Gene Autry In the 30's
7/5/1933 HCN Elizabeth Yeaman
All things come to him who waits–maybe, if the locale happens to be Hollywood. But it does seem as if Philip Merivale has had to wait terrifically long to make his screen debut. When you consider his fame and acclaim as a stage star on two continents and then check up the facts to find that he has been under film contract to Fox for six months without having one role, then you begin to realize that the wheels of the studios can turn exceedingly slow. Mr. Merivale, however, has been paid quite handsomely to do nothing, but I imagine that he is going to rejoice over the opportunity to make that long deferred film debut. He will have the male lead in As Husbands Go, the Rachel Crothers comedy soon to be produced by Fox. John Boles has been cast with Merivale in the second male lead and the two leading feminine roles are now under consideration.
Pauline Frederick starred in a Henry Duffy production of this comedy not long ago. Those who saw "As Husbands Go" at that time will recall that it is a farce comedy based on two middle-aged women from the Middle West who go to Paris to get their heads turned by the attention of gigolos. One of the women is a widow, the other has a patient and devoted husband at home. Merivale, I suppose, will portray that husband, and Boles will probably been seen as the gigolo. Although there are a couple of ingenue parts in As Husbands Go, the two feminine leads require mature actresses.
....
Everyone seems to be agreed that Radio Pictures is eager to buy the screen rights to The Age of Innocence, the Edith Wharton novel which is owned by Warners. However, one of my contemporaries today announces that the story, if obtained by Radio, will be used as a starring vehicle for Constance Bennett. And at the same time a local trade paper announces that the story is sought for Katharine Hepburn. While at the studio I am informed that The Age of Innocence is wanted for Ann Harding! I'll play safe and not venture an opinion. But you can take the facts for what they are worth and give them your own interpretation. On the stage Katharine Cornell made one of her first great hits in "The Age of Innocence." She also was the star of "Bill of Divorcement," which had Katharine Hepburn in the screen version, and the trade paper cites this fact as evidence that Katharine Hepburn will be the star of The Age of Innocence. Bennett, Hepburn and Harding–that still leaves room for a prediction that Irene Dunne will get the role. Vos you dere. Sharlie?
....
Sometimes I wonder if newspaper readers realize how difficult it is for movie scribblers to single out fact from rumor and speculation? As another example, take the case of Maurice Chevalier. Only one this is certain about Chevalier at the moment. He is engaged in making his last picture on his current Paramount contract. Some say he will sign a new deal with Paramount. Others contend that he is about ready to sign up with Jesse Lasky at Fox (Lasky was with Paramount when Chevalier will make pictures for Twentieth Century. If he doesn't sign with Paramount, then you might safely guess that MGM will get Chevalier, since this studio goes after every kind of talent since it specializes in quantity. Out of all this maze of rumor, I might possibly venture a prediction if I hadn't picked up a foreign film paper and read:
"Cecile Sorel, the great French tragic actress, is going into a review at the Casino de Paris, with Maurice Chevalier as her partner. Parisians are highly excited over this new stage partnership."
Now I'd like to know if Paris movie scribblers are as best by idle rumors as Hollywood scribes?
....
Robert Benchley will not have time to write many funny cracks for Radio Pictures if the studio continues to keep him busy acting. Benchley, since he made such a hit as the radio announcer in Sports Parade, has been signed to a two-way contract which provides he shall both write and act for the screen. But since his return to Hollywood recently he has played in three pictures, Headline Shooter, The Glory Command, and Flaming Gold. And today he goes into a fourth picture, Ann Vickers, with Irene Dunne and Walter Huston.
....
Maude Eburne, well known character actress, was signed today for an important role in Shanghai Madness at Fox. She is to play the wife of the mission keeper in Shanghai who shelters Fay Wray during a siege of Chinese bandits. Another fine actress engaged for a role at Fox is Elspeth Dudgeon, who will have a part with Janet Gaynor in Paddy, The Next Best Thing.
....
Radio Pictures is dickering with Paramount for the loan of Richard Bennett. He is wanted for a featured part in Sweet Cheat, which already has Ginger Rogers and ZaSu Pitts in the cast. Others added to the cast of this film today are George Meeker, Henry Armetta and Henry Kolker.
....
El Brendel, one of my favorite comedians, is to be starred in a five-reel comedy at Fox, according to latest news. The story is still to be written, but I'm told that it will be patterned to fit the talents of Brendel.
Gene Autry In the 30's
ABBREVIATIONS
DN — Los Angeles Daily News
EHE — Los Angeles Evening Herald Express
FD — Film Daily
HCN — Hollywood Citizen News
IDN — Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)
LAM — Los Angeles Mirror
LAX — Los Angeles Examiner
MPH — Motion Picture Herald
SFC — San Francisco Chronicle
8/15/1934 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
Gene Autry, radio personality, has been signed by Mascot for Down in Old Santa Fe, starring Ken Maynard.
9/17/1934 HCN Elizabeth Yeaman
Ken Maynard is adding to his film accomplishment. In addition to riding his famous horse, Tarzan, Maynard is to sing "In Old Santa Fe" in his next picture of the same title. Gene Autry and the NBC cowboys will help him out on the chorus.
11/15/1934 FD In Old Santa Fe
Mascot 65 Minutes
Western has unusual class with intelligent story, superior cast and direction.
This western gives you an idea what really can be done with the horse operas if the producers try to put a little money and brains into them. The story is logical and intelligently constructed, and will appeal to grownups as well as the kids. The action keeps moving without any letup and there is a nice balance of all the pop elements that make the westerns appealing. Ken Maynard and his old partner, Cactus, arrive at a dude ranch and soon the lines of conflict are drawn between him and an easterner who has come on to muscle in on the ranch, having something on H.B. Warner, the owner. Ken loses everything he owns on a crooked horse race, the easterner having his henchmen throw him with a wire across the road. A gold shipment is stolen from the ranch and the murder of the stage driver framed on Maynard. Then it is one thrill scene after another as the hero goes into action and finally pins all the deviltry on the villain in a surprise finish. Director David Howard did a fine job, and so did the entire cast. Camera work exceptional. Some good cowboy melodies also.
CAST: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp, H.B. Warner, Kenneth Thomson, Wheeler Oakman, George Hayes, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnett, George Cheseboro, George Burton.
Director, David Howard; Authors, Wallace MacDonald, John Rathmell; Screenplay, Colbert Clark, James Gruen; Editor, Thomas Scorr; Cameramen, Ernie Miller, William Nobles.
Direction, Very Good. Photography, Excellent.
12/29/1934 EHE
Gene Autry stars in The Phantom Empire, a Mascot serial for Nat Levine.
6/29/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Gene Autry, Evalyn Knapp—I have recently made it a point not to review the westerns, as they are pretty much the same sort and it is useless to review them. However, I'll have to break over and say a good word for this western. It drew better than average business and pleased. Created a lot of comment. Play it (on Saturday). Running time, 60 minutes. Played May 25.—H.M. Johnson, Avon Theatre, Avon Park, Ga. General Small Town Patronage.
Phantom Empire: Gene Autry, Frankie Darro—Here is something different in serials. Based on the fantastic ideas made popular by the comic strips such as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. Started this on a hot Sunday but it is building and holding those who started it. It is well done with more plot than most serials. Just showed the third episode. The producers deserve credit for this new idea in serials and the clever manner in which this has been produced.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood Patronage.
7/2/1935 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
The first of the John Wayne westerns produced by Trem Carr, Westward Ho, is finished shooting and is now in the cutting room. Gene Autry, who will make musical westerns produced by Nat Levine, will soon start his first picture. Autry is the singing cowboy of radio and screen fame.
7/20/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard—Here is an exceptionally good western with fine singing and music. My patrons enjoyed it very much. If you want a fine outdoor picture date this one. It is good.—S.H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Town and Rural Patronage.
9/5/1935 FD Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Republic 61 Minutes
Plenty of thrills in action western with singing cowboy featured advantageously.
