Gene Autry - More

True or False

10. After World War II, Autry returned to Republic Pictures to fulfill his contract.

11. Autry was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

12. Autry bought the old Monogram Ranch in Placerita Canyon.

13. In the 1950s, Autry had been a minority owner of the minor-league Hollywood Dodgers.

14. In 1960, when Major League Baseball announced plans to add an expansion team in Los Angeles, Autry expressed an interest in acquiring the radio broadcast rights to the team's games.

15. Autry served as vice president of the American League from 1983 until his death.

16. During World War II Autry served as a pilot in the United States Navy with the rank of Flight Captain.

17. Autry recorded Blueberry Hill.

18. In 1947, Gene recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Gene Autry Answers

10. True. Autry briefly returned to Republic after the war, to finish out his contract, which had been suspended for the duration of his military service and which he had tried to have declared void after his discharge. Thereafter, he formed his own production company to make westerns under his own control, which were distributed by Columbia Pictures, beginning in 1947.

11. True. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969 and to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

12. True. In 1952, Autry bought the old Monogram Ranch in Placerita Canyon (Newhall-Santa Clarita, California) and renamed it Melody Ranch. Numerous "B" Westerns and TV serials were shot there during Autry's ownership, including the initial years of "Gunsmoke" with James Arness.

13. False. In the 1950s, Autry had been a minority owner of the minor-league Hollywood Stars.

14. In 1960, when Major League Baseball announced plans to add an expansion team in Los Angeles, Autry expressed an interest in acquiring the radio broadcast rights to the team's games. Baseball executives were so impressed by his approach that he was persuaded to become the owner of the franchise rather than simply its broadcast partner.

15. True. Autry served as vice president of the American League from 1983 until his death.

16. False. During World War II Autry served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces with the rank of Flight Officer. He flew the C-47 Skytrain in the Air Transport Command flying dangerous missions over the Hump between Burma and China.

17. True. In 1941, Gene Autry recorded Blueberry Hill. The music was written by Vincent Rose, the lyrics by Al Lewis and Larry Stock. He performed it in his movie The Singing Hill (1941). The song was an international hit in 1956 for Fats Domino, and has become a rock and roll standard.

18. False. In 1947, Gene recorded "Here Comes Santa Claus". He recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1949.