The first movie series I remember was a twelve part serial called “The Phantom Empire”. The serial, released in 1935, is about a singing cowboy who stumbles upon an ancient subterranean civilization living beneath his own ranch that becomes corrupted by unscrupulous greedy speculators from the surface. Autry, in his first starring role, was playing himself as the singing cowboy who, in a series of exciting episodes, helps to honorably resolve everything.
This was my first exposure to the world of science fiction that has lasted for a lifetime. It featured the underground empire of Murania, complete with towering buildings, robots, ray-guns, advanced television, elevator tubes that extend miles from the surface, and the icy, blonde, evil Queen Tika.
And that is how I got introduced to the star, Gene Autry, having never been aware of him before. I was also introduced to the very American concept of the brave and honorable cowboy! Later, through his radio show, “Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch” in response to his many young listeners across the country, he created the Cowboy Code, similar to the one then used by the Boy Scouts, that promoted an ethical, moral and patriotic lifestyle.
Over his life span (he died in 1998 at age 91) he had an amazing career up to the very end and received many honors for a wide range of activities ranging from starting the Los Angeles Angles baseball team to establishing The Autry Museum of the American West. You can get a flavor of his honorable and productive, civic minded life by looking him up on the official website: https://www.geneautry.com
However, what stands out for me was his military career. He had already made over 40 western movies when WWII broke out and holding a private pilot license, in 1942 he enlisted in the Air Force and became a tech sergeant, determined to be a military pilot. Finally, after two years of service, he earned his Service Pilot rating in June 1944 serving as a C-109 transport pilot. As part of the Air Transport Command, he flew as part of the dangerous airlift over the Himalayas, or “The Hump”, between India and China.
Another side story to his military experience further enhances his standing as a “Great American”. When he told his contract holder Republic Pictures, that he planned to enlist in the Air Force, they threatened to promote Roy Rogers as the “King of the Cowboys” in his absence, which they actually did. Gene enlisted anyway went off to serve his country. Since his contract was suspended while he was in the service, he tried to have it declared void after his discharge, but the courts supported Republic. However, in the end he made four more films with Republic under his old still valid contract publicity title, “King of the Cowboys” and the rest is history!
Again, I feel fortunate to have lived at a time when such public heroes were around to provide role models for youngsters like me at a time when I needed them.
Doug Ferguson is a retired engineer living in Palmer, AK and has had a life-long interest in gardening, science, history, sports, and human nature.