Introducing Gene Autry, the singing cowboy of radio fame, this being the first of a series that will give the new screen star a chance to do his hill-billy singing and a very fine brand of western cowboy riding, fighting and lovemaking. Gene is a very personable lad, and should make a name for himself among the western stars. In this opus he is part owner of a medicine show that hits into the town where his father lives. Gene is thrown into the midst of the mystery killing of his father, and befriends a chap named Brooks, who is accused of the killing. The star learns from the accused's wife of the plot of a rancher to try and get his father's water rights, and that [rest of line obscured]. The story develops into the hero's efforts to pin the crime on this man, and he plants a trap for him and his henchmen, into which they fall. This scene gives opportunity for a grand slam-bang free-for-all fight with a dozen or more men involved while the medicine wagon is careening along at breakneck speed Autry delivers several songs impressively. Altogether a fine western from every angle.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Lucille Browne, Norma Taylor, George Hayes, Edward Hearn, Jack Rockwell, Frankie Marvin, George Chesebro, Eugene Jackson, Charles King, Charles Whitaker, George Burton, Tom London, Cornelius Keefe.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director Joseph Kane; Author, Alan Ludwig; Screenplay, Ford Beebe; Cameraman, Ernest Miller.
Direction, Very Good. Photography, Okay.
9/7/1935 MPH What the Picture Did For Me
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp—A good western with plenty of music and fun. Not the usual shoot ‘em up and drag out type, but just a good comical modern western. Give us more of this type. Pleased one hundred percent. Running time, six reels. Played July 26-27.—Charles T. Nelson, Fay Theatre, Jasper, Fla. Small Town and Rural Patronage.
9/21/1935 MPH What the Picture Did For Me
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp—No one could ask for a better western. Good action story, thrills and singing. Business exceptionally good for weekend.—A.N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small Town Patronage.
9/24/1935 FD Melody Trail
Republic 60 minutes
(Hollywood Preview)
Swell musical western with song-and-dance stuff adding novelty to outdoor action.
This is a pip of a cowboy musical, with Gene Autry doing everything including hard riding, bang-up fighting, bronco busting and love-making in addition to his cowboy crooning. And he has a pal, Smiley Burnette, whose style of homely comedy brings forth a steady flow of laughter. Buck, the dog in Call of the Wild, is a thief in this one, and he is swell. Ann Rutherford capably furnishes the love interest. A group of cowgirls get a lot of laughs, furnish a chorus for Gene's singing, and work in nicely for a novel ending. Story by Sherman Lowe and Elizabeth Burbridge has a lot of new angles and Joseph Kane's direction never allows a let down. After opening with a real rodeo, with Abe Lefton doing some clever announcing, Autry is attracted by Ann and in order to be near her he takes the job of cooking on her dad's ranch, being operated by cowgirls since the cowboys have gone to the rodeo. Cattle are being rustled. Autry discovers the gang and after a bang-up battle brings them in A wholesale cowboy-cowgirl marriage makes the closing musical number.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford, Wade Boteler, Al Bridge, Willy Castello, Marie Quillen, Fern Emmett, Gertrude Messinger, Trace Lane, George De Norman, Marion Jowling, Ione Reed, Jane Barnes.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Joseph Kane; Authors, Sherman Lowe, Elizabeth Burbridge; Screenplay Sherman Lowe; Cameraman, Ernie Miller; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fine. Photography, A-1.
10/5/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp, H.B. Warner—One of the best westerns played in this theatre. Many favorable comments from patrons. Pleased our Friday and Saturday patrons 100 percent, and did good business. Played September 20-21.—Robert Wygent, Heghts Theatre, Houston, Texas. Neighborhood Patronage.
10/25/1935 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
Barbara Pepper, Republic contract player, has been assigned by Nat Levine to appear in the leading role opposite Gene Autry in The Sagebrush Troubadour.
10/26/1935 EHE Harrison Carroll
Quite the fanciest thing in Hollywood for transporting horses is owned by Gene Autry, the western star. His favorite mount, Champ, rides to location in a stream-lined, air-conditioned trailer. It has four inches of cork on the floor and four inches of leather padding on the walls. And non-shatterable glass windows.
11/15/1935 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
According to Gene Autry (Republic's Western star), the wardrobe of a motion picture cowboy costs around twenty-two hundred and fifty bucks a year, with most of the dough going for ten-gallon hats, so think twice, little man, before you decide to devote your life to a horse.
11/16/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—A picture no exhibitor need have reluctance in booking. A worthy successor to In Old Arizona, with more emphasis on hard riding and gunplay. Gene Autry sings several songs he has popularized with his recordings and displays a pleasing personality. This well produced film was strong at the box office and received excellent audience response.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
11/19/1935 FD The Sagebrush Troubadour
Republic 68 Minutes
(Hollywood Preview)
First-rate western with plenty of action and some pleasing musical numbers.
In addition to putting over some good song numbers, Gene Autry, ably assisted by Smiley Burnette, does some hard fast riding, clever roping, and comes out the winner in bang-up fights. The work of these two boys makes this a number that the outdoor fans are going to like, even though there are a couple of spots in which the action is a bit far-fetched. There is plenty doing all the time, for the boys are out to find the murderer, and when they are not actually at work, their singing and playing furnish enjoyable entertainment. Burnette has a sense of putting over wholesome comedy and with his vocal changes, the fans should like his work. Autry and Smiley enter on the scene to find the murder of the owner of a sway-back horse, which they have found. This leads them through a number of exciting incidents, in which Autry meets the girl whose grandfather was the person killed. The sway-back horse leads all the interested parties to an old mine, where Autry is able to find the killer.
CAST: Gene Autry, Barbara Pepper, Smiley Burnette, Fred Kelsey, Hooper Atchley, Frank Glendon, Denny Meadows, Julian Rivero, Tom London, Tommy Gene Fairey, Champion.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Joseph Kane; Author, Oliver Drake; Screenplay, Oliver Drake, Joseph Poland; Cameraman, Ernest Miller, Jack Marta; Songs, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fast. Photography, A-1.
11/26/1935 HCN Cinemania
By Edwin Martin
Town In Review:
Gene Autry, the radio singing cowboy, who suddenly found himself to be a western star, seeing the Boulevard with his publicity man, George Goodale...
11/30/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Would like to buy 100 westerns as good as Republic's Melody Trail. Has everything a small town and country patronage house could ask for in a western. Played November 9.—Harlan C. Dodd, Charlestown Theatre, Charlestown, Ind. Small Town and Country Patronage.
12/2/1935 LAX Hollywood Parade
By Reine Davies
To celebrate the completion of his latest western, The Singing Vagabond, Gene Autry, the picture's crooning star, entertained the members of the cast at a Thanksgiving supper last Wednesday evening. Incidentally and just to prove that Hollywood's back-to-the-land movement is really bearing fruit, or, in this case, turkeys, the handsome bird was raised on Gene's Burbank ranch.
12/11/1935 FD The Singing Vagabond
Republic 57 Minutes
(Hollywood Preview
Pleasing musical western with Gene Autry's singing as the highlight.
This singing western of frontier days should be good entertainment for houses using this type of product. Although the story is familiar material, the players handle their roles well and Carl Pierson's direction gives this number plenty of action. Gene Autry's singing is the strongest selling point. When he is not warbling there is something else to hold one's attention, including a battle with the Indians. Ann Rutherford, as the girl, looks very nice, sings a number, and all around handles her part well. Smiley Burnette doesn't get a chance to do much, but he grabs the spotlight whenever he is on. The story takes place in 1860. Ann joins a show troupe going West. The wagon train is attacked by bandits, but Autry and his plainsmen come to the rescue Ann's aunt wants her to marry Niles Welch and they follow Ann out West. Autry's enemies fix things o that he is accused of rustling government horses, and of being a tool of the Indians. Since he is working for the government, he is court-martialed. Welch has promised Ann that he would use his political influence in freeing Autry, but instead fixes things to that Gene is sentenced to be shot. With the aid of his pals, Autry escapes, finds the guilty parties and gets his Ann.
