 (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) 1998 photo commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the "Red Birds". From L-to-R are: Paul Murphy, Denver Morrow, Dan Taylor, Patty Corbett, and the leader of the group, Joe Taylor. Patty and Dan are the lucky ones who get to ride in this '48 Chevy convertible. (Original photo by John Escosa, Stedman Studios.) |
Joe Taylor's Red Birds, organized in 1948 by Joe, were an institution in Indiana's country music scene until their "retirement" New Year's Eve 1998, after more than 50 years in the business. Their home base was Fort Wayne.
Most of these photos were taken during performances at Buck Lake Ranch, Angola, Indiana. Buck Lake was a well-known outdoor entertainment park in northeast Indiana that operated from May through September in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It had a large amphitheater with hillside bleacher seating, and the overall layout was like an old western town with food places, museum, and other attractions. There was a building called the Wigwam which was utilized on rainy days for the shows.
Webmasters note: in various Old Corral pages, I've mentioned that most western film performers did work outside of the movies to supplement their income --- this included appearances with circuses (such as Tom Tyler and Reb Russell); some owned circuses (Tom Mix and Tim McCoy); most of the singing cowboys also did records; some of the movie cowboys had radio series (Rogers, Autry, Hoppy ... even Ken Maynard for a brief time). And many toured the country, doing appearances such as the shows at Buck Lake Ranch.
Thanks to Joe Taylor and Patty Corbett for sharing these great pictures and memories with the Old Corral visitors.
 (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Above from L-to-R are Joe Taylor, Patty Corbett and Rex Allen at Buck Lake Ranch, 1953. Rex sang western songs and did some fancy gun twirlin' for the children.  (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Above - Gene Autry and Joe Taylor, Buck Lake Ranch, 1955. Gene did several performances, and sang his movie ballads and strummed his guitar. Gene had Champion perform some tricks.  (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1953 - from L-to R are Don Myers (Coliseum Manager), Roy Rogers and Joe Taylor. Roy was there with his sidekick Pat Brady, singing and having his horse Trigger go through his paces. Dale Evans was not along for this performance.  (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Above are Patty Corbett, Pat Brady and Joe Taylor at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1953.  (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Above, the Red Birds with Duncan Renaldo, the Cisco Kid of films and TV, at Buck Lake Ranch, 1955. The Red Birds noted that Renaldo was soft spoken, beautifully costumed, and the ultimate gentleman, and they were impressed by his gentle manner and gracious treatment of his audience/fans.  (Courtesy of Joe Taylor & Patty Corbett) Above, RKO cowboy Tim Holt with the Red Birds and other musicians at Buck Lake Ranch, 1954. |
