ROSCOE ATES - AUTOGRAPH - HFSID 345636

ROSCOE ATES
The famous western actor pens his name in blue ink on a slip of paper
Signature: “Roscoe Ates”, in blue ink, on a 3¼x1¼ slip of paper affixed to a 5¾x4¼ album leaf. Born in rural Mississippi, Rosco Ates (1895-1962) began as a vaudeville musician and stage actor. Making his way into the early movies (1929 in South Sea Rose) he was frequently cast as a stuttering character in Westerns. In 1931 alone, he appeared in fourteen films: Cimarron, Too Many Cooks, Politics and The Big Shot. Working continually, a few of his better known films include The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok with Bill Elliott (1938), Three Texas Steers with John Wayne (1939), and Cowboy for Sundown with Tex Ritter (1940). As he appeared in the movies, he frequently performed songs for his films: Billy the Kid, Remote Control, Renegades of the West, Rancho Grande, Colorado Serenade and others (1930-1946). As television developed so did Ates as the “Western Character”. From 1950 until his death, Ates had hundreds of credits and appeared on nearly every Western series broadcast: The Marshal of Gunsight Pass (1950), The Cisco Kid (1953), Boston Blackie (1953), Annie Oakley (1956-1957), Wagon Train (1958), The Restless Gun (1959), Lawman (1959-1960), Maverick (1959-1960), Sugarfoot (1960), and Whispering Smith (1961). He died at age 67 from lung cancer. Top and bottom edge of album leaf worn. Binding holes at left edge of album leaf. Light staining on front and verso of album leaf. Heavily toned. Otherwise, fine condition.