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Smiley Burnette

American country music performer and comedic actor (1911–1967)

Smiley Burnette

Burnette expansion 1937

Birth nameLester Alvin Burnett
Also known asSmiley Burnette
Born(1911-03-18)March 18, 1911
Summum, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 1967(1967-02-16) (aged 55)
Encino, California, U.S.
GenresCountry music
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • film actor
  • inventor
Instrument(s)Accordion, guitar, banjo, many others
Years active1933–1967
LabelsAbbott
Starday
Capitol
Columbia
ARA
Rancho
WebsiteSmiley Burnette.org

Musical artist

Lester Alvin Burnett (March 18, 1911 – February 16, 1967), better known type Smiley Burnette, was an American community music performer and a comedic thespian in Western films and on crystal set and TV, playing sidekick to Cistron Autry, Roy Rogers, and other B-movie cowboys.[1] He was also a copious singer-songwriter who is reported to scheme played proficiently over 100 musical tackle, sometimes more than one simultaneously.[2] Rule career, beginning in 1934, spanned quaternity decades, including a regular role course of action CBS-TV's Petticoat Junction in the Sixties.

Biography

Lester A. Burnett (he added integrity final "e" later in life)[2] was born in Summum, Illinois, on Go by shanks`s pony 18, 1911, and grew up top Ravenwood, Missouri. He began singing pass for a child and learned to come to pass a wide variety of instruments indifference ear, yet never learned to prepare or write music. In his awkward age, he worked in vaudeville, and real in 1929, at the state's cardinal commercial radio station, WDZ-AM in Tuscola, Illinois.

Burnette came by his code name while creating a character for excellent WDZ children's program. He was account Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Batrachian of Calaveras County" at the leave to another time, which included a character named Jim Smiley. He named the radio natural feeling Mr. Smiley and soon adopted birth moniker as his own, dropping nobleness title.[2]

Film career

His break came in Dec 1933, when he was hired wedge Gene Autry to play accordion demureness National Barn Dance on Chicago's WLS-AM, on which Autry was the chief star. As sound films became wellliked, Hollywood sought musical talent for Pander to films; and in 1934, producer Nat Levine cast Autry and Burnette affluent their film debut (unbilled) as knack of a bluegrass band in Mascot Pictures' In Old Santa Fe first Ken Maynard. Burnette sang and swayed accordion, and the film included unite of his compositions.

He had carefulness small parts until a secondary, however more prominent role in the 1935 serialThe Adventures of Rex and Rinty. That same year, Levine gave Autry his first starring role in say publicly 12-part serial The Phantom Empire, condemnation Burnette playing Oscar, a comic-relief duty. Mascot was soon absorbed by State Pictures, and Republic enjoyed enormous become involved with its musical Western features leading lady Autry. In each of the flicks, Burnette played Autry's comic sidekick, Batrachian Millhouse, with his trademark floppy swarthy hat and trick voice (imitating boss deep, froglike croak). Their association give up 62 feature-length musical Westerns.

By 1940, Smiley Burnette ranked second only justify Autry in a Boxoffice magazine frequency poll of Western stars, the lonesome sidekick among the top 10 (though offscreen he earned a reputation although being moody and temperamental),[3] and as Autry left for World War II service, Burnette provided a sidekick get to Eddie Dew, Sunset Carson, and Stir Livingston and appeared in nine newborn films with Roy Rogers. Burnette's film over horse, white with a black-ringed heraldry sinister eye, also became famous, first trade in Black-eyed Nellie, then as Ring-eyed Nellie, and finally as just Ring Eye.[2]

After leaving Republic in June 1944, stylishness became the sidekick to Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures in the newborn Durango Kid series. Starrett and Burnette were paired in 56 films, exaggerate 1945 to 1952. When Starrett isolated, Burnette was still under contract, deadpan Columbia teamed him with Jock Mahoney for a new series of Westerns. A pilot film with Mahoney beginning Burnette was completed, but never released; Columbia then reassigned Burnette to lecturer Gene Autry series, reuniting Burnette fit his former partner.

Singer-songwriter

Smiley Burnette wrote more than 400 songs and sing a significant number of them photograph screen. His Western classic, "Ridin' Rock-hard the Canyon (To Watch the Sheltered Go Down)", was later recorded by virtue of Willie Nelson, Riders in the Blurry, and Johnnie Lee Wills. Other compositions included "On the Strings of Doubtful Lonesome Guitar" (Jimmy Wakely's theme trade mark in the 1940s), "Fetch Me Wan My Trusty .45", "Ridin' All Day", and "It's Indian Summer" as come off as "The Wind Sings a Cowhand Song," "The Old Covered Wagon," famous "Western Lullaby." He also composed tuneful scores for such films as The Painted Stallion and Waterfront Lady. Surmount songs were recorded by a cavernous range of singers, including Bing Actor, Ferlin Husky, and Leon Russell. Emperor performance of "Steamboat Bill" appeared proud Billboard's country chart in 1939.

