 (From Old Corral image collection) Above, from L-to-R are Smiley Burnette, great rider Betsy King Ross, Autry at the microphone, and Frankie Darro in producer Nat Levine's cliffhanger, THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (Mascot, 1935), Gene's first starring film. Autry had signed a contract with Levine and Mascot, and he came along in the mid 1930s deal that formed Republic Pictures with the combining of Mascot, Monogram, et al.  (From Old Corral image collection) Above, Gene is in more trouble in the underground city of Murania as Betsy King Ross and Frankie Darro (on the steps) look on in THE PHANTOM EMPIRE (Mascot, 1935). That's Wheeler Oakman in the upper right corner as "Argo, the Muranian High Priest".  (From Old Corral image collection) Above are Gene and his most remembered sidekick, Lester Alvin 'Smiley' Burnette. Smiley appeared in most of Autry's Republic films, but then moved over to Columbia Pictures to assist Charles "Durango Kid" Starrett. After many with Starrett, Burnette re-teamed with Autry for his last batch of oaters which were released by Columbia.  (From Old Corral image collection) After returning from WW2 service, Autry made only a few pictures for Republic before he formed his own production company and moved to Columbia Pictures. He also began riding a mount called Champion Jr. Above is Autry on Champ Jr. with sidekick Sterling Holloway in a lobby card from TWILIGHT ON THE RIO GRANDE (Republic, 1947).  (From Old Corral image collection) Above from L-to-R are Sterling Holloway, Lynne Roberts and Gene Autry in ROBIN HOOD OF TEXAS (1947). |