CAST: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, Smiley Burnette, Barbara Pepper, Frank LaRue, Warner Richmond, Henry Rocquemore, Grace Goodall, Niles Welch, Allan Sears, Charles King, Ray Bernard, Bob Burns, Celia McCanon.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Carl Pierson; Author, Oliver Drake; Screenplay, Oliver Drake, Betty Burbridge; Cameramen, Bill Nobles, Ed Lyons; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Good. Photography, A-1.
12/14/1935 MPH The Singing Vagabond
(Republic)
Musical Western
Showmen and audiences who appreciate the commercial entertainment worth of novelly treated thrill action adventure amusement should find much in this to engage their attention. Basically the feature is a musical western. Actually, with the production technique that made westerns so popular in the silent days expertly regenerated, it's the U.S. cavalry to the rescue. The well contrived situations move with speedy continuity. Music, which featured Gene Autry mainly and Ann Rutherford in a minor manner with choruses, is effective. Dialogue fills the expected function, but primarily, action carries the story thread. The intent of the picture graphically is geared to arouse mass enthusiasm and to appeal strongly to the younger audience contingents.
Captain Tex Autry is the singing head of a troop of singing cavalry men convoying a wagon train of which runaway girl Lettie Morgan is a member. Bandits attack it and Autry's troop rides to the rescue. Romance which has a triangle complex develops for Tex, Lettie and LaCrosse. Arriving at the fort, horses are stolen and Tex suspected is arrested and sentenced to death. The wagon train moves on. Aided by his buddies, Frog and Buffalo, Tex escapes. He catches up with the train just as marauding Indians attack it. Driving off the raiders, Tex puts the finger on Utah Joe as the culprit in the crime of which he is charged. Exonerated, he wins Lettie.
As the picture concentrates on delivering the maximum amount of thrill action and makes no pretenses, other than in using music, to be anything than a pulse tingling western, showmen who accept it as such and make a serious effort to convince their audiences, particularly the outdoor action adventure devotees and the youngsters that the attraction is honestly entertaining, should find its presentation an enjoyable occasion.—McCarthy, Hollywood.
Produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. Directed by Carl Pierson. Supervised by Armand Schaefer. Story by Oliver Drake. Screenplay by Oliver Drake and Betty Burbridge. Photographed by Bill Nobles and Ed Lyons. Sound by John Stransky. Edited by Lester Orlebeck. Release date, December 16, 1935. General audience classification.
12/14/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumblin' Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—Here is a western with all the earmarks of a major studio western. We popularized Gene Autry with the serial, The Phantom Empire, and had a ready-made audience. We had an extra large children's attendance, larger than the usual Thanksgiving matinee. This was double billed with Front Page Woman and the show pleased old and young.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Michigan. Neighborhood Patronage.
1/4/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—Here's a company that all independents should patronize if they care to show a profit at box office. Their film rentals believe in "live and let live."—Ben Brinck, West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. General Patronage.
1/11/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Sagebrush Troubadour: Gene Autry, Barbara Pepper—Good, but not nearly so good as previous Autry films. The picture suffers from too much padding....(line obscured)....Smiley Burnette in order to round it out to feature length. It has hardly more than thirty minutes of real action in it.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
1/18/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Something a little different. Western fans seemed to go for it.—M.F. Bodwell, Paramount Theatre, Wyoming, Ill. Small Town Patronage.
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucile Browne—This is my first report to "What the Picture Did For Me" in quite a while. These Autry westerns are the outstanding pictures of the season. They are tops in all ways. I am also referring to Melody Trail and Sagebrush Troubadour. Give these pictures your preferred playing time and watch the crowds roll in. As business getters these pictures are ahead of Cantor, Astaire and Rogers and a lot of the big stars. Republic sells these pictures at a just rental so as to leave you a profit. I had more profit left on Tumbling Tumbleweeds than I did Top Hat. And that is saying a-plenty. People came to see this picture that I never seen in the theatre before. And all left satisfied. Running time, 57 minutes. Played January 5-6.—M.S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. General Patronage.
2/1/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
Somebody told Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, that if a skunk was firmly held by the tail it couldn't do a thing. Well it ain't so! Gene had a chance to TEST the belief and now members of his company aren't talking to him.
2/5/1936 EHE Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry and Mae Clarke have written what they hope is another "Boots and Saddles" song, and which we hope ISN'T...
2/8/1936 EHE Harrison Carroll
Gene Autry, the western star, has been ordered to bed with an infected arm, the result of a screen fight for the picture, Red River Valley...
2/11/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
GENE AUTRY (one of the better of our crop of cowboys) revives that old adage about "a man's best friend is his dog," only in this case it's his horse, CHAMPION. "CHAMP" has a fifteen hundred dollar trailer to ride about in, with windows, is electrically heated, has a built-in water trough and feed bin, and a cork floor so his feet won't get TOO tired. Now, on the other hand, AUTRY (not to let his horse outdo him) has a superstition that being a Western star he must always wear cowboy suits and, what's more, he DOES—in fact, the so-tight variety that I'm sure he has to be lifted onto his mount.
2/13/1936 FD Little From Lots
Ann Rutherford, Republic contract player, has been assigned to the leading role opposite Gene Autry in Coming ‘Round the Mountain, musical western, which Mack Wright is slated to direct from the story and screenplay by Oliver Drake and Dorrell and Stuart McGowan. Smiley Burnette is also featured in the cast.
2/21/1936 EHE Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry, the cowboy star, and his leading lady, Ann Rutherford, are carrying their film romance OFF the screen!...
2/22/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
James Dunn is trying to train a BALKY turtle for Gene Autry's terrapin derby, of all things!
2/29/1936 EHE News Flashes!
Ann Rutherford, Republic contract player, has the leading role opposite Gene Autry in Comin' Round the Mountain, Republic musical western.
2/29/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—This is a splendid western. Good riding, good comedy, great singing. This man Autry has personality, voice and everything to please the people and they begin to ask for his pictures. That is going some these days. Played February 7-8.—Bert Silver, New Silver Theatre, Greenville, Mich. City and Country Patronage.
The Singing Vagabond: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Our patrons enjoyed this musical western and we received no complaints. It is as well produced as the previous Autry films.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
3/7/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
The Singing Vagabond: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—I can't add anything to this picture in way of praise any more than I have the others of this series. They are so far ahead of other pictures this year that I lack words to describe them. If other companies would drop a lot of their society dramas and add a number of this type of picture, us small town exhibitors would have something to live for. Played February 9-10.—M.S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. Small Town and Rural Patronage.
3/28/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Red River Valley: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Frances Grant—Gene Autry has merited our confidence in him. When these westerns were announced for production and we purchased them. Doubting Thomases shook their heads; Autry was practically unknown to film audiences; Republic might not give its westerns major company quality. Ignoring these warnings we placed the advertising material on Tumbling Tumbleweeds, two weeks in advance in our lobby and the doormen and cashiers were besieged with requests for the date. Needless to say the engagement was profitable and the paramount question among our patrons was, "When are you going to have Autry again?" Each succeeding picture has drawn and pleased. His latest, Red River Valley is the best of the series.. Aside from having a sensible and well written story, it has innumerable directorial touches which show care and thought were put into its making. Its almost continuous musical score highlights the action and is a relief from the library phonographic music which western producers so frequently resort to in order to cut expenses.> And–glory be– there isn't a single Dunning process shot in the picture; even close-up scenes during wild pursuit riding are the real thing and not old action clips thrown on a screen with the star prancing before it. Autry sings "Red River Valley" and other numbers and is cleverly assisted by Smiley Burnette, with his comedy songs.–J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
4/4/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry, the hoss-opera star, has discovered that cows are just NERTZY about jazz music. What's more, Gene has installed radios in his barn so that his bovines may enjoy all types of music. Isn't that just TOO, TOO cute...
4/11/1936 MPH SHOWMEN'S REVIEWS
Comin' Round the Mountain
(Republic)
Western
Harking back to the era of the Pony Express with California as a background, this outdoor romance production combines the requisite component parts for well balanced fare for the inveterate as well as the casual western audience. The highlight is a cross-country race to determine the competitive worth of horseflesh for duty with the Pony Express. The race is one to quicken the audience pulse.