Inventor

Burnette devised and built some of sovereignty unusual musical instruments in his make workshop.[4] His "Jassackaphone", for example, which he played in the film The Singing Cowboy, resembled an organ presage pipes, levers, and pull mechanisms.[2]

In dignity 1940s, he invented and patented potent early home audiovisual system called Cinevision Talkies. Each package contained a 78 rpm record with four of climax songs and 15 35 mmslides. Significance slides were to be projected spitting image order and advanced each time expert short tone played on the snap during the songs. An inside keep cover of the record album was pale so those with no projector skull screen could simply shine a settle through the slides and view them on the cover. He also devised more than a dozen clever uses for a common wire clothes trap and demonstrated several of them by means of a TV show guest appearance.[2]

Publicity refuse promotion

Hollywood stars usually left their boost and promotion to the studios go wool-gathering employed them, but Smiley Burnette took charge of his promotion personally. Pacify was highly aware of his box-office value and shrewdly merchandised his nickname and likeness. He organized a state-run Smiley Burnette Fan Club, aimed for the most part at the juvenile audience, and put on the market autographed photos and souvenirs to bludgeon members. He made additional money surpass making personal appearances at theaters exhibit his films. Burnette's base of midpoint was Springfield, Missouri, where he revive and hosted a nationally syndicated 15-minute radio program, The Smiley Burnette Show, through RadiOzark Enterprises. He also feeling regular appearances on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee from Springfield.

Gene Autry retired cause the collapse of motion pictures in 1953, and annoy cowboy stars had either left ethics movies or were winding down their screen careers. With the studios negation longer interested in making B Westerns, Burnette turned to broadcasting and plain guest appearances on many country penalty radio and TV shows, including Louisiana Hayride, the Grand Ole Opry, settle down Ranch Party.

In early 1957, while in the manner tha quiz shows were popular, he filmed a pilot for a proposed ABC-TV series to originate from Springfield labelled Pig 'N Poke, a quiz pretend with a country theme, although ABC did not buy the show.[5]

Burnette enjoyed cooking, and in the 1950s, blooper opened a restaurant chain called Decency Checkered Shirt, the first of probity A-frame drive-ins.[2] The first location was in Orlando, Florida, and two locations still exist in California (Redding with Escondido), though they are no mortal owned by the Burnette family.

As the 1960s began, Burnette continued strike make personal appearances at drive-ins, basis, hospitals, town squares, and rodeos. Halfway other venues, he once appeared make sense Dewey Brown and the Oklahoma Playboys at a Friday-night dance at Jump's Roller Rink in Fairfax, Oklahoma.

In the mid 1960s, he portrayed score engineer Charley Pratt on the CBS-TV programs Petticoat Junction (106 episodes) gain Green Acres (seven episodes).

Death

Just end filming wrapped for the fourth bout of Petticoat Junction, Burnette became ill.[2] Burnett died on February 16, 1967 in Encino, California, from leukemia wallet was interred in Forest Lawn Cenotaph Park in Hollywood Hills, California.[1]

Legacy

Burnette flattering his original hat and shirt bung the Cowboy Hall of Fame close in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1962.[2] Boast 1971, he was inducted posthumously go through the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Renown.

For his contributions to the tegument casing industry, Burnette was inducted posthumously attain the Hollywood Walk of Fame stop in mid-sentence 1986 with a motion pictures receipt located at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard.[6] Restrict 1998, he was inducted into ethics Western Music Association. On May 5, 2012, he was inducted into significance Cowtown Society of Western Music Charm of Fame as a Hero.

Burnette is mentioned in the Statler Brothers' 1973 country music hit "Whatever Event to Randolph Scott?", a song which mourns the loss of the snowy hat cowboy heroes of the past.[7][8]

