SMILEY (LESTER) BURNETTE - TYPED LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 296677

SMILEY BURNETTE
The actor sends a Petticoat Junction script to a friend and signs a short letter to him.
Typed Letter signed: "Smiley", 1 page, 8½x4½. No place, no date. In full: "I WAS ABOUT TO THROW THIS SCRIPT AWAY BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE NEVER SEEN A SHOOTING SCRIPT. CHANGES ARE MADE WHEN THE PICTURE IS MADE SO IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS EPISODE AND YOU NOTICE A DIFFERENCE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RETURN IT. SMILEY B." Accompanied by an original script for the episode "Betty Jo's Bike" from the television series Petticoat Junction, it was episode 24 of Season 3 and was originally broadcast on May 10, 1966. Actor, singer and songwriter Smiley Burnette (1911-1967), born Lester Alvin Burnette, appeared on vaudeville before joining his friend, Gene Autry, on the radio show, The National Barn Dance. Burnette and Autry broke into films together in 1934 (In Old Santa Fe), and they went on to appear in over 80 Westerns. Burnette, who played Autry's sidekick, Frog Milhouse, also provided comic relief for other Western stars, including Sunset Carson and Charles "Durango Kid" Starrett. A talented musician who played over 100 instruments, Burnette wrote over 300 Western songs, some of which he sang in his films. After retiring from the big screen in 1953, Burnette debuted on the small screen in 1958, appearing as a regular on the TV series, Ranch Party. His best known TV role was as Charley Pratt (1963-1967) on the TV sitcom, Petticoat Junction. Lightly soiled at right edge. Slightly creased. Otherwise, fine condition.