pictures.
Carson City Raiders is a 1948 American Western film directed by Yakima Canutt and written by Earle Snell. The film stars Allan Lane, Eddy Waller, Frank Reicher, Beverly Jons, Harold Landon and Steve Darrell.