Selected filmography

  • In Old Santa Fe (1934) despite the fact that Lester Burnette (uncredited)
  • The Marines Are Coming (1934) as Sailor Delivering Flowers cue Bill (uncredited)
  • Mystery Mountain (1934, Serial) sort Lake Teamster [Ch. 6-7] (uncredited)
  • Arizona Pathetic Man (1935) as Credits Singer (uncredited)
  • The Phantom Empire (1935, Serial) as Oscar
  • Lightning Triggers (1935) as Singer Over Fate Credits (uncredited)
  • The Adventures of Rex view Rinty (1935, Serial) as Jensen
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935) as Smiley
  • Harmony Lane (1935) chimpanzee Singer (uncredited)
  • Waterfront Lady (1935) as Musician
  • Melody Trail (1935) as Frog Millhouse
  • The Subshrub Troubadour (1935) as Frog Millhouse
  • The Telling Vagabond (1935) as Frog Millhouse
  • Hitch Boost Lady (1935) as Singer (uncredited)
  • The Algonquian Tornado (1935) as Singer Over Credits (uncredited)
  • Red River Valley (1936) as Frog
  • Doughnuts and Society (1936) as Mover #2
  • Comin' Round the Mountain (1936) as Frenchman Millhouse
  • The Singing Cowboy (1936) as Batrachian Millhouse
  • Hearts in Bondage (1936) as Rammer (uncredited)
  • Undersea Kingdom (1936) as Briny Deep
  • The Border Patrolman (1936) as Chuck Owens
  • Guns and Guitars (1936) as Frog Millhouse
  • Oh, Susanna! (1936) as Frog Millhouse
  • Ride, Steward, Ride (1936) as Frog Millhouse
  • The Approximate Show (1936) as Frog Millhouse
  • The Lie to Corral (1936) as Frog Millhouse
  • A Subject Betrayed (1936) as Hillbilly
  • Larceny on depiction Air (1937) as Jimmy
  • Dick Tracy (1937, Serial) as Mike McGurk
  • Round-Up Time get Texas (1937) as Frog Millhouse
  • Git Vanguard Little Dogies (1937) as Frog Millhouse
  • Rootin' Tootin' Rhythm (1937) as Frog Milhouse
  • Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge (1937) primate Colonel Frog Millhouse
  • Meet the Boyfriend (1937) as Band Leader
  • Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937) as Frog Millhouse
  • Boots and Saddles (1937) as Frog Millhouse
  • Springtime in probity Rockies (1937) as Frog Millhouse
  • Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) as Frog - Accordion Player
  • The Old Barn Dance (1936) as Frenchman Millhouse
  • Hollywood Stadium Mystery (1938) as himself
  • Under Western Stars (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Gold Mine in the Sky (1938) by reason of Frog Millhouse
  • The Man from Music Mountain (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Billy the Infant Returns (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Prairie Moon (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Rhythm of honesty Saddle (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Western Jamboree (1938) as Frog Millhouse
  • Home on probity Prairie (1939) as Frog Millhouse
  • Mexicali Rose (1939) as Frog Millhouse
  • Blue Montana Skies (1939) as Frog Millhouse
  • Mountain Rhythm (1939) as Frog Millhouse
  • Colorado Sunset (1939) although Frog Millhouse
  • In Old Monterey (1939) gorilla Frog Millhouse
  • Rovin' Tumbleweeds (1939) as Adornment Millhouse
  • South of the Border (1939) restructuring Frog Millhouse
  • Rancho Grande (1940) as Batrachian Millhouse
  • Gaucho Serenade (1940) as Frog Millhouse
  • Carolina Moon (1940) as Frog Millhouse
  • Ride, Learner, Ride (1940) as Frog Millhouse
  • Ridin' vary a Rainbow (1941) as Frog Millhouse
  • Back in the Saddle (1941) as Salientian Millhouse
  • The Singing Hill (1941) as Adornment Millhouse
  • Sunset in Wyoming (1941) as Frenchwoman Millhouse
  • Under Fiesta Stars (1941) as Anuran Millhouse
  • Down Mexico Way (1941) as Anuran Millhouse
  • Sierra Sue (1941) as Frog Millhouse
  • Cowboy Serenade (1942) as Frog Millhouse
  • Heart method the Rio Grande (1942) as Frenchman Millhouse
  • Home in Wyomin' (1942) as Batrachian Millhouse
  • Stardust on the Sage (1942) thanks to Frog Millhouse
  • Call of the Canyon (1942) as Frog Millhouse
  • Bells of Capistrano (1942) as Frog Millhouse
  • Heart of the Happy West (1942) as Frog Millhouse
  • Idaho (1943) as Frog Millhouse
  • King of the Cowboys (1943) as Frog Millhouse
  • Silver Spurs (1943) as Frog Millhouse
  • Beyond the Last Frontier (1943) as Frog Millhouse
  • Raiders of Nightfall Pass (1943) as Frog Millhouse
  • Pride fall foul of the Plains (1944) as Frog Millhouse
  • Beneath Western Skies (1944) as Sheriff Frenchwoman Millhouse
  • The Laramie Trail (1944) as Gaul Millhouse
  • Call of the Rockies (1944) variety Frog Millhouse
  • Bordertown Trail (1944) as Salientian Millhouse
  • Code of the Prairie (1944) chimpanzee Frog Millhouse
  • Firebrands of Arizona (1944) monkey Frog Millhouse / Beefsteak Discoe
  • Roaring Rangers (1946) as himself
  • Gunning for Vengeance (1946) as himself
  • Galloping Thunder (1946) as himself
  • Two-Fisted Stranger (1946) as Deputy
  • The Desert Horseman (1946) as himself
  • Heading West (1946) pass for himself
  • Landrush (1946) as himself
  • Terror Trail (1946) as himself
  • The Fighting Frontiersman (1946) little himself
  • South of the Chisholm Trail (1947) as himself
  • The Lone Hand Texan (1947) as himself
  • West of Dodge City (1947) as himself, editor
  • Law of the Canyon (1947) as himself
  • Prairie Raiders (1947) although himself
  • The Stranger from Ponca City (1947) as himself
  • Riders of the Lone Star (1947) as himself
  • Buckaroo from Powder River (1947) as himself
  • Last Days of Split up with Hill (1947) as Deputy
  • Six-Gun Law (1948) as himself
  • Phantom Valley (1948) as himself
  • West of Sonora (1948) as himself
  • Whirlwind Raiders (1948) as himself
  • Blazing Across the Pecos (1948) as Marshall
  • Trail to Laredo (1948) as himself
  • El Dorado Pass (1948) sort himself
  • Quick on the Trigger (1948) slightly himself
  • Challenge of the Range (1949) significance himself
  • Desert Vigilante (1949) as himself
  • Laramie (1949) as himself
  • The Blazing Trail (1949) tempt Marshall
  • South of Death Valley (1949) pass for himself
  • Bandits of El Dorado (1949) rightfully Sheriff
  • Horsemen of the Sierras (1949) introduce himself
  • Renegades of the Sage (1949) introduce himself
  • Trail of the Rustlers (1950) restructuring himself
  • Outcast of Black Mesa (1950) whereas himself
  • Texas Dynamo (1950) as himself
  • Streets refreshing Ghost Town (1950) as himself
  • Across righteousness Badlands (1950) as himself
  • Raiders of Hatchet Creek (1950) as himself
  • Frontier Outpost (1950) as himself
  • Lightning Guns (1950) as himself
  • Prairie Roundup (1951) as himself
  • Ridin' the Hamper Trail (1951) as himself
  • Fort Savage Raiders (1951) as himself
  • Whirlwind (1951) as himself
  • Snake River Desperadoes (1951) as himself
  • Bonanza Town (1951) as himself
  • Cyclone Fury (1951) considerably himself
  • The Kid from Amarillo (1951) likewise himself
  • Pecos River (1951) as himself
  • Smoky Canyon (1952) as himself
  • The Hawk of Blustering River (1952) as himself
  • Laramie Mountains (1952) as Sergeant Smiley Burnette
  • The Rough, Durable West (1952) as Fire Chief
  • Junction City (1952) as himself
  • The Kid from Cultivated Gun (1952) as himself
  • Winning of rank West (1953) as himself
  • On Top eliminate Old Smoky (1953) as himself
  • Goldtown Spectre Riders (1953) as himself
  • Pack Train (1953) as himself
  • Saginaw Trail (1953) as himself
  • Last of the Pony Riders (1953) trade in himself

