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Gail Davis
Real name: Betty Jeanne Grayson
1925 - 1997


Gail Davis was born in Arkansas.  She did heroine duty in about two dozen oaters during the final years of the B western, appearing with Allan Lane, Charles Starrett, Monte Hale, Roy Rogers and Tim Holt. And she also worked in fourteen of Gene Autry's Columbia westerns as well as Gene's television program.

Davis is best remembered for her portrayal of TV's Annie Oakley. The Oakley TVer initially ran from late 1953 - early 1957 and consisted of 81 half-hour shows that were lensed in B&W. Gail's helpers were Brad Johnson (as "Deputy Sheriff Lofty Craig") and Jimmie Hawkins (as "Tagg Oakley"). The program was one of many produced by Autry's Flying A production company.

Circa 1955 - 1959, Davis even had her own series of Annie Oakley and Tagg comics from Dell. All had photo covers showing Davis in her Annie Oakley costume.

Gail Davis passed away from brain cancer in 1997.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Gail Davis: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0204625/

Find A Grave site has a photo of the marker for Davis at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6321/gail-davis

Gail's daughter Terrie had the official website for Gail Davis, TV's ANNIE OAKLEY (www.tvsannieoakley.com). But as of Summer, 2007, the website was no longer working and the domain name was for sale.

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture Project is located at the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock. The project has a biography on Gail Davis: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/gail-davis-2745/

In 2004, Gail Davis was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame: http://www.cowgirl.net/portfolios/gail-davis/

In recognition of her western movie and television work, Gail Davis was presented with a Golden Boot at the 1994 awards ceremony. If you want more info, go to the Golden Boot Awards page on the Old Corral.

Boyd Magers' Western Clippings website has more info on Gail Davis: http://www.westernclippings.com/remember/annieoakley_doyouremember.shtml

The Grand Comics database website has cover images of Gail Davis' Dell and Gold Key Annie Oakley comics:
https://www.comics.org/series/1104/covers/
https://www.comics.org/series/18233/covers/


(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - Gail Davis with Gene Autry in TEXANS NEVER CRY (Columbia, 1951).



(Courtesy of Bobby Copeland)

Above center is Gail Davis smiling and posing with Joan and Bobby Copeland at Knoxville, 1993.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above - Gail Davis as TV's ANNIE OAKLEY with her horse "Target". Davis' double on the TV program was famed stunt woman Donna Hall, and it was Hall who was standing on the horse and shooting the six-gun in the opening of the program.





 


(From Old Corral collection)
Fay McKenzie
Real name: Eunice Fay McKenzie
1918 - 2019


Fay McKenzie's parents, Bob and Eva McKenzie, were Hollywood film folks, and Fay was born in either 1918 or 1919.

She began her movie career as a kid in 1920s silents, and around the age of 15, was the female lead in some extremely low budget oaters starring Wally Wales and Buddy Roosevelt.

Fay is best remembered for her work with Gene Autry at Republic, where she was the feminine interest in DOWN MEXICO WAY (Republic, 1941), SIERRA SUE (Republic, 1941), HOME IN WYOMIN' (Republic, 1942), HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE (Republic, 1942) and COWBOY SERENADE (Republic, 1942). She was under a Term Players contract(s) at Republic Pictures from August, 1941 through May, 1943. Prior to her work with Gene - and billed as "Fay Shannon" - she was the female lead to Bob Baker in GHOST TOWN RIDERS (Universal, 1938). She also was the leading lady to Ken Maynard in DEATH RIDES THE RANGE (Colony, 1940).

McKenzie was married and divorced from movie toughguy Steve Cochran. Fay's sister Ella was married to comedian Billy Gilbert.

101 year old Fay McKenzie passed away on April 16, 2019 in Los Angeles.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Fay McKenzie: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0571517/

Rob Word has an interview with Fay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kmZQwEeK1U

The Gene Autry website has more on Fay McKenzie: https://www.geneautry.com/news/2019/actress-fay-mckenzie-dies-at-101.html

Michael Fitzgerald did an interview with Fay and you can read it at Boyd Magers Western Clippings website: http://www.westernclippings.com/interview/faymckenzie_interview.shtml

The Hollywood Reporter and New York Times websites have a death announcement:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/obituaries/fay-mckenzie-dead.html
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fay-mckenzie-dead-gene-autrys-star-5-movie-westerns-was-101-1203849






On the left is Fay McKenzie's father, Robert B. 'Bob' McKenzie (1880 - 1949).

His sound career amounted to nearly 200 films, and that includes about 85 westerns.

He had a unique, gravely voice, often wore a suit, and portrayed a sheriff, a judge, a banker, etc. Some words and phrases that come to mind to describe his screen roles are: nervous, worried, blowhard ... and "sweatin' bullets".