The plot is typically western with nothing new to distinguish it from numerous others, yet this doesn't detract from the presentation. A Pony Express rider is set upon and robbed of a package of money needed to forestall a sheriff's sale of a ranch. The rider obtains a leave of absence from the Pony Express to track down the robbers. The man who engineered the theft turns out to be the neighboring ranch owner, eager to consolidate both ranches and marry the girl who owns the mortgage property.
Gene Autry as the Pony Express rider turns in his usual excellent performance, interspersing two or three songs. In fact, the entire cast is well chosen. Ann Rutherford is the girl, Roy Mason the heavy and Smiley Burnette contributes most of the comedy relief. Bob McKenzie makes much of his small part as the marshal.
"El Diablo," A highly spirited horse, plays an important part in the proceedings. Autry escapes from the desert when the animal, running away from the girl's ranch, strays there. The horse later is set free to rejoin a herd of wild horses, and assumes leadership after besting the former leader, a pinto. The pinto is stolen by Mason, painted black and entered in the big race as a thoroughbred. "El Diablo" beats the pinto by a length. Mason's trickery is disclosed when the two horses attempt to renew their fight. The stolen money is recovered, the ranch is saved and Autry marries the girl.
Exploitation might be best directed toward children, but the production has material to interest adult patronage.
Previewed in projection room.
—Mooney, New York
Produced and distributed by Republic. Directed by Mack Wright. Supervised by Armand Shaefer. Screenplay by Oliver Drake, Dorrell McGowan and Stuart McGowan. Original story by Oliver Drake. Photography by Bill Nobles. Running time, 55 minutes. Release date, April 13, 1936. General Audience Classification.
4/16/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
Gene Autry (the singing cowboy) will take an automobile vacation to Mexico in July and with him he will drag along two trailers—one for him to live in and the other to house his favorite horse. That's being a pal to one's four-footed friend.
5/13/1936 FD The Singing Cowboy
Republic 56 Minutes
Entertaining western with good variety makes better type program stuff.
Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and gang get together for a superior western in which there is no lack of action but careful pacing of it. The piece presents more music than most pictures, based on the homey plot which has Autry and his cowhand colleagues become television entertainers in order to raise money for an operation on the orphaned little girl of their murdered boss. In familiar complications, the sponsor's daughter wins an amateur contest and joins the show, the murderer of the ranch owner steals the touring television wagon in order to make Autry look like a bad risk to the bank from which the cowboy wants to make a loan, and Autry sets all things right by catching the murder, supplying the necessary money for the operation and marrying the sponsor's daughter. Lon Chaney Jr. is fine as the murderer-partner of the youngster's father.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Lois Wilde, Lon Chaney Jr., Ann Gilles, Champion, John Van Pelt, Earl Hodgins, Earl Eby, Ken Cooper, Harrison Greene, Wes Warner, Jack Rockwell, Tracy Layne, Snowflake, Oscar Gahan, Frankie Marvin, Jack Kirk, Audrey Davis, George Pearce, Charles McAvoy.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Mack Wright; Author, Tom Gibson; Screenplay, Dorrell and Stuart McGowan; Cameraman, Bill Nobles; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fine. Photography, Fine.
5/16/1936 MPH SHOWMEN'S REVIEWS
The Singing Cowboy
(Republic)
Western Comedy Drama
Gene Autry's singing of western ballads, with which this picture opens and closes and to which approximately half the screening time is given over in between, is its dominant exploitation factor. Another unusual angle consists of the presentation of television as a realized, commercially practiced and generally accepted medium for the dissemination of entertainment and advertising sales copy. Nevertheless, the setting is the west and there is lots of riding, shooting and a reasonable amount of murder, arson and related villainy. The performance of Lon Chaney Jr., as the bad man in the plot, may serve as a focal point of incidental copy in certain cases.
The story is about Gene Autry, cast as Gene Autry, top cowhand in a ranch outfit owned in partnership by one Stevens and his partner, Martin. Stevens catches Martin stealing their own ponies and is murdered, fire destroying the barn and escaping horses trampling down Lou-Ann, Stevens' small daughter, whose guardian Autry becomes by terms of Stevens' will. Her injuries require an expensive operation and Autry organizes his fellow cowboys into a radio feature which he sells to Covered Wagon Coffee to earn money to pay for it. Martin, knowing there is gold on the ranch property, seeks to break the program, which has been joined meanwhile by Helen Blake, missing daughter of the Covered Wagon Coffee president. Autry is given reward money offered for discovery of her whereabouts, finances the operation, marries Helen, saves the ranch, effects the arrest of Martin and makes everything come out even without missing a broadcast.
Reviewed at the Republic Pictures trade showing.
—Weaver, New York
Produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. A Nat Levine production, supervised by Armand Schaefer. Directed by Mack Wright. Screenplay by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart McGowan. Original story by Tom Gibson. Photographed by Bill Nobles. P.C.A. Certificate 2617. Release date, May 11. Running time, 56 minutes. General Audience Classification.
5/16/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Comin' Round the Mountain: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford—This excellent picture, as all the other Autry films, did excellent business at the box office. This picture received more laughs from the audience than Autry's previous productions for Republic. If your patrons enjoy Gene Autry, then you can do good business with this picture. We posted displays in the lobby two weeks in advance which had all the people taking notice. If we were selling reserved seats on this picture, we would have had every seat in the house sold within three or four hours. We did excellent business on a three day run. This Autry production is well balanced. Music and action runs about equal throughout the production. Good for your weekend dates. Excellent recording. Played at New Liberty Theatre. Played April 26-28.—John Westland, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford—This boy Autry is there. Can ride like nobody's business. Sing, can he sing, and this little boy with him keeps right up with Gene or a little ahead of him. Business poor two days.—W.H. Brenner, Cozy Theatre, Winchester, Ind. General Patronage.
5/22/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
Gene Autry up and walked out of the Republic Studios and says he will NOT return for another picture unless they give him a new contract with more money. You see, at the Texas Centennial he'll get a thousand a week for personal appearancing.
5/30/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Red River Valley: Gene Autry, Frances Grant—Up to the usual average of this star which have been coming through very good. This combined with Stars Over Broadway more than satisfied and gave us an above average Sunday and Monday.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood Patronage.
6/24/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
When Gene Autry (the cowboy star) goes on his personal appearance tour he is taking with him one of the most expensive sets ever built for a vaudeville act. It has an honest to goodness waterfall in the background, for which he has to drag along two tanks to keep it animated. All he's going to do is sing so why the waterfall? But then, it's HIS act.
7/2/1936 HCN Cinemania
By Edwin Martin
GADDING ABOUT
Just doing the Boulevard with Louis Mason, who really should have our job....he wanders the Boulevard more consistently than we do...and, having just finished in M'liss, he now gets a chance to resume his daily strolls from the Roosevelt to Western Avenue and back....which is quite a jaunt.
Stopping to see Al Martin at the Knickerbocker, and see director Eddie Sutherland taking Loretta Young into the cocktail lounge....maybe there is someone else there....let's see....yep, Lee Tracy, Robert Taylor, John Boles and Randy Scott are in the line-up, and Gene Autry and his boys are playing some pretty cowboy tunes over in the corner....just for the fun of it....and Charles Judels is being congratulated for winning the role of the Italian in Richard Rowland's production, "I'd Give My Life."
7/4/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
The Singing Cowboy: Gene Autry, Lois Wilde, Smiley Burnette—This picture recaptures the mood of the earlier Autry westerns in emphasizing music and novelty situations. It received a perfect audience response and withstood the onslaught of a heat wave. We recently had the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with Autry, whose quiet and unassuming manner makes him just as impressive off screen as on.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
All things come to him who waits–maybe, if the locale happens to be Hollywood. But it does seem as if Philip Merivale has had to wait terrifically long to make his screen debut. When you consider his fame and acclaim as a stage star on two continents and then check up the facts to find that he has been under film contract to Fox for six months without having one role, then you begin to realize that the wheels of the studios can turn exceedingly slow. Mr. Merivale, however, has been paid quite handsomely to do nothing, but I imagine that he is going to rejoice over the opportunity to make that long deferred film debut. He will have the male lead in As Husbands Go, the Rachel Crothers comedy soon to be produced by Fox. John Boles has been cast with Merivale in the second male lead and the two leading feminine roles are now under consideration.