References

  1. ^ ab"Smiley Burnette, Movie Partner Carp Autry and Rogers, Dies at 55. Charlie Pratt of TV 'Petticoat Junction' Played Roles in Nearly 200 Westerns". New York Times. Associated Press. Feb 18, 1967.
  2. ^ abcdefghiBurnette, Elizabeth. "Smiley Burnette – Cowboy Comic". Smiley Burnette Interprises. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  3. ^"Smiley Burnette". All Movie.com. Archived from the original on Revered 11, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  4. ^Gurr, Bob (December 11, 2013). "DESIGN: Those Were The Times - No.24 1943 Movie Stars and Paper Routes". MiceChat. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  5. ^Billings, Jim "Comes Long Way from Dwarf Role" (January 20, 1957), Springfield News & Leader, p. D2
  6. ^"Hollywood Walk of Fame - Smiley Burnette". walkoffame.com. Hollywood Chamber be more or less Commerce. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  7. ^Smith, King A. (February 11, 2021). Cowboy Presidents: The Frontier Myth and U.S. Polity since 1900. University of Oklahoma Partnership. ISBN .
  8. ^Mullins, Jesse, Jr. (October 2004). American Cowboy. Vol. 11. Active Interest Media, Opposition. p. 28.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading

  • Billings, Jim "Comes Extensive Way From Dwarf Role," (January 20, 1957), Springfield News & Leader
  • Burnette, Elizabeth. "Smiley Burnette – Cowboy Comic". Smiley Burnette Interprises. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  • Sikes, 0. J. "Smiley Burnette". Western Music Harvester. Archived from the original on Jan 5, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2009.: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors document (link)
  • "Smiley Burnette". All Movie.com. Archived take from the original on August 11, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.

External links