Rex Allen
Rex Allen’s film character fit the classic cowboy hero of the day. From the good guy white hat to his handsome good looks and lovable horse Koko, Allen fit the part. Over the course of his movies he was accompanied by stellar comedic sidekicks, Buddy Ebsen in the beginning and Slim Pickens in the end. Rex Allen’s B Western films achieved top-ten box office success, something uncharacteristic of the B Western genre. Rex Allen’s film character also found its way into a comic book series.
Like singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Allen made the leap to TV as the B Western genre faded. Rex was cast as a frontier doctor on a short lived series. Allen got his start in radio, appearing on the National Barn Dance program, airing on WLS in Chicago. In addition to singing Rex wrote many of the songs he performed, including those featured in his films. His musical talents led to recording contracts with Mercury Records and later with the Decca label.
Rex Allen parlayed his vocal talents into an accomplished body of work as a narrator for the likes of Walt Disney Pictures, Hanna-Barbera animation and spokesman roles for Purina Dog Chow and Ford Trucks.
Allen’s star appears on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1983 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum where he also became the first recipient of the prestigious Golden Boot Award. A native of Wilcox Arizona, ‘The Arizona Cowboy’ is memorialized at the Rex Allen Museum in Wilcox complete with a bronze statue forever linking him to his home town. Koko is buried at the statue.
Next Week: Johnny Mack Brown
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Ride easy,
Paul
Like singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Allen made the leap to TV as the B Western genre faded. Rex was cast as a frontier doctor on a short lived series. Allen got his start in radio, appearing on the National Barn Dance program, airing on WLS in Chicago. In addition to singing Rex wrote many of the songs he performed, including those featured in his films. His musical talents led to recording contracts with Mercury Records and later with the Decca label.
Rex Allen parlayed his vocal talents into an accomplished body of work as a narrator for the likes of Walt Disney Pictures, Hanna-Barbera animation and spokesman roles for Purina Dog Chow and Ford Trucks.
Allen’s star appears on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1983 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum where he also became the first recipient of the prestigious Golden Boot Award. A native of Wilcox Arizona, ‘The Arizona Cowboy’ is memorialized at the Rex Allen Museum in Wilcox complete with a bronze statue forever linking him to his home town. Koko is buried at the statue.
Next Week: Johnny Mack Brown
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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