Pauline Frederick starred in a Henry Duffy production of this comedy not long ago. Those who saw "As Husbands Go" at that time will recall that it is a farce comedy based on two middle-aged women from the Middle West who go to Paris to get their heads turned by the attention of gigolos. One of the women is a widow, the other has a patient and devoted husband at home. Merivale, I suppose, will portray that husband, and Boles will probably been seen as the gigolo. Although there are a couple of ingenue parts in As Husbands Go, the two feminine leads require mature actresses.
....
Everyone seems to be agreed that Radio Pictures is eager to buy the screen rights to The Age of Innocence, the Edith Wharton novel which is owned by Warners. However, one of my contemporaries today announces that the story, if obtained by Radio, will be used as a starring vehicle for Constance Bennett. And at the same time a local trade paper announces that the story is sought for Katharine Hepburn. While at the studio I am informed that The Age of Innocence is wanted for Ann Harding! I'll play safe and not venture an opinion. But you can take the facts for what they are worth and give them your own interpretation. On the stage Katharine Cornell made one of her first great hits in "The Age of Innocence." She also was the star of "Bill of Divorcement," which had Katharine Hepburn in the screen version, and the trade paper cites this fact as evidence that Katharine Hepburn will be the star of The Age of Innocence. Bennett, Hepburn and Harding–that still leaves room for a prediction that Irene Dunne will get the role. Vos you dere. Sharlie?
....
Sometimes I wonder if newspaper readers realize how difficult it is for movie scribblers to single out fact from rumor and speculation? As another example, take the case of Maurice Chevalier. Only one this is certain about Chevalier at the moment. He is engaged in making his last picture on his current Paramount contract. Some say he will sign a new deal with Paramount. Others contend that he is about ready to sign up with Jesse Lasky at Fox (Lasky was with Paramount when Chevalier will make pictures for Twentieth Century. If he doesn't sign with Paramount, then you might safely guess that MGM will get Chevalier, since this studio goes after every kind of talent since it specializes in quantity. Out of all this maze of rumor, I might possibly venture a prediction if I hadn't picked up a foreign film paper and read:
"Cecile Sorel, the great French tragic actress, is going into a review at the Casino de Paris, with Maurice Chevalier as her partner. Parisians are highly excited over this new stage partnership."
Now I'd like to know if Paris movie scribblers are as best by idle rumors as Hollywood scribes?
....
Robert Benchley will not have time to write many funny cracks for Radio Pictures if the studio continues to keep him busy acting. Benchley, since he made such a hit as the radio announcer in Sports Parade, has been signed to a two-way contract which provides he shall both write and act for the screen. But since his return to Hollywood recently he has played in three pictures, Headline Shooter, The Glory Command, and Flaming Gold. And today he goes into a fourth picture, Ann Vickers, with Irene Dunne and Walter Huston.
....
Maude Eburne, well known character actress, was signed today for an important role in Shanghai Madness at Fox. She is to play the wife of the mission keeper in Shanghai who shelters Fay Wray during a siege of Chinese bandits. Another fine actress engaged for a role at Fox is Elspeth Dudgeon, who will have a part with Janet Gaynor in Paddy, The Next Best Thing.
....
Radio Pictures is dickering with Paramount for the loan of Richard Bennett. He is wanted for a featured part in Sweet Cheat, which already has Ginger Rogers and ZaSu Pitts in the cast. Others added to the cast of this film today are George Meeker, Henry Armetta and Henry Kolker.
....
El Brendel, one of my favorite comedians, is to be starred in a five-reel comedy at Fox, according to latest news. The story is still to be written, but I'm told that it will be patterned to fit the talents of Brendel.
Gene Autry In the 30's
ABBREVIATIONS
DN — Los Angeles Daily News
EHE — Los Angeles Evening Herald Express
FD — Film Daily
HCN — Hollywood Citizen News
IDN — Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)
LAM — Los Angeles Mirror
LAX — Los Angeles Examiner
MPH — Motion Picture Herald
SFC — San Francisco Chronicle
8/15/1934 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
Gene Autry, radio personality, has been signed by Mascot for Down in Old Santa Fe, starring Ken Maynard.
9/17/1934 HCN Elizabeth Yeaman
Ken Maynard is adding to his film accomplishment. In addition to riding his famous horse, Tarzan, Maynard is to sing "In Old Santa Fe" in his next picture of the same title. Gene Autry and the NBC cowboys will help him out on the chorus.
11/15/1934 FD In Old Santa Fe
Mascot 65 Minutes
Western has unusual class with intelligent story, superior cast and direction.
This western gives you an idea what really can be done with the horse operas if the producers try to put a little money and brains into them. The story is logical and intelligently constructed, and will appeal to grownups as well as the kids. The action keeps moving without any letup and there is a nice balance of all the pop elements that make the westerns appealing. Ken Maynard and his old partner, Cactus, arrive at a dude ranch and soon the lines of conflict are drawn between him and an easterner who has come on to muscle in on the ranch, having something on H.B. Warner, the owner. Ken loses everything he owns on a crooked horse race, the easterner having his henchmen throw him with a wire across the road. A gold shipment is stolen from the ranch and the murder of the stage driver framed on Maynard. Then it is one thrill scene after another as the hero goes into action and finally pins all the deviltry on the villain in a surprise finish. Director David Howard did a fine job, and so did the entire cast. Camera work exceptional. Some good cowboy melodies also.
CAST: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp, H.B. Warner, Kenneth Thomson, Wheeler Oakman, George Hayes, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnett, George Cheseboro, George Burton.
Director, David Howard; Authors, Wallace MacDonald, John Rathmell; Screenplay, Colbert Clark, James Gruen; Editor, Thomas Scorr; Cameramen, Ernie Miller, William Nobles.
Direction, Very Good. Photography, Excellent.
12/29/1934 EHE
Gene Autry stars in The Phantom Empire, a Mascot serial for Nat Levine.
6/29/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Gene Autry, Evalyn Knapp—I have recently made it a point not to review the westerns, as they are pretty much the same sort and it is useless to review them. However, I'll have to break over and say a good word for this western. It drew better than average business and pleased. Created a lot of comment. Play it (on Saturday). Running time, 60 minutes. Played May 25.—H.M. Johnson, Avon Theatre, Avon Park, Ga. General Small Town Patronage.
Phantom Empire: Gene Autry, Frankie Darro—Here is something different in serials. Based on the fantastic ideas made popular by the comic strips such as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. Started this on a hot Sunday but it is building and holding those who started it. It is well done with more plot than most serials. Just showed the third episode. The producers deserve credit for this new idea in serials and the clever manner in which this has been produced.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood Patronage.
7/2/1935 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
The first of the John Wayne westerns produced by Trem Carr, Westward Ho, is finished shooting and is now in the cutting room. Gene Autry, who will make musical westerns produced by Nat Levine, will soon start his first picture. Autry is the singing cowboy of radio and screen fame.
7/20/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard—Here is an exceptionally good western with fine singing and music. My patrons enjoyed it very much. If you want a fine outdoor picture date this one. It is good.—S.H. Rich, Rich Theatre, Montpelier, Idaho. Town and Rural Patronage.
9/5/1935 FD Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Republic 61 Minutes
Plenty of thrills in action western with singing cowboy featured advantageously.
Introducing Gene Autry, the singing cowboy of radio fame, this being the first of a series that will give the new screen star a chance to do his hill-billy singing and a very fine brand of western cowboy riding, fighting and lovemaking. Gene is a very personable lad, and should make a name for himself among the western stars. In this opus he is part owner of a medicine show that hits into the town where his father lives. Gene is thrown into the midst of the mystery killing of his father, and befriends a chap named Brooks, who is accused of the killing. The star learns from the accused's wife of the plot of a rancher to try and get his father's water rights, and that [rest of line obscured]. The story develops into the hero's efforts to pin the crime on this man, and he plants a trap for him and his henchmen, into which they fall. This scene gives opportunity for a grand slam-bang free-for-all fight with a dozen or more men involved while the medicine wagon is careening along at breakneck speed Autry delivers several songs impressively. Altogether a fine western from every angle.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Lucille Browne, Norma Taylor, George Hayes, Edward Hearn, Jack Rockwell, Frankie Marvin, George Chesebro, Eugene Jackson, Charles King, Charles Whitaker, George Burton, Tom London, Cornelius Keefe.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director Joseph Kane; Author, Alan Ludwig; Screenplay, Ford Beebe; Cameraman, Ernest Miller.
Direction, Very Good. Photography, Okay.
9/7/1935 MPH What the Picture Did For Me
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp—A good western with plenty of music and fun. Not the usual shoot ‘em up and drag out type, but just a good comical modern western. Give us more of this type. Pleased one hundred percent. Running time, six reels. Played July 26-27.—Charles T. Nelson, Fay Theatre, Jasper, Fla. Small Town and Rural Patronage.
9/21/1935 MPH What the Picture Did For Me
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp—No one could ask for a better western. Good action story, thrills and singing. Business exceptionally good for weekend.—A.N. Miles, Eminence Theatre, Eminence, Ky. Small Town Patronage.
9/24/1935 FD Melody Trail
Republic 60 minutes
(Hollywood Preview)
Swell musical western with song-and-dance stuff adding novelty to outdoor action.
This is a pip of a cowboy musical, with Gene Autry doing everything including hard riding, bang-up fighting, bronco busting and love-making in addition to his cowboy crooning. And he has a pal, Smiley Burnette, whose style of homely comedy brings forth a steady flow of laughter. Buck, the dog in Call of the Wild, is a thief in this one, and he is swell. Ann Rutherford capably furnishes the love interest. A group of cowgirls get a lot of laughs, furnish a chorus for Gene's singing, and work in nicely for a novel ending. Story by Sherman Lowe and Elizabeth Burbridge has a lot of new angles and Joseph Kane's direction never allows a let down. After opening with a real rodeo, with Abe Lefton doing some clever announcing, Autry is attracted by Ann and in order to be near her he takes the job of cooking on her dad's ranch, being operated by cowgirls since the cowboys have gone to the rodeo. Cattle are being rustled. Autry discovers the gang and after a bang-up battle brings them in A wholesale cowboy-cowgirl marriage makes the closing musical number.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford, Wade Boteler, Al Bridge, Willy Castello, Marie Quillen, Fern Emmett, Gertrude Messinger, Trace Lane, George De Norman, Marion Jowling, Ione Reed, Jane Barnes.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Joseph Kane; Authors, Sherman Lowe, Elizabeth Burbridge; Screenplay Sherman Lowe; Cameraman, Ernie Miller; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fine. Photography, A-1.
10/5/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
In Old Santa Fe: Ken Maynard, Evalyn Knapp, H.B. Warner—One of the best westerns played in this theatre. Many favorable comments from patrons. Pleased our Friday and Saturday patrons 100 percent, and did good business. Played September 20-21.—Robert Wygent, Heghts Theatre, Houston, Texas. Neighborhood Patronage.
10/25/1935 FD A Little From Lots
By Ralph Wilk
Barbara Pepper, Republic contract player, has been assigned by Nat Levine to appear in the leading role opposite Gene Autry in The Sagebrush Troubadour.
10/26/1935 EHE Harrison Carroll
Quite the fanciest thing in Hollywood for transporting horses is owned by Gene Autry, the western star. His favorite mount, Champ, rides to location in a stream-lined, air-conditioned trailer. It has four inches of cork on the floor and four inches of leather padding on the walls. And non-shatterable glass windows.
11/15/1935 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
According to Gene Autry (Republic's Western star), the wardrobe of a motion picture cowboy costs around twenty-two hundred and fifty bucks a year, with most of the dough going for ten-gallon hats, so think twice, little man, before you decide to devote your life to a horse.
11/16/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—A picture no exhibitor need have reluctance in booking. A worthy successor to In Old Arizona, with more emphasis on hard riding and gunplay. Gene Autry sings several songs he has popularized with his recordings and displays a pleasing personality. This well produced film was strong at the box office and received excellent audience response.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
11/19/1935 FD The Sagebrush Troubadour
Republic 68 Minutes
(Hollywood Preview)
First-rate western with plenty of action and some pleasing musical numbers.
In addition to putting over some good song numbers, Gene Autry, ably assisted by Smiley Burnette, does some hard fast riding, clever roping, and comes out the winner in bang-up fights. The work of these two boys makes this a number that the outdoor fans are going to like, even though there are a couple of spots in which the action is a bit far-fetched. There is plenty doing all the time, for the boys are out to find the murderer, and when they are not actually at work, their singing and playing furnish enjoyable entertainment. Burnette has a sense of putting over wholesome comedy and with his vocal changes, the fans should like his work. Autry and Smiley enter on the scene to find the murder of the owner of a sway-back horse, which they have found. This leads them through a number of exciting incidents, in which Autry meets the girl whose grandfather was the person killed. The sway-back horse leads all the interested parties to an old mine, where Autry is able to find the killer.
CAST: Gene Autry, Barbara Pepper, Smiley Burnette, Fred Kelsey, Hooper Atchley, Frank Glendon, Denny Meadows, Julian Rivero, Tom London, Tommy Gene Fairey, Champion.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Joseph Kane; Author, Oliver Drake; Screenplay, Oliver Drake, Joseph Poland; Cameraman, Ernest Miller, Jack Marta; Songs, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fast. Photography, A-1.
11/26/1935 HCN Cinemania
By Edwin Martin
Town In Review:
Gene Autry, the radio singing cowboy, who suddenly found himself to be a western star, seeing the Boulevard with his publicity man, George Goodale...
11/30/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Would like to buy 100 westerns as good as Republic's Melody Trail. Has everything a small town and country patronage house could ask for in a western. Played November 9.—Harlan C. Dodd, Charlestown Theatre, Charlestown, Ind. Small Town and Country Patronage.
12/2/1935 LAX Hollywood Parade
By Reine Davies
To celebrate the completion of his latest western, The Singing Vagabond, Gene Autry, the picture's crooning star, entertained the members of the cast at a Thanksgiving supper last Wednesday evening. Incidentally and just to prove that Hollywood's back-to-the-land movement is really bearing fruit, or, in this case, turkeys, the handsome bird was raised on Gene's Burbank ranch.
12/11/1935 FD The Singing Vagabond
Republic 57 Minutes
(Hollywood Preview
Pleasing musical western with Gene Autry's singing as the highlight.
This singing western of frontier days should be good entertainment for houses using this type of product. Although the story is familiar material, the players handle their roles well and Carl Pierson's direction gives this number plenty of action. Gene Autry's singing is the strongest selling point. When he is not warbling there is something else to hold one's attention, including a battle with the Indians. Ann Rutherford, as the girl, looks very nice, sings a number, and all around handles her part well. Smiley Burnette doesn't get a chance to do much, but he grabs the spotlight whenever he is on. The story takes place in 1860. Ann joins a show troupe going West. The wagon train is attacked by bandits, but Autry and his plainsmen come to the rescue Ann's aunt wants her to marry Niles Welch and they follow Ann out West. Autry's enemies fix things o that he is accused of rustling government horses, and of being a tool of the Indians. Since he is working for the government, he is court-martialed. Welch has promised Ann that he would use his political influence in freeing Autry, but instead fixes things to that Gene is sentenced to be shot. With the aid of his pals, Autry escapes, finds the guilty parties and gets his Ann.
CAST: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, Smiley Burnette, Barbara Pepper, Frank LaRue, Warner Richmond, Henry Rocquemore, Grace Goodall, Niles Welch, Allan Sears, Charles King, Ray Bernard, Bob Burns, Celia McCanon.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Carl Pierson; Author, Oliver Drake; Screenplay, Oliver Drake, Betty Burbridge; Cameramen, Bill Nobles, Ed Lyons; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Good. Photography, A-1.
12/14/1935 MPH The Singing Vagabond
(Republic)
Musical Western
Showmen and audiences who appreciate the commercial entertainment worth of novelly treated thrill action adventure amusement should find much in this to engage their attention. Basically the feature is a musical western. Actually, with the production technique that made westerns so popular in the silent days expertly regenerated, it's the U.S. cavalry to the rescue. The well contrived situations move with speedy continuity. Music, which featured Gene Autry mainly and Ann Rutherford in a minor manner with choruses, is effective. Dialogue fills the expected function, but primarily, action carries the story thread. The intent of the picture graphically is geared to arouse mass enthusiasm and to appeal strongly to the younger audience contingents.
Captain Tex Autry is the singing head of a troop of singing cavalry men convoying a wagon train of which runaway girl Lettie Morgan is a member. Bandits attack it and Autry's troop rides to the rescue. Romance which has a triangle complex develops for Tex, Lettie and LaCrosse. Arriving at the fort, horses are stolen and Tex suspected is arrested and sentenced to death. The wagon train moves on. Aided by his buddies, Frog and Buffalo, Tex escapes. He catches up with the train just as marauding Indians attack it. Driving off the raiders, Tex puts the finger on Utah Joe as the culprit in the crime of which he is charged. Exonerated, he wins Lettie.
As the picture concentrates on delivering the maximum amount of thrill action and makes no pretenses, other than in using music, to be anything than a pulse tingling western, showmen who accept it as such and make a serious effort to convince their audiences, particularly the outdoor action adventure devotees and the youngsters that the attraction is honestly entertaining, should find its presentation an enjoyable occasion.—McCarthy, Hollywood.
Produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. Directed by Carl Pierson. Supervised by Armand Schaefer. Story by Oliver Drake. Screenplay by Oliver Drake and Betty Burbridge. Photographed by Bill Nobles and Ed Lyons. Sound by John Stransky. Edited by Lester Orlebeck. Release date, December 16, 1935. General audience classification.
12/14/1935 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumblin' Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—Here is a western with all the earmarks of a major studio western. We popularized Gene Autry with the serial, The Phantom Empire, and had a ready-made audience. We had an extra large children's attendance, larger than the usual Thanksgiving matinee. This was double billed with Front Page Woman and the show pleased old and young.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Michigan. Neighborhood Patronage.
1/4/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucille Browne—Here's a company that all independents should patronize if they care to show a profit at box office. Their film rentals believe in "live and let live."—Ben Brinck, West Point Theatre, West Point, Iowa. General Patronage.
1/11/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Sagebrush Troubadour: Gene Autry, Barbara Pepper—Good, but not nearly so good as previous Autry films. The picture suffers from too much padding....(line obscured)....Smiley Burnette in order to round it out to feature length. It has hardly more than thirty minutes of real action in it.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
1/18/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Something a little different. Western fans seemed to go for it.—M.F. Bodwell, Paramount Theatre, Wyoming, Ill. Small Town Patronage.
Tumbling Tumbleweeds: Gene Autry, Lucile Browne—This is my first report to "What the Picture Did For Me" in quite a while. These Autry westerns are the outstanding pictures of the season. They are tops in all ways. I am also referring to Melody Trail and Sagebrush Troubadour. Give these pictures your preferred playing time and watch the crowds roll in. As business getters these pictures are ahead of Cantor, Astaire and Rogers and a lot of the big stars. Republic sells these pictures at a just rental so as to leave you a profit. I had more profit left on Tumbling Tumbleweeds than I did Top Hat. And that is saying a-plenty. People came to see this picture that I never seen in the theatre before. And all left satisfied. Running time, 57 minutes. Played January 5-6.—M.S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. General Patronage.
2/1/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
Somebody told Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, that if a skunk was firmly held by the tail it couldn't do a thing. Well it ain't so! Gene had a chance to TEST the belief and now members of his company aren't talking to him.
2/5/1936 EHE Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry and Mae Clarke have written what they hope is another "Boots and Saddles" song, and which we hope ISN'T...
2/8/1936 EHE Harrison Carroll
Gene Autry, the western star, has been ordered to bed with an infected arm, the result of a screen fight for the picture, Red River Valley...
2/11/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
GENE AUTRY (one of the better of our crop of cowboys) revives that old adage about "a man's best friend is his dog," only in this case it's his horse, CHAMPION. "CHAMP" has a fifteen hundred dollar trailer to ride about in, with windows, is electrically heated, has a built-in water trough and feed bin, and a cork floor so his feet won't get TOO tired. Now, on the other hand, AUTRY (not to let his horse outdo him) has a superstition that being a Western star he must always wear cowboy suits and, what's more, he DOES—in fact, the so-tight variety that I'm sure he has to be lifted onto his mount.
2/13/1936 FD Little From Lots
Ann Rutherford, Republic contract player, has been assigned to the leading role opposite Gene Autry in Coming ‘Round the Mountain, musical western, which Mack Wright is slated to direct from the story and screenplay by Oliver Drake and Dorrell and Stuart McGowan. Smiley Burnette is also featured in the cast.
2/21/1936 EHE Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry, the cowboy star, and his leading lady, Ann Rutherford, are carrying their film romance OFF the screen!...
2/22/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
James Dunn is trying to train a BALKY turtle for Gene Autry's terrapin derby, of all things!
2/29/1936 EHE News Flashes!
Ann Rutherford, Republic contract player, has the leading role opposite Gene Autry in Comin' Round the Mountain, Republic musical western.
2/29/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—This is a splendid western. Good riding, good comedy, great singing. This man Autry has personality, voice and everything to please the people and they begin to ask for his pictures. That is going some these days. Played February 7-8.—Bert Silver, New Silver Theatre, Greenville, Mich. City and Country Patronage.
The Singing Vagabond: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—Our patrons enjoyed this musical western and we received no complaints. It is as well produced as the previous Autry films.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Ft. Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
3/7/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
The Singing Vagabond: Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford—I can't add anything to this picture in way of praise any more than I have the others of this series. They are so far ahead of other pictures this year that I lack words to describe them. If other companies would drop a lot of their society dramas and add a number of this type of picture, us small town exhibitors would have something to live for. Played February 9-10.—M.S. Porter, Orpheum Theatre, Nelsonville, Ohio. Small Town and Rural Patronage.
3/28/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Red River Valley: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Frances Grant—Gene Autry has merited our confidence in him. When these westerns were announced for production and we purchased them. Doubting Thomases shook their heads; Autry was practically unknown to film audiences; Republic might not give its westerns major company quality. Ignoring these warnings we placed the advertising material on Tumbling Tumbleweeds, two weeks in advance in our lobby and the doormen and cashiers were besieged with requests for the date. Needless to say the engagement was profitable and the paramount question among our patrons was, "When are you going to have Autry again?" Each succeeding picture has drawn and pleased. His latest, Red River Valley is the best of the series.. Aside from having a sensible and well written story, it has innumerable directorial touches which show care and thought were put into its making. Its almost continuous musical score highlights the action and is a relief from the library phonographic music which western producers so frequently resort to in order to cut expenses.> And–glory be– there isn't a single Dunning process shot in the picture; even close-up scenes during wild pursuit riding are the real thing and not old action clips thrown on a screen with the star prancing before it. Autry sings "Red River Valley" and other numbers and is cleverly assisted by Smiley Burnette, with his comedy songs.–J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
4/4/1936 EHE Strolling Along Hollywood's Gossipy Corners With Jimmy Starr
Gene Autry, the hoss-opera star, has discovered that cows are just NERTZY about jazz music. What's more, Gene has installed radios in his barn so that his bovines may enjoy all types of music. Isn't that just TOO, TOO cute...
4/11/1936 MPH SHOWMEN'S REVIEWS
Comin' Round the Mountain
(Republic)
Western
Harking back to the era of the Pony Express with California as a background, this outdoor romance production combines the requisite component parts for well balanced fare for the inveterate as well as the casual western audience. The highlight is a cross-country race to determine the competitive worth of horseflesh for duty with the Pony Express. The race is one to quicken the audience pulse.
The plot is typically western with nothing new to distinguish it from numerous others, yet this doesn't detract from the presentation. A Pony Express rider is set upon and robbed of a package of money needed to forestall a sheriff's sale of a ranch. The rider obtains a leave of absence from the Pony Express to track down the robbers. The man who engineered the theft turns out to be the neighboring ranch owner, eager to consolidate both ranches and marry the girl who owns the mortgage property.
Gene Autry as the Pony Express rider turns in his usual excellent performance, interspersing two or three songs. In fact, the entire cast is well chosen. Ann Rutherford is the girl, Roy Mason the heavy and Smiley Burnette contributes most of the comedy relief. Bob McKenzie makes much of his small part as the marshal.
"El Diablo," A highly spirited horse, plays an important part in the proceedings. Autry escapes from the desert when the animal, running away from the girl's ranch, strays there. The horse later is set free to rejoin a herd of wild horses, and assumes leadership after besting the former leader, a pinto. The pinto is stolen by Mason, painted black and entered in the big race as a thoroughbred. "El Diablo" beats the pinto by a length. Mason's trickery is disclosed when the two horses attempt to renew their fight. The stolen money is recovered, the ranch is saved and Autry marries the girl.
Exploitation might be best directed toward children, but the production has material to interest adult patronage.
Previewed in projection room.
—Mooney, New York
Produced and distributed by Republic. Directed by Mack Wright. Supervised by Armand Shaefer. Screenplay by Oliver Drake, Dorrell McGowan and Stuart McGowan. Original story by Oliver Drake. Photography by Bill Nobles. Running time, 55 minutes. Release date, April 13, 1936. General Audience Classification.
4/16/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
Gene Autry (the singing cowboy) will take an automobile vacation to Mexico in July and with him he will drag along two trailers—one for him to live in and the other to house his favorite horse. That's being a pal to one's four-footed friend.
5/13/1936 FD The Singing Cowboy
Republic 56 Minutes
Entertaining western with good variety makes better type program stuff.
Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and gang get together for a superior western in which there is no lack of action but careful pacing of it. The piece presents more music than most pictures, based on the homey plot which has Autry and his cowhand colleagues become television entertainers in order to raise money for an operation on the orphaned little girl of their murdered boss. In familiar complications, the sponsor's daughter wins an amateur contest and joins the show, the murderer of the ranch owner steals the touring television wagon in order to make Autry look like a bad risk to the bank from which the cowboy wants to make a loan, and Autry sets all things right by catching the murder, supplying the necessary money for the operation and marrying the sponsor's daughter. Lon Chaney Jr. is fine as the murderer-partner of the youngster's father.
CAST: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Lois Wilde, Lon Chaney Jr., Ann Gilles, Champion, John Van Pelt, Earl Hodgins, Earl Eby, Ken Cooper, Harrison Greene, Wes Warner, Jack Rockwell, Tracy Layne, Snowflake, Oscar Gahan, Frankie Marvin, Jack Kirk, Audrey Davis, George Pearce, Charles McAvoy.
Producer, Nat Levine; Director, Mack Wright; Author, Tom Gibson; Screenplay, Dorrell and Stuart McGowan; Cameraman, Bill Nobles; Editor, Lester Orlebeck.
Direction, Fine. Photography, Fine.
5/16/1936 MPH SHOWMEN'S REVIEWS
The Singing Cowboy
(Republic)
Western Comedy Drama
Gene Autry's singing of western ballads, with which this picture opens and closes and to which approximately half the screening time is given over in between, is its dominant exploitation factor. Another unusual angle consists of the presentation of television as a realized, commercially practiced and generally accepted medium for the dissemination of entertainment and advertising sales copy. Nevertheless, the setting is the west and there is lots of riding, shooting and a reasonable amount of murder, arson and related villainy. The performance of Lon Chaney Jr., as the bad man in the plot, may serve as a focal point of incidental copy in certain cases.
The story is about Gene Autry, cast as Gene Autry, top cowhand in a ranch outfit owned in partnership by one Stevens and his partner, Martin. Stevens catches Martin stealing their own ponies and is murdered, fire destroying the barn and escaping horses trampling down Lou-Ann, Stevens' small daughter, whose guardian Autry becomes by terms of Stevens' will. Her injuries require an expensive operation and Autry organizes his fellow cowboys into a radio feature which he sells to Covered Wagon Coffee to earn money to pay for it. Martin, knowing there is gold on the ranch property, seeks to break the program, which has been joined meanwhile by Helen Blake, missing daughter of the Covered Wagon Coffee president. Autry is given reward money offered for discovery of her whereabouts, finances the operation, marries Helen, saves the ranch, effects the arrest of Martin and makes everything come out even without missing a broadcast.
Reviewed at the Republic Pictures trade showing.
—Weaver, New York
Produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. A Nat Levine production, supervised by Armand Schaefer. Directed by Mack Wright. Screenplay by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart McGowan. Original story by Tom Gibson. Photographed by Bill Nobles. P.C.A. Certificate 2617. Release date, May 11. Running time, 56 minutes. General Audience Classification.
5/16/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Comin' Round the Mountain: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford—This excellent picture, as all the other Autry films, did excellent business at the box office. This picture received more laughs from the audience than Autry's previous productions for Republic. If your patrons enjoy Gene Autry, then you can do good business with this picture. We posted displays in the lobby two weeks in advance which had all the people taking notice. If we were selling reserved seats on this picture, we would have had every seat in the house sold within three or four hours. We did excellent business on a three day run. This Autry production is well balanced. Music and action runs about equal throughout the production. Good for your weekend dates. Excellent recording. Played at New Liberty Theatre. Played April 26-28.—John Westland, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
Melody Trail: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Ann Rutherford—This boy Autry is there. Can ride like nobody's business. Sing, can he sing, and this little boy with him keeps right up with Gene or a little ahead of him. Business poor two days.—W.H. Brenner, Cozy Theatre, Winchester, Ind. General Patronage.
5/22/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
By Lloyd Pantages
Gene Autry up and walked out of the Republic Studios and says he will NOT return for another picture unless they give him a new contract with more money. You see, at the Texas Centennial he'll get a thousand a week for personal appearancing.
5/30/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
Red River Valley: Gene Autry, Frances Grant—Up to the usual average of this star which have been coming through very good. This combined with Stars Over Broadway more than satisfied and gave us an above average Sunday and Monday.—J.E. Stocker, Myrtle Theatre, Detroit, Mich. Neighborhood Patronage.
6/24/1936 LAX I Cover Hollywood
When Gene Autry (the cowboy star) goes on his personal appearance tour he is taking with him one of the most expensive sets ever built for a vaudeville act. It has an honest to goodness waterfall in the background, for which he has to drag along two tanks to keep it animated. All he's going to do is sing so why the waterfall? But then, it's HIS act.
7/2/1936 HCN Cinemania
By Edwin Martin
GADDING ABOUT
Just doing the Boulevard with Louis Mason, who really should have our job....he wanders the Boulevard more consistently than we do...and, having just finished in M'liss, he now gets a chance to resume his daily strolls from the Roosevelt to Western Avenue and back....which is quite a jaunt.
Stopping to see Al Martin at the Knickerbocker, and see director Eddie Sutherland taking Loretta Young into the cocktail lounge....maybe there is someone else there....let's see....yep, Lee Tracy, Robert Taylor, John Boles and Randy Scott are in the line-up, and Gene Autry and his boys are playing some pretty cowboy tunes over in the corner....just for the fun of it....and Charles Judels is being congratulated for winning the role of the Italian in Richard Rowland's production, "I'd Give My Life."
7/4/1936 MPH WHAT THE PICTURE DID FOR ME
The Singing Cowboy: Gene Autry, Lois Wilde, Smiley Burnette—This picture recaptures the mood of the earlier Autry westerns in emphasizing music and novelty situations. It received a perfect audience response and withstood the onslaught of a heat wave. We recently had the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with Autry, whose quiet and unassuming manner makes him just as impressive off screen as on.—J.W. Noah, New Liberty and Ideal Theatres, Fort Worth, Texas. General Patronage.
Labels: Constance Bennett, Ginger Rogers, Maude Eburne, Maurice Chevalier
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