Gene Autry Quiz | Celebrities

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Gene Autry was a true Texan, born September 29, 1907 in Tioga, Texas, although his family later moved to Oklahoma. He adopted 'Gene' as his nickname and stage name. What was his birth name?

Answer: Orvon Grover Autry

The Autrys moved to Ravia, Oklahoma in the 1920s, where he went to school and was kept busy helping his family with running the ranch. Later, be became a telegrapher for a railroad. When business was slow, he spent many long nights strumming his guitar and singing.

2. During his apprentice years playing for dances and occasions, Gene ventured north to New York and was able to secure a minor recording contract. He went back to Tulsa and then to Chicago where he worked for WLS, the legendary Chicago station whose flagship program was "The National Barn Dance". There he teamed up with which musician and songwriter who became a close friend and his comical sidekick in future years?

Answer: Smiley Burnette

Burnette played the accordion on "The National Barn Dance", backing up Gene. He claimed to know how to play a hundred instruments, some of which he invented himself. He also wrote and published over 400 songs, the most familiar being "Ridin' Down the Canyon (To Watch the Sun Go Down)".

He appeared with Gene in his films, often called 'Frog' or 'Oscar', and was the comic relief. When Gene's career was interrupted during World War Two, he co-starred with other western heroes but eventually returned to Gene's films.

In 1940, he was voted the number two star of Western films just behind--guess who--Gene Autry. His final appearance was in the television comedy "Petticoat Junction", in which he played a train engineer.

3. In 1934, Gene Autry ventured into Hollywood. At first, he was used in uncredited performances as part of musical interludes which were common in B-Westerns. In 1935, he made a 12-episode Saturday morning serial that brought him to the fore as a Western star. What was the name of the serial?

Answer: The Phantom Empire

"The Phantom Empire" was a creative attempt to combine the genres of Western, science fiction, and musical. The story was told over 12 chapters of the secret empire just below Gene Autry's ranch. Each episode involved a trip into the 'empire' with some action scenes and a cliffhanger that encouraged youth, generally boys, to come back next Saturday to see how the events worked out.

However, there was always room on the 20 minute run of the episode for Gene to sing a song or two, generally unrelated to the plot. Gene's popular "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" was introduced in the serial. Most of the songs were co-written by Gene and Smiley Burnette. Frankie Darro also appeared.

4. After the well-received serial, Gene embarked on a long journey in "B" Westerns. He ground them out at a steady rate, trying to get one on the screen between six weeks and two months. In total, Gene made 93 films beginning in 1934. When the so-called 'B' western genre died out, what was the last year that Autry made movies?

Answer: 1953

Autry's films were aimed at young boys, but adults also enjoyed them too. With the advent of television, 'B' entertainment was available in the home with a turn of a switch. The movies changed to more adult formats and the genre died. Gene, however, kept going until 1953 when other western stars had already found other opportunities or retired. Gene released five films in 1953, the last being "Last of the Pony Riders", an ironic title. Autry continued in the type of entertainment that brought him success just as Charlie Chaplin continued making silent films.

Gene Autry had a code by which he made his films:

1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.

Source: geneautry.com

5. Although television put a damper on his film career, Autry chose to embrace it by beginning a television series of his own. The plots always had references to his ranch. What was the name of the ranch?

Answer: Melody Ranch

Monogram Studios was a film making company that built a western town for its own purposes. Monogram relied on the 'B' Western and similar projects so when the genre was fading, Gene Autry bought the property in 1952 and turned it into the setting for his television series. The show was called "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" after the name of one of his films. Through the years, it was a set for Westerns, including "The LoneRanger", "WyattEarp","Gunsmoke", "Hopalong Cassidy", "Annie Oakley", "Rin Tin Tin", and "The Cisco Kid". It also hosted the HBO series "Deadwood" and the film "The Magnificent Seven".

Prior to Autry's purchase, it was the set for John Wayne's "Stagecoach" and Gary Cooper's "High Noon". A brush fire swept in 1962, destroying much of the property AND leaving it very bleak. Later, the producers of TV's "Combat" found the landscape perfect to reflect the agonies of World War Two combat scenes.

Gene sold off the property in 1991, and it was restored and used for Westerns and as a museum.

6. During World War Two, Gene Autry was missing from the screen due to his military service. What was his primary assignment in the army?

Answer: Pilot

Gene had earned a private flying license which enabled him to enter Flight School, where he emerged as a Flight Officer. He was assigned to fly the The Hump, which called upon him to fly cargo planes over Himalayan mountains in the India-China-Burma area of operations.

He was allowed to continue his weekly radio program as a source of patriotism. Autry served three years of his enlistment in this capacity. Given his fame, he did upon appropriate circumstances entertain troops and also did some work with the USO. Autry refused to take a salary of a flight officer while in the army.

Instead he accepted the salary of the lowest paid private.

7. Gene Autry has the distinction of being the first entertainer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One is for Motion Pictures. For which of the following fields was he NOT recognized?

Answer: Musical Achievements

The criteria is limited to five categories, and Musical Achievements is not one of them. The other is Live Performance Achievements. The Walk of Fame often is visited by as many ten million tourists a year. At first it was an honor, but later became a fee payable by the honoree.

This was done to offset maintenance costs and to remove from the local tax burden. Time, erosion and underground construction has damaged many of the segments. Nonetheless, Autry is one of the most recognized recipients.

8. Gene Autry was a prolific songwriter. Most of the time he introduced his songs in his films. Which of these popular Autry songs did Gene NOT have a hand in writing?

Answer: You Are My Sunshine

Before single recordings were overcome by technical advancement in recording and packaging, Autry was a strong performer in the era. His "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is believed to have sold over 25 million singles.

9. Any discussion of Gene Autry cannot be complete without recognizing his business acumen. He once described himself as the "go between guy" who recognized opportunity, bought into it, and sold it to the highest bidder. That may be an oversimplification, as he was investing in radio and television, Mack Trucks, real estate, R.J. Reynolds--and the list goes on. What surprising venture into professional sports did he make?

Answer: Purchased the Los Angeles Angels in 1961

A little known fact about Gene Autry was that he was a baseball fan. In fact, in his youth he was offered a minor league baseball contract. When Major League Baseball was in the process of expanding, Autry, owner then of the minor league Hollywood Stars, invested in the American League expansion team. The team experienced some name changes when the ball park was relocated to Anaheim. He served as Vice-President of the American League from 1983 until his death.

For many of his years he was counted among the 400 richest men in the United States according to "Forbes" magazine.

10. Christmas would not be Christmas without a song from Gene Autry. Although Gene wrote many songs, which of these popular Christmas songs did he co-write?

Answer: Here Comes Santa Claus

Gene Autry co-wrote "Here Comes Santa Claus" in 1946 with Oakley Haldeman. Autry was riding his horse Champion in a Christmas holiday parade when he heard people shouting, "Here comes Santa Claus". The others were not written by Autry, but he played a great part in making them memorable. Autry released at least five albums of Christmas music, in addition to the sale of millions of single recordings.

His greatest Christmas song success was "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". Rudolph was born in a coloring book published by Montgomery Ward Department Store in 1939 and given free to children as a promotion, but it was not until Autry recorded it in 1949 that it became part of the culture.

Source: Author Rehaberpro

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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Gene Autry Trivia Quiz

Gene Autry dominated the 1930s and 1940s in cowboy western films, but that is only part of his story. In my definition, Gene Autry was a true renaissance man with achievements in many areas.

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