Smiley Burnette

Born: March 18, 1911, Summum, Illinois
Died: February 16, 1967 (age 55), Los Angeles, California

Lester Alvin (Smiley) Burnette, an American singer-songwriter who could play as many as 100 different musical instruments, was a successful comedy actor in Western films over three decades.

What do you know about Smiley Burnette? Frog has answers to this quick quiz.

1. His break came when he was hired to perform on the National Barn Dance on Chicago's radio station where Gene Autry was the show's major star. The show was on what Chicago radio station?

• WLS

• WNBD

• WHEN

2. Burnette and got their first small role in the 1934 Ken Maynard Republic Pictures film. What was the film?

• In Old Santa Fe

• Arizona

• Durango

3. Burnette appeared in several bit parts until the following year's release of the Rin Tin Tin hit film. What was the film?

• The Adventures of Rex and Rinty

• The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

• The Adventures of Smiley and Rinty

4. Autry was the lead Western role and the rotund Burnette would team up with him as a lovable comedy sidekick. He had several names but what is the best known sidekick?

• Frog Millhouse

• Dewey Brown

• Rex Allen

5. During World War II, after Autry went into the service, what Western star did he become the sidekick with?

• Tex Ritter

• Allan "Rocky" Lane

• Roy Rogers

6. After leaving Republic Pictures in 1944, Burnette became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the long Durango Kid series. Starrett starred in the series from 1944 until 1952, and that pairing resulted in more than 50 films.

• True or False?

7. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette had the chance to join Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953. He declined the chance.

• True or False?

8. In 1953, Gene and Smiley appear in their last film together. It was about a dishonest banker trying to steal their mail franchise. W hat is the movie’s title?

• The Last Posse

• Last of the Pony Riders

• Law and Order

9. In the mid-1960s he made several TV appearances on Petticoat Junction (106 episodes) and Green Acres (7 episodes) as railway engineer. What was the character's name?

• Ruff Davis

• Charley Pratt

• J.D. Clampett

10. Burnette wrote over 400 songs and sang a significant number of them on screen. His compositions have been recorded by numerous popular singers, including such diverse ones as Bing Crosby and Ferlin Husky.

• True or False?

Smiley Burnette Answers

1. WLS
2. In Old Santa Fe
3. The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
4. Frog Millhouse
5. Roy Rogers
6. True
7. False. After the Starrett series was over, Burnette joined Autry for his final six films, all released by Columbia Pictures in 1953.
8. Last of the Pony Riders
9. Charley Pratt
10. True

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