The Gene Autry Show
| The Gene Autry Show | |
|---|---|
Title card
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| Also known as | ''Melody Ranch'' |
| Genre | Western |
| Directed by |
George Archainbaud D. Ross Lederman |
| Starring |
Gene Autry Champion Pat Buttram Bob Woodward |
| Theme music composer | Gene Autry Ray Whitley |
| Opening theme | "Back in the Saddle Again" |
| Ending theme | Back in the Saddle Again |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 91 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Flying 'A' Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Picture format | Black-and-white |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | July 23, 1950 – August 7, 1956 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
The Adventures of Champion Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Buffalo Bill, Jr. |
The Gene Autry Show is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.
Series star Gene Autry had already established his singing cowboy character on radio and the movies. Now he and his horse Champion were featured in a weekly television series of western adventures. Gene's role changed almost weekly from rancher, to ranch hand, to sheriff, to border agent, etc. Gene's usual comic relief and sidekick, Pat, was played by Pat Buttram, better known to later television viewers as "Mr Haney" on "Green Acres". During the first season, Gene's sidekick was played by Chill Wills twice (as Chill) and by Fuzzy Knight four times (as Sagebrush). These two actors even wore Pat's costume. Alan Hale, Jr. (a.k.a. - "The Skipper" from "Gilligan's Island") played a bad guy in several episodes of Seasons 1 and 2, but he also played Gene's sidekick, Tiny, in two episodes of Season 1.
By this time, Autry had established his own production company, Flying 'A' Productions, and acted as executive director for the series.
The series lasted five seasons. The first four were in black and white, and the final season (thirteen episodes) was in color. Color was experimented with in two episodes of the first season. The theme song Back In the Saddle Again was written by Autry and Ray Whitley and sung by Autry.
Among the guest stars, Nan Leslie and Mike Ragan were cast in different roles four times from 1950 to 1955. Both also appeared in many other western series during the 1950s.
Dick Jones was cast in ten episodes of The Gene Autry Show and acted in two other Flying A Productions, The Range Rider and Buffalo Bill, Jr..
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