Jimmy Wakely

(Courtesy of Bill McCann)
Above - Wakely comic #7

Thx to Lansing Sexton for the following info on the comic book series of Jimmy Wakely:

1949 was a big year for Jimmy Wakely. He released six pictures, starting with GUN RUNNER. He had a big hit duet with Margaret Whiting - "Slippin' Around" - and after more than five years as a western star, he finally began a comics career.

Jimmy began by appearing as a backup feature in issue #20 of Tim McCoy Western Movie Stories, published by Charlton Comics, dated June 1949. The very next month, Jimmy graced the photo cover of Romance Trail #1, published by National Periodical Publications (DC) dated July-August 1949.

Then, with issue #1 dated September-October 1949, DC began publication of Jimmy Wakely Comics. Each issue referred to him as Hollywood's sensational cowboy star. The first seven issues have photo covers. Issue #2 shows Jimmy and a small boy sitting on a saddle atop a fence, accompanied by the following copy: "Is a Western Movie Star a Real-Life Hero to His Own Son? You'll find the Exciting Answer in 'The Prize Pony." By contrast, the drawn covers, beginning with issue #8, stress pure action.

After 1949, Jimmy's movie series ended, but his comic continued until issue #18 dated July-August 1952.

You can see all 18 covers of Jimmy Wakely Comics at GCD, the Grand Comics Database website: https://www.comics.org/series/609/covers/
They also have an image of Jimmy and Wanda McKay on the cover of Romance Trail issue #1: https://www.comics.org/series/612/covers/

(From Old Corral collection)

Above is Wakely and his second horse 'Sonny'. That shirt with the pockets look familiar - click HERE for a photo of Gene Autry and his saddle pal Smiley Burnette. Wakely's outfits consisted of a white hat and in his early films, he wore a variety of shirt designs, some of which were similar to those worn by Autry (as in the image above). In his later films, his range costume changed to more workmanlike blue jeans and plainer shirts.

Jimmy also used several gunbelts. Two variations are shown above - on the left is an earlier rig and the image on the right is a later belt and holster.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above are Wakely and his second sidekick, Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor, in one of their later screen adventures, COURTIN' TROUBLE (Monogram, 1948). Note the costume change here for Jimmy - blue jeans and a 'quieter', less Autry-like shirt.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Left is a tidbit from the pressbook for OKLAHOMA BLUES (Monogram, 1948) with the announcement that the paint/pinto horse 'Lucky' was given away on the QUEEN FOR A DAY radio show, and Wakely had gotten a new mount.

The paint was originally named 'Tex', but was re-named 'Lucky', perhaps when acquired by Wakely circa 1945.

Prior to Wakely, 'Lucky/Tex' was ridden by Bob Steele (in his brief series for Harry Webb/Metropolitan), by Raymond Hatton (in the Rough Riders series and later films with Johnny Mack Brown), by John 'Dusty' King (in the Range Busters) and was one of several mounts that Jack Randall rode in his Monogram series.

Jimmy's new horse 'Sonny' (not 'Sunny') was a sorrel with four white socks and white face blaze.

JIMMY'S HORSES
Wakely on 'Lucky'		Wakely on 'Sonny'