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above - Wally Wales holds a very young Fay McKenzie in a lobby card and crop/blowup from SUNDOWN TRAIL (William Pizor/Imperial, 1934). On the far left are Herman Hack and Fred Parker and on the far right is Jack Kirk. Out cold on the floor are no-goods Sherry Tansey and Barney Beasley.



(From Old Corral collection)

Above from L-to-R are a young Fay McKenzie, Buddy Roosevelt, Frances Morris and George Chesebro in BOSS COWBOY (Superior, 1934).



(From Old Corral collection)

Ken Maynard is pounding away on Charlie King while Fay McKenzie looks on in this lobby card from DEATH RIDES THE RANGE (Colony, 1940).



(From Old Corral collection)

Above are Jean Porter (cowboy hat and buckskin jacket), heroine Fay McKenzie (white blouse & green scarf), Edith Fellows (blue blouse), Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette. The tall galoot in the back row center is 'Cactus Mack' McPeters and a youthful singer/songwriter Johnny Bond is on the far right. Lobby card from HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE (Republic, 1942) which is among the last batch of films that Autry did at Republic prior to entering World War II service.



(From Old Corral collection)

Above from L-to-R are Kermit Maynard, Smiley Burnette, Gene Autry, Fay McKenzie, Frank M. Thomas, Robert Homans, and Jack Kirk in a lobby card from SIERRA SUE (Republic, 1941). Frank M. Thomas was the father of Frankie Thomas, star of the cliffhanger TIM TYLER'S LUCK and TV's TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET.





 


(From Old Corral collection)

Above are Tim Holt and Elaine Riley in a still from Holt's RIDER FROM TUCSON (RKO, 1950).
Elaine Riley
Full name: Elaine Louise Riley
1917-2015


Elaine Riley was born in Chester, West Virginia in 1917 but her home town was East Liverpool, Ohio (some sources have her birth location as East Liverpool, Ohio). Either could be correct as those towns are about three miles apart, separated by the Ohio River.

She embarked on a modeling career and movie roles followed. In the 1940 census, Elaine was a "Model - Dress Business", living at the Stratford Arms Hotel, Manhattan, New York City and reported her birth location as Chester, West Virginia.

Her film and television work spanned from the early 1940s to about 1960. She appeared in B westerns with Tim Holt, Allan 'Rocky' Lane, William 'Hoppy' Boyd, and Wayne Morris as well as many early TV oaters including THE RANGE RIDER, GENE AUTRY, LONE RANGER and CISCO KID.

Elaine was married to Richard 'Chito' Martin, who is best remembered as Tim Holt's sidekick. In later life, Martin became a successful insurance executive. He died in 1994.

In recognition of her western movie and television work, Elaine Riley was presented with a Golden Boot at the 2004 awards ceremony. If you want more info, go to the Golden Boot Awards page on the Old Corral.

98 year old Elaine Riley passed away on December 7, 2015.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Elaine Riley: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727026/

Elaine Riley's hometown was East Liverpool, Ohio and their Historical Society has biographical info, newspaper clippings and photos on Elaine: http://www.eastliverpoolhistoricalsociety.org/Elainrilact.htm

The Los Angeles Times newspaper website has an obituary on Elaine's husband, Richard 'Chito' Martin: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-05-me-34929-story.html

Legacy.com has an obituary on Elaine Riley: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=elaine-riley&pid=177053614


The Family Search website has more on Elaine Riley and family:

1930 census - living in East Liverpool, Ohio are 42 year old Allan B. Riley (born Pennsylvania), his 40 year old wife Pearle (born California), 15 year old daughter Lillian (born West Virginia) and 13 year old daughter Elaine (born West Virginia). The family is renting at 505 College Street, East Liverpool, Ohio. Father Allan's occupation is "Electrical Engineer - own Shop":
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4SL-D48

1930 census takers worksheets (the Riley family is on two sheets):
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RCS-PFN?wc=QZFQ-K6Y%3A649446001%2C650116101%2C650144701%2C1589282389%3Fcc%3D1810731&cc=1810731
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RCS-PK1?wc=QZFQ-K6Y%3A649446001%2C650116101%2C650144701%2C1589282389%3Fcc%3D1810731&cc=1810731

1940 census - Elaine Louise Riley is about 23 years old; completed four years of high school; was born about 1917 in Chester, West Virginia and last residence was East Liverpool, Ohio. She is a lodger residing at the Stratford Arms Hotel, Manhattan, New York City and her occupation is "Model - Dress Business":
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQGZ-4JC

1940 census takers worksheet:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MY-15KB?wc=QZXR-61J%3A790105101%2C804828501%2C804967701%2C954008501%3Fcc%3D2000219&cc=2000219



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