GENE AUTRY - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH 06/13/1989 - HFSID 176517

GENE AUTRY
B/w publicity photo of Gene Autry sitting on a hay bale with a guitar and his horse Champion, signed "Best Wishes on/Your 'Golden/Wedding Anniversary'" in 1989
Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Sally & Carl/Best Wishes on/Your 'Golden/Wedding Anniversary'/Gene Autry/6-13-89". B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, 7 ¼ x 9 ½ image, one surface. Autry is pictured with his horse, Champion. This appears to be the horse that he rode on The Gene Autry Show. The horses that he rode during his B-western days (which were also billed as Champion) had dark manes. Autry (1907-1998, born Orvon Grover Autry in Tioga, Texas), the original singing cowboy, appeared in his first western in 1934. He was the only western star to be listed among the top ten moneymakers from 1938 to 1942. In 1942, Autry was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song for Be Honest With Me from his film Ridin' on a Rainbow. The Gene Autry Show was televised on CBS from 1950 to 1956, and The Adventures of Champion, which starred Autry's horse, also ran on CBS from 1955 to 1956. Scheduled opposite the popular series, Rin Tin Tin, it was cancelled in mid-season. Autry's business interests included a radio and TV chain, ranches, oil wells, a flying school, a music publishing company (he wrote 200 songs including "Here Comes Santa Claus") and the California Angels baseball team. Lightly toned and bowed. Light impressions on image (not visible head-on). Otherwise in fine condition.