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.
Douglas Fowley was an American movie and television actor in more than 240 films and dozens of television programs, He is probably best remembered for his role as the frustrated movie director Roscoe Dexter in Singin' in the Rain (1952), and for his regular supporting role as Doc Holliday in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. He was the father of rock and roll musician and record producer Kim Fowley.
James Clarence Wakely was an American actor, songwriter, country music vocalist, and one of the last singing cowboys. During the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, he released records, appeared in several B-Western movies with most of the major studios, appeared on radio and television and even had his own series of comic books. His duet singles with Margaret Whiting from 1949 until 1951, produced a string of top seven hits, including 1949's number one hit on the US country chart and pop music chart, "Slippin' Around". Wakely owned two music publishing companies in later years, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry until shortly before his death.
Gene Autry's Melody Ranch is a Western variety radio show in the United States. A 15-minute pilot show aired on December 31, 1939. The program ran from January 7, 1940 to August 1, 1943, and from September 23, 1945 to May 16, 1956. The show's entire run was broadcast over the CBS radio network, sponsored by Doublemint gum. The approximately two-year interruption resulted from Autry's enlistment in the United States Army to serve in World War II. Initially titled Doublemint's Melody Ranch, the show's name was changed to Gene Autry's Melody Ranch in early 1941. Episodes were 30 minutes long except for a 15-minute version that ran from September 23, 1945 to June 16, 1946. The theme song was "Back in the Saddle Again".
Student Tour is a 1934 American musical film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Ralph Spence and Philip Dunne, and starring Jimmy Durante, Charles Butterworth, Maxine Doyle, Phil Regan, Douglas Fowley and Nelson Eddy. It was released on October 5, 1934, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
John Hugh Elliott was an American actor who appeared on Broadway and in over 300 films during his career. He worked sporadically during the silent film era, but with the advent of sound his career took off, where he worked constantly for 25 years, finding a particular niche in "B" westerns.
Silver Trails is a 1948 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, and Christine Larson, and was released on August 28, 1948. The film starred Whip Wilson, who later went on to have a career as a famous Western film star.
Cowboy in the Clouds is a 1943 American Western film directed by Benjamin H. Kline and written by Elizabeth Beecher. The film stars Charles Starrett, Dub Taylor, Julie Duncan, Jimmy Wakely, Davison Clark and Wally Wales. The film was released on December 23, 1943, by Columbia Pictures.
Song of the Wasteland is a 1947 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Lee White, Dottye Brown, Henry Hall, John James and Mike Ragan. The film was released on May 31, 1947, by Monogram Pictures.
Song of the Drifter is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Frank H. Young. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Mildred Coles, William Ruhl, Marshall Reed and Patsy Moran. The film was released on January 17, 1948, by Monogram Pictures.
Mississippi Gambler is a 1942 American crime film directed by John Rawlins and written by Al Martin and Roy Chanslor. The film stars Kent Taylor, Frances Langford, John Litel, Shemp Howard, Claire Dodd and Wade Boteler. The film was released on April 17, 1942, by Universal Pictures.
Three on a Ticket is a 1947 American crime film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Fred Myton. It is based on the 1942 novel The Corpse Came Calling by Brett Halliday. The film stars Hugh Beaumont, Cheryl Walker, Paul Bryar, Ralph Dunn, Louise Currie, Gavin Gordon, Charles Quigley and Douglas Fowley. The film was released on April 4, 1947, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Gun Law Justice is a 1949 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Basil Dickey. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Poni Adams, Lee Phelps, John James and I. Stanford Jolley. The film was released on March 13, 1949, by Monogram Pictures.
Down Texas Way is a 1942 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Adele Buffington. This is the sixth film in Monogram Pictures' Rough Riders series, and stars Buck Jones as Marshal Buck Roberts, Tim McCoy as Marshal Tim McCall and Raymond Hatton as Marshal Sandy Hopkins, with Luana Walters, Dave O'Brien and Lois Austin. The film was released on May 22, 1942, by Monogram Pictures. It was the sixth of the studio's Rough Riders film series.
The Arkansas Swing is a 1948 American comedy western film directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Barry Shipman. The film stars Gloria Henry, Stuart Hart, June Vincent, Elinor Donahue, Dorothy Porter and Douglas Fowley. The film was released on July 29, 1948, by Columbia Pictures.
Outlaw Brand is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Kay Morley, Christine Larson, Tom Chatterton and Leonard Penn. The film was released on October 24, 1948 by Monogram Pictures.
Range Renegades is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Ronald Davidson and William Lively. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Jennifer Holt, Riley Hill, Dennis Moore and John James. The film was released on June 6, 1948 by Monogram Pictures.
Sundown Valley is a 1944 American Western film directed by Benjamin H. Kline and written by Luci Ward. The film stars Charles Starrett, Dub Taylor, Jeanne Bates and Jimmy Wakely. The film was released on March 23, 1944, by Columbia Pictures.
West of the Law is a 1942 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Adele Buffington. This is the eighth film in Monogram Pictures' Rough Riders series, and stars Buck Jones as Marshal Buck Roberts, Tim McCoy as Marshal Tim McCall and Raymond Hatton as Marshal Sandy Hopkins, with Evelyn Cook, Harry Woods and Jack Daley. The film was released on October 2, 1942, by Monogram Pictures.
Rough Ridin' Justice is a 1945 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by Elizabeth Beecher. The film stars Charles Starrett, Dub Taylor, Betty Jane Graham and Jimmy Wakely. The film was released on March 14, 1945, by Columbia Pictures.
