Gene Autry

Have you ever secretly pictured yourself as a knight in shining armour, astride a powerful charger, thundering through adventure and high jinks to a romantic rescue? Or maybe you were the princess, trapped in the tower awaiting a hero's rescue?

An American symbol of all these characters is the cowboy of our own western plains and deserts, and our real-life hero today is Gene Autry, America's favorite singing cowboy, who was a symbol of clean thinking, honesty and the integrity of the American people. 

You might remember the many characters made famous by the prolific 19th-century American author, Horatio Alger, who was best known for his many juvenile novels about impoverished boys and their rise from humble backgrounds to lives of middle-class security and comfort through hard work, determination, courage, and honesty - and Gene Autry's own history reminds me of an Alger story.

He was born over one hundred years ago, on September 29, 1907 near Tioga in Grayson County in north Texas, and his parents named him Orvon Grover Autry.

After discovering he had a talent for singing and playing guitar at a young age, he used to perform at local dances and pretty much anywhere else he could whenever he had a spare moment. He was encouraged by Will Rogers to become a professional singer after being overheard singing at his place of work. So, once he had saved enough money, he headed to New York and finally signed his first recording contract with Colombia Records in 1929.

After working on several movies with Republic Pictures, an American independent film production-distribution corporation, he became recognised across the country as 'The Singing Cowboy'. Millions of picture goers knew him and loved him, probably due to his ability to personally live the characters he depicted.

This success led to CBS Radio broadcasting a new weekly show, called Gene Autry's Melody Ranch which was a huge hit. His horse, Champion, also had a radio series, called The Adventures of Champion. 

In response to his many young radio listeners aspiring to emulate him, Autry created the Cowboy Code, or Ten Cowboy Commandments. These tenets promoting an ethical, moral, and patriotic lifestyle appealed to youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts, which developed similar doctrines. 

The Cowboy Code consisted of rules that were "a natural progression of Gene's philosophies going back to his first Melody Ranch programs and early pictures." 

According to the code:

• The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
• He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
• He must always tell the truth.
• He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
• He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
• He must help people in distress.
• He must be a good worker.
• He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
• He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.
• The Cowboy is a patriot.

The only three existing Adventures of Champion shows, and over forty of the Gene Autry's Melody Ranch shows are available for your enjoyment on RUSC.

Happy listening my